The Best Of British

**Forrrce** · March 15th, 2003, 06:52 PM

British disco/dance records worthy of distinction, either on grounds of originality or simply being the cream of the crop...what would be your tracks of choice?

I choose (in no order):

Central Line 'Walking Into Sunshine'
Atmosfear's 'Dancing In Outer Space'
Hudson People 'Trip To Your Mind'
Real Thing 'Can You Feel The Force'
Linx 'You're Lying' (simply for nearly out-Naradaing Michael Walden)
Imagination 'Burning Up'
Light Of The World 'Time' (shades of 'Turn The Music Up')
Disco Dub Band 'For The Love Of Money' (I believe it's a UK recording)
B.Bra 'Do What makes You Feel Good'

I'm sure I've left out some goodies.

**K-Bee** · March 16th, 2003, 01:00 AM

sure you have, Forrrce :lol: - I guess we all do all the time...we're only human.

You might as well add goodies from:
Loose Ends
Total Contrast
Delegation
Junior
I-Level
Freeez
Cool Notes
David Joseph
Hi-Tension

Other's will contribute to this list, I´m sure.

**Forrrce** · March 16th, 2003, 04:46 AM

Nice to know your thoughts, K-Bee...but you've certainly shortened the options for many others - this could be a very short thread!!! :D

**Leatherman** · March 16th, 2003, 04:53 AM

I'd like to see what suggestions Quinny has here. I wonder if he can somehow manage to argue that D Train "You're the one for me" is the best of Brittish. (and not the Hardcastle version!).

Here are some others that spring to mind

Touchdown "Ease your mind"
Hi Tension "Hi Tension/Brittish Hustle"
Funkmasters "Love Money/It's Over"
Freeez "Southern Freeez/Keep in Touch"
Rubber Sailor "Part Yo Cheeks"
Hudsons "Show Me you Care"
Savanna "I Cant Turn Away"
The Snots "Get Your Hand Off My Groin/Fire in My Ass"

**Forrrce** · March 16th, 2003, 05:26 AM

"I'd like to see what suggestions Quinny has here."

He's probably steaming at the thought of London w**kers ("how dare they?") mentioning The Snots and Rubber Sailor tunes - after all, he played them first! The Frank Elson of the south definitely won't post 'cause he has to be 'first' on a thread as well...

**QUINNY** · March 16th, 2003, 08:32 AM

Forrce & Leatherman: Why the aggro?
No one's mentioned Paul Hardcastle as such, so some of his would have to be in there.
Honourable mentions to:
A Foot In The Door by Onward International,
May the Cube Be With You - Thomas Dolby/Dolby's Cube,
Dance It Up - Matt Fearon,
Stop & Go - David Grant
Movin' - 400 Blows,
The Scratch - Surface Noise,
Pick Up the Pieces/Cut The Cake/ - Average White Band
Boogie Nights - Heatwave
Early Olympic Runners ( '73 -75),
Plus most of what's already been mentioned. There must be a lot more, although I do think that a lot of the British material hasn't aged very well. Some of it sounds so amateurish nowadays.

BTW: What is the history of TW Funkmasters? Anyone know?

**NickNack** · March 16th, 2003, 07:05 PM

Originally Written by Leatherman

I'd like to see what suggestions Quinny has here. I wonder if he can somehow manage to argue that D Train "You're the one for me" is the best of Brittish. (and not the Hardcastle version!).

Hey Leatherman,

Could you explain this to a non-Brit? What do two guys from Brooklyn, New York, have to do with the best of British? And when did Paul Hardcastle record "You're The One For Me"?

Really, really :-?

**Nano** · March 16th, 2003, 07:09 PM

For me, the interesting thing about this topic is that I get to know about which disco bands are British.

**QUINNY** · March 16th, 2003, 07:22 PM

Nick Nack: Actually, Paul hardcastle did record a version of 'You're The One For Me' which I think was was on Oval or Total Control records, I can't remember which. It was a damned fine version too, but not half as good as his (official) D Train remix of '84/'85.

**NickNack** · March 16th, 2003, 07:32 PM

Thanks, Quinny. I have the Paul Hardcastle remix. Guess I have to give it another listen. Didn't impress me the first time around. Never heard his version of the song though. Have to look for that one as I do love this man's stuff.

**QUINNY** · March 16th, 2003, 07:39 PM

NickNack: That's interesting. I always imagined he was a very British flavour apart from his mega hit 19. I think I only bought one more record of his after that. I used to love doing a live mega mix of lots of his early toons (they were soooooo similar) and really messing around with them.

**NickNack** · March 16th, 2003, 07:51 PM

Quinny: You'd probably be surprised to learn that "19" is not the song that got me turned on to PH. It was "Rain Forest". After that, I was hooked. Kiss The Sky, Jazzmasters --- I know they're all quite similar but I just go for that sound.

**Forrrce** · March 16th, 2003, 09:08 PM

Herr Quinny - aggro aside, I'm surprised you haven't pulled me up on comparing you to Frank Elson! But seriously, the Funkmasters were the product of a Tooting (South London) record shop called Tania Music. I don't know why, but I remember their (mentor?) producer Tony Williams as being the chap who did the reggae show on Radio London on Sunday mornings back then. 'Money (No Love)' was the second single and they did do a few others, I'm sure you recall. The Willlams issue would be nice to have verified, if anyone has info on these guys.
Further to this thread, it would also be nice to know some American opinions on why UK tracks by Eddy Grant, Level 42, Sun Palace, I-Level, etc. were such cult records in the 'States. I find it interesting that many such records had no real status here originally.

**QUINNY** · March 17th, 2003, 02:53 AM

Forrce: Contrary to belief, I'm not here to do battle with anyone. I took the reference to Elson as a snub and left it. I only vaguely remember some names, but he was a Soul freak wasn't he?
Ref TW Funkmasters. I don't recall any of their tunes and was surprised that I never came across such a good track as 'Love Money' back in the day. You've got to realise that London radio stations didn't reach this far South, so as far as hearing anything, that was strictly in the disco I played at. It's only people like James Hamilton and his Record Mirror column that kept me informed, otherwise I would have been in some sort of a Disco wasteland. Amazing what 78 miles can do.
I Level - I have Minefield by them and I loved it, Level 42 - liked a lot of their records as everyone knows, Sun Palace not known to me, Eddy Grant - as the Equals I loved him but none of his 'Disco' product ever really did it for me, not even a (c) 11 minute 'Funky Like A Train' which I have on an incredibly rare promo only live studio LP from '75/76, although the actual studio 12" was pretty good for its time.
One of my favourite Brit 12" records is Mister Magic/Party for Two by Kirk Thorne. A seriously lewd (excuse the pun) rap from '84/'85. That used to tantalise people, as I had the only copy in town (so far as I know).

**Funky Dude** · March 17th, 2003, 03:27 AM

Okay, I've watched a lot of old Top Of The Pops episodes, plus looked at Phil's British Disco site and downloaded a lot of UK disco tracks when Audio Galaxy was alive and here's what I consider DYN-O-MITE tracks:

JALN Band - Get Up 1978
Hi Tension - Hi Tension 1978
Heatwave - Boogie Nights 1976
Heatwave - Grooveline 1977
Heatwave - Gangsters Of The Groove 1980
Olympic Runners - Get It While You Can 1978
Olympic Runners - Keep It Up 1978
Olympic Runners - Solar Heat 1978 (I LOVE this instrumental)
Olympic Runners - Put Your Music Where Your Mouth Is 1974
Olympic Runners - Do Whatever It Takes 1979
Lee Garrett - You're My Everything 1976 (I guess he's British)
Osibisa - Dance The Body Music 1976
Osibisa - Keep On Trying 1976
Osibisa - Living Loving Feeling 1977
Osibisa - Music For Gong Gong 1971
Osibisa - Fire 1973
Ultrafunk - Kung Fu Man 1974
5000 Volts - I'm On Fire 1975
Tina Charles - Boogiethon 1976
Tina Charles - Disco Fever 1976
Real Thing - Can You Feel The Force 1978
Real Thing - Let's Go Disco 1977
Real Thing - Flash 1976
Real Thing - You To Me Are Everything
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds - I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me 1976
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds - Now Is The Time 1976
Mike & Katie Kazoon - The Two Of Us 1976
Modern Romance - High Life 1983
Simple Minds - Promised You A Miracle 1982
Freeze - A-E-I-O-U 1982

And here are some great disco/funk songs done by British rockers:
Mud - Use Your Imagination 1975
Mud - Shake It Down 1976
Glitter Band - Makes You Blind 1975
Rolling Stones - Hot Stuff 1976
Rolling Stones - Miss You 1978
Wings - Goodnight Tonight 1979
Wings - Coming Up 1980 (I love the Ron Mael [Sparks] impersination :lol: :lol: :lol: )
Jonathon King - One For You, One For Me 1978 (cover version of Lia Bionda's hit and Jonathon is wearing a multi-colour clown afro wig)
David Bowie - Fame/Golden Years 1975
Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick/Reasons To Be Cheerful 1978

__________________
Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi

**K-Bee** · March 17th, 2003, 03:37 AM

About the Hardcastle recording of "You're The One For Me".
The vocals were by Kevin Henry who also fronted another Hardcastle song named "Better" in 1985.

Quinny, about Frank Elson...didn't he use to write a northern soul column for "Blues & Soul"? I definetely recall seing his name there. I Know he is as big a soul fanatic as the likes of Richard Searling and Steve Hobbs.

**jazz_pilgrim** · March 17th, 2003, 06:03 AM

Originally Written by Forrrce

But seriously, the Funkmasters were the product of a Tooting (South London) record shop called Tania Music. I don't know why, but I remember their (mentor?) producer Tony Williams as being the chap who did the reggae show on Radio London on Sunday mornings back then. 'Money (No Love)' was the second single and they did do a few others, I'm sure you recall. The Willlams issue would be nice to have verified, if anyone has info on these guys.

Forrce - an interesting fact!

So where was the record shop in Tooting then? I spent five happy years living in Tooting 'twixt the years '84-'89. Was it the one by Tooting Broadway tube? It had probably changed its name by the time I got there...

And I remember Tony Williams' reggae show very well indeed. That was on when I lived in Kent - I could still pick it up loud and clear ....

And K-Bee - you were absolutely right. Frank Elson was indeed the Northern Soul correspondent for Blues and Soul for many years.

:)

**jazz_pilgrim** · March 17th, 2003, 06:29 AM

Here is a post that I made on 16 July 2002:

QUOTE

Being totally unbiased, I reckon we Brits have made some FANTASTIC records during the Disco era!!

I think the best time was when the British jazz-funk thing took off in the summer of 1980. We all will always remember Robbie Vincent played a demo tape from an unknown band on his legendary Saturday lunchtime show on Radio London. It was a track from an unknown band without a record contract - it was "You're Lyin'" by LYNX. The rest, as they say, is history ... along came Second Image, Level 42, Incognito, LOTW with their excellent LP etc - and British jazz-funk was born!!

Here is my personal list of the BEST OF BRITISH!!!!!

It is in no particular order ...

MORRISSEY-MULLEN - Badness (My fave tune from this fantastic LP was "Slipstream" - probably my fave British jazz-funk tune of all time - I saw them play many many times!! )
JUNIOR - Mama Used To Say
INCOGNITO - Parisienne Girl
LIGHT OF THE WORLD - Dancin' And Swingin'
LIGHT OF THE WORLD - Time (incl the remix) / I Shot The Sheriff / London Town
LIGHT OF THE WORLD - Always There (live at The Best Disco In Town)
OLYMPIC RUNNERS - Keep It Up
TOUCH - Keep On
HI TENSION - Hi Tension
REAL THING - You To Me Are Everything
REAL THING - Can You Feel The Force (incl remix)
COOL NOTES - Never Too Young
LOOSE ENDS - Hangin' On A String (incl remix)
LYNX - You're Lyin' (incl the remix)
DAVID JOSEPH - You Can't Hide Your Love (remix)
EVASIONS - Wikka Rap
PAZ - Look Inside (entire LP - jazz fusion LP with latin influence)
BEGGAR AND CO - Somebody Help Me Out
ATMOSFEAR - Dancing In Outer Space
ATMOSFEAR - Motivation/Extract/Return Of LB
CENTRAL LINE - Walking Into Sunshine/Breaking Point
STYLE COUNCIL / PAUL WELLER - The Lodgers (remix)
LEVEL 42 - Love Meeting Love (my fave from that wonderful summer of 1980 along with Rick James' Big Time)
BIDDHU - Journey To The Moon

Honourable mentions:

First goes to DUSTY SPRINGFIELD for some of her excellent 1960's RnB sides. I am not an expert on her music, but her music was fantastic. Definitely the best Brit female RnB singer there ever was!!

Second mention has to go to Lover's Rock - a British branch of reggae music. There were many excellent Lover's Rock versions of the popular disco/funk tunes of the day!!! The name Carol Johnson springs to mind as a good example ...

UNQUOTE

Of course - I forgot to mention in that post Paul Hardcastle and Rain Forest - a massive London anthem. And I have since discovered FBI - Talking About Love ('76). Surely one of the best British soul/funk records ever made??

I recall K-Bee that you wanted some info on this band ... I never got round to it (sorry!) so here goes with the sleeve notes from the 2001 CD reissue:

FBI (Funky Bands Inc) were a critically acclaimed 9 piece band led by Root Jackson, which were together from 1974 to 1978. They had a distinctive 'good time' sound with sharp horns and both male (Root Jackson and female (Bonnie Wilkinson) vocalists. Root had previously had a few minor hits in late 60s under the name Root and Jenny Jackson. They started on the college, club and pub circuit and graduated to supporting major US acts like Kool and the Gang and The Temptations, touring with rock bands like Alvin Lee Band, whilst being semi-resident at Ronnie Scotts club. This their only album was recorded in 1976 at Alvin Lee's Hook End Manor studio near Reading and was engineered by Chris Kimsey, who went to produce reggae legends Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh and several Rolling Stones albums. Due to a delay in releasing it and lack of promotion the album did not fulfil its full potential when released on the Good Earth label through RCA in the UK in 1977. The album is mixture of hard driving funk 'FBI' and 'Bad Deal', Soul 'Let me love you' and a cover of JR Bailey's 'Love Love Love' with a Caribbean influence 'The time is right'. But the stand out track is the wonderful 'Talking About Love', surely one of the best soulful records ever made outside of USA. It is this track which has made the album an underground in-demand £80 rated album for the past fifteen years. The album was re-issued in 1991 with a different sleeve on Root Jackson's Kongo Dance, the label responsible for discovering Omar and Vanessa Simon. FBI have become in demand again thanks to footage of one of their appearances on the TV show 'Magpie' being featured in an episode of the BBC2 series 'I Love the 70's'. The band have partly reformed under the name UFBI (Unfinished Business Inc) and plan a new album for later in 2001. In the meantime we are proud to re-present the original FBI album remastered from the original tapes and reunited with its original sleeve design, enjoy the good vibes !

**K-Bee** · March 17th, 2003, 06:54 AM

wow!!! THANX JAZZ
This was a lot more info than I expected. Hope you're not too worn out from all that typing! :-?

**jazz_pilgrim** · March 17th, 2003, 07:02 AM

You're very welcome, K-Bee! :D

If truth be told, I managed to locate that article from the record company's website, so it was simply a matter of cut and paste!! :lol: Still it is very interesting, is it not?

**Forrrce** · March 17th, 2003, 07:29 AM

[/So where was the record shop in Tooting then? I spent five happy years living in Tooting 'twixt the years '84-'89. Was it the one by Tooting Broadway tube? It had probably changed its name by the time I got there...
quote]
'Round the corner from the tube, I do believe. Never went there myself...but there's a moon up above and I ain't never been there either!

**QUINNY** · March 17th, 2003, 08:34 AM

So guys, the question is:
How many of the records mentioned were 'world class' as opposed to just being good enough for us Brits? I'm sorry, but a lot of them didn't really cut the ice so far as I'm concerned. We were proud of them at the time, but time can be..............
The one thing about most Brit records I ever came across was the really awful time keeping. Tempos used to vary far more than on the average US track and so many were made in relatively unrefined studios and using relatively few tracks. Poor production values showed through, I guess. What a crying shame, cos musically they had a whole lot going for them.

**Forrrce** · March 17th, 2003, 09:48 AM

No, it cannot be argued that many of the records mentioned lacked professionialism. Though I think you'd agree that a select few (i.e. 'Can You Feel The Force' and some of the Delegation stuff) had a definite sheen, production-wise. Evidently liking a music isn't enough, you have to 'live' it to some extent as well and we Brits just don't think, feel or articulate (musically) on a level with our US cousins, when we emulate their music. But cross-genre/nationality-type imitations always throw up some left-of-centre and charming goodies in their earnest search for the groove.

**Leatherman** · March 17th, 2003, 10:00 AM

I used to read James Hamilton's column in Record Mirror too. He did definitely review most Brit funk stuff, but wasn't a fan of quite a lot of it, so didn't always give it much more than a one line write up. I think some of it has dated well and some hasn't - like all music. I remember Hamilton not particularly liking Funkmasters "Love Money", but then mentioning a few months later that Larry Levan had been pushing it (apparently unsuccessfully) at the Paradise Garage - there was even a little picture of Larry with UK jock Froggy.

The best version of Love Money was on a UK Champaign 5 track comp called Re-Mixture (the predecessor to the Pre Mixture one with the Mr Magic track Quinny likes). It is a far more dubbed out version which also sounds sonically much stronger than much Brit funk stuff. Whether Love Money would be viewed as a "Classic" if it hadn't been championed Levan I very much doubt. It would just be an obscure UK track no-one cared about. The same Re- Mixture EP also contains Powerline "Journey", which is another fave with the Yanks. Personally, that has always struck me as a pretty weak and weedy record and the sort of thing that put me off the genre.

Back to Hamilton, he used to be my bible but re-reading his review recently, he did get it wrong more often than I thought at the time. Though, he was a lot more consistant than anyone else in that period.