The First National Billboard Disco Chart

[markydefad]

I mistakenly pulled the September 4, 1976 chart to post as the first chart--BUT this morning I now see it actually was the previous week August 28, 1976. Billboard confused me cause they continued to print the usual 6 charts for NY Discos, LA/SD Discos, and the 3 NYC retailers--BUT they also had the first national chart alongside those other charts. The following week, it was on a separate page, so I pulled that as the first one...WRONG!!!! So, a week late....BUT for history's sake:

DISCO ACTION TOP 30 (8/28/76)

1) YOU SHOULD BE DANCING - The Bee Gees (RSO EP)
2) BEST DISCO IN TOWN/ ARABIAN NIGHTS - Ritchie Family (Marlin LP)
3) CHERCHEZ LA FEMME/ SOUR & SWEET - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (RCA LP)
4) HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL/ DON'T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC - Tavares (Capitol LP)
5) YOU + ME = LOVE - Undisputed Truth (Whitfield)
6) YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE - Lou Rawls (Philadelphia Intl.)
7) LET'S MAKE A DEAL/ I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN/ LOVER BE MINE - Gloria Gaynor (Polydor LP)
8. EVERY MAN/ MY LOVE IS FREE/ TEN PER CENT - Double Exposure (Salsoul LP)
9) (Shake, Shake, Shake) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY - K.C. & The Sunshine Band (TK)
10) I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOUR LOVE - The Emotions (Columbia)

11) YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE/ RUN TO ME/ DESTINY - Candi Staton (WB LP)
12) GETAWAY - Earth, Wind & Fire (Colubia EP)
13) PARTY LINE/ "DISCO MAGIC"/ MORE, MORE, MORE- Andrea True Connection (Buddah LP)

(NOTE: "Disco Magic" is an error. It was by T-Connection. But wait, there's more!!!

14) LET'S GET IT TOGETHER - El Coco (AVI LP)
15) KNIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN/ I WANNA FUNK WITH YOU TONIGHT - Giorgio (Oasis LP)

16) "DISCO MAGIC" - The Trammps (Atlantic LP)

(NOTE: I think Mr Moulton or his editor were up a little late compiling this list. I guess they mean "That's Where The Happy People Go" LP which featured "Disco Party"..OR "Disco Magic" by T-Connection. The problem is that next week BOTH ARE LISTED. So, I'm not sure. DUH. :???:

17) NICE & NASTY/ 200L - Salsoul Orchestra (Salsoul LP)
18. PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC - Wild Cherry (Sweet City)
19) GET UP OFFA THAT THING - James Brown (Polydor)
20) ALWAYS THERE - Side Effect (Fantasy DiscoEdit)

21) MY SWEET SUMMER SUITE - Love Unlimited Orchestra (20th Century EP)
22) ONE FOR THE MONEY - The Whispers (Soul Train)
23) LOWDOWN/ WHAT CAN I SAY - Boz Scaggs (Columbia LP)
24) TAKE A LITTLE - Liquid Pleasure (Midland Intl)
25) MAKES YOU BLIND - Glitter Band (Bell Import)
26) YOU GOT THE POWER - Camouflage (Roulette)
27) SO MUCH FOR LOVE (Instrumental) - Moment of Truth (Salsoul)
28. NICE & SLOW - Jesse Green (Scepter EP)
29) IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM - Mark Radice (United Artists)
30) FULL TIME THING - Whirlwind (Roulette Disco edit)

All in all, quite a great list!!!!

[DanceMan]

Having written for Billboard, their proofreading department was, at best, deplorable...the Editor was foreign, highly educated, but was more concerned with the proper grammar (as he was still educating himself in English) then he was with the disco facts...some weeks if you notice, some songs received bullets only after they are barrelling DOWN the chart....my by-line was always spelled correctly, but once after already having 7 articles appear, this Disco Editor called me and asked me how to spell my name....

It is much better there now, I understand, but since I don't give a rat's behind anymore about those dance charts, I will leave the concern to those who followed.....