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

[efunk_adelic]

[quote="markydefad"]September 20, 1975


1) DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA - People's Choice
(TSOP 45) (53 total points/charts ABCDEFG) (last week: #1; 8 non-consecutive weeks @#1)

3) BRAZIL - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century 45/LP) (11 (A/LP medley) + 30 (45) = 41/ACDEFG) (#4)

4) FLY, ROBIN, FLY - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (41/ABCDEF) (#3/tie)
(MGM 45) (32/BCE) (#6)

11) TO EACH HIS OWN - Faith, Hope & Charity

30) * LOVE ROLLERCOASTER - Ohio Players
(Mercury LP) (9/E) (NEW)


35) IT'S ALRIGHT - Graham Central Station
(WB 45) (7/E) (#39)

45) FIGHT THE POWER - Isley Brothers
(T-Neck 45) (2/E) (#26)
__________________________________________________ __

love it love it love it! 8)

[markydefad]

September 27, 1975

Billboard Pop Chart #1:
1) FAME - David Bowie (2nd week)

Billboard Soul/R&B Chart #1
1) DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA - People's Choice
__________________________________________________

Disco Action

Record World "National Disco File Top 20" #1: FLY, ROBIN, FLY (week #1); (This is the chart being used by Joel Whitburn in his book for this time period--you know, the one chart versus 5 or 6 , now 7-- chart thang.)

But I've resolved that issue by combining the 7 Billboard charts into one.

Billboard charts:

A= Top 15 Audience Response Records in NYC Discos (#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
B= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC) (#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
C= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC) (#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
D=Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island) (#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
E= Top 10 Audience Response Records in LA/ San Diego Discos (#1= PEACE PIPE) (10 Items only this week)

+ Special Guest City Chart:
F= Top 15 Audience Response Records in San Francisco Discos (#1= BRAZIL )

+ Another Special Guest Chart:
G= Top 15 Audience Response Records in The Dimples Chain (#1= SUMMER OF '42)

6 charts with 15 items apiece; 15 points for a #1; 1 point for a #15; + 1 chart with 10 items: 10 points for #1; 1 point for #10 = 100 points max.

Add them up and voila!....


THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS TOP 40 + 7
9/27/75

1) CASANOVA BROWN/ (If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/ HOW HIGH THE MOON (Medley) - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP) (74 total points/ charts ABCDEF) (Last week: #12)
2) FLY, ROBIN, FLY - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (67/ABCDEF) (#4)
3) I LIKE IT - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (61/ABCDF) (#7)
4) YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE (vocal & instrumental) - Tina Charles
(Columbia 45) (44/ABCD) (#9)
5) MESSIN' WITH MY MIND - Labelle
(Epic LP version) (43/ABDFG) (#8.)
6) PEACE PIPE - B.T. Express
(Roadshow LP version) (40/AEFG) (#2)
7) SUMMER OF '42 - The Biddu Orchestra
(Epic 45) (36/ABCFG) (#5)
8. IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE - Tavares
(Capitol 45) (35/AEFG) (#6)
9) TO EACH HIS OWN - Faith, Hope & Charity
(RCA LP) (32/CDG) (#11)
10) DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA - People's Choice
(TSOP 45) (28/ABCDEG) (#1)

11) WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE - Ralph Carter
(Mercury 45) (27/ACDF) (#13)
12) BRAZIL - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP(not commercially available/45) (9 (LP) +18 = 27/ A +DF) (#3)
13) NOBODY LOVES ME LIKE YOU DO DO - Jeanne Burton
(Cotton 45) (27/BC) (#17)
14) HOOKED FOR LIFE - The Trammps
(Atlantic- long version) (23/ABG) (#19)
15) LET'S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE - Eddie Drennon & B.B.S. Unlimited
(Friends & Co. 45) (18/BCD) (#37)
16) GET READY FOR THIS - Revelation
(RSO 45) (17/BCD) (#34)
17) I JUST CAN'T MAKE IT (Without You) - Philly Devotions
(Columbia 45) (17/AF) (#15)
18. THAT'S THE WAY (I Like It) - KC & the Sunshine Band
(T.K. LP version) (16/CDF) (#18.)
19) SALSOUL HUSTLE - The Salsoul Orchestra
(Salsoul 45) (16/BG) (#21)
20) (R) LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT (Instrumental) - Tapestry
(Capitol 45) (13/F) (RETURN)

21) MAGIC OF THE BLUE - Blue Magic
(Atco LP) (13/D) (#25)
22) CARAVAN/ WATUSI STRUT - Deodato
(MCA LP) (12/AB) (#20)
23) SUPERSTAR REVUE - The New Ventures
(United Artists 45) (12/AB) (#16)
24) HOLLYWOOD HOT - Eleventh Hour
(20th Century 45) (11/EG) (#14)
25) NEED YOU - Harlem River Drive
(Arista 45) (10/CG) (#26)
26) (If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM 45) (10/G) (#10)
27) PEANUT VENDOR - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP-not commercially available) (9/A only) (#27)
28. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE - The Supremes
(Motown 45) (9/D) (#41)
29) (R) WHO LOVES YOU - The Four Seasons
(WB 45) (9/G)
30) EXODUS (MainTheme) - The Biddu Orchestra
(Epic Import only) (8/A) (#32)

31) FACE THE MUSIC - The Dynamic Superiors
(Motown LP) (8/D) (#28.)
32) FAME - David Bowie
(RCA 45) (8/E) (#24)
33) * I CAN'T QUIT YOUR LOVE - Buck
(Playboy 45) (8/F) (NEW)
34) (R) ONE WAY STREET - Beckett Brown
(RCA 45) (8/G) (RETURN)
35) CHEER UP SYRUP - David & the Blue Ties
(Spigot 45) (7/B) (#29)
36) LOVE ROLLERCOASTER - The Ohio Players
(Mewrcury LP) (7/E) (#30)
37) (R) SOMEBODY'S GOTTA GO (Sho Ain't Me) - Mike & Bill
(Moving Up 45- original version) (7/B) (RETURN)
38. * SOUL TRAIN '75 (Vocal & Instrumental) - Soul Train Gang
(Soul Train (RCA) 45) (7/C) (NEW)
39) (R) DREAMING A DREAM - Crown Heights Affair
(De-Lite 45) (6/CF) (RETURN)
40) (R) HEADLINE NEWS - Carol Douglas
(Midland Intl. 45) (6/G) (RETURN)

41) * ALL I NEED - Anacostia (formerly The Presidents)
(Columbia 45) (4/C) (NEW)
42) (R) WATERBED - Herbie Mann
(Atlantic Disco Version) (4/G) (RETURN)
43) IT'S ALRIGHT - Graham Cental Station
(WB 45) (3/E) (#35)
44) (Do You Wanna) DANCE, DANCE, DANCE - Calhoon
(Warner/Spector 45) (2/E) (#36)
45) WHAT A DIFF'RENCE A DAY MAKES - Esther Phillips
(Kudu 45) (2/F) (#23)
46) (R) 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (Blow Your Whistle) - Gary Toms Empire
(P.I.P 45) (1/F) (RETURN)
47) * UNDECIDED LOVE - The Chequers
Scepter Disco Mix) (1/A) (#36)
__________________________________________________ __

STATS:

#13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46 & 47 NOT listed in Joel Whitburn's Billboard Hot Dance/Disco (1974-2003)

* = Debut (4): #33, 38, 41, 47
(R) = Return (8.): #26, 29, 34, 37, 39, 40, 42, 46


Dropoffs:

CHECKMATE/ MELLOW BLOW - Barrabas (was #31)
GET DOWN TONIGHT - KC & the Sunshine Band (#33)
EVERYBODY STAND & CLAP YOUR HANDS (For the Entertainer) - Black Satin (#39)
(Theme from) LADY, LADY, LADY (Are You Crazy For Me?) - Boogie Man Orchestra (#39)
CHICAGO THEME (Love Loop) - Hubert Laws (#40)
NEW YORK CITY BUMP - Blackrock (#42)
ONE MORE RIDE - Merry Clayton (#43)
YOU'D BE GOOD FOR ME - Ronnie Spector (#44) *(will be back)
FIGHT THE POWER - The Isley Brothers (#45)
MONEY - Gladys Knight & the Pips (#46)

The Final Tally:

47 total items; 46 last week
+ 4 debuts + 8 returns/-10 dropoffs
0 records on all 7 charts!!!!
3 records on 6 charts
3 records on 5 charts
4 records on 4 charts
6 records on 3 charts
9 records on 2 charts
22 records on only 1 chart

Notes to myself:

OK, after the long, hot summer of 1975 dominated by DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA & BRAZIL, as the season changes to Fall, we've also turned a page on the disco charts. Fall of '75 welcomes Miss Gloria Gaynor's second 3 song medley to the top of the charts. She's #1 on all 4 NYC charts (60 points) & places on the LA (4 points) & SF (10 points) charts.
NYC LOOOOOOOVES THIS RECORD!!!!
Out of a total of 100 available points, Miss Gaynor grabs 74 for the 3 song medley + another 10 for the 45 ( chart G).

Miss G would have had an additional +5 points had the LA chart not been reduced to 10 instead of the usual 15. LA's list gets reduced to 10 to enable the 2 guest charts a full 15 items, thereby hurting the records that only LA (E) is charting: HOLLYWOOD HOT, FAME, LOVE ROLLERCOASTER, IT'S ALRIGHT, (DO YOU WANNA) DANCE, DANCE, DANCE.
Next week, order is restored. No guest charts...just the 5 usual suspects.

I noticed an article about "DISCOS ARE THRIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO" next to the charts in Billboard this week. I only have one column of the article, but it's of interest to me since it mentions some of my fave spots. So I''ll share.

"Zepp says that the Bojangles jocks buy most of the records they use, at discount prices from two principal shops- EASY STREET on Market and the GRAMOPHONE on Polk Street. :D :D :D The club also places 12 spots a week on
KSFX, a local disco-style FM outlet :D :D :D (the best disco station in town) and the spots indicate what records are doing best at the club this week.

There are a number of other discos in the city, like
BUZZBY'S, :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D (finally gets a mention!!!) the End-up, the Mine Shaft, and the Ricksha Bistro all of which seem to be doing well. The Orphanage does emphasize its dance floor in its ads and for a while did try a disco operation on the weeknights, but it is now back to a live-entertainment policy.

Despite the heavy population, the East Bay has little to offer in the way of disco action. Berkeley is simply not fertile ground for the scene, and otherwise there are only a few places like the Edgewater West in Oakland and the new Picadilly Pub in Castro Valley, although there are plenty of clubs that offer live bands who play a disco style for dancing.

In a recent 'Disco Action" column in Billboard, a number of local disco jocks complained about poor service from the labels. Steve Cowan, mangager of The Woods in Fairfax, Marin County, (I went there a few times!!!) takes the opposite stance and defends the record companies.

"Record companies don't mind sending out a dime single if they can get a dime's worth of information back," says Cowan. "You've just got to play the game. People in New York and LA are very market conscious. In San Franicsco, people aren't. Everyone sits on his ass and wonders why everyone isn't doing everything for him. We get good service, but that's because we took the time to write the proper letters to industry people, and we're also the only club to publish a chart every week and circulate it widely so that people in the industry can keep abreast of what's happening here." (contined in a column that's cut off on my copy) :roll:
__________________________________________________ __



CLUB DIALOG by Tom Moulton
9/27/75
(thanks to shootyourshot for providing me with this column!!!!) :D

The title cut on Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" LP (Oasis) is 16:50 and has some incredible rhythm and string changes. Oasis is being distributed by Casablanca. The Record Pool has already been serviced with copies of the album.

Spring will be releasing the Sons of Robin Stone's new single, "I'm Ready To Give You My Love", sometime during the next two weeks. There will be a special disco version of the song, which will not be commercially available. The disk was produced by Bobby Eli, who also produced the group's first record, "Got To Get You Back".

Just released by Cotton Records is Dooley Silverspoon's "Let Me Be The #1 (Part 1 & 2)" single. The disk is Silverspoon's follow-up to "Bump Me Baby" and it has a much better all-around sound. It also has the same kind of excitement associated with the song "Brazil".

The Bee Gees' new single, "Nights On Broadway", has to be remixed and speeded (sped) :roll: up to create the same dance excitement from their last single, "Jive Talkin'."

Polydor has just released the group Rhythm's debut single, "Make Some People Happy". The record, already sent to the Record Pool here, has a very strong Jackson Five sound. . . Gloria Gaynor's new album is a top seller at all the local disco retailers.

Hollywood Breeze, president of Music Unlimited Street Jocks in Washington D.C., reports "incredible reaction" to Jimmy Castor's new "King Kong" single. It will also be a cut on his forthcoming album, to be released later this fall.

Special thanks to Mike Web for helping to compile the San Francisco report and to Ron Jenkins, music coordinator for Dimples, for the top record listing for the 23-outlet Dimples disco chain.

Midland International will be re-releasing "Headline News" by Carol Douglas. The mix to come was the one originally scheduled, but an oversight saw the wrong one pressed. :oops: :oops: :oops:

There will be a 7:15 version of "Free Man" on the new South Shore Commission LP. The cut will also have two additional breaks in the middle. The album is due out in late October. . . Walter Gibbons, Outside Inn DJ, reports strong reaction to "Boom, Bam Bump" by Freeman Nehls (RCA). . . Tom Savarese- (Tom continues to write Severse), 12 West DJ, reports good response on Jimmy James and the Vagabonds' "I Am Somebody" LP (Pye). . . The Ritchie Family's "Brazil" LP is being rush-released this week. Retails requests for the title have reportedly been very strong.

Apologies from Gary Schwartz wired to Mel Cheren of Scepter and to the Record Pool after his Letter to the Editor (Billboard, Sept. 13) wanting to know why he couldn't become a member of the Pool. After he sent the letter, Schwartz found out that he was accepted to the Pool. (awww, ain't that nice.)
__________________________________________________ ___
The Big Tease

Next week, the 5 regular charts return with 15 items each- still giving us 45 titles for the chart.

G-L-O-R-I-A still rules...but a newcomer named D-O-N-N-A debuts!!! :D :D :D :D

Also new titles from Van McCoy, Crown Heights Affair & Yambu's Latin-jazz cover of the old Bobby Hebb hit, "SUNNY" charts for the first time.

[markydefad]

October 4, 1975

Billboard Pop Chart Top 5:
1) I'M SORRY/ CALYPSO - John Denver
2) FAME - David Bowie
3) RHINESTONE COWBOY - Glen Campbell
4) FIGHT THE POWER, PT. 1 - The Isley Brothers
5) RUN, JOEY, RUN - David Geddes

Billboard Soul/R&B Chart #1:
1) THIS WILL BE - Natalie Cole
__________________________________________________ ___

Disco Action:

Record World "National Disco File Top 20" #1: FLY, ROBIN, FLY (week #2); (This is the chart being used by Joel Whitburn in his book for this time period--you know, the one chart versus 5 or 6 , sometimes 7-- chart thang.)

But I've resolved that issue by combining the 5 Billboard charts into one.

Billboard charts:

A= Top 15 Audience Response Records in NYC Discos (#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
B= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC) (#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
C= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC) (#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
D=Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island) (#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
E= Top 15 Audience Response Records in LA/ San Diego Discos (#1= LOVE ROLLERCOASTER)


5 charts with 15 items apiece; 15 points for a #1; 1 point for a #15; = 75 points max.

Add them up and voila!....



THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS TOP 45
10/04/75

1) CASANOVA BROWN/ (If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/ HOW HIGH THE MOON (Medley) - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP) (70 total points/charts ABCDE) (last week: #1; 2nd week)
2) FLY, ROBIN, FLY - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (50/ABCDE) (#2)
3) NOBODY LOVES ME LIKE YOU DO DO - Jeanne Burton
(Cotton 45) (40/BCD) (#13)
4) I LIKE IT - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (38/ABCD) (#3)
5) YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE (vocal & instrumental) - Tina Charles
(Columbia 45) (36/ABCD) (#4)
6) MESSIN' WITH MY MIND - Labelle
(Epic 45) (27/ABDE) (#5)
7) PEACE PIPE - B.T. Express
(Roadshow LP) (26/AE) (#6)
8. SUMMER OF '42 - Biddu Orchestra
(Epic 45) (19/AC) (#7)
9) GET READY FOR THIS - Revelation
(RSO 45) (19/BC) (#16)
10) SUPERSTAR REVUE - The New Ventures
(UA 45) (18/AB) (#23)

11) *CHI-TOWN THEME - Cleveland Eaton
(Ovation [says "Black Jazz"] 45) (18/CD) (NEW)
12) CARAVAN/ WATUSI STRUT - Deodato
(MCA LP) (16/AB) (#22)
13) * BAD LUCK - Atlanta Disco Band
(Ariola America 45) (15/CE) (NEW)
14) LOVE ROLLERCOASTER - Ohio Players
(Mercury 45) (15/E) (#36)
15) FAME - David Bowie
(RCA 45) (14/E) (#32)
16) * NOWHERE - Hokis Pokis
(Black Music 45) (14/B) (NEW)
17) HOLLYWOOD HOT-Eleventh Hour
(20th Century 45) (13/DE) (#24)
18. IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE - Tavares
(Capitol 45) (13/AE) (#8.)
19) * LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY - Donna Summer
(Oasis LP) (13/D) (NEW)
20) (R) T.L.C. (Tender Lovin' Care) - MFSB w/ The Three Degrees
(Phila. Intl. 45) (12/CA) (RETURN)

21) LET'S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE - Eddie Drennon & B.B.S Unlimited
(Friends & Co.) (11/ABCD) (#15)
22) BRAZIL - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP/45) (6 (LP) + 5 (45) = 11) (#12)
23) *FRENESI - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP) (11/B) (NEW)
24) HOOKED FOR LIFE - The Trammps
(Atlantic long version) (11/A) (#14)
25) IT'S ALRIGHT - Graham Central Station
(WB 45) (11/E) (#43)
26) EXODUS (Main Theme) - Biddu Orchestra
(Epic Import only) (10/A) (#30)
27) MAGIC OF THE BLUE - Blue Magic
(Atco LP) (10/D) (#21)
28. PEANUT VENDOR - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP) (9/AD) (#27)
29) THAT'S THE WAY (I Like It) - KC & the Sunshine Band
(T.K. LP) (9/DE) (#18.)
30) *HUSTLING - The Hustlers
(People 45) (9/D) (NEW)

31) CHEER UP SYRUP - David & the Blue Ties
(Spigot 45) (8/BC) (#35)
32) SOMEBODY'S GOTTA GO (Sho Ain't Me) - Mike & Bill
(Moving Up/Arista 45) (8/BD) (#37)
33) (Do You Wanna) DANCE, DANCE, DANCE - Calhoon
(Warner/Spector 45) (8/E) (#44)
34) WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE - The Supremes
(Motown 45) (8/D) (#28.)
35) *CHANGE WITH THE TIMES - Van McCoy
(Avco 45) (6/C) (NEW)
36) DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA - People's Choice
(TSOP 45) (6/E) (#10)
37) SOUL TRAIN '75 - Soul Train Gang
(Soul Train 45) (5/C) (#38.)
38. UNDECIDED LOVE - The Chequers
(Scepter Disco Mix) (5/A) (#47)
39) (R) YOU'D BE GOOD FOR ME - Ronnie Spector
(Tom Cat 45) (4/C) (RETURN)
40) I JUST CAN'T MAKE IT (Without You) - Philly Devotions
(Columbia 45) (3/A) (#17)

41) WHAT A DIFF'RENCE A DAY MAKES - Esther Phillips
(Kudu 45) (3/E) (#45)
42) * EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART - Crown Heights Affair
(De-Lite LP) (2/B) (NEW)
43) WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE - Ralph Carter
(Mercury 45) (2/A) (#11)
44) HIPIT - Hosanna
(Calla 45) (1/C) (NEW)
45) * SUNNY - Yambu
(Montuno Gringo 45) (1/B) (NEW)
__________________________________________________ ___

STATS:
#3 (!!!), 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 25, 27, 30, 31, 34, 37, 38, 39, 40 & 44 NOT listed in Joel Whitburn's
Hot Dance/Disco (1974-2003) book.

* = Debut (10): #11, 13, 16, 19, 23, 30, 35, 42, 44, 45
(R) = Return (2): #20, 39

Dropped Off:

TO EACH HIS OWN - Faith, Hope & Charity (was #9)*
SALSOUL HUSTLE - Salsoul Orchestra (#19)
LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT - Tapestry (#20)
NEED YOU - Harlem River Drive (#25) * (will be back)
(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF (45) - Gloria Gaynor (#26)
WHO LOVES YOU - The Four Seasons (#29) *
FACE THE MUSIC - Dynamic Superiors (#31)
I CAN'T QUIT YOUR LOVE - Buck (#33)
ONE WAY STREET - Beckett Brown (#34)
DREAMING A DREAM - Crown Heights Affair (#39) *
HEADLINE NEWS - Carol Douglas (#40)*
ALL I NEED - Anacostia (#41)*
WATERBED - Herbie Mann (#42) *
7-6-5-4-3-2-1- (Blow Your Whistle) - Gary Toms Empire (#46)


The Final Tally:

45 total items;47 last week
+10 debuts +2 returns/re-entries/ -14 dropoffs
2 records on all 5 charts (#1 & #2)
4 records on 4 charts
2 records on 3 charts
13 records on 2 charts
24 records on only 1 chart

"Autumn Changes"

Gloria's second 3 song medley rules with 70 out of 75 maximum total points!!! (Last week she had 74 pts., but there were 7 charts last week-- as opposed to 5 this week).

Jeanne Burton hits #3!!! on this chart by virtue of NYC retail sales: B= #4; C = #2; D= #2; this record is never mentioned on any other chart and strangely NEVER crosses over to chart A. How could a record this popular sales-wise not place at least at #15 on chart A? :roll: :o :o :o This is its peak week-but it will be in the Top 10 for a couple more weeks.

All 3 of the Ritchie Family tracks from side one of their LP are now on the chart; I don't list them as a 3 song medley cause no one charts them that way; it's usually "Brazil" with one or the other or "Peanut Vendor" & "Frenesi" without "Brazil"!!! What's an anal retentive chart maker to do???? :P For the record, if I combined their points and listed them as a 3 song medley they would have had 31 points and placed at #6 this week. Don't think I didn't try it that way--but ultimately I decided to list them separately, cause it sorta overstated the case the other way. Get the picture? Say "Yes we see."

Without the extra guest charts we've had for the past few weeks, this week the records from #8 down have less than 20 points. Last week, the top 14 & up had over 20 points.

Editor, Please? Wherefore Art Thou?

Names are screwed up a lot on these charts:
Hokis Pokis is listed as "Hocus Pocus"
Yambu is "Yamboo" (FOR MANY WEEKS!!)
Calhoon was "Calhoun" until just recently
This week the Atlanta Disco Band is listed as the Atlanta Rhythm Section (remember them?); Next week, they get it two-thirds right--Atlanta Disco "Section"!!! Eventually the Atlanta Disco Band gets credit for the remake of "Bad Luck"!!! Sheesh!!! this was just on the top of the charts a few months ago and already a "cover" version!!! Produced by Dave Crawford (Candi Station/ Mighty Clouds Of Joy, etc) and featuring members of MFSB..I'd like to hear this.

Cleveland Eaton's "Chi-Town Theme" debuts this week. In last week's Billboard a little blurb announced "Discos Force 45 of 'Chitown Theme' "!!! (CHITOWN!!) Think about it. Say it out loud!!! :D Anyhoo, it says that the "response from discos prompted Ovation Records to release this LP track as a disco single, with the original 5 minute length for DJ copies and an edited 3:06 version for radio airplay. Requests for a single came from such diverse markets as Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, and Boston." Give the people what they want!!!!

And lastly, I must mention the debut of DONNA. This sounded like a novelty record at the time...Donna was viewed at first as sorta like a Seventies porno version of today's Lil' Kim being all "inappropriate" for public decency with her orgasmic moans....but she showed us (well, okay...me), didn't she? :oops: :oops:

(Remember, though it may be hard to believe if you were raised on today's "booty-call music," this was considered SHOCKING to some people in the Seventies; maybe the most graphically sexual thing to be played on AM radio since "Jungle Fever" by The Chakachas.) :oops: :lol: :oops: :lol: :roll:

__________________________________________________ __

Artist Spotlight

(Yes, it's back this week!!! :P Reviews are from the 1979 edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide, edited by Dave Marsh.)

Debuting this week...

DONNA SUMMER (#19)

"Produced by Pete Bellotte in Munich (I checked the credits; they're right!!! Giorgio is listed as arranger/mix-down engineer & keyboardist/percussionist), Donna Summer's first album consists of the full sixteen-minute discoid moans and sighs of her hit title song and a few limp soul numbers. Interestingly, only "Love To Love You Baby" is actually disco, serving as a novelty dance number. But its too slow for dancing and too long for the recorded multiple orgasms not to become self-parodying. :evil: :-?

A Love Trilogy formularizes Summer's silky pliancy into a "mood" album, but its feeble pumping is rather boring beside Four Seasons Of Love, which is more spirited because Bellotte and his Munich Machine have finally worked out their oily European variant of the disco genre. :o

I Remember Yesterday proves a complete surprise. Here, Summer presents herself as a pleasantly competent soul singer; the randy Siamese posing of her earlier records disappears before her affectionate replays of Ronettes, Supremes and ballad styles, concluding with a Kraftwerk-derived dance tune, "I Feel Love." Once Upon a Time presents her as Cinderella, a ridulously gauzy move that almost works. The live album, despite containing a major hit in "MacArthur Park" (no less), is dismal. (BT= ??)

(Interestingly, the past 25 years have changed Rolling Stone's evaluations of Miss Summer. I'm gonna post the changes in opinion from their new volume in another post soon.)

ATLANTA DISCO BAND (#13)

"As the name suggests, this is along the lines of crossing the Allman Brothers with a disco session band. You take it from there. (JS= John Swenson) :o :o :o

CLEVELAND EATON (#11)

"Ex-Ramsey Lewis bassist tries his hand at becoming a Seventies jazz crossover artist and gets lost somewhere in the funk." (JS=John Swenson) :roll:

__________________________________________________ __

CLUB DIALOG by Tom Moulton
10/04/75

(Thanks to shootyourshot for this entire column!!!)

Hey Mr. DJ, could ya SLOW IT DOWN, pleeeease???" :P

The National Assn. of Discotheque Disk Jockeys (NADD), headquartered here, is now under administrative direction of DJ Richie Kaczor, who replaces Bob Casey, one of the association's original founders.

The switch was prompted by Casey's desire to spend more time on his own business operation, Virgo Sound Inc. Kaczor heads up the spinners at the local club Hollywood. Also, Alex Babbaz has been named to coordinate the publication of NADD's monthly magazine, The Melting Pot.

The Miracles' new "City Of Angels" LP (Tamla) qualifies as one of the most exciting titles released this week. It's a modern soul opera about a young man's feelings for the girl he loves (she ran off to Los Angeles) and his search to find her. There are two very strong disco cuts, "Overture"and "Love Machine", and while both have to be slowed down to dance to :lol: they are extremely effective crowd movers.

Every disk jockey who has a test pressing of Ron Carter's Kudu LP has listed the standard "Anything Goes" in the top 15 audience response records. Commercial LP copies will be available in October, as will copies of Grover Washington Jr's new album.

Joe Bataan's new single "Continental Square Dance" (Salsoul) describes a dance style that was resurrected in Los Angeles this year and is called the "roach." In the early sixties it was a popular Fire Island dance known as the "island walk." Now, it seems the dance is making its way back, bringing the rest of the country with it.

Bataan's record has to be slowed down considerably, :lol: but it works well. Interestingly, if memory serves one correctly, the "Continental" is the first record since Chubby Checker's "The Twist" that explains all the dance steps as it plays.

"Baby Face" is a new single by Harold Wheeler (actually he's the producer) on Wing And A Prayer Records, and if you didn't know the artist you would think that it was the Ritchie Family performing. ("Blame it on 'Brazil'-syndrome" strikes again!!!) Atlantic distributes the label.

Also at Atlantic, being rush released this week is the long version of "Magic Of The Blue" by Blue Magic. There will be a special 12 inch disco pressing. Their latest album has a cut of the song as well . . . "Every Beat Of My Heart" is the cut that most DJs are talking about from the new Crown Heights Affair LP.

Correction: The Great American Disco Concert is to be held in the 100,000 square foot Rockland Community College entertainment center, not a 20,000 square foot sports arena as reported. Also, added to the bill are Ecstasy, Passion, & Pain and Faith, Hope, & Charity.
__________________________________________________ ___


The Big Tease

Next week, 6 charts of 15 items apiece with Boston as the guest city. Boston will provide the first chart mention of a certain record I despise titled "Baby Face"!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

Also, Donna leaps into the top 5; Crown Heights Affair into the Top 10 and debuts are charted from Touch of Class, The Miracles, Al Martino!!!, Bobby Keys, Fantastic Puzzles, Reflections, S.S.O., Magic Band, Frankie Gee and El Coco!!!! :P

For the record, today's column was typed while listening to Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby," "A Love Trilogy" and "Once Upon a Time."

[Salsoul1975]

These lists are amazing. I wish the company that put out the "Super Rare Disco" sets years back would add a third or fourth volume because they could get a lot of songs from the recent lists and beginning from the beginning of the disco chart on the collections.

Marky, did any of these songs make the Billboard disco charts anytime soon:

"Makes You Blind" by The Glitter Band
"Let Me Lay My Funk On You" by Poison


P.S.--I can't believe Moulton mentioned Joe Bataan's "Continental Square Dance" in this week's column. I recently discovered that song on one of the UK Salsoul re-issues and I love it!

[markydefad]

Hey Salsoul,

Glad you're enjoying the lists!!! :D :D :D

Makes You Blind charts at the end of August, 1976

Let Me Lay My Funk On You charted on the Billboard Soul/R&B chart during August of 1975--but never crossed over to the Disco charts.

Some of these songs remained sorta underground; and I'm always surprised that the REAL FUNKY RECORDS (Ohio Players, E,W&F, Kool & the Gang, Isley Brothers, etc.) ARE ONLY CHARTED ON THE LA CHARTS. :-? :-? :-?

Didn't NEW YORK CITY like the FUNK????? :roll: :o :roll: :o

Not even in Brooklyn, Queens & Long Island?????

[Salsoul1975]

Marky,

I'm enjoying these lists like you wouldn't believe. I like the way you compiled them too. It's unfortunate that Billboard did away with the separate charts and made just one generic chart. I feel that these seperate charts are a reflection of what was popular where and how nothing was uniform across-the-board.

I often wonder if Colony, Downstairs and Melody Song Shops continued to compile their own lists after the formation of the Billboard Disco Hot 40.

As for the West Coast being more funk-friendly than the East Coast, that might explain the penchant for by-then hit records that were appearing solely on the L.A. charts around last month ("Fame" by David Bowie, "Fight The Power" by Isley Bros., et al.)

Thanks for the info about the Glitter Band and Poison records. "Let Me Lay My Funk On You" was a funk song yet it appeared on that "Super Rare Disco" CD that came out years ago. I wish a lot of these records would make to CD, but I guess the thirst for disco compilations has dried up here (unless the UK gets a hold of them--they've put out some great disco compilations as of late).

I was referring back to the first Disco chart Billboard published (10/26/74), and it was mentioned that Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye Medley" had been #1 for five weeks by that time. It only makes you wish that charts would've been made public before that time.

[markydefad]

October 11, 1975

Billboard Pop Chart Top 5:
1) BAD BLOOD - Neil Sedaka
2) I'M SORRY/ CALYPSO - John Denver
3) FAME - David Bowie
4) MR. JAWS - Dickie Goodman :oops: :oops: :oops:
5) MIRACLES - Jefferson Starship

Billboard Soul/R&B Chart #1:
1) THIS WILL BE - Natalie Cole (2nd week)
__________________________________________________

DISCO ACTION:

Record World "National Disco File Top 20" #1: FLY, ROBIN, FLY (week #3); (This is the chart being used by Joel Whitburn in his book for this time period--you know, the one chart versus 5 or 6 , sometimes 7-- chart thang.)

But I've resolved that issue by combining the 6 (this week) Billboard charts into one.

Billboard charts:

A= Top 15 Audience Response Records in NYC Discos
(#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
B= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC)
(#1= LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY)
C= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC)
(#1= NOBODY LOVES ME LIKE YOU DO DO)
D=Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island)
(#1= LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY)
E= Top 15 Audience Response Records in LA/ San Diego Discos
(#1= FLY, ROBIN, FLY)

+ Special 6th Chart from Guest City: Boston:
F= Top Audience Response Records in Boston Discos
(#1= CASANOVA BROWN/ (If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/ HOW HIGH THE MOON)

6 charts with 15 items apiece; 15 points for a #1; 1 point for a #15; = 90 points max.

Add them up and voila!....




THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS TOP 50 + 1

10/11/75

1) CASANOVA BROWN/ (If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/ HOW HIGH THE MOON (Medley) - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP) (79 total points/charts ABCDEF) (last week: #1; 3 weeks total)
2) FLY, ROBIN, FLY - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (58/ABCEF) (#2)
3) YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE (vocal & instrumental) - Tina Charles
(Columbia 45) (54/ ABCDF) (#5)
4) I LIKE IT - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (43/ABCF) (#4)
5) LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY - Donna Summer
(Oasis LP) (39/ABCD) (#19)
6) NOBODY LOVES ME LIKE YOU DO DO - Jeanne Burton
(Cotton 45) (39/BCD) (#3)
7) PEACE PIPE - B.T. Express
(Roadshow LP) (33/AEF) (#7)
8. PEANUT VENDOR - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP) (32/ABDF) (#28.)
9) EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART - Crown Heights Affair
(De-Lite LP) (28/ABF) (#42)
10) BRAZIL - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP) (25/ADEF) (#22)

11) UNDECIDED LOVE - The Chequers
(Scepter Disco Mix) (24/ACF) (#38.)
12) MAGIC OF THE BLUE - Blue Magic
(Atco Disco Version) (23/DF) (#27)
13) {TIE} SUMMER OF '42/ EXODUS (Main Theme) - The Biddu Orchestra
(Epic 45/ Epic Import Only) (22 each/AF) (#8/#26)
14) CARAVAN/ WATUSI STRUT - Deodato
(MCA LP) (20 each/AD) (#12)
15) THAT'S THE WAY (I Like It) - KC & the Sunshine Band
(T.K. LP) (20/EF) (#29)
16) LET'S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE - Eddie Drennon & B.B.S Unlimited
(Friends & Co. 45) (16/ACD) (#21)
17) IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE - Tavares
(Capitol 45) (16/AE) (#18.)
18. LOVE ROLLERCOASTER - Ohio Players
(Mercury LP) (14/E) (#14)
19) IT'S ALRIGHT - Graham Central Station
(WB 45) (12/E) (#25)
20) MESSIN' WITH MY MIND - Labelle
(Epic 45) (11/AE) (#6)

21) BAD LUCK - Atlanta Disco Band
(Ariola-America [says "Scorpio" & "Polydor"] 45) (10/CDE) (#13)
22) NOWHERE - Hokis Pokis
(Black Music 45) (10/B) (#16)
23) CHI-TOWN THEME - Cleveland Eaton
(Ovation [says "Black Jazz"] LP) (9/D) (#11)
24) (Do You Wanna) DANCE, DANCE, DANCE - Calhoon
(Warner/Spector 45) (9/E) (#33)
25) HOOKED FOR LIFE - The Trammps
(Atlantic Long Version) (9/A) (#24)
26) (R) NEED YOU - Harlen River Drive
(Arista 45) (9/C) (RETURN)
27) SUNNY - Yambu
(Montuno Gringo 45) (9/B) (#45)
28. *I'M IN HEAVEN - Touch Of Class
(Midland Intl. 45) (8/CD) (NEW)
29) (R) DREAMING A DREAM - Crown Heights Affair
(De-Lite 45) (8/E) (RETURN)
30) HIPIT - Hosanna
(Calla 45) (8/C) (#44)

31) (R) ALL I NEED - Anacostia
(Columbia 45) (7/CD) (RETURN)
32) {TIE} OVERTURE/ LOVE MACHINE - The Miracles
(Tamla LP) (7 each/CD) (NEW)
33) GET READY FOR THIS - Revelation
(RSO 45) (7/B) (#9)
34) SOUL TRAIN '75 - Soul Train Gang
(Soul Train 45) (7/D) (#37)
35) WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE - Ralph Carter
(Mercury 45) (7/C) (#43)
36) FAME - David Bowie
(RCA 45) (6/E) (#15)
37) * VOLARE - Al Martino
(Capitol 45) (6/F) (NEW)
38. (R) LOVE POWER - Willie Hutch
(Motown 45) (5/B) (RETURN)
39) * GIMME THE KEY - Bobby Keys
(Ring-O 45) (4/F) (NEW)
40) HOLLYWOOD HOT - Eleventh Hour
(20th Century 45) (4/E) (#17)

41) SOMEBODY'S GOTTA GO (Sho Ain't Me) - Mike & Bill
(Moving Up 45) (4/B) (#32)
42) WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE - The Supremes
(Motown 45) (4/D) (#43)
43) * COMEBACK - Fantastic Puzzles
(New Moon 45) (3/B) (NEW)
44) * LOVE ON DELIVERY (L.O.D.) - The Reflections
(Capitol 45) (3/F) (NEW)
45) * TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT - S.S.O. (Soul Sensation Orchestra)
(Shadybrook 45) (3/E) (NEW)
46) * FALBALA - Magic Band
(GNP/Crescendo) (2/B) (NEW)
47) I JUST CAN'T MAKE IT (Without You) -Philly Devotions
(Columbia 45) (2/A) (#40)
48. SUPERSTAR REVUE - The New Ventures
(UA 45) (2/F) (#10)
49) * BABY FACE - Wing & A Prayer Fife & Drum Corps. :evil: :P
(Wing & A Prayer 45) (1/F) (NEW)
50) * DATE WITH THE RAIN - Frankie Gee
(Claridge 45) (1/B) (NEW)

51) * MONDO DISCO - El Coco
(AVI 45) (1/C) (NEW)
__________________________________________________ __


STATS:

#6, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40. 42. 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50 & 51 NOT listed in Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco (1974-2003) book.

* = DEBUT (11): #28, 32, 37, 39, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51

(R) = RETURN (4): #26, 29, 31, 38

Dropped Off:

T.L.C. (Tender Lovin' Care) - MFSB & Three Degrees (was #20)
FRENESI - The Ritchie Family (#23)* (will be back)
HUSTLING - The Hustlers (#30)
CHEER UP SYRUP - David & the Blue Ties (#31)
CHANGE WITH THE TIMES - Van McCoy (#35)*
DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA - People's Choice (#36) #1 for 8 weeks here; in fact it was #1 just 4 weeks ago!)
YOU'D BE GOOD FOR ME - Ronnie Spector (#39)
WHAT A DIFF'RENCE A DAY MAKES - Esther Phillips (#41) (#1 for one week)

The Final Tally

51 total items; 45 last week
+11 debuts + 4 returns/ -8 dropoffs
1 record on all 6 charts (G-L-O-R-I-A!!!)
2 records on 5 charts (#2 & #3)
4 records on 4 charts
6 records on 3 charts
9 records on 2 charts
29 records on only 1 chart

What's New & Interesting?

Hmmm.... well, Donna Summer jumps from #19 to #5 in her second week due to placement on all 4 NYC charts: (A= #11; B= #1; C= #12; D= #1); has not charted yet in LA or Boston.

Crown Heights Affair vaults from its debut last week at #41 to #9; love this record. :D

2 of the Ritchie Family LP medley (" Peanut Vendor" @ #8 & "Brazil" @ #10) hit the Top 10; "Frenesi" drops off this week--but comes back next week courtesy of Miami's chart. (The only time all 3 songs in the medley are listed as a 3 song medley!!!)

Chart D drops Silver Convention this week; was #4 there last week!
E not charting Tina Charles (never will)
B & C not charting "Brazil"; B has "Peanut Vendor" only; C has neither.
A never charts Jeanne Burton; she's #1 on C; #5 on B; #3 on D.

Most notable debuts: The Miracles @ #32... AND, dare I say it? :oops: ...Wing & a Prayer @ #49 thanks to Boston; it disappears next week, (good riddance) :P ...BUT it comes back with a VENGEANCE!!!!!! :evil:


Cover List
HOW HIGH THE MOON
PEANUT VENDOR
BRAZIL
SUMMER OF '42
EXODUS
CARAVAN
BAD LUCK
SUNNY
WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG & IN LOVE
VOLARE (Al Martino discotizes/ discofies (whatever you wanna call it) Dean Martin's big late Fifties Pop hit.)
BABY FACE (#1 Pop hit for Jan Garber in 1926; #1 Pop hit for Art Mooney in 1948; clearly "inspired" by the success of "Brazil")
DATE WITH THE RAIN (cover of Eddie Kendricks hit from early Seventies)

__________________________________________________ __

Artist Spotlight

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

Debuting this week....

TOUCH OF CLASS (#28.)

"Although they never had much commerical appeal, this black vocal group had a spritely pop-soul sound that makes these LPs worth looking into:
*** I'M IN HEAVEN (Midland Intl. BKL1-1821)
*** STEPPIN' OUT (Midland Intl. BKL1-2423)
(DM= Dave Marsh)

THE MIRACLES (#32)

"Without Smokey Robinson, the Miracles have had difficulty achieving a comfortable identity. Renaissance finds Robinson's replacement, William Griffin, attempting to imitate his predecessor's vocal style. Yet, working with a variey of producers (Marvin Gaye, Willie Hutch, Freddie Perren) and some good songs, Renaissance is a commendable soft-soul effort. Do It Baby again features a host of producers and some not-too-distinctive material, with one exception-- the title song, produced by Perren, became the group's first post-Robinson hit single.

Perren produced all of Don't Cha Love It, mostly in the vein of Do It Baby--fluffy ballads and midtempo songs with snappy hooks. Perren also produced City of Angels, a concept album with songs written exclusively by the group. The lyrics are often embarrassingly trite, but Perren's arrangements are among his best, including the Griffin-led "Love Machine," the Miracles' biggest hit. The last Motown album, Power of Music, is also their first in-group production since the Robinson days. It sports neither distinctive songs nor arrangements. The Columbia albums reflect this independence, but without scoring heavily either artistically or commercially." (J.MC = John McEwen)

WING AND A PRAYER FIFE AND DRUM CORPS. (#49)

"Competent New York funk ensemble scored in 1975 with a disco reworking of the Forties standard "Baby Face," and later with a version of "Ease On Down the Road" from the Broadway musical The Wiz. :-? (OK, they're mixing this up with Consumer Rapport, who recorded on the same label but hit the charts earlier in the spring of 1975 with "Ease On Down The Road).(DM= Dave Marsh, in a very charitable mood, I'd say. :roll: )

__________________________________________________ __

CLUB DIALOG by Tom Moulton
10/11/75

(Once again, my thanks to shootyourshot for providing this column in its entirety) :D

One of the most exciting records soon to be released is a Fatback Band LP on Event. The strongest, and probably most commercial sound, they have ever had is the cut "Spanish Hustle." The best way to describe it is that is has the timpani sound and energy of "E-Man Boogie" and a feel of "Titanic" with several breaks.

This is quite a change for the group and it shows them at their best. A fine production by Bill Curtis and Jerry Thomas.

Atlantic will be releasing the Jimmy Castor "King Kong" LP this month. Again Castor shows off his versatility with a variety of sounds. There are two strong disco cuts in "Supersound", which is a lot like "E-Man Boogie", and "A Groove Will Make You Move." Both cuts are about five minutes. The LP also contains the complete version of his current hit "King Kong".

The most popular import act this week is the Chocolate Boys on Disques Elver from France. The title of their LP is "Brasilia Carnival", and there are two cuts which are getting most of the reaction - "El Caravanero" which goes through a number of changes with vocal and instrumental breaks and is almost seven minutes long, and "Brasilia" which is a lot like "El Bimbo". Also included is their version of "El Bimbo". There are no plans to release the LP in this country.

Tom Savarese, disk jockey at 12 West, reports good response to "I Am Somebody" by Jimmy James (& the Vagabonds) who is extremely popular now in this country. The same song is also on Biddu's import LP, "Blue Eyed Soul."

The O'Jays' new single will be "(I) Love Music"(part 1 & 2), taken from their forthcoming new LP. This is a different sound rhythm wise for the group and it should prove successful. A cut called "Unity" on the LP is very reminiscent of "Love Train."

Some 4,000 people attended Boston's "Ultimate Disco Dance" in the Grand Ballroom of the Statler Hilton Sept. 28. They had to turn away about 400. The top seven disco spinners in Boston each had an hours time, and Ron Robin and Sammy Joe White (the hosts) say it was one of the "biggest turnouts of its kind and will certainly be remembered for a long time."

Cabaret disco, closed for several months, is going to reopen in December. It has been taken over by the management of New York's Le Jardin and will now be called Brazil. The entire place is going to be remodeled as well as have new sound equipment. From the rumors that are going around it has the chance of becoming the "in" place in Boston.
__________________________________________________ ___


THE BIG TEASE

Next week: 6 charts with Miami as the guest city chart.
Yambu, Deodato & Eddie Drennon enter the Top 10.

In two weeks, (10/25/75), the First Anniversary of the Disco Chart. :D Strangely, two of the permanent mainstay charts (B & D) are NOT printed and this shakes things up, giving us a new #1....a record which has been hanging around a long time....but so far, has always been the bridesmaid, never the bride.

For the record, this chart was typed while listening to:

Super Rare Disco, Volume 2
Love, Angel, Music, Baby - Gwen Stefani
The Kings Of Disco Compiled by Dimitri from Paris & Joey Negro (disc one)

[markydefad]

October 18, 1975

Billboard Pop Chart #1:
1) BAD BLOOD - Neil Sedaka (2nd week)

Billboard R&B/Soul Chart #1:
1) THEY JUST CAN'T STOP IT (Games People Play) - The Spinners
__________________________________________________ ___
Disco Action


Record World "National Disco File Top 20" #1:CASANOVA BROWN/ (If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF)/ HOW HIGH THE MOON (week #1); (This is the chart being used by Joel Whitburn in his book for this time period--you know, the one chart versus 5 or 6, sometimes 7-- chart thang.)

But I've resolved that issue by combining the 6 (this week) Billboard charts into one.

Billboard charts:

A= Top 15 Audience Response Records in NYC Discos
(#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
B= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC)
(#1= LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY)
C= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC)
(#1= NOBODY LOVES ME LIKE YOU DO DO)
D=Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island)
(#1= LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY)
E= Top 15 Audience Response Records in LA/ San Diego Discos
(#1= FLY, ROBIN, FLY)

+ Special 6th Chart from Guest City--Miami:
F= Top Audience Response Records in Miami Discos
(#1= FLY, ROBIN, FLY)

6 charts with 15 items apiece; 15 points for a #1; 1 point for a #15; = 90 points max.

Add them up and voila!....


THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS TOP 40 + 7

Chart #52: 10/18/75

1) CASANOVA BROWN/ (If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/ HOW HIGH THE MOON (Medley) - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP) (71 total points/ charts ABCDEF) (last week: #1; 4 weeks total)
2) FLY, ROBIN, FLY - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (62/ABCEF) (#2)
3) LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY - Donna Summer
(Oasis LP) (57/ABCD) (#5)
4) YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE (vocal & instrumental) - Tina Charles
(Columbia 45) (50/ABCDF) (#3)
5) SUNNY - Yambu
(Montuno Gringo 45) (40/ABCD) (#27)
6) CARAVAN/ WATUSI STRUT - Deodato
(MCA LP) (34/ACDF) (#14)
7) I LIKE IT - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (32/ABC) (#4)
8. BRAZIL - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP) (30/ABDEF) (#10)
9) LET'S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE - Eddie Drennon & B.B.S Unlimited
(Friends & Co. 45) (29/ABCD) (#16)
10) NOBODY LOVES ME LIKE YOU DO DO - Jeanne Burton
(Cotton 45) (29/BC) (#6)

11) PEACE PIPE - B.T. Express
(Roadshow LP) (28/ABE) (#7)
12) EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART - Crown Heights Affair
(De-Lite 45) (26/ACDEF) (#9)
13) PEANUT VENDOR - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP) (24/ABDF) (8.)
14) THAT'S THE WAY (I Like It) - KC & The Sunshine Band
(T.K. LP) (24/EF) (#15)
15) SUMMER OF '42 - The Biddu Orchestra
(Epic 45) (21/ACF) (#13)
16) UNDECIDED LOVE - The Chequers
(Scepter 45) (21/ABC) (#11)
17) SOUL TRAIN '75 - Soul Train Gang
(Soul Train 45) (20/CDF) (#34)
18. MESSIN' WITH MY MIND - Labelle
(Epic 45) (14/AE) (#20)
19) IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE - Tavares
(Capitol 45) (13/AE) (#17)
20) OVERTURE - The Miracles
(Tamla LP) (13/BD) (#32)

21) (R) FRENESI - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP) (13/F) (RETURN)
22) BAD LUCK - Atlanta Disco Band
(Ariola-American [says "Scorpio"] 45) (12/CD) (#21)
23) (Do You Wanna) DANCE, DANCE, DANCE - Calhoon
(WB/Spector 45) (12/E) (#24)
24) (R) CHANGE WITH THE TIMES - Van McCoy
(Avco 45) (11/E) (RETURN)
25) (R) THIS WILL BE - Natalie Cole
(Capitol 45) (11/F) (RETURN)
26) (R) GET THE CREAM OFF THE TOP - Eddie Kendricks
(Tamla 45) (10/B) (RETURN)
27) LOVE MACHINE - The Miracles
(Tamla LP) (10/D) (#32)
28. NEED YOU - Harlem River Drive
(Arista 45) (10/C) (#26)
29) I'M IN HEAVEN - Touch Of Class
(Midland Intl. 45) (9/C) (#28.)
30) ALL I NEED - Anacostia
(Columbia 45) (8/BD) (#31)

31) EXODUS - The Biddu Orchestra
(Epic Import only) (8/A) (#13)
32) FAME - David Bowie
(RCA 45) (7/E) (#36)
33) * ROCK YOUR BABY - The Sunshine Band
(T.K. LP) (7/F) (NEW)
34) CHI-TOWN THEME - Cleveland Eaton
(Ovation [says "Black Jazz"] 45) (6/F) (#23)
35) * THE NAME OF THE GAME, PT. 2 - The Joneses
(Mercury 45) (6/D) (NEW)
36) LOVE ROLLERCOASTER - Ohio Players
(Mercury LP) (5/E) (#18.)
37) HOLLYWOOD HOT - Eleventh Hour
(20th Century 45) (4/E) (#40)
38. HOOKED FOR LIFE - The Trammps
(Atlantic long version) (4/A) (#25)
39) MAGIC OF THE BLUE - Blue Magic
(Atco LP) (3/D) (#12)
40) (R) WATERBED - Herbie Mann
(Atlantic special disco version) (3/F) (RETURN)

41) DATE WITH THE RAIN - Frankie Gee
(Claridge 45) (2/B) (#50)
42) * GET OFF YOUR ASS AND JAM - Funkadelic
(20th Century/Westbound LP) (2/E) (NEW)
43) SUPERSTAR REVUE - The New Ventures
(UA 45) (2/F) (#48.)
44) * DROP IT IN THE SLOT - Tower Of Power
(WB LP) (1/E) (NEW)
45) * I'M NOT READY TO LET YOU GO - Street Corner Symphony
(Bang 45) (1/F) (NEW)
46) * LET ME BE THE #1 (Number One) - Dooley Silverspoon
(Cotton 45) (1/B) (NEW)
47) WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE - The Supremes
(Motown 45) (1/D) (#42)
__________________________________________________ _

STATS:

#9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46 & 47 NOT listed in Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco (1974-2003) book.

* = Debut (7): #26, 33, 35, 42, 44, 45, 46

(R) = Return (2): #24, 40

Dropped Off:

IT'S ALRIGHT - Graham Central Station (was #19)
NOWHERE - Hokis Pokis (#22) *will be back
DREAMING A DREAM - Crown Heights Affair (#29)
HIPIT - Hosanna (#30)
GET READY FOR THIS - Revelation (#33)
WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE - Ralph Carter (#35)
VOLARE - Al Martino (#37) *
LOVE POWER - Willie Hutch (#38.)
GIMME THE KEY- Bobby Keys (#39)
SOMEBODY'S GOTTA GO (Sho Ain't Me) - Mike & Bill (#41)*
COMEBACK - Fantastic Puzzled (#43)
LOVE ON DELIVERY (L.O.D.) - The Reflections (#44) *
TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT - S.S.O (#45)
FALBALA - Magic Band (#46)
I JUST CAN'T MAKE IT (Without You) - Philly Devotions (#47)
BABY FACE - Wing & A Prayer Fife & Drum Corps. (#49) *
MONDO DISCO - El Coco (#51) *


The Final Tally:

47 total items; 51 last week
+ 7 debuts + 2 returns/ -17 dropoffs
1 record on all 6 charts (#1: Gloria G.)
4 records on 5 charts
5 records on 4 charts
5 records on 3 charts
6 records on 2 charts
26 records on only 1 chart

Analysis:

This chart, #52, completes the first full year of the Disco Charts. We began on October 26, 1974 with a Gloria Gaynor record at #1 and we end it with another Gloria Gaynor record at #1. :D

The top 17 this week all have over 20 points.

GG retains the #1 spot with 71 points out of a possible 90.
A= #1, B= #4, C= #3, D= #2, E=#13, F= #2
However, this is Glo's last week at #1 here.

D not charting Silver Convention anymore.
E & F not charting Donna Summer yet.
E never charts Tina Charles.
B & E not charting Deodato.
C & D have dropped B.T. Express
B is the only chart not to list Crown Heights Affair.
C is the only chart not listing a Ritchie Family title; F is the only chart to list all 3 songs in their LP medley.
D dropped Jeanne Burton.
E & F push KC & The Sunshine Band up to #14 (E= #2; F= #6);
no chartings in NYC.
B only charts "Overture" giving it more points than "Love Machine"
F returns Natalie Cole to this chart; only in Miami-- is Natalie a disco hit!!!
E has the first mention of Funkadelic & Tower of Power here. LA likes the FUNK!!!

What's distinctive to each chart?

Only A charting: Exodus, Hooked For Life

Only B charting: Get the Cream Off The Top, Date With the Rain, Let Me Be the #1

Only C charting: Need You, I'm In Heaven

Only D charting: Love Machine, The Name of the Game, Magic Of The Blue, Where Do I Go From Here

Only E charting: (Do You Wanna) Dance, Dance, Dance, Change With The Times, Fame, Love Rollercoaster, Hollywood Hot, Get Off your Ass & Jam, Drop It In the Slot

Only F charting: Frenesi, This Will Be, Rock Your Baby, Chi-Town Theme, Waterbed, Superstar Revue, I'm Not Ready To Let You Go
__________________________________________________ __



Artist Spotlight:

(Reviews from the 1979 edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide, edited by Dave Marsh)

Debuting this week:

FUNKADELIC (#42)

"Best of the Funkadelic Early Years combines tracks from the first eight Funkadelic albums. The band, George Clinton's original spinoff from Parliament, was one of the first black bands to fuse Sly Stone and Jimi Hendrix, incorporating horn players, backing voices, strings, social science, science fiction song titles and Pedro Bell's sleazy mutant psychedilic covers. The combination is daft but fascinating--the deleted LPs are well worth seeking out, particularly Let's Take It To the Stage (the title track of which blasts more earnest funk competitors) and Standing On the Verge. Hardcore Jollies is a momentary lapse, coinciding with a change in record label affiliation. The music of Funkadelic is an urban soundscape--not always pretty or appealing but perhaps the truest representation of urban life offered in black music." (J.MC. = John McEwen)

TOWER OF POWER (#44)

"This Oakland-based big band is noted for its super-funky live performances and has managed to translate a good deal of that energy onto vinyl. Though the band was always tight and the trademark five-piece horn section could blow up a storm from the start, it wasn't until the third album, Tower Of Power, that the sound jelled. Vocalist Lenny Williams provided the focal point for the band's energy, and the three albums that feature him fronting the band, T of P, Back to Oakland and Urban Renewal, are as fine a set of R&B records as have been released in the Seventies. Williams gave the band tremendous breadth on ballad material, but his uptempo vocals (as on the hit "What Is Hip") really took off. A couple of different vocalists have tried to fill Williams' shoes since then without much success, so the band has relied on its instrumental firepower and arrangement sense to make up the difference. The live set (Tower Of Power Live and in Living Color) shows just how hot they can get in concert."(JS = John Swenson)

STREET CORNER SYMPHONY (#45)

"Harmony Grits, the first album by this five-piece soul-singing group isn't much, but the second (Little Funk Machine) is a pleasant surprise, mostly because of production by Willie Hutch and a rhythm section that includes drummer James Gadson and bassist James Jamerson, studio stalwarts of Motown's heyday." (DM = Dave Marsh)

__________________________________________________ __

CLUB DIALOG by Tom Moulton
10/18/75

(Once again, thanks to shootyour shot for providing this column in its entirety.) :D

It looks like MFSB will have another strong seller with the single "The Zip" (Part 1 & 2) from a forthcoming LP. The song was written and produced by Gamble & Huff and is the theme for new Polaroid commercials.

Philadelphia just keeps coming with great dance product, the latest being the new Salsoul Orchestra LP. There already is some response on the cut "Tale Of Three Cities", and the entire LP is commercially straight ahead. Most of it done by Vince Montana Jr., with other cuts handled by Ronnie Baker.

"If You Ain't Getting Your Thing (Part 2)" by L. J. Walters and the Electrifiers (Phil LA Of Soul) has a strong soul sound with good funky rhythm that's in the same vein of disks from the Isley Brothers.

"TSOP" started a whole new trend in music and it sounds like everyone is getting into it - "Brazil" "Salsoul Hustle" and "Baby Face," to name a few. Now there is "Disco Sax" byHouston Person (Westbound). It's a very strong record with the feel of "Brazil" and female vocal ad libs that create so much excitement on the dance floor. The amazing thing about this sound is that "TSOP" by MFSB was recorded at least a year prior to its release and they have not tried to copy it themselves while everyone else has.

"Bad Luck" by the Atlanta Disco Band (Scorpio) is starting to show up in such markets as Boston, Miami, and San Francisco. The song was arranged by Earl Young, who is a member of the Trammps as well as the drummer for MFSB. Young plays the drums on this record; the original version was by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.

The new Reflections LP will be available next week. It will contain both their current hit "L.O.D." as well as "Three Steps From True Love." There are two other strong cuts on the LP.

CTI seems to be making the most commercial disco sounding records with their jazz artists. And now, Blue Note comes up with "Change (Makes You Want To Hustle)" by Donald Byrd.
__________________________________________________ ___

THE BIG TEASE:

Next week,10/25/75, we begin the second year of charts.

Strangely, only 4 charts are printed with the Tom Moulton column back in it's old place above the charts, leaving out charts B (Downstairs) & D (Melody Song Shops) that have been around since the beginning.

Without the heavy NYC retail influence of those 2 charts, we get a new #1 record. (with 53 points as opposed to 36 for #2)

We get chart A (NYC Discos), C (Colony NYC retail), E (LA/San Diego Discos) and a guest city chart from Philadelphia (Retailers). The absence of the two regular charts gives us a total of only 38 items; 18 records dropoff; 7 debut and 3 return.

A major debut (Top 5) from a Philadelphia super-group and new titles from Rhythm Heritage, Frankie Valli, Houston Person, Firefly, Donald Byrd and Undisputed Truth comprise the new records next week.

In 2 weeks, 11/01/75, we're back to normal with 6 charts. Unfortunately, "BABY FACE" is #1 on one of them. :evil: :evil: :evil: :lol: :lol: :lol:
__________________________________________________ ___

For the record, today's charts were typed while listening to:

The Kings of Disco Compiled by Joey Negro (disc 2)
Salsoul Presents Philly Soul Flavas: The Soul Sound of Philadelphia

[markydefad]

October 25, 1975

Billboard Pop Chart #1:
1) BAD BLOOD - Neil Sedaka (3rd & final week)

Billboard Soul/R&B Chart #1:
1) TO EACH HIS OWN - Faith, Hope & Charity
__________________________________________________ __

DISCO ACTION

Record World "National Disco File Top 20" #1: LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (week #1); (This is the chart being used by Joel Whitburn in his book for this time period--you know, the one chart versus 5 or 6, sometimes 7-- chart thang.)

But I've resolved that issue by combining the 4 (this week) Billboard charts into one.

Billboard charts:

A= Top 15 Audience Response Records in NYC Discos
(#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON)
B= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC)
(No chart printed this week)
C= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC)
(#1= NOBODY LOVES ME LIKE YOU DO DO)
D=Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island)
(No chart printed this week)
E= Top 15 Audience Response Records in LA/ San Diego Discos:
(#1= THAT'S THE WAY ( I LIKE IT))

+ Special 4th Chart from Guest City--Philadelphia:
F= Top Selling Disco Records in the Philadelphia Area:
(#1= I LOVE MUSIC (Part 1 & 2))

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 FIRST ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF......

THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS TOP 30 + 8

Chart #53: 10/25/75

1) FLY, ROBIN, FLY - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (53 total points/charts ACEF) (Last week #2)
2) LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY - Donna Summer
(Oasis LP) (36/ACEF) (#3)
3) CASANOVA BROWN/ (If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/ HOW HIGH THE MOON (Medley) (A); "EXPERIENCE GLORIA GAYNOR" LP (C & F) - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP) ( 15 + 20 = 35/ACF) (#1; 4 weeks total)
4) *I LOVE MUSIC (PT. 1 & 2) - The O'Jays
(Phila Intl. 45) (33/ACF) (NEW)
5) THAT'S THE WAY (I Like It) - KC & The Sunshine Band
(T.K. Disco) (28/EF) (#14)
6) NOBODY LOVES ME LIKE YOU DO DO - Jeanne Burton
(Cotton 45) (25/CF) (#10)
7) LET'S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE - Eddie Drennon & B.B.S. Unlimited
(Friends & Co. 45) (23/ACF) (#9)
8. UNDECIDED LOVE - The Chequers
(Scepter Disco Mix) (23/ACF) (#16)
9) CHANGE WITH THE TIMES - Van McCoy
(Avco 45) (21/EF) (#24)
10) PEACE PIPE - B.T. Express
(Roadshow LP) (20/AE) (#11)

11) SUNNY - Yambu
(Montuno Gringo 45) (20/AC) (#5)
12) EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART - Crown Heights Affair
(De-Lite 45) (18/AE) (#12)
13) MESSIN' WITH MY MIND - Labelle
(Epic 45) (13/AE) (#18.)
14) SOUL TRAIN '75 - Soul Train Gang
(Soul Train 45) (13/CF)
15) I LIKE IT - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (13/A) (#7)
16) CARAVAN/ WATUSI STRUT - Deodato
(MCA LP) (12/A) (#6)
17) LOVE MACHINE - The Miracles
(Tamla LP) (11/E) (#27)
18. YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE (vocal & instrumental) - Tina Charles
(Columbia 45) (11/A) (#4)
19) * THEME FROM S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage
(ABC 45) (10/C) (NEW)
20) BRAZIL - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP) (8/EF) (#8.)

21) (R) WHO LOVES YOU - The Four Seasons
(WB 45) (8/F) (RETURN)
22) LOVE ROLLERCOASTER - Ohio Players
(Mercury LP) (7/E) (#36)
23) (Do You Wanna) DANCE, DANCE, DANCE - Calhoon
(Warner/Spector 45) (6/E) (#23)
24) * OUR DAY WILL COME - Frankie Valli (w/Patti Austin)
(Private Stock 45) (6/C) (NEW)
25) IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE - Tavares
(Capitol 45) (5/AE) (#19)
26) * DISCO SAX - Houston Person
(Westbound 45) (5/C) (NEW)
27) (R) SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DO (Sho Ain't Me) - Mike & Bill
(Arista 45) (5/F) (RETURN)
28. * HEY THERE LITTLE FIREFLY - Firefly
(A&M 45) (4/F) (NEW) (Produced by Kenny Nolan)
29) {TIE} SUMMER OF '42/ EXODUS (Main Theme) - The Biddu Orchestra
(Epic 45/Import only) (4 each/A) (#15/#31)
30) (R) VOLARE - Al Martino
(Capitol 45) (4/C) (RETURN)

31) HOLLYWOOD HOT - Eleventh Hour
(20th Century 45) (3/E) (#37)
32) I'M IN HEAVEN - Touch Of Class
(Midland Intl. 45) (3/C) (#29)
33) PEANUT VENDOR - The Ritchie Family
(20th Century LP) (2/F) (#13)
34) DROP IT IN THE SLOT - Tower Of Power
(WB LP) (2/E) (#44)
35) HOOKED FOR LIFE - The Trammps
(Atlantic long version) (2/A) (#38.)
36) * CHANGE (Makes You Want To Hustle) - Donald Byrd
(Blue Note 45) (1/F) (NEW)
37) DATE WITH THE RAIN - Frankie Gee
(Claridge 45) (1/C) (#41)
38. * HIGHER THAN HIGH - Undisputed Truth
(Gordy 45) (1/E) (NEW)
__________________________________________________ __

STATS:
#6, 7, 8, 14, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37 & 38 NOT listed in Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco (1974-2003) book.

* = DEBUT (7): #4, 19, 24, 26, 28, 36, 38

(R) = RETURN (3): #21, 27, 30

Dropped Off:

OVERTURE - The Miracles (was #20) *will be back
FRENESI - The Ritchie Family (#21)
BAD LUCK - Atlanta Disco Band (#22)
THIS WILL BE - Natalie Cole (#25)
GET THE CREAM OFF THE TOP - Eddie Kendricks (#26)
NEED YOU - Harlem River Drive (#28.)
ALL I NEED - Anacostia (#30)
FAME - David Bowie (#30)
ROCK YOUR BABY - The Sunshine Band (#33)
CHI-TOWN THEME - Cleveland Eaton (#34)
THE NAME OF THE GAME, PT. 2 - The Joneses (#35)
MAGIC OF THE BLUE - Blue Magic (#39) *
WATERBED - Herbie Mann (#40)
GET OFF YOUR ASS & JAM - Funkadelic (#42)
SUPERSTAR REVUE - The New Ventures (#43)
I'M NOT READY TO LET YOU GO - Street Corner Symphony (#45)
LET ME BE THE #1 - Dooley Silverspoon (#46) *
WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE - The Supremes (#42)

It's cleaning house week, baby!!!! :lol:

THE FINAL TALLY:

38 total items this week; 47 last week (4 charts vs. 6 charts)
+ 7 debuts + 3 returns/ -18 dropoffs
2 records on all 4 charts ( #1 & #2; Euro stars: Silver Convention & Donna Summer)
4 records on 3 charts
10 records on 2 charts
22 records on only 1 chart


Tell Me What's New & Interesting

OK, this week begins the second year of Disco Compilation Charts; it's our Anniversary!!!! No gifts please.

Strangely, for such a joyous occasion, it's sorta fucked up because two of the mainstay charts B & D are not printed. :evil: Where's Downtairs Records & Melody Song Shops? M.I.A. this week!!! They will return next week, however. The absence of two NYC retailers somewhat skews the results this week giving Silver Convention, the perpetual #2 record here for a number of weeks, a well-deserved week at #1; Gloria Gaynor has kept it from topping the charts due to her phenomenal succcess in NYC. Hot competition for the top spot is moving up the charts from newcomer Donna Summer (#2) and the stellar debut at #4 of The O'Jays.

Without the B & D charts, KC & the Sunshine Band charts at #5-- the highest ever here; KC is #1 in LA and #3 in Philadelphia--no mentions in NYC!!! I still don't get this. Why did NYC snub KC so royally? :-?

Similarly, Van McCoy's terrific "Change With The Times" climbs into the Top 10 (#9) also due solely to LA (#4) & Philly (#7). NYC sorta igs this record also. Don't know why.

Philly returns the Four Seasons to the chart & group member Frankie Valli debuts his new solo single, a cover of Ruby & The Romantics' "Our Day Will Come" with a guest female vocal from then-relatively unknown Patti Austin. This one never really takes off--too much stuff out there, I guess.

Dance records from jazz artists Houston Person (#26) & Donald Byrd (#36) also make their debuts.
__________________________________________________ __
Artist Spotlight:

(Reviews from the 1979 edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide, edited by Dave Marsh)

Debuting this week....

THE O'JAYS (#4)

"The O'Jays were probably the most faceless of all the groups who were the tools of Philadelphia soul producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, but they have also been the most consistently successful, beginning with a string of R&B hits including "Lipstick Traces" (1965) and "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow" (1967), which are repackaged on the Up Front collection along with similar R&B hits of the period.

Their early-Seventies recordings for Gamble and Huff's Neptune label (collected on In Philadelphia) reaches much the same audience, but it was their 1972 hits "Back Stabbers" and "992 Arguments" (from Back Stabbers) that set the tone for the Philly International success story. Growling vocals rode on top of huge, complex productions that antedate disco but pick up on many of the seminal components of that sound, particularly the drums, which are mixed ever louder on succeeding releases. The group's string of single successes has continued virtually unabated--"Love Train" and "Put Your Hands Together" in 1973, "For The Love Of Money" in 1974, "I Love Music" in 1975 and so on.

The group's albums have been consistently danceable and the singing is always powerful, although recent LPs (you can tell which ones from the titles) have succumbed somewhat to the specious quasi-mystical preaching of Gamble and Huff, who seem to have decided that disco is also the ideal medium for a kind of elusive spiritualism that smacks of the hippie rhetoric prevalent among Sixties white rock bands. None of this mars, however, the really awesome power of the best music; Back Stabbers ranks with the best albums released in any genre in the past decade." (DM= Dave Marsh)

RHYTHM HERITAGE (#19)

"Faceless funk from the folks who brought you a Top Ten tune, "Theme From S.W.A.T." in the early disco craze." (DM= Dave Marsh)

UNDISPUTED TRUTH (#38.)

"Led by Chaka Khan's sister, Taka Boom, this group scored a great early-Seventies hit for Motown in "Smiling Faces Sometimes," but has never reached that level since. [Note: for the record, Miss Boom joined the group in 1975; did NOT sing on "Smiling Faces Sometimes" or any earlier material] (Apparently, Dave never heard Taka sing "You + Me = Love"???) :-? The album to look for is the now-deleted Motown debut, which also features the weirdest version of "Like A Rolling Stone" ever made." (DM= Dave Marsh)
__________________________________________________ __


CLUB DIALOG by Tom Moulton
10/25/75

(NEW YORK) Without a doubt the hottest new record around is "I Love Music" by The O'Jays. It has been a long time since the group has had a record that has created this much immediate excitement. This will be their equivalent to "Bad Luck".

There is also excitement over "I'm On Fire by 5000 Volts (Phillips) and the cover version on Roxbury by Jim Gilstrap. The song is very reminiscent of the Sixties hit"Black is Black" by Los Bravos (1966). Both versions seem to be getting the same kind of reaction and neither one is stronger than the other at this time.

Walter Gibbons is now back at Galaxy 21 and he brought back with him "Two Pigs And A Hog," a cut on the "Cooley High" soundtrack LP on Motown. Walter has gotten a number of other disk jockeys playing it, including Hector Lebron of Limelight, Tony Smith of Barefoot Boy and Tony Gloe of Hollywood. The cut is only 1:46, but the DJs play it two or three times in a row, making it longer. (!!!) The LP has been around for several months and Walter believed in the record enough to try and convince others.

"Hey Lucinda (Dr. Big Smile)" by The Jones Girls (Curtom) has a rhythm like "Yes We Can Can" and will undoubtedly be a big R&B record as well as a very popular disco hit. This is the most commercial record the group has had to date.

"Special Delivery" by Polly Brown (Ariola-America) is the follow up to "Up In A Puff Of Smoke." It is more commercial than her last single.

Midland International will be releasing in the next two weeks the debut single by Linda G. Thompson (lead singer of the Silver Convention): "Ooh, What A Night."