Billboard Disco Compilation/Consensus Charts-Part 1:1974-75

[markydefad]

Thanks shootyourshot. Didn't mean to nag ya--but you're usually so prompt. I got a little antsy. Sorry. :D :D :D :D

[markydefad]

April 5, 1975

Billboard Pop Chart Top 5:
1) LOVIN' YOU - Minnie Riperton
2) PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM - Elton John
3) NO NO SONG/ SNOOKEROO - Ringo Starr
4) EXPRESS - B.T. Express
5) YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL - Joe Cocker

Billboard R&B/Soul Chart #1:
1) SHOESHINE BOY - Eddie Kendricks
______________________________________________

Disco Action

A= Audience Response (NYC Discos) (#1= BAD LUCK)
B= Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC) (#1 = EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD)
C= Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC) (#1: EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD)
D= Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island) (#1= EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD)

4 charts with 15 items apiece. 15 points for a #1; 1 point for a #15; 60 points max. Add them up and voila!....



THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS
4/5/75

1) * EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD - Consumer Rapport (says "Report")
(Wing & a Prayer 45) (57 total points/ Charts ABCD) (DEBUT- first time a record has debuted at #1)
2) BAD LUCK - Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes
(Phila. Intl. 45) (52/ABCD) (last week: #1)
3) WHERE IS THE LOVE - Betty Wright
(Alston 45) (48/ABCD) (#4)
4) HELPLESSLY - Moment of Truth
(Roulette 45-Disco Mix) (43/ABCD) (#2)
5) LOVE IS EVERYWHERE - City Limits
(TSOP 45) (28/ABCD) (#6)
6) CRYSTAL WORLD - Crystal Grass
(Polydor 45--FINALLY AVAILABLE!!!!) (27/ABC) (#14)
7) SAVE ME/SAVE ME, AGAIN - Silver Convention
(Midland Intll. 45) (27/ABC) (#3)
8. {Tie} HIJACK - Barrabas
(Atlantic LP only) (23/AD) (#7)
8. {Tie} HIJACK - Herbie Mann
(Atlantic 45) (23/AD) (#16)
10) AND YOU CALL THAT LOVE/ FRAME OF MIND - Vernon Burch
(UA LP only) (19/AD) (#20)

11) GLASSHOUSE - The Temptations
(Gordy LP only) (19/AD) (#28.)
12) RUN AND HIDE - Philadelphia Flyers
(Casablanca 45) (18/BC) (#10)
13) E-MAN BOOGIE - Jimmy Castor Bunch
(Atlantic LP only) (12/D) (#18.)
14) FREE AND EASY - Satyr
(RCA 45) (11/BC) (#19)
15) NEFERTITI - Wisdom
(Adelia 45) (10/C) (#12)
16) PROTECT OUR LOVE/ PAIN RELIEVER - Sister Sledge
(Atco LP only) (9/AD) (#25)
17) AFRICANO - Earth, Wind & Fire
(Columbia LP only) (8/D) (#9)
18. * BABY THAT'S BACKATCHA - Smokey Robinson
(Tamla 45) (8/B) (NEW)
19) SWEARIN' TO GOD - Frankie Valli
(Private Stock LP only) (8/C) (#26)
20) HONEY BEE/ NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE/ REACH OUT (Medley)-Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP only) (7/A) (#15)

21) (R) HIGHWAY DRIVER - Randy Pie
(Polydor 45) (6/C) (RETURN)
22) (R) IT'S A MIRACLE - Barry Manilow
(Arista 45) (5/B) (RETURN)
23) (R)WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU - Labelle
(Epic LP only) (5/D) (RETURN)
24) * DANCE, DANCE, DANCE - Liquid Smoke
(Roulette 45) (4/C) (NEW)
25) * MORE SHAME - Seldon Powell & Company
(Stang 45) (4/B) (NEW)
26) REAL GOOD PEOPLE - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP only) (4/A) (#36)
27) (R) EACH MORNING I WAKE UP - Major Harris Boogie Band
(Atlantic 45) (3/D) (RETURN)
28. I'LL NEVER BE THE SAME - Chapter Three
(New Moon 45) (3/B) (#8.)
29) * PEACE AND LOVE - Brooklyn People
(Cheri 45) (2/B) (NEW)
30) ONCE YOU GET STARTED - Rufus Feat. Chaka Khan
(ABC 45) (2/D) (#11)

31) * TRAMMPS DISCO THEME - The Trammps
(Golden Fleece--LP not available yet) (2/A) (NEW)
32) WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH YOU - Barry White
(20th Century 45) (2/B) (#5)
33) (R) GET DOWN - The Kay Gees
(Gang 45) (1/D) (RETURN)
34) LOOK BUT DON'T TOUCH - Donny Beaumont
(Mercury 45) (1/C) (#17)
35) * ROLLING DOWN A MOUNTAINSIDE - The Main Ingredient
(RCA 45) (1/B) (NEW)
36) SHAME, SHAME, SHAME - Shirley & Company
(Vibration 45) (1/A) (#38.)

#12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33 & 34 NOT in Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco (1974-2003) book.

* = Debut (7): #1, 18, 24, 25, 29, 31, 35

(R) = Return/Re-enty (5): #21, 22, 23, 27 33

Dropped Off:

L-O-V-E- (LOVE) - Al Green (Last week: #13)
EARTHQUAKE SHAKE - Undisputed Truth (#21)
FOOTSTEPS IN THE SHADOWS - Jimmy Jackson (#22) * (will be back)
LOVE CORPORATION - Hues Corporation (#23)
MISTERI - The Jones Girls (#24) *
BOBBY & MARIA - Isis (#27)
HOOK IT UP - Choice Four (#29)
DISCO QUEEN - Hot Chocolate (#30)
I JUST CAN'T SAY GOODBYE - Philly Devotions (#31)
I WAS BORN THIS WAY - Valentino (#32)
MY LITTLE LADY - Boodstone (#33)
I CAN (says "Can't") UNDERSTAND IT - Kokomo *
LOVE HAS SO MANY MEANINGS - Lily Fields (#35)
LOVE FREEZE - First Choice (#37)


Stats & Random Notes:

36 total items; last week 38 (a record)
7 debuts + 5 returns/ -14 dropoffs
5 records on all 4 charts!!!
2 records on 3 charts
7 records on 2 charts
22 records on only 1 chart

The most obviously interesting thing this week is the debut at #1 of "Ease On Down The Road" by Consumer Rapport (spelled "Report" until the 4/19/75 chart). This is from the current Broadway Show "The Wiz" which introduced Stephanie Mills as "Dorothy." I guess New York was swept away with this record; #1 in the first week of release!!!...it's largely forgotten today and NOT available on any cd compilation that I could find in my research. The lead vocal was by Broadway "pit singer" from "The Wiz" --Frank Floyd. It would peak at #19 on the Billboard Soul chart and at #42 on the Pop chart.

The Melody chart is weird again this week. The "regular reporter guy" musta been on vacation or something cause old stuff returns (Labelle & Major Harris) and Barry White disappears only to return next week with 2 entries!!!

Major Fluctuations this week --"The Goin' Ups & The Comin' Downs":

Back UP after dropping last week:
HIJACK - Herbie Mann
AND YOU CALL THAT LOVE
GLASSHOUSE
E-MAN BOOGIE
PROTECT OUR LOVE

Major Drops:
I'LL NEVER BE THE SAME (from #8 to #28; back to #8 next week)
ONCE YOU GET STARTED (from #11 to #30)
WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH YOU (from #5 down to #32; next week up to #15)

"Crystal World"-- the first bonafide European IMPORT to chart has been released domestically as a 45 after appearing for a number of weeks on the A (Audience Response) chart. Now it's on the retail charts also.
_____________________________________________

Artist Spotlight:

(from the Rolling Stone Record Guide (1979 edition edited by Dave Marsh)...

debuting this week @ #31 with "Trammps Disco Theme" (really just an instrumental version of "Zing! Went The Strings Of my Heart" but sometimes strangely titled "Penguin At the Big Apple"!!! Wut???)........

THE TRAMMPS

"The Trammps have been one of disco's most idiosyncratic groups. The band's early singles on Buddah updated ancient R&B classics and featured Jimmy Ellis' straining, gritty tenor against the basso profundo of Earl Young, a style continued on the group's best LP Trammps (Golden Fleece 33163). But when the dictates of disco began to demand longer songs, the group foundered on bloated workouts. :o The Buddah singles are stretched to six-minute-plus lengths on the Zing album and the Atlantic LPs feature similarly inflated material. Despite some hot tracks ("Where the Happy People Go," "Disco Inferno") and the appeal of Ellis' voice, the excess baggage becomes wearing." (J.MC = Joe McEwen)

(Hey, I don't agree...just giving you THEIR opinion)
_______________________________________________

DISCO ACTION by Tom Moulton
4/5/75

New York) The hottest new record in New York City is "Ease On Down The Road" by Consumer Report (actually,
"Rapport"). There hasn't been a record that has created as much excitement so fast since Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye." Bill Owens, DJ at the "Lost and Found" in Washington, D.C., came up to New York primarily to get the single and said the trip was well worth it. Atlantic has picked up distribution on the single (which will still be on Wing & A Prayer label) and will be releasing the Original Cast LP of "The Wiz" (which the "Ease On Down The Road" song is from) in April. Other parts of the country will be able to get the single soon.

"Survival" the name of the forthcoming O'Jay's LP (Philadelphia International) will have two very strong disco cuts: "Rich Get Richer (the best thing they have done since "Love Train") and "Give The People What They Want"; both are uptempo and will put the O'Jays back where they belong. Also, another cut has been added to the Three Degrees "International" LP (which will be available soon): "Take Good Care Of Yourself". It has the same feel and haunting sound of the big hit, "When Will I See You Again" and will probably be the follow-up single to their current hit "I Didn't Know." With the vocal version of "TSOP" and "Long Lost", this LP is going to be a very popular disco LP.

London Records in Canada has just released a LP by Manu DiBango (of "Soul Ma Rossa"--I think he means "Soul Makossa"!!! fame) :oops: called "Super Kumba" and the title song is the best cut on the LP. Atlantic Records is releasing another version by the same artist which has been re-recorded. The newer version is more pop-sounding where the original is much longer (6:50) and has more of the Afro-Latin sound which is extremely popular in the New York clubs.

Lamont Dozier has written and produced the new "California Sunset" LP by The Originals on Motown. The group has been known primarily as a ballad act until now. There are three uptempo songs "Why'd You Lie,' "Let Me Live in Your Life" and"Financial Affair" (which is the strongest disco cut). This LP is a good change for the group and should establish them in the disco field.

"Are You Ready For This" by The Brothers on RCA is a single pulled from the "Disco Soul By The Brothers" LP. The single is the strongest cut on the LP. The song is instrumental and has the same type of intro as the disco oldie "Rescue Me" by Fontella Bass. It then goes into a Barry White-type of sound. The song is starting to get some club reaction already and sounds like it could be a big one. Also coming out on RCA will be "Trickin" by The LTG (formerly LTG Exchange). This song was cut in Philadelphia at Sigma Sound Studios and is a strong piece of Disco product.

[Videoskooter]

Marky, I almost never react in this topic but I just wanna say thx coz' it's damn interesting and you are putting a lot of effort in this.

Merci beaucoup :)

[markydefad]

Thanks Videoskooter. It's fun for me. No need to praise me--don't need my "ring" kissed. :lol: :lol: :lol: I'm glad to hear that people are enjoying reading this info. I'm learning new things and since Bernie provides the space, I just feel compelled to devote part of my Saturday afternoons to typing this stuff. I have the next two charts done...so I may post another tomorrow. :roll:

Now..... to shootyourshot...

since you've got the charts til June...

why not give me this stuff now and I won't have ta bug ya later...

April 26, 1975 chart:
what's the #15 song on Colony chart? (after "Free & Easy")

May 3, 1975 chart:
what's the #15 song on the Melody chart? (after "Take It From Me")
what's the #15 song on the Colony chart? (after "Flattery")

Then I can get back to work. :D

[markydefad]

April 12, 1975

Billboard Pop Chart Top 5:
1) PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM - Elton John
2) LOVIN' YOU - Minnie Riperton
3) NO NO SONG/ SNOOKEROO - Ringo Starr
4) EXPRESS - B.T. Express
5) POETRY MAN - Phoebe Snow

Billboard Soul Chart #1:
1) L-O-V-E- (Love) - Al Green
______________________________________________


Disco Action
4/12/75

A= Audience Response (NYC Discos) (#1= BAD LUCK)
B= Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC) (#1 = EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD)
C= Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC) (#1: EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD)
D= Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island) (#1= EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD)

4 charts with 15 items apiece. 15 points for a #1; 1 point for a #15; 60 points max. Add them up and voila!....



THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS
April 12, 1975

1) EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD - Consumer Rapport ( chart says "Report")
(Wing & a Prayer/Atlantic 45) (59 total points/ charts ABCD) (Last week #1; 2 weeks total)
2) BAD LUCK - Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes
(Phila. Intl. 45) ( 52/ABCD) (#2)
3) HELPLESSLY - Moment of Truth
(Roulette 45- Disco Mix) 49/ ABCD) (#4)
4) CRYSTAL WORLD - Crystal World
(Polydor 45; now avail. in the U.S.) (35/ABC) (#6)
5) WHERE IS THE LOVE - Betty Wright
(Alston 45) (33/ABC) (#3)
6) LOVE IS EVERYWHERE - City Limits
(TSOP 45) (24/ABCD) (#5)
7) HIJACK - Herbie Mann
(Atlantic 45) (22/AD) (#9)
8. I'LL NEVER BE THE SAME - Chapter Three
(New Moon 45) (17/BC) (#28.)
9) AND YOU CALL THAT LOVE/ FRAME OF MIND - Vernon Burch
(UA LP only) (16/AD) (#10)
10) SAVE ME/ SAVE ME, AGAIN - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. 45) (15/ABC) (#7)

11) HIJACK - Barrabas
(Atlantic LP only) (15/AD) (#8.)
12) * I'LL DO ANYTYHING - Barry White
(20th Century LP only) (14/D) (NEW)
13) SWEARIN' TO GOD - Frankie Valli
(Private Stock LP only) (13/AC) (#19)
14) GLASSHOUSE - The Temptations
(Gordy LP only) (12/AD) (#11)
15) WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH YOU - Barry White
(20th Century 45) (12/D) (#32)
16) * I WANNA DANCE WIT CHOO (DOO DAT DANCE) - Disco Tex & His Sex-o-lettes
(Chelsea 45) (11/B) (NEW)
17) (R) BLUE EYED SOUL - Carl Douglas
(20th Century LP) (8/D) (RETURN)
18. * WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER - Kaleidoscope
(TSOP 45) (8/C) (NEW)
19) DANCE, DANCE, DANCE - Liquid Smoke
(Roulette 45) (7/CD) (#24)
20) AFRICANO - Earth, Wind & Fire
(Columbia LP only) (7/D) (#17)

21) * ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? - The Brothers
(RCA 45) ( 7/C )(NEW)
22) (R) FOOTSTEPS IN THE SHADOWS - Jimmy Jackson
(Buddah 45) (7/B) (RETURN)
23) * FLATTERY - Jeree Palmer
(Columbia 45) (5/B) (NEW)
24) (R) I CAN UNDERSTAND IT - Kokomo
(Columbia LP only) (5/C) (RETURN)
25) REAL GOOD PEOPLE - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP only) (5/A) (#26)
26) E-MAN BOOGIE - Jimmy Castor Bunch
(Atlantic LP only) (4/D) (#13)
27) (R) MISTERI - The Jones Girls
(Curtom 45) (4/B) (RETURN)
28. REACH OUT, I'LL BE THERE - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP version) (4/A) (#20)
29) RUN AND HIDE - The Philadelphia Flyers
(Casablanca 45) (4/C) (#12)
30) MORE SHAME - Seldon Powell & Compnay
(Stang 45) (3/B) (#25)

31) * SUN GODDESS - Ramsey Lewis w/ Earth, Wind & Fire
(Columbia 45) (3/B) (NEW)
32) TRAMMPS DISCO THEME/ *STOP AND THINK - The Trammps
(Golden Fleece LP- not available yet) (3/A) (31/NEW)
33) BABY THAT'S BACKATCHA - Smokey Robinson
(TAmla 45) (2/B) (#18.)
34) HIGHWAY DRIVER - Randy Pie
(Polydor 45) (2/C) (#21)
35) LOOK BUT DON'T TOUCH - Donny Beaumont
(Mercury 45) (1/B) (#34)
36) PROTECT OUR LOVE/ PAIN RELIEVER - Sister Sledge
(Atco LP only) (1/A) (#16)

#8, 12, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30, (1/2) 32, 33, 34, 35 NOT listed in Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco (1974-2003) book.

* = Debut (6): #12, 16, 18, 21, 23, 31
(R) = Return/Re-entry (4): #17, 22, 24, 27

Dropped Off:
FREE AND EASY - Satyr (last week #14) * (will be back)
NEFERTITI - Wisdom (#15) *
HONEY BEE/ NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE (portion of the "medley") - Gloria Gaynor (#20)
IT'S A MIRACLE - Barry Manilow (#22)
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU - Labelle *
EACH MORNING I WAKE UP - Major Harris Boogie Band (#28.)
PEACE AND LOVE - Brooklyn People (#29)
ONCE YOU GET STARTED - Rufus feat. Chaka Khan ((#30)
ROLLING DOWN A MOUNTAINSIDE - Main Ingredient (#35) *
GET DOWN - Kay Gees (#33)
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME - Shirley & Company (#36)...Bye, Shirley


Stats & Random Notes:
36 total items; last week: 36 also
+ 6 debuts +4 returns/ -10 dropoffs
4 records on all 4 charts
3 records on 3 charts
7 records on 2 charts
22 records on 1 chart

______________________________________________

Artist Spotlight

(from the 1979 edition of The Rolling Stone Record Guide, edited by Dave Marsh...

Quick takes on several artists currently on the chart:

DISCO TEX & HIS SEX-O-LETTES

"Singer/hairdresser/hanger-on further debases self; but all in fun. A Johnny Carson favorite--as Monti Rock III in the sixties--this sounds like his revenge on Trude Heller." :o (who?) [NOTE: I did a Google search--Trude Heller's was a Manhattan disco in the late 1960s - early 1970s era] (KT = Ken Tucker; now the TV critic for Entertainment Weekly, I believe)

RANDY PIE

"Various Europeans (Frenchmen, Germans, Belgians) sing in English--the first Common Market jazz-rock band. Kitsch is less striking than the group's deleted, eponymous debut, but both display a witty, polished fusion synthesis". (AN = Alan Niester)

KOKOMO

"Average White Band by vegetative propogation. Kokomo is basically Joe Cocker's Grease Band (bassist Allan Spenner's seal imitations still steal the show), along with extra-muscular saxophones of King Crimson reedman Mel Collins and a trio of very black-sounding British singers. Any band with the wit to coin the chant "It ain't kool to be kool no mo' " has a lot more going for it than just good dance music." (BM = Bruce Malamut)

BARRABAS

"Poor man's Mandrill, busier and less focused." (DM = Dave Marsh)

VERNON BURCH

"On his deleted 1975 debut album ( I'll Be Your Sunshine, (United Artists), Vernon Burch astounded people with his vocal similarity to Stevie Wonder. Burch mastered Wonder's touch, phrasing and general mood on songs like "Ain't Gonna Tell Nobody." He also played lead guitar, which had been his main bread-and-butter gig with the reformed Bar-Kays, and his guitar work was as derivative (in the Stax/Volt psychedelic mode made popular by Isaac Hayes circa Hot Buttered Soul as his singing. The Columbia album When I Get Home moves him closer to a disco style and adds an Al Green touch to the Wonder influence. At some point Burch is liable to develop into a major talent if he can stop leaning so heavily on his influences". (J.S. = John Swenson)

BETTY WRIGHT

"An energetic, spunky performer, Betty Wright hasn't been able to transfer her considerable talents into sustained commercial success. Her early hits ("Clean Up Woman, " "The Babysitter") are gritty novelty records, but they're out of print and the albums are a mixed bag. Danger: High Voltage is the best; it's a cross section of exuberant, varied dance songs and poignant ballads, recorded during the peak of Miami soul. The subsequent albums show a distressing lack of direction and often bog down with hack productions." (J.MC = Joe McEwen)

______________________________________________

DISCO ACTION by Tom Moulton
April 12, 1975

(New York) Phil Hurtt and Tony Bell (Thom's brother) have produced the new LP on AVCO by Anthony & The Imperials. The single from it is a cover version of the Persuaders' LP disco hit of last summer, "Hold On (Just A Little Bit Longer)." This version is not as strong as the original , but has a better chance as a single. There are four disco cuts, "My Baby's Back" (which is the strongest cut), "Young Girl, "Promise Me and "Hold On." The LP was made in Philadelphia at Sigma Sound Studios as well as by the Persuaders on ATCO and produced by the same team.

RCA is reissuing a new LP by The Main Ingredient, "Rolling Down A Mountainside" (which is also the title of their current single). The LP single version is 4:35. The strongest cut on the LP is "The Good Old Days" and it is their strongest record since "Happiness Is Just Around The Bend." The new Choice Four LP, also on RCA, has been held for release until May. The single "Hook It Up" (from the new LP) has been reserviced because of the intro. The new version is much stronger and has more commercial possibilities. RCA feels the LP will be a stronger record on a national basis after the new single has been exposed. This is the group's second LP for the label. They are known primarily in the New York and Baltimore/Washington areas.

Atlantic Records in London sent a number of disco DJs an English single "Scaredy Cat" by the Doyley Brothers on the Safari label. It has the feel and instrumental sound of "Crystal World" and some wild rock 'n' roll lyrics. It is more of a teenybopper record with the vocals and if they release it here, it could be a very strong record as an instrumental with the vocal on the other side.

"Free Man" by South Shore Commission on Wand is already getting some strong local disco action. Douglas Riddick, DJ of Opus One, N.Y., says he got a test pressing of the long version and when the record gets to the break, it takes everybody by surprise because they don't expect it and it takes them even higher.

WPIX-FM has been exposing a lot of new records on their Saturday and Sunday night Disco show. A large number of disco DJs are off on Saturday or Sunday night (alternating with their relief DJ) and listen to the show. They have been playing a tape of "Forget That Girl" by De-Liteful on Vigor (part 1 & 2). A number of DJs have been trying to get the record. Hector LeBaron of the Limelight disco, NY, says "It is one of the most popular records I have, and my audience loves it." The commercial copies will be available this week and will have the instrumental on the flip side.

"I Wanna Dance Wit' Choo (Doo Dat Dance)" by Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes on Chelsea is starting to take off here. Most of the clubs are playing the record and most DJs say the same thing about it. It sounds like "Get Dancin'" part 3.

"We're Not Getting Any Younger" by Kaleidoscope on TSOP is a good uptemp song with the Blue Magic/Philly Sound. It is showing up in store sales as well as at a number of discos. The record has been out a week.

[efunk_adelic]

Feels PEOPLE'S CHOICE coming up soon... :D


I didn't realize that BABY THAT'S BACKATCHA made any kind of chart action.... but it's one of my favorites from this time period...

[markydefad]

April 19, 1975

Billboard Pop Chart #1:
1) PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM - Elton John (2nd week)

Billboard Soul Chart #1:
1) L-O-V-E (LOVE) - Al Green (2nd week)

_______________________________________________

Disco Action

A= Audience Response (NYC Discos) (#1= BAD LUCK)
B= Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC) (#1 = EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD)
C= Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC) (#1: EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD)
D= Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island) (#1= DISCO STOMP)

4 charts with 15 items apiece. 15 points for a #1; 1 point for a #15; 60 points max. Add them up and voila!....



THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS
4/19/75

1) EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD - Consumer Rapport
(Wing & a Prayer 45/(Atlantic) (58 total points/Charts ABCD) (Last week:#1; 3rd week @#1)
2) BAD LUCK - Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes
(Phila. Intl 45) (40/ACD) (#2)
3) CRYSTAL WORLD - Crystal Grass
(Polydor 45) (31/ABC) (#4)
4) HELPLESSLY - Moment of Truth
(Roulette 45- Disco Mix) (29/ACD) (#3)
5) WHERE IS THE LOVE - Betty Wright
(Alston 45) (27/ACD) (#5)
6) * THE HUSTLE/"DISCO KID" LP - Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony
(Avco 45/LP) (26/BD) (NEW)
7) ARE YOU READY FOR THIS - The Brothers
(RCA 45) (22/BC) (#21)
8. (R) FREE AND EASY - Satyr
(RCA 45) (20/BC) (RETURN)
9) SWEARIN' TO GOD - Frankie Valli
(Private Stock LP only) (19/AC) (#13)
10) HIJACK - Barrabas
(Atlantic LP only) (18/AD) (#11)

11) HIJACK Herbie Mann
(Atlantic 45) (16/AD) (#7)
12) WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH YOU - Barry White
(20th Century 45) (15/CD) (#15)
13) * DISCO STOMP - Bohannon
(Dakar LP only) (15/D) (NEW)
14) LOVE IS EVERYWHERE - City Limits
(TSOP 45) (14/AD) (#6)
15) AND YOU CALL THAT LOVE/ FRAME OF MIND - Vernon Burch
(UA LP only) (13/AD) (#9)
16) FLATTERY - Jeree Palmer
(Columbia 45) (13/BD) (#23)
17) GLASSHOUSE - The Temptations
(Gordy LP only) (11/AD) (#14)
18. SUN GODDESS - Ramsey Lewis w/ Earth, Wind & Fire
(Columbia 45) (11/D) (#31)
19) I WANNA DANCE WIT CHOO (DOO DAT DANCE) - Disco Tex & His Sex-o-lettes
(Chelsea 45) (10/AB) (#16)
20) I'LL DO ANYTHING - Barry White
(20th Century LP only) (10/D) (#12)

21) (R) NEFERTITI - Wisdom
(Adelia 45) (10/C) (RETURN)
22) BABY THAT'S BACKATCHA - Smokey Robinson
(Tamla 45) (9/B) (#33)
23) TRAMMPS DISCO THEME/ STOP AND THINK - The Trammps
(Golden Fleece LP only) (6/A) (#32)
24) WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER - Kaleidoscope
(TSOP 45) (6/B) (#18.)
25) * ALL RIGHT NOW - Lea Roberts
(UA 45) (5/B) (NEW) (cover of 1970 Free pop hit)
26) * EVERYBODY HUSTLE - Funky People
(Roulette 45) (5/C) (NEW)
27) * TAKE IT FROM ME - Dionne Warwick(e)
(Warner Bros. 45) (5/A) (NEW)
28. * BIG NOISE FROM WINNETKA - Spaghetti Head
(Private Stock 45) (4/C) (NEW) (Big Band song later covered by Bette Midler)
29) I'LL NEVER BE THE SAME - Chapter Three
(New Moon 45) (4/B) (#8.)
30) AFRICANO - Earth, Wind & Fire
(Columbia LP only) (3/D) (#20)

31) * GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT - The O'Jays
(Phila. Intl. 45) (3/C) (NEW)
32) * HONEY BABY (BE MINE) - Innovisions
(Private Stock LP) (3/B) (NEW)
33) * FREE MAN - South Shore Commission
(Wand 45) (2/AC) (NEW)
34) DANCE, DANCE, DANCE - Liquid Smoke
(Roulette 45) (2/C) (#19)
35) MORE SHAME - Seldon Powell & Company
(Stang 45) (2/B) (#30)
36) REAL GOOD PEOPLE - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP only) (2/A) (#25)
37) * EXPANSIONS - Lonnie Liston Smith
(Flying Dutchman 45) (1/B) (NEW)

#8, 12, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37 NOT listed in Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco (1974-2003) book.

* = Debut (10): #6, 13, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 37

(R) = Return/ re-entry (2): #8, 21

Dropped Off:

SAVE ME/ SAVE ME AGAIN - Silver Convention (last week #10- that was quick!!! )
BLUE EYED SOUL - Carl Douglas (#17)
FOOTSTEPS IN THE SHADOWS - Jimmy Jackson (#22)
I CAN UNDERSTAND IT - Kokomo (24) *will be back
E-MAN BOOGIE - Jimmy Castor Bunch (#26)
MISTERI - The Jones Girls (#27)
REACH OUT, I'LL BE THERE - Gloria Gaynor (#28.) Bye, Glo.
RUN & HIDE - Philadelphia Flyers (#29)
HIGHWAY DRIVER - Randy Pie (#34) *
LOOK BUT DON'T TOUCH - Donny Beaumont *#35)
PROTECT OUR LOVE/ PAIN RELIEVER - Sister Sledge (#36)

Stats & Random Notes:

37 total items; last week 36
+10 debuts + 2 returns/ -11 dropoffs
ONLY 1 record on all 4 charts ("Ease On..."); last week 4;
(Chart B dropped "Bad Luck" & "Helplessly"; Chart D hasn't picked up "Crystal World" yet)
3 records on 3 charts
13 records on 2 charts
19 records on 1 chart

Several landmark records debut on the chart this week: #6 "The Hustle" & #33 "Free Man". Both will be around for a longtime. One will certainly be a #1 hit. Also, funky drummer Hamilton Bohannon debuts his brand of funk for the feets; Lonnie Liston Smith debuts the jazz-fusion trend with the influential "Expansions"; Dionne Warwick(e) (remember she added that pesky last "e" cause her numerologist Miss Cleo told her to :lol: ) debuts her "Take It From Me" --a very nice Philly-sounding track produced by Jerry Ragovoy.
______________________________________________

Artist Spotlight

(reviews from the 1979 edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide, edited by Dave Marsh & John Swenson)...

VAN McCOY

"Veteran soul producer cashed in early on the Seventies dance crazes with "Disco Kid" and "The Hustle," both pop as well as R&B hits. McCoy is probably better known as a producer, and these records show why--they're all boogie-able party tracks, but they're also completely interchangeable." (DM = Dave Marsh)

HAMILTON BOHANNON

"Former Motown drummer Bohannon was one of the first to perceive the tremendous possibilities of disco for percussionists. He did it to death, stomping out a whole series of big-foot beat, highlighted by the 1975 hit "Foot Stompin' Music," and an array of similar black Sandy Nelson titles-- "Disco Stomp," "Bohannon's Beat (Pts. 1 & 2)," etc. " (DM = Dave Marsh)

_______________________________________________

DISCO ACTION - by Tom Moulton
April 19, 1975

(New York) Peter Frost has opened a Toronto retail operation, Disco Sound Of Canada, designed to cater primarily to the local disco market. According to Frost, it's the first store of its kind in Toronto and, as such, will stock almost 100 percent discotheque-oriented product.

He'll be looking to sell local spinners and discogoers, Canadian disco product and imports from the U.S. and Europe. The outlet will also carry disco oldie selections.

The new Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes LP (Chelsea) has all the sounds of a live show. The cuts blend into each other well, and the audience applause, hand clapping and auditorium sounds throughout the disk add a solid dimension to the feel of being at a disco. The strongest dance tune on the album (with the exception of "Get Dancin' " and "I Wanna Dance Wit' Choo") is "Boogie Flap." Bob Crewe, producer, gets the same feel as if you were at a Monti Rock (Disco-Tex) concert.

Another Crewe recent effort, "Swearin' To God" by Frankie Valli, has been receiving strong response here and, because of it, a number of disco DJs have been given a special 10-inch double-sided test pressing of the song by Crewe himself. He says that the initial response to the cut, off of Valli's "My Eyes Adored You" prompted his making the special single. The pressing is 10:32 in length.

Joe Palmenteiri, DJ at the Sound Machine here and Steven Santoro, DJ at The Players in New Jersey, are both getting stong reaction to "Peace And Love" by Ron Butler and the Ramblers (Playboy). Both spinners are already speculating that the disk has the potential of becoming a big disco number.

It seems that the current trend is that if you're successful with a record, why not try it again? At least that seems to be the case with the new Shirley and Company "Cry, Cry, Cry" tune. While the lyrics are different, it has the same melody as their "Shame, Shame, Shame" single.

Richie Pampinella, DJ at the Hippopatomus Club here, reports good reaction to Evie Sands "One Thing On My Mind," a cut from her "Estate of My Mind" LP (Haven). The song has sensual lyrics abnd a strong medium tempo rhythm

(Note: BOTH Linda Clifford and Phyllis Hyman covered this song. BOTH were good; None were hits of any note. )

The new Philly Devotions single will be out soon on the Columbia label. It's called "I Just Can't Make It" and will have a part 1 & 2. The record, a heavy followup to their "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" single, has a strong Philadelphia "sound" with an uptempo Spinners feel.

[markydefad]

Originally Posted by efunk_adelic

Feels PEOPLE'S CHOICE coming up soon... :D


I didn't realize that BABY THAT'S BACKATCHA made any kind of chart action.... but it's one of my favorites from this time period...

e-funk,

Smokey's "Baby That's Backatcha" charts for a few weeks on the Downstairs Records chart only. Seems like a natural for the Melody Song shops chain (they like the radio tunes)...but I think that's it. It will be a #1 R&B/Soul hit, however.

oh and I'm gonna take a moment to nag shootyourshot, my partner in crime here, once again, in case ya missed it-- buried in the 3 posts I did this weekend......... :D :D :D

..... to shootyourshot...

since you've got the charts til June...

why not give me this stuff now and I won't have ta bug ya later...

April 26, 1975 chart:
what's the #15 song on Colony chart? (after "Free & Easy")

May 3, 1975 chart:
what's the #15 song on the Melody chart? (after "Take It From Me")
what's the #15 song on the Colony chart? (after "Flattery")

Then I can get back to work.

[DISCODISK]

MARKYDEFAD youve excelled yourself again, pleased to see 'you' havnt lost your 'spark'
you mention penguin at the big apple strangely sometimes called,that was the name it was originally called in 72 as was the instrumental of hold back the night originally released as 'scrub board' years before.
im surprised that the jimmy jackson footsteps in the shadows wasnt greeted with woos and ahhhhs as it entered the chart what a f****n record maybee it isnt so known there, i dug it out today and really enjoyed, as deep throated jimmy wails and screams all the way through as they said in the studio 'its a rap' im sure jim must have collapsed :o thats whats called givin your all! big strings funky guitar girly back ups and uptempo for those who dont know it search e.bay great to see the brothers are you ready for this in there too one of the best instrumentals ever made i remember u.k music mag black music [finally] reviewing this and it said 'throw in the trash can' but what did they know :roll: a couple of years ago this came back round and was the biggest floorfiller in the north west of england and changing hands for well over $100 [for a record that really isnt rare] and now settled at around $40 those strings would kill any grown man :D these two records define this period for me along with so much other stuff from all across the states i hate to say it but these charts appear to me to be pretty lame sometimes for what was around heck if 'i wanna dance wit choo' was ever played where i clubbed ian levine would have died in a hail of amphetamines

[shootyourshot]

April 5, 1975

Top LPs & Tape:

7, 7, Labelle, Night Birds
19, 17, Average White Band, s/t
22, 22, B.T. Express, Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied)
24, 32, Al Green, Greatest Hits
43, 53, Stylistics, Best Of
51, 26, Al Green, Explores Your Mind
71, 71, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, To Be True
79, 65, Gloria Gaynor, Never Can Say Goodbye
85, 73, Blackbyrds, Flying Start
94, 82, Love Unlimited Orchestra, White Gold
102, New, Average White Band, Put It Where You Want It
125, 125, Jimmy Castor Bunch, Butt Of Course
142, 143, Barry White, Can’t Get Enough
145, 109, Carl Douglas, Kung Fu Fighting & Other Love Songs
156, 167, Major Harris, My Way
178, 179, Love Unlimited, In Heat
177, 180, Carol Douglas, The Carol Douglas Album

Hot 100:

2, 3, Elton John, Philadelphia Freedom
4, 4, B.T. Express, Express
7, 1, Labelle, Lady Marmalade
11, 13, Rufus, Once You Get Started
14, 27, Barry White, What Am I Gonna Do With You
16, 20, Ben E. King, Supernatural Thing
19, 24, Al Green, L-O-V-E
20, 22, Blackbyrds, Walking In Rhythm
22, 26, Love Unlimited Orchestra, Satin Soul
24, 12, Shirley & Company, Shame, Shame, Shame
25, 31, Jimmy Castor, The Bertha Butt Boogie
28, 34, Barry Manilow, It’s A Miracle
34, 42, Eddie Kendricks, Shoeshine Boy
62, 81, Major Harris, Love Won’t Let Me Wait
64, 75, Gloria Gaynor, Reach Out
70, 80, Bloodstone, My Little Lady
76, Re-Entry, Herbie Mann, Hijack
78, 88, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Bad Luck
90, 85, Ecstasy, Passion, & Pain, One Beautiful Day
96, New, Betty Wright, Where Is The Love

April 12, 1975

Top LPs & Tape:

15, 7, Labelle, Night Birds
19, 24, Al Green, Greatest Hits
31, 19, Average White Band, s/t
35, 22, B.T. Express, Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied)
41, 43, Stylistics, Best Of
65, New, Barry White, Just Another Way To Say I Love You
68, 71, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, To Be True
69, 51, Al Green, Explores Your Mind
71, 85, Blackbyrds, Flying Start
91, 102, Average White Band, Put It Where You Want It
98, 79, Gloria Gaynor, Never Can Say Goodbye
111, 125, Jimmy Castor Bunch, Butt Of Course
118, 156, Major Harris, My Way
131, 94, Love Unlimited Orchestra, White Gold
161, 142, Barry White, Can’t Get Enough
180, 177, Carol Douglas, The Carol Douglas Album

Hot 100:

1, 2, Elton John, Philadelphia Freedom
4, 4, B.T. Express, Express
7, 7, Labelle, Lady Marmalade
9, 14, Barry White, What Am I Gonna Do With You
10, 11, Rufus, Once You Get Started
12, 16, Ben E. King, Supernatural Thing
14, 19, Al Green, L-O-V-E
15, 20, Blackbyrds, Walking In Rhythm
22, 22, Love Unlimited Orchestra, Satin Soul
24, 28, Barry Manilow, It’s A Miracle
25, 25, Jimmy Castor, The Bertha Butt Boogie
32, 34, Eddie Kendricks, Shoeshine Boy
35, 24, Shirley & Company, Shame, Shame, Shame
51, 62, Major Harris, Love Won’t Let Me Wait
60, 64, Gloria Gaynor, Reach Out
65, 76, Herbie Mann, Hijack
67, 78, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Bad Luck
70, 70, Bloodstone, My Little Lady
75, 90, Ecstasy, Passion, & Pain, One Beautiful Day
76, New, Average White Band, Cut The Cake
88, New, Carol Douglas, A Hurricane Is Coming Tonight
91, New, Tavares, Remember What I Told You To Forget / My Ship
100, New, Bazuka, Dynomite

4/26/75
#15 on Colony (after "Free & Easy")
Miseri - The Jones Girls - Curtom

5/3/75
#15 Melody (after "Take It From Me")
Glass House - The Temptations - Gordy LP cut
#15 Colony "after "Flattery")
Down Where It’s At - Peaches & Herb - B & S

[markydefad]

Thanks shootyourshot.

Anyone know what the title of the Curtom single by The Jones Girls really is? Is is "Miseri" or "Mystery" or "Misteri" or what? Billboard keeps spelling it weirdly...I asssumed they meant "Mystery" but now I wonder. AMG is no help; neither was Google. The early Curtom stuff from the Jones Girls seems rather rare.

Discodisk, any clue?

[DISCODISK]

IT WOULD BE MISTERI MARKY :P

[markydefad]

Thanks. DD. "Misteri", eh? "my mister be a mystery to me" Is that the gist?

[markydefad]

OK, I just typed the entire chart for April 26, 1975...and pressed "submit" and it says "I wasn't logged in" so I lost the whole fucking thing!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Why are you allowed to type a post when you are not logged in? And why don't you get a prompt to that effect before you press "submit" and lose the entire post? Why can't you log in and retrieve your post? Why does it just erase? This hasn't happened for a long time. I'm bummed.

I gotta take a break. :evil: :evil: :evil:

(And, Bernie--I know what you're gonna tell me...BUT I have checked the "Log me in automatically" option repeatedly...but it doesn't seem to matter). :o

[markydefad]

April 26, 1975

Billboard Pop Chart Top 5:
1) (Hey Won't You Play) ANOTHER SOMEBODY DONE SOMEBODY WRONG SONG - B.J. Thomas
2) PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM - Elton John
3) HE DON'T LOVE YOU (Like I Love You) - Tony Orlando & Dawn
4) LOVIN' YOU - Minnie Riperton
5) SUPERNATURAL THING, pt. 1 - Ben E. King

Billboard Soul/R&B Chart #1:
1) SHAKEY GROUND - The Temptations
_______________________________________________
Disco Action

A= Audience Response (NYC Discos) (#1= BAD LUCK)
B= Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC) (#1 = THE HUSTLE)
C= Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC) (#1: EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD)
D= Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island) (#1= DISCO STOMP)

4 charts with 15 items apiece. 15 points for a #1; 1 point for a #15; 60 points max. Add them up and voila!....


THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS
April 26, 1975

1) EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD - Consumer Rapport
(Wing & a Prayer 45) (55 total points. charts ABCD) (Last week: #1; 4th consecutive week)
2) TRAMMPS DISCO THEME/ STOP AND THINK - The Trammps
(Golden Fleece LP only) (49/ABCD) (#23)
3) CRYSTAL WORLD - Crystal Grass]
(Polydor 45) (38/ABCD) (#3)
4) ARE YOU READY FOR THIS - The Brothers
(RCA 45) (37/ABCD) (#7)
5) THE HUSTLE - Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony
(Avco 45) (34/ABCD) (#6)
6) BAD LUCK - Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes
(Phila. Intl. 45) (34/ACD) (#2)
7) I WANNA DANCE WIT' CHOO (Doo Dat Dance) - Disco Tex & His Sex-o-lettes
(Chelsea 45) ( 28/ ABD) (#19)
8. HELPLESSLY - Moment of Truth
(Roulette 45 - Disco Mix) (26/ABC) (#4)
9) SWEARIN' TO GOD - Frankie Valli
(Private Stock LP only) (22/AC) (#9)
10) FREE MAN - South Shore Commission
(Wand 45- Disco Mix) (19/ABC) (#33)

11) DISCO STOMP - Bohannon
(Dakar 45) (15/D) (#13)
12) BIG NOISE FROM WINNETKA - Spaghetti Head
(Private Stock 45) (13/BC) (#28.)
13)WHERE IS THE LOVE - Betty Wright
(Alston 45) (12/A) (#5)
14) LOVE IS EVERYWHERE - City Limits
(TSOP 45) (11/AD) (#14)
15) GLASSHOUSE - The Temptations
(Gordy LP only) (9/AD) (#17)
16) TAKE IT FROM ME - Dionne Warwick(e)
(Warner Bros. 45) (9/AD) (#27)
17) EXPANSIONS - Lonnie Liston Smith
(Flying Dutchman/Signature 45) (9/B) (#37)
18. EVERYBODY HUSTLE - Funky People
(Roulette 45) (8/BC) (#26)
19) AND YOU CALL THAT LOVE - Vernon Burch
(UA LP only) (8/D) (#15)
20) FLATTERY - Jeree Palmer
(Columbia 45) (8/B) (#16)

21) {tie} HIJACK - Barrabas
(Atlantic LP only) (8/A) (#10)
21) {tie} HIJACK - Herbie Mann
(Atlantic 45) (8/A) (#11)
23) SUN GODDESS - Ramsey Lewis w/ Earth, Wind & Fire (Produced by Maurice White)
(Columbia 45) (7/D) (#18.)
24) * FORGET THAT GIRL - De-lite-ful
(Vigor 45) (4/B) (NEW)
25) WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH YOU - Barry White
(20th Century 45) (4/C) (#12)
26) (R) HIGHWAY DRIVER - Randy Pie
(Polydor 45) (3/C) (RETURN)
27) (R) I CAN UNDERSTAND IT - Kokomo
(Columbia 45) (3/D) (RETURN)
28. DANCE, DANCE, DANCE - Liquid Smoke
(Roulette 45) (2/B) (#34)
29) FREE AND EASY - Satyr
(RCA 45) (2/C) (#8.)
30) * GET DOWN TONIGHT - K.C. & the Sunshine Band
(TK 45) (1/B) (NEW)

31) * MISTER MAGIC - Grover Washington, Jr.
(Kudu 45) (1/D) (NEW)
32) (R) MISTERI - The Jones Girls
(Curtom 45) (1/C) (RETURN)
______________________________________________

Half #2 ("TDT"), 12, 17, 18, 20, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31 & 32 NOT listed in Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco (1974-2993) book.

* = Debut (3): #24, 30, 31

(R) = Return/Re-entry (3): #26, 27, 32

Dropped Off:
"The Disco Kid" LP - Van McCoy (half #6 last week)
FRAME OF MIND - Venon Burch (half #15)
I'LL DO ANYTHING - Barry White (#20)
NEFERTITI - Wisdom (#21)
BABY THAT'S BACKATCHA - Smokey Robinson ( #22)
WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER - Kaleidoscope (#24) * will be back
ALL RIGHT NOW - Lea Roberts (#25)
I'LL NEVER BE THE SAME - Chapter Three (#29)
AFRICANO - Earth, Wind & Fire (#30)
GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT - The O'Jays (#31)
HONEY BABY (Be Mine) - Innovisions (#32)
MORE SHAME - Seldon Powell & Company (#35) *
REAL GOOD PEOPLE - Gloria Gaynor (#36) Bye Glo...See you in September.

Stats & Random Notes:

32 total items; 37 last week
+ 3 debuts + 3 Returns/Re-entries/ -11 dropoffs
5 records on all 4 charts: #1, 2, 3, 4,& 5. Now that's CONSENSUS!!! :D
4 records on 3 charts
6 records on 2 charts
17 records on only 1 chart

So what's interesting?

Well, the debut at #30 of "Get Down Tonight" by songwriter/ producer/ artist K.C. (Harry Casey) and his Sunshine Band is. Primarily for the fact that this "breakthrough" record for K.C. will be a HUGE record across the U.S., but will have little impact on the NYC charts. It will drop off next week and then reappear one more time. :o "Shotgun Shuffle" by the Sunshine Band will debut next week and get more chart action than "GDT"....and in the fall when "That's The Way (I Like It)" is released, the story will be similar. Any time charts from LA, SF, Boston or, obviously, Miami are printed, the K.C. records will be Top 10...BUT NOT IN NEW YORK!!! NYC is NOT diggin' the "Sunshine Sound", I guess. :o K.C. is the Rodney Dangerfield of Disco (he "gets no respect"). In NYC, at least.

The gestation period of a hit?

"Get Down Tonight" makes a tiny blip on the Disco chart this last week in April....in 4 months, (Aug. 23. 1975) it will be #1 on the Billboard R&B chart and one week later #1 on the Billboard Pop chart.
_______________________________________________

Artist Spotlight

(from the 1979 edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide, edited by Dave Marsh & John Swenson)....

K.C. AND THE SUNSHINE BAND

"The Sunshine Band's early recordings, found on Do It Good, were ambitious and fresh. At one time, the group consisted of just two members, Rick Finch and H.W. Casey, who were given free rein in the TK studios to explore their eccentric funk vision. Do It Good is ragged, but the energy expounded borders on the maniacal. The best of it is "Queen Of Clubs," runaway Miami funk that blends Finch's machine-gun bass line, surging Junkanoo horns and George McCrae's falsetto banshee wail.

Pop success began with "Get Down Tonight," and since then Finch and Casey have whittled the music down to its lowest common denominator: a pile-driving, percussive groove and hook lines as simple as any in pop. The result: bubblegum funk." (J.MC = Joe McEwen)

(And what's so wrong with that, I ask???) :o

In counterpoint....from the liner notes to KC & SB's "25th Anniversary Collection" (to which I'm listening as I type)....

"Casey knew it, too, because he had it when they came up with "Get Down Tonight." As he's often recounted, he experienced a strange feeling of euphoria as they played back the track over and over. He realized, once again, that they'd caught lightning in a bottle. The song shared the pumping yet trancelike quality of "Rock Your Baby," while adding festive horns and female vocals. It was, quite simply, one of the happiest-sounding, most satisfying party records anyone had ever made."

(by Brian Chin, former Billboard Disco columnist and liner notes writer extraordinare). (I say, "Amen, Brother Chin!!!)
_______________________________________________

DISCO ACTION - by Tom Moulton
April 26, 1975

New York) Radio station WPIX here has expanded its weekend disco program, "Disco 102," to a seven-day format. The show now airs Monday through Friday in the 9-12 PM slot, Saturdays in 7-12 PM slot and Sunday in the 8-11 PM slot. Neil McIntyre, music director, says that the move was prompted by strong audience response to the weekend broadcast.

Ron Robin, DJ at Boston radio station WBVF, is airing a show this week from Music Designers Studio, along with Larry Palmacci, on the mixing of discotheque records. The two will do a mix (not for release) on Leon Collin's "I Just Want To Say I Love You" in an attempt to show his listeners what goes into a disco disk. As most people aren't familiar with the technical art of recording, not to mention special disco mixes, Robin feels that the show can be as informative as it can be entertaining for his audience. The show is "Disco Notes."

Capitol Records is releasing "Life is What You Make It" by Tapestry next week. Skip Blackburn, who handles disco promotion for the label, is mailing out special test pressings to all club DJs on Capitol's service list. He says that the move is part of new label emphasis on creating disco product and directing it to clubs around the country. Tapestry is the same group that had "Big Stone Wall," a disco hit here in the spring of 1974. Their upcoming release (instrumental and vocal versions) is in the Philadelphia style, with the instrumental version primarily for the clubs.

Blue Magic (ATCO) has just recorded its theme song "The Magic Of The Blue" (not to be confused with their LP of the same name). It's the strongest thing it has done since "Welcome To The Club." The song is mostly instrumental and will be on a yet-to-be scheduled album. Its latest LP has several cuts geared for club play.

War's new single on UA Records, "Why Can't We Be Friends," is pure pop soul reggae. The group has always been strong in discos and just might prove to be the ones to give a healthy boost to the reggae sound in the clubs. It's a new approach for the group, but it works well.

The Philadelphia "sound" is becoming the dominant sound in discos here. Among the current "Philly" favorites here are such acts as Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, the Trammps, City Limits, South Shore Commission, the O'Jays and the Three Degrees. Another new group out of Philadelphia is T.U.M.E. (The Ultimate Musical Experience) on the MGM label. Its new single , "Love Shortage," is already getting airplay at several clubs. It's a good up-tempo number with a First Choice flavor to it.