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

[markydefad]

I gotta admit that "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" by Philly Devotions is NOT impressing me much so far. It sounds so tinny and small compared to the great work of this time period coming from producers such as Thom Bell, Gamble& Huff, etc.

The lead vocalist is obviously copying the falsetto of Stylistics' lead Russell Thompkins and the song has that Philly feel...but it seems substandard to me.

Compared to a elegant, full-sounding Spinners records of a few years earlier (say "Mighty Love"), this sounds like it was recorded in the early 1960s. :oops: :oops: :oops:

OK-- argue with me.

[sfbeary]

shame shame shame!
shame on you!
if you can't worship philly devotions too! :P

[markydefad]

I'm hearing Tinny Devotions comin' outta my boombox. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Maybe it's a bad mastering job?

[markydefad]

February 1, 1975

Billboard Pop Chart top 5:
1) LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN - Neil Sedaka
2) FIRE - Ohio Players
3) BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN - Stevie Wonder
4) YOU'RE NO GOOD - Linda Ronstadt
5) PICK UP THE PIECES - Average White Band

Billboard R&B Chart #1:
1) FIRE - Ohio Players (2nd week)
_______________________________________________



Disco Action:

A= Audience Response (NYC Discos) (#1= SHAME, SHAME, SHAME)
B= Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC) (#1 = NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE (LP))
C= Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC) (#1: SHAME, SHAME, SHAME)
D= Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island) (#1= NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE (LP))

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

DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS
February 1, 1975

1) (A) = HONEY BEE/ NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE. REACH OUT (MEDLEY)
(B + C + D) = NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE (LP) - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP) (54 total points/charts ABCD) (last week: #14)
2) HIJACK - Herbie Mann
(Atlantic 45) (52/ABCD) (last week: #1)
3) I JUST CAN'T SAY GOODBYE - Philly Devotions
(Columbia 45) (45/ABCD) (#6)
4) SHAME, SHAME, SHAME - Shirley & Company
(Vibration 45) (39/ABC) (#4)
5) I'LL BE HOLDING ON - Al Downing
(Chess 45) (34/ACD) (#2)
6) HEY GIRL, COME AND GET IT - The Stylistics
(Avco 45) (27/ABCD) (#7)
7) EXPRESS - B.T. Express
(Roadshow 45) (27/ACD) (#5)
8. BUMP ME BABY - Dooley Silverspoon
(Cotton 45) (25/BCD) (#20)
9) LADY MARMALADE/ WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU - Labelle
(Epic 45/LP cut) (23/ ACD) (#3)
10) THE BOTTLE - Joe Bataan
(Salsoul 45) (22/BCD) (#8.)

11) BLUE EYED SOUL - Carl Douglas
(20th Century LP only) (15/AC) (#11)
12) JUST AS LONG AS WE'RE TOGETHER - Gloria Scott (Produced by Barry White)
(Casablanca 45) (15/BC) (#10)
13) LOVE DON'T YOU GO THROUGH NO CHANGES ON ME - Sister Sledge
(Atco 45) (14/AC) (#9)
14) E- MAN BOOGIE - Jimmy Castor Bunch
(Atlantic LP only--now available) (12/A (#13)
15) * HEY THERE, SEXY LADY - Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
(Stang 45) (10/B)
16) HAPPY PEOPLE - The Temptations (with The Commodores as backup band)
(Gordy 45) (9/AD) (#12)
17) SATIN SOUL -(2 versions: A = Love Unlimited Orchestra; B = Gene Page (Both produced by Barry White)
A = 20th Century LP; B = Atlantic 45/LP) (9/D) (#16)
18. * CHANGES (MESSIN' WITH MY MIND) - Vernon Bunch
(UA 45) (8/B)
19) SUPERNATURAL THING - Ben E. King
(Atlantic 45) (7/D) (#15)
20) I CAN DO IT - Louise Freeman
(Shout 45) (6/B) (#19)

21) WHERE IS THE LOVE - Betty Wright
(Alston LP only) (5/A) (#29)
22) ALL OUR DREAMS ARE COMING TRUE - Gene Page
(Atlantic LP) (4/B) (#18.)
23) DOCTOR'S ORDERS - Carol Douglas
(Midland Intl. 45) (3/AD) (#22)
24) * MY SHIP - Tavares
(Capitol 45) (3/B)
25) (R) STOMP AND BUCK DANCE - The Crusaders (says "BUMP" DANCE!!! too many "Bump" records lately!!!) :lol:
(ABC/Blue Thumb 45) (3/D)
26) TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT - Jimmy Ruffin
(Chess 45) (2/A) (#24)
27) WALKING IN RHYTHM - The Blackbyrds
(Fantasy 45) (2/B) (#26)
28. YOU'VE GOT TO TRY HARDER - Ronnie Walker
(Event 45) (2/C) (#30)
29) (R) ESCAPE FROM TOMORROW - Lalo Schifrin
(20th Century 45) (1/C)
30) (R) I FEEL LOVE COMIN' ON - Jay & the Techniques
(Event 45; previously on Silver Blue) (1/B)
31) * SHOESHINE BOY - Eddie Kendricks
(Tamla 45) (1/D)

15 items NOT in Joel Whitburn's Disco/Dance book:
#8, 10, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

* = Debut (4) #15, 18, 24 & 31

(R) = Re-entry (3) #25, 29 & 30 (released on new label)

Dropped Off:
WAITN FOR THE RAIN - Philly Sounds & Fantastic Johnny C.
BUS STOP - Oliver Sain
VOODOO MAGIC - Rhodes Kids
GIRLS - Moments & Whatnauts
IT'S A MIRACLE - Barry Manilow
FIRE - Ohio Players

Stats & Random Notes:

31 items this week/ last week 30
4 debuts + 3 re-entries/ - 6 dropoffs
4 records on all 4 charts #1, 2, 3, 6
16 records on only 1 chart
Biggest leap: #14 to #1 -Gloria Gaynor LP (the LP has finally hit the stores) A lists the side one medley; BC&D list the LP; next week "Real Good People" starts charting also.

Also next week: 9 Debuts/12 Dropoffs & our first bonafide Import single from Europe (discounting the UK) hits the U.S. Disco charts (not counting the Jimmy Ruffin single which was only available as an Import at first--but was an American recording). Tell me if I'm wrong about this. :oops:




DISCO ACTION - by Tom Moulton
February 1, 1975

(New York) -- Helping to keep the disco action hopping in Washington, D.C. these days is an organization known as the Music Unlimited Street Jocks. Started a year and a half ago by former radio disk jockey Daniel Clayton, better known as "Hollywood Breeze", the company is geared to give exposure to disco product normally overlooked by local radio.

Clayton has built the organization to where it is today. It includes 14 disco DJs. They rotate playing at different clubs in town, with the idea of giving dance audiences a variety of spinning styles. Two of the top players in the group are Edward Flanigan "The Mighty Rope" and Harold "Smash" Ashley. Among the top spots on the players' circuit are the Colonial Steak House, which is a restaurant during the day and a discotheque in the evening, and the Pitts Motor Lodge. (They sound real classy!!!!) :P

The organization also publishes a bi-weekly listing of the top disco records in the local market and disco product which is just starting to break at the club level. According to Clayton, two cuts from the latest Temptations LP, "A Song For You," are creating a lot of good vibrations locally. They are "Shakey Ground" and "Glass House."

Atlantic Records is rush-releasing Jimmy Castor's "Butt Of Course" LP this week. It contains Castor's disco hit "E-Man Boogie."

Cotton Records will be distributed nationally by Arista Records, with the first record to be handled being Dooley Silverspoon's "Bump Me Baby" single. To date, there have been problems getting the record outside of New York, report a number of disk jockeys. But, the disk has already scored strong points on the local disco scene here.

Elf Records, a local label out of Boston, has re-recorded Leon Collin's "I Just Want To Say I Love You." While the original has received some disco play, the new version is being touted as the disk that wll garner strong results. The record's flip side has the instrumental version of the song, featuring a good sax solo.

Atlantic Records has acquired the rights to the "Barrabas" LP.....RCA is re-servicing Nell Carter's "Dreams" (dead, you know!!! )... Bobby "DJ" Guttadaro, Le Jardin spinner, reports that Rufus' "Once You Get Started" cut from it's latest album is getting strong audience response at the club....Last week, 20th Century Records' Billy Smith hosted a luncheon here to present gold record plaques to local disco disk jockeys Walter Cappello (Le Jardin), Bobby Guttadero (Le Jardin), David Rodriguez (the Limelight) and Frankie Strivelli.

[QUINNY]

What a wonderfully diverse chart, full of goodies (shame Oliver Sain had dropped off of it this week).

BTW: Marky, what's with the re-cycled joke?? Only pulling yer leg. Didn't ya ever disco at a steak house or a motor lodge? One of the best gigs I ever did was at Mings Garden restaurant, but I won't re-cycle that tale here. It's in the annals, somewhere.

[markydefad]

"and tonight, folks....from the beautiful downtown Pitts Motor Lodge...we are proud to present the groovy disco mixes of England's inimitable Mr.Quinny!!!!!" :lol:


The Pitts Motor Lodge reeks of class & sophistication, no???? :lol: :lol: :lol:

"The Pitts"...as in Bette Midler's old saying "ain't it the pits?"....meaning the absolute rock bottom/nadir...or "armpit"...or Pittsburgh!!!! Now the owners name was probably Pitts...but I just thought it was funny.

"that was a pitts ending to a really terrific song"...spoken tongue-in-cheek by the Divine Miss M as the end of her version of "Chapel of Love" :D

[QUINNY]

Originally Posted by markydefad

The Pitts Motor Lodge reeks of class & sophistication, no???? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Bet you would have played it if you were a DJ without a gig. The scene from the Blues Brothers where they played that C&W hell pit shot through my mind's eye, when I saw that name. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Hey, perhaps we oughta have a post with made up joints de haute classe.
I'll start:

The Parmesan (especially the way you yanks pronounce it) What a great cheesey disco name.
or
The Happy Cheese
Cheesey disco records again, but everyone would be takin' sumthin' chemically naaassttyy and smilin'.

[paul]

Hey Marky,
Again, fine job in putting together such a labor intensive list. I didn't know the Commodores did back-up on Happy People.
I'm definitely feeling 1975 with this list especially seeing BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN. I've seen I'LL BE HOLDING ON frequently on the boards. I think I know the song but for some reason I can't seem to associate a beat with it. I'll have see if I can listen a sample somewhere because I'm sure it's not in my collection.

[markydefad]

Originally Posted by paul

Hey Marky,
I didn't know the Commodores did back-up on Happy People.
I'm definitely feeling 1975 with this list especially seeing BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN. I've seen I'LL BE HOLDING ON frequently on the boards. I think I know the song but for some reason I can't seem to associate a beat with it. I'll have see if I can listen a sample somewhere because I'm sure it's not in my collection.

Hey tall Paul,

You must get Al Downing's "I'll Be Holding On"--it screams 1975!!!! ("don't look back, I'll be ho-ooh-ohldin' on...." with that banjo riff!!!) This was thee HOT record when I moved to SF in January 1975. Get the "Super Rare Disco" CD--the long version (Tom Moulton's cause celebre' of the moment--OK, I better 'splain...Tom did the extended Disco mix that inadvertently led to the 12" and Chess records put it on a reissue of the single but is now NOT putting it on new pressings and Tom's pissed cause the disco-people want the long mix; see his column from 2/8/75) is on this as well as many other gems.

I bought the Temptations "A Song For You" cd at Amoeba on Saturday to get a copy of "Happy People" and their next hit "Glasshouse". I was looking for an old vinyl copy BUT I found a new cd copy for $4.98!!!! Lionel Richie cowrote "Happy People" and AMG says that the Commodores were the band on that cut. There is a reprise "instrumental" version of "Happy People" (side B of the single. I guess) included on the cd also.

The other CD I bought was an import "Funkrock" from BBE (Barely Breaking Even). I get the feeling that one of the Brit posters is connected with this company? Hmmmm??? It has the Babe Ruth version of "The Mexican" and lotsa other obscurities by the likes of Betty Davis, Brian Auger & Trinity, Cymande, Buddy Miles, and even Sly Stone & Steve Winwood & "Devadip"!!! Carlos Santana. Most of it was totally new to me. Can't decide what to make of it yet.

I also found a vinyl LP on B.B. King's 1974 "Friends" LP with "Philadelphia" on it and a vinyl copy of the 1975 'Mighty Clouds Of Joy" LP with "Mighty High". Both were produced & some songs written by Dave Crawford--the man behind Candi Staton's disco career.

Yep, it's all about the past these days at Marky's house. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[markydefad]

I'm curious for info/opinions/reviews of these:

8. BUMP ME BABY - Dooley Silverspoon
(Cotton 45) (25/BCD) (#20)

21) * BUS STOP - Oliver Sain
(A-Bet 45) (5/D)

24) * MY SHIP - Tavares
(Capitol 45) (3/B)

15) * HEY THERE, SEXY LADY - Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
(Stang 45) (10/B)

20) I CAN DO IT - Louise Freeman
(Shout 45) (6/B) (#19)

12) VOODOO MAGIC - The Rhodes Kids
(#11) (GRC 45) (17/BC)

23) WAITIN' FOR THE RAIN - Philly
Sounds (& Fantastic Johnny C)
(#22) (Phil. LA of Soul 45) (10/BC)

Also info on where to find them. :o

[QUINNY]

Oliver Sain - Bus Stop is one of the early boss jazzy/funk disco gems. The sort of totally uninhibited sax blowing that makes me scream with delight, with an ever so solid, bouncy 4/4 funk rhythm track that's just the right side of loose at about (guessing here) 117 BPM. So very danceable if you can get past the jazzy sax. I adore this record, played it to death BITD and it used to do well for me.

Dooley Silverspoon - Bump Me Baby - nothing special from what I remember, but hey, it might be right up your street. I have a copy somewhere in the shed. sorry I can't be more helpful.

[shootyourshot]

February 1, 1975

Top LPs & Tape:

6, 8, Average White Band, s/t
11, 21, B.T. Express, Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied)
28, 34, Al Green, Explores Your Mind
29, 31, Three Degrees, s/t
37, 38, Carl Douglas, Kung Fu Fighting & Other Love Songs
53, 72, Labelle, Night Birds
58, 50, Love Unlimited Orchestra, White Gold
66, 69, Blackbyrds, Flying Start
72, 61, Barry White, Can’t Get Enough
76, 81, Blue Magic, The Magic Of The Blue
105, 113, Love Unlimited, In Heat
113, 114, Eddie Kendricks, For You
143, 132, Stylistics, Heavy
154, 169, Carl Carlton, Everlasting Love
160, New, Gloria Gaynor, Never Can Say Goodbye
186, 191, Lamont Dozier, Black Bach

Hot 100:

5, 10, Average White Band, Pick Up The Pieces
11, 14, Disco Tex & The Sex-o-lettes, Get Dancin’
12, 13, Carol Douglas, Doctor’s Orders
13, 9, Gloria Gaynor, Never Can Say Goodbye
31, 34, Love Unlimited, I Belong To You
33, 18, Barry White, You’re The First, The Last, My Everything
36, 61, Labelle, Lady Marmalade
40, 41, Temptations, Happy People
42, 85, B.T. Express, Express
43, 38, Carl Douglas, Kung Fu Fighting
51, 62, Polly Brown, Up In A Puff Of Smoke
64, 76, Shirley & Company, Shame, Shame, Shame
67, 78, Stylistics, Star On A TV Show
79, 54, Three Degrees, When Will I See You Again
80, 90, George McCrae, I Get Lifted
82, 71, Al Green, Sha-La-La

[sfbeary]

i'm only doing this for YOU, marky (and shoot your shot), for bestowing upon on us all these wonderful charts. otherwise i'd be submitting an invoice. (daddy doesn't ordinarily give it away — everybody has to pay and pay!)

8. BUMP ME BABY - Dooley Silverspoon
(Cotton 45) (25/BCD) (#20)
this is cute as a bump-themed record can get - the beat is very "rock the boat" (has tom pointed that out already?) the single is pt 1/pt 2, and each side is only a few seconds more than two-and-a-half minutes. not much to it, but good for what it is. jeanne/jenny burton (who'd score some hits it the '80s, particularly c-bank's masterful "one more shot") does some wailing as pt. 2 comes to a fade. - don't think it's ever been on cd.


21) * BUS STOP - Oliver Sain
(A-Bet 45) (5/D)
this sounds a bit like a bargain basement kool & the gang instrumental - no verse, no chorus, no hook, just a simple riff and some sax wailing away without interruption for nearly three minutes. more funk than disco. sain's bus stop album has been reissued on cd in italy, and the track has been included on some "rare groove" compilations.

24) * MY SHIP - Tavares
(Capitol 45) (3/B)
this is on tavares' second lp, Hard Core Poetry, which is also home to my personal favorite Tavares song, "Too Late," which was a much bigger early nyc proto-disco hit than this one. like "Too Late," it's well-produced uptempo R&B, but not nearly as catchy. it's not on the two usa tavares cd comps i have, and i think it's been forgotten by most. i'll give this a few more spins, though, and if i change my mind, i'll let you know.


15) * HEY THERE, SEXY LADY - Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
(Stang 45) (10/B)
i don't remember this one, but hank ballard used to record with james brown, so you can expect something similar. the moments, who were also on stang, had a great extended mid-tempo groove track called "sexy lady," and their label recycled lots of songs and riffs, so this could be related. at any case, i'm pretty sure this is also more funk/soul than disco.


20) I CAN DO IT - Louise Freeman
(Shout 45) (6/B) (#19)
woo-hoo! this is a grrrrrreat one. louise wails about how all she needs to learn a dance is to see it. very sassy, very proto-disco-diva. think lyn collins. mmmmm-hmmmmm! this was reissued on 45 Kings II, which i remember buying at amoeba a year or two ago, but it's apparently already out of print.

12) VOODOO MAGIC - The Rhodes Kids
(#11) (GRC 45) (17/BC)
this is by a bunch of brothers and sisters (Rhodes) who were either pre-or-just-barely-pubescent (Kids). don't know it.

23) WAITIN' FOR THE RAIN - Philly
Sounds (& Fantastic Johnny C)
(#22) (Phil. LA of Soul 45) (10/BC)
another great one! The Fantastic Johnny C had some soul hits of the '60s ("Boogaloo Down Broadway") and this was his proto-disco comeback of sorts. it sounds very much like an early MFSB record and probably features many of the same players. this record was issued twice - once by Johnny C, and once by Philly Sounds, which is essentially the same track with Johnny C's vocal removed. both versions appear on Philadelphia Roots, a UK compilation widely available in america at places like amoeba (and amazon). the Fantastic Johnny C b-side is also strong, "Don't Depend On Me," and i think is also the flip of the aformentioned Philly Sounds 7" in an instrumental version. i'd recommend this to you marky, but if you're not feeling Philly Devotions, you might not feel this!

[markydefad]

Thanks Barry!!!! :D :D :D

Nobody does it better.

[QUINNY]

Originally Posted by markydefad

Thanks Barry!!!! :D :D :D

Nobody does it better.

Only I implore you Marky, to at least have a listen to Oliver Sain if you can. Barry's description does no justice to this record. Have I ever lied??? :lol: :lol: