Info re Loose Change, John Gibbs?

[discodjinn]

I've been on a mission recently to restore my vinyl collection. I want to find records I gradually sold off years ago, and have been scouring books and websites like this to discover ones I may have missed in the 70's. It's been fun finding these records in unlikely places. Recently I acquired some 12" discs I really like: Tamiko Jones, Joe Simon's "Love Vibrations," Joe Thomas' "Plato's Retreat"(when I was a teenager I thought I wanted to visit that club), and others.



One that surprised me was John Gibbs' "J'ouvert." I knew "Trinidad" and never really liked the Love Boat-ish melody and lyrics. "J'ouvert" seems better written to me. Does anyone know anything about Gibbs?



I also found a record called "Straight From The Heart" by a group called Loose Change. The 12" doesn't have any picture to jog my memory. I'm not sure I remember this group from the 70's. It's released on Casablanca, produced by Tom Moulton. Any info on this group?

[Giovanni]

John Gibbs was the mentor (and owner I suppose) of the Jumbo Caribbean label, and thereafter of the John Gibbs label, that released a very sought after reggaeish version of "Rapper's delight" by a group called Xanadu and his Ladies. Both "Trinidad" and "J'ouvert" are rare classics. How much did you pay for "J'ouvert"?



I have the Loose Change LP on Casablanca. It is pretty obscure and I've not listened to it for about 15 years now. I'm going to check it again!!!!

[discodjinn]

I paid 50 cents for J'ouvert! During the last couple of months I've been visiting this flea market dealer who has several crates of 12" and lp records. He bought out the collection of a DJ a few years back and these records have been collecting dust for him at his stall.



The vinyl all goes for $1.00; 50 cents if you buy a dozen or more! I've picked up quite a few records, but he still has three crates worth. I've been reluctant to take the whole lot-- partly because of the time involved in giving a listen to all these records I don't know, mostly because of the space issue (they would have to be stored in my attic). Also, he has a fair number of records from the 1983-88 period I'm not so interested in. Plus, let's face it, there's a lot of dreck to sort through, and I already have a bunch of records I think are duds. As I write this, though, I'm thinking I should just go ahead and take the whole lot of remaining records. There just might be a few pearls left in the detritus. (I know I missed a couple of 12" by Quartz-- I don't know the music but I see it listed on this site and in Mel Cheren's book.)



If you go to your Loose Change lp, I'd really appreciate any information that you can provide from the album cover-- notable vocalists, players, whatever. I just can't bring up an image or memory from the 70's; probably I missed the group altogether.

[sirius]

LOOSE CHANGE: 12"-Straight From The Heart

(6:00)

-All Night Man(8:19)

relased on Casablanca Records and produced

by TOM MOULTON..."Straight from the heart"

was arranged by Thor Baldursson;"All Night

Man" by John Davis.This is the promo-12".

LP:-Babe(sounds very nice)

-All Night Man(shorter v.)

-Darling It´s Me

-Straight From The Heart

-Love Is Just A Heartbeat

Away(Ms.Gaynor sang this

too)

-Rising Cost Of Love

-I Wanna Hold On To You

Produced by Tom Moulton; arranged by John

Davis and Thor Baldursson; Vocals by Leah

Gwin, Donna Beene, Becky Anderson.

My recommondations:"Babe", "Straight From

The Heart" and "All Night Man"(1979).



QUARTZ:Side A: Quartz(12:54)

Side B: Beyond The Clouds

For Geromine

Chaos

Produced by C.Quartz.Released on Marlin/

T.K.Records 1978.

Cosmic Love & Kisses From SIRIUS & DARKTUNES

[markydefad]

I also just picked up the Loose Change LP--I never heard of it or them--just saw the Tom Moulton name on it and purchased it. Haven't listened to it yet, though.

[discodjinn]

Hello Sirius-



I appreciate the info. I don't recognize the vocalists' names, so I doubt I ever saw the lp. I'm really happy I found the 12". I too like "Straight From The Heart"-- uplifting and uptempo. I haven't listened to "All Night Man" as much, but initially felt it went on about two minutes too long. Thanks also for the Quartz stats-- guess I'll be digging again in that vendor's boxes (I need to accept the fact that I may never be finished with the hunting.)

[Boodikka]

That Quartz LP is a great find, if only for the title track. I've always considered it the precursor to Martin Circus. It was semi-popular here in the spring/summer of '78, probably a little ahead of its time. I had an import copy from the pool that a gf borrowed and never returned, getting another import copy would be near-impossible now.

[Bernie]

On 2002-01-12 11:50, Boodikka wrote:

That Quartz LP is a great find, if only for the title track. I've always considered it the precursor to Martin Circus. It was semi-popular here in the spring/summer of '78, probably a little ahead of its time. I had an import copy from the pool that a gf borrowed and never returned, getting another import copy would be near-impossible now.

Boody-baby,



Speaking of Quartz, did you ever get a chance to listen to their second album: "Camel In the City?"It was as you say, "a little ahead of its time" with it's heavy piano synthesisers. It's on Polydor PD-1-6203.



... Okay, just put this (Camel In the City) on the turntable as I write this and now I feel as if I have to play this for you guys soon. It's that good. Thanks for reminding me of this gem.



As for the import copy of their first album, wasn't that on Voggue? Believe it was the same as on TK.



_________________

Defender of the Disco beat,



Bernard Lopez



================================



owner & publisher of http://www.discomusic.com



================================

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Bernie on 2002-03-30 22:18 ]</font>

[Boodikka]

I remember receiving "Camel In The City" and being very disappointed at first....sort of like when the third "Voyage" album was released. It reminded me of a second-rate Space album.

However, I grew to like "Walking On The Floor", and others may agree if you feature it on the Dancegroove show.

The original "Quartz" import album was indeed on the Vogue PIP label. My copy had a cover that would be impossible to reprint now...a really severe content issue, along the lines of the original "Blind Faith" album cover.

[JussiK]

Check the dance stores for a recent white label re-edit of "Trinidad". This does away with most of the melody and concentrates on the groove. The 12" has Modern Sound Corporation's "Safari" on the flip, similarily deconstructed.

[Bernie]

On 2002-01-12 19:31, Boodikka wrote:

The original "Quartz" import album was indeed on the Vogue PIP label. My copy had a cover that would be impossible to reprint now...a really severe content issue, along the lines of the original "Blind Faith" album cover.

Boody,



Ya know, I never thought of that. I guess today that would be considered "kiddy porn" by some.

[Boodikka]

Bernie, it would indeed be considered "child porn" now. Another note: Some of the original TK domestic releases and promos have the tiny nude photo on the back ( I have one of these ). When "Beyond The Clouds" started to get medium-rotation airplay, the later printings of QUARTZ were issued without the pic. It is truly interesting how different companies dealt with content issues: TK saw a problem and gradually fixed it. Casablanca had no problems with the LOVE AND KISSES "rape" cover, but Sheila dancing with B. Devotion was a no-no for the domestic SINGING IN THE RAIN....go figure....

[sirius]

It´s very interesting...I remember that

"rape"-picture from LOVE AND KISSES was a

scandal in Europe, and the women-lib was

against it!!! They all said, that disco was

very sexistic...but they didn´t understand

nothing! I have also a cover from ROD MCKUEN´s LP"Slide-Easy In", where a man puts

his fist into a can full of crisco!...this

is (maybe) the french pressing. The german

version shows female lipps on the front...

and a bottom in silvery hot pants on the

backside...I was also very fascinated by

MACHO´s 1st LP"I´m A Man" ... just look in

the sunglasses! Maybe not so famous: HURRICANE FIFI starring RENE PARKER(maybe

from France)...on the cover the singer sitting on the floor in a silver suit and

on the chair sits porn-star BRIGITTE LAHAIE

full naked.

Love & Cosmic Kisses from SIRIUS & DARK TUNES

[JussiK]

[Giovanni]

Pubic hair?? Take a look at the cover of the first album by Azoto (of "San Salvador" fame) titled "Skinsation".......

[paul]

On 2002-01-14 19:27, Boodikka wrote:

Bernie, it would indeed be considered "child porn" now. Another note: Some of the original TK domestic releases and promos have the tiny nude photo on the back ( I have one of these ). When "Beyond The Clouds" started to get medium-rotation airplay, the later printings of QUARTZ were issued without the pic. It is truly interesting how different companies dealt with content issues: TK saw a problem and gradually fixed it. Casablanca had no problems with the LOVE AND KISSES "rape" cover, but Sheila dancing with B. Devotion was a no-no for the domestic SINGING IN THE RAIN....go figure....

I vaguely remember that Quartz record. Funny I never thought of a kiddy porn aspect. Did it have a nude or semi nude little boy on the cover? I sold the record in my early college days.

Beyond The Clouds was a nice cut. Hey Bernie, can you put it in one of your upcoming radio mixes?

[Bernie]

On 2002-01-17 16:56, paul wrote:

I vaguely remember that Quartz record. Funny I never thought of a kiddy porn aspect. Did it have a nude or semi nude little boy on the cover? I sold the record in my early college days.

Beyond The Clouds was a nice cut. Hey Bernie, can you put it in one of your upcoming radio mixes?

Actually,



Already did next week's show which will include "Camel in the City" by Quartz, "All Night Man" by Loose Change and "Got to Go Disco" by Patti Brooks...

[JussiK]

SKINSATION by Azoto..?! Skinsation..what a title, insinuates itself into one's psyche with cinematic stabs - I wonder what the record is like? I know Disco Fizz and Music Makers LTD - how many other lps did Azoto put out? Is Skinsation also a Celso Valli production and what year is it from?

[Giovanni]

Jussi,



I knew you were going to jerk with this title I posted!

Tis is the first LP by the group, is from 1978 and was, I suppose, an italian only issue. Production is by Celso Valli himself and the label is Vedette records MLP 5559.

For the record, the name of the group was "Lucrethia and the Azoto 14,008" and the title of the album "Dance skinsation". Remarkable track are: "It's the way" and "Superustic man".



The cover of the album is brownish and shows (like many other disco albums - Caress, Hi Gloss, Passion -) feminine bodies resembling desert dunes, but with some.... bushy oasis!!!!

I think it's not easy to find one copy nowdays, but be sure I'll be hunting for you!!!

[JussiK]

It's THE WAY by Lucrethia..I got that on a 12" - a nice midtempo cut. The sleeve is badly designed though - a car going up a hill - nothing exotic like a desert or a bush! But if you can keep an eye on the album I'll pay top euros.