Bear Necessities!

[Forrrce]

Was 'No News..' big in NY the first time? It was very underground here and didn't sell very well. About 18 months after it came out, it started to snowball slowly and by summer '86 was massive in London. The remix on New Image sold by the bucketload and it eventually got a UK release. By today's standards, sales alone may well have guaranteed it a top 20 chart placing. I used to think that the re-issue came around due to the UK demand, because I seldom hear the track mentioned by anyone from the US.

'Work Ya Body' stiffed here also, but it was still better than the doggy 'Playgirl'. 'Hold On' was the one I liked the most.

[Greg Wilson]

Originally Posted by NickNack

Was this a "full night"? You know, more than 6 hours? And I love that Letta Mbulu. You can ask Art. I think I made him sick of it BITD.

Hi NickNack: The club Forrrce played is Horse Meat Disco, a fortnightly All-Dayer (1pm-1am).

Horse Meat has really caught the imagination of the London gay scene, by drawing its inspiration from late 70's / early 80's NYC. I'm sure the audience there would have totally appreciated the type of tunes Forrrce played on Sunday.

I deejayed there myself earlier this year and am back a week on Sunday. It was great to feature the type of tracks I was playing to a black crowd back in the day to such a great response. The highlight for me was when an older guy came up to me with a big smile on his face, as I was playing Shirley Lites 'Heat You Up', to tell me he hadn't heard this played in a club since he was at The Saint in '83!

BTW Forrrce, used to play Lette Mbulu when it was out in '81, but haven't heard it in two decades plus (it was one of those records that I'd forgotten existed until I saw it on your playlist!). Pretty sure I no longer have a copy. Kremcicle's 'No News Is News' was another I used to have, but have no more. :(

That Ronnie Dyson is a wicked re-edit, some great stuff on that Better Days label!

[sfbeary]

horse meat disco - love the name!!!!

"no news is news" was huge in nyc with the garage/better days set and mostly ignored beyond that scene, although i'm sure i heard it in the radio mix shows. i don't think it did anything outside of nyc and probably chicago. i remember the label on the remix, but don't have it, and, oddly enough, i think the remix was more or less ignored by the same people who loved the original in nyc, so i think your theory about uk demand is correct.

don't remember "playgirl" at all. "hold on" i'm sure i know - i've gotta dig that one up again, because i can't hear the hook in my head and i usually have total disco recall with those kinds of records.