1975 UK Disco Top 20: James Hamilton's Record Mirror Disco Column

[shootyourshot]

UK Disco Top 20 - September 6, 1975

9/6 8/30 Artist - Title - Label
1 3 KC & The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It) - Jay Boy
2 1 Stylistics - I Can't Give You Anything - Avco
3 2 George McCrae - It's Been So Long - Jay Boy
4 7 Rod Stewart - Sailing - Warner Bros.
5 8 Ritchie Family - Brazil - Polydor
6 NEW Al Matthews - Fool - CBS
7 10 People's Choice - Do It Anyway You Wanna - Philadelphia Int'l
8 11 Bimbo Jet - El Bimbo - EMI
9 9 Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony - The Hustle - Avco
10 12 Bee Gees - Jive Talking - RSO
11 5 Typically Tropical - Barbados - Gull
12 NEW Banzaii - Chinese Kung Fu - Contempo
13 NEW Major Harris - Love Won't Let Me Wait - Atlantic
14 NEW Leroy Brown - One Woman Man - EMI
15 4 Linda Lewis - It's In His Kiss - Arista
16 6 Moments - Dolly My Love - All Platinum
17 15 Gary Toms Empire - 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Blow Your Whistle - Epic
18 13 Biddu Orchestra - Summer Of '42 - Epic
19 NEW Mike Batt - Summertime City - Epic
20 19 Hello - New York Groove - Bell

Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (mentioned in column 7/26, chart debut 9/13)
#2 (mentioned in column 5/24)
#5 (mentioned in column 7/5, chart debut 7/12)
#7 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#8 (mentioned in column 5/3, chart debut 5/10)
#9 (chart debut 4/19)
#10 (chart debut 5/31)
#12 (mentioned in column 6/28, chart debut 7/5)
#15 (mentioned in column 5/31, chart debut 6/7)
#17 (mentioned in column 5/3, chart debut 5/10)
#18 (chart debut 9/6)



This page is a special service to the many readers of Record Mirror & Disc who are either full or part-time DJs. We hope it’ll also be interesting to the general disco-goer. If you have any queries, please write.



States Picks

Z. Z. Hill: I Created A Monster / Steppin’ In The Shoes Of A Fool (UA UA-XW631-X)
Penned/produced by none other than Lamont Dozier, Zee Zee’s new R&B hit couples a heavily thumping, slow funker with an incredibly subtle bright jogger. The hit side is extremely powerful sounding and has some great stereo effects, but the flip is artistically in a far superior league, starting with very few elements meshing to do a lot and finishing with a lot doing something that sounds very simple. Maybe if UA get hip they’ll put this out here in a hurry, then you can hear what I mean.

Persuasions: One Thing On My Mind / Darlin’ (A&M 1698-8)
No longer singing acapella, the soulful Persuasions harmonize and emote to a Tymes-type backbeat and slick 1975 arrangement which doesn’t detract from their superb vocal interplay even if it does depersonalize them somewhat. Surprisingly, they manage to make the flip less soulful than the Beach Boys’ original, though.

Ray Charles: Living For The City (Crossover 981)
It’s come full circle when Ray Charles feels he has to sing Stevie Wonder to gain credibility, as Little Stevie began his career by recording a tribute album to Ray. The result, an R&B hit, presents us with the interesting experience of hearing Ray duetting with himself in stereo, and delivering a raspingly breathed sermon-style rap about the roaches in the city. It’s kinda good, but why couldn’t he have written something comparable himself?



New Spins

Ray Stevens: Lady Of Spain (from ‘Misty’ LP, Janus 9109401)
Nothing equals ‘Misty’, but Ray’s similarly inventive reworking of Eddie Fisher’s 1952 smash comes close - he makes it sound like Fats Domino! From his Fats impersonation he graduates via a Hurricane Smith-style sax break to his own rapid-fire vocal delivery, and takes it all at a jolly lick that’ll be good MoR.

Jim Reeves: You Belong To Me (RCA 2574)
Now to Jo Stafford’s 1952 smash, with its lovely “see the Pyramids along the Nile” opening line. Jim’s fans are legion still, and while not normally a disco artist he sounds just right for a smooch and a smash himself.

Max Romeo: Wet Dream (Ocean OC 003)
Uh-oh, Max is back! What with ‘Fattie Bum-Bum’ and now this re-issue, the Beeb better start painting those signs saying “a record by Max Romeo”!

Leon Heywood: I Want A Do Something Freaky To You (from ‘Come And Get Yourself Some’ LP, 20th Century BT 476)
Great title and great track to go with it. Starting with groans and instrumental, the purposefully rhythmic slowie builds through Leon’s singing to some fairly abandoned sexy gasping - sounds like the lady got herself some!

Exciters: Reaching For The Best (20th Century BTC 1005)
In a poor Post-Bank Holiday weekend this spirited extremely fast Northern dancer sounds pretty good even down South! Honestly, if this were old, it would’ve been a classic years ago as the tempo is terrific with singing to match. Backing track flip’s just as strong.

Bobby Goldsboro: I Wrote A Song (Sing Along) (UA UP 36005)
Erk! If it hits, this inane “la-la-la-la” jolly bouncer will be lovely MoR fodder. Intro can be skipped for better impact.

New Birth: Dream Merchant (Buddah BDS 434)
Fresh from topping the US R&B chart, this lurching slowie is like the Five Stairsteps meet the Delfonics on Jerry Butler’s front porch. OK, Mister?

Chi-Lites: It’s Time For Love / The Coldest Days Of My Life (Brunswick BR 25)
Since it’s so similar, how come the classic dead show flip isn’t the plug side? It’s got more atmosphere and magic than the good but sterile newer A-side.

Ester Byrde: Touch Me - Take Me (Survival SUR 1)
Trinidadian Ester’s in The Black Mikado, which luckily doesn’t stop her making a lovely soulful slowie that’s full of delicate guitar, cooing chix, sensuous rapping and some beautiful singing. Quite a spine trigger in fact. Wail on!

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds: Fallin’ In Love (Pye 7N 25690)
Wholesome romantic pop from the top of the US charts, which no doubt we’ll all be playing when it hits here. At least it’s sanitary, unlike my fave of the moment:

David Geddes: Run Joey Run (Antic K 11520)
Which is a great teenage death disc in a long and undanceable tradition. Veteran readers will know what I mean, and should check it out.

Bob & Honey Bee: If Ever I Needed You (Instrumental) (Route RT 12)
SingalongaGeorgeMcCrae!



Songs mentioned in “Pre-Fade Links” (records played by specific DJs):

Ralph Carter: When You’re Young And In Love (Mercury) (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
George Baker Selection: Paloma Blanca (Warner Bros.)
Bobby Moore: Call Me Your Anything Man (Pye) (mentioned in column 3/8, chart debut 3/22)
Jimmy Bo Horne: Gimme Some (RCA) (chart debut 7/12)
Tavares: It Only Takes A Minute (Capitol) (chart debut 7/26)
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: (All I Have To Do Is) Dream (UA)
Natalie Cole: This Will Be (Capitol) (chart debut 9/13)
Dr. Feelgood: Back In The Night (UA)
Hustler: Little People (Firefly/A&M)
B. T. Express: Give It What You Got (Roadshow - US import) (mentioned in column 7/12, chart debut 9/13)
Bill Harris: Uptown Saturday Night (Warner Bros.)
5000 Volts: I’m On Fire (Philips) (mentioned in column 10/25, chart debut 12/6)
Los Bravos: Black Is Black (Decca) (mentioned as a good song to mix with 'I'm On Fire'; interestingly, Tom noted the similarities between the two songs in his 10/25 column)

[markydefad]

good work Michael. Thanks for the post.

[remicks]

*****

thank-you for the first in a series chart , SYS . [cool] Looking forward to the rest!

While Barry White was going the I've got so much to give route

The Stylistics were using this line : [wide-opened]

2 1 Stylistics - I Can't Give You Anything - Avco



They sound so sincere . I wonder how that worked out for them!! [tongue]

*****

[drlove]

Great first posting of the column ! I'm ROFL thinking of "Run Joey Run". At least Hamilton said it was undanceable. I see at #20 is Hello's "New York Groove". Am pretty sure that's the same tune Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley had a top 20 U.S. pop hit with 3 years later. Fun tune by the way !!

[shootyourshot]

Thank you, Bernie, for making this a sticky.

I find it interesting how “I Can’t Give You Anything” didn’t even appear on the Billboard disco charts, but topped both the disco and pop charts in the UK.

I haven’t heard most of the music in the column, but every so often one of Hammy’s reviews piques my curiosity, like the one for Ester Byrde’s “Touch Me Take Me”. An excellent record, indeed.

[markydefad]

I'm gonna go to YouTube to listen to some of these tunes I never heard of...haven't had time yet.

I too have wondered why the Stylistic's "I Can't Give You Anything" didn't register at all on Billboard. But it was almost all NYC charts at that moment; I guess LA was added too. I suspect if we had seen all 16 city charts from the summer of 1975, it might have made an appearance somewhere.

[SandraDee]

Ester Byrde: Touch Me - Take Me (Survival SUR 1)
Trinidadian Ester’s in The Black Mikado, which luckily doesn’t stop her making a lovely soulful slowie that’s full of delicate guitar, cooing chix, sensuous rapping and some beautiful singing. Quite a spine trigger in fact. Wail on!

Oh no, rapping I thought when I first read it! Was this an early example of the genre?

However, after listening to that youtube clip I think it's rather nice.

[SandraDee]

OMG, I'd completely forgotten about 'Fool' by Al Matthews - I used to love this but haven't heard it since '75! It's got such a catchy chorus. Whatever happened to him?

[DISCODISK]

SandraDee this record for sure sounds better with age i thought it too lightweight at the time and has had a bit of a revival in the u.k in the last couple of years.al never went away he kept trying but he was never to grace the top of the pops stage again he did 3 or 4 singles after this over the next two years.
the strange thing about this chart is that al is a new entry if you can see this scan it was released in june and when this chart is printed it was already on the pop chart for two weeks!! i know these record mirror charts improve but again here with a couple of exeptions its lets take the black artists out of the pop charts and call it the disco chart, come on england was more 'happenin' than this!
i lived in your old town at this time and while you were tucked up in bed with your teddy and peter pan pajamas al matthews was a big hit at 'the place'
al was american too.al matthews.jpg

[DISCODISK]

I'm gonna go to YouTube to listen to some of these tunes I never heard of...haven't had time yet.

marky when you listen to the max romeo record cover your ears!
the record im dying to know what you and your fellow americans think of is the exiters reaching for the best its ian levines first record recorded in new york with herb rooney, it was only ever released in the u.s as an album track on an obscure exiters album on the tomorrow labelexiters.jpg

[shootyourshot]

UK Disco Top 20 - September 13, 1975

9/13 9/6 Artist - Title - Label
1 1 KC & The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It) - Jay Boy
2 3 George McCrae - It's Been So Long - Jay Boy
3 2 Stylistics - I Can't Give You Anything - Avco
4 4 Rod Stewart - Sailing - Warner Bros.
5 5 Ritchie Family - Brazil - Polydor
6 12 Banzaii - Chinese Kung Fu - Contempo
7 7 People's Choice - Do It Anyway You Wanna - Philadelphia Int'l
8 16 Moments - Dolly My Love - All Platinum
9 8 Bimbo Jet - El Bimbo - EMI
10 6 Al Matthews - Fool - CBS
11 NEW Jimmy Bo Horne - Gimme Some - RCA
12 9 Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony - The Hustle - Avco
13 NEW Jasper Carrot - Magic Roundabout - DJM
14 NEW Fatback Band - Yum Yum (Gimme Some) - Polydor
15 NEW George Baker - Paloma Blanca - Warner Bros. Warner Bros.
16 NEW Leo Sayer - Moonlighting - Chrysalis
17 NEW Ralph Carter - When You're Young And In Love - Mercury
18 NEW B. T. Express - Give It What You Got - Roadshow (US import)
19 NEW Steely Dan - Do It Again - ABC
20 19 Mike Batt - Summertime City - Epic


Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (mentioned in column 7/26, chart debut 9/13)
#3 (mentioned in column 5/24)
#5 (mentioned in column 7/5, chart debut 7/12)
#6 (mentioned in column 6/28, chart debut 7/5)
#7 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#9 (mentioned in column 5/3, chart debut 5/10)
#11 (chart debut 7/12)
#12 (chart debut 4/19)
#14 (chart debut 7/12)
#17 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#18 (mentioned in column 7/12; chart debut 8/2)



For every Jack there’s a Jill, or so the saying goes, and it seems to me as though for every record (no matter how duff) there’s a DJ prepared to play it.

My principle, when reviewing records, has always been to try and weed out the ones my critical faculties told me were duff, and only mention the ones which were halfway decent - or, at least, of interest and usable.

Furthermore, when this page started, I set out only to mention the records that I considered were likely to cut through a crowded room and make dancers pay attention on the very first hearing.

Now I find myself getting paranoid about the way in which so many things that I never mentioned keep cropping up in our contributing DJs’ weekly chart returns. By no means are all the things I missed out in the duff category, but enough of them are to make me wonder whether perhaps I ought to mention absolutely everything that comes out, just in case I miss a future disco monster by personally thinking it the biggest load of cobblers.

Would you please write in and let me know whether you are happy to let me exercise my critical judgment? Or whether, like this week, I should give blanket coverage of just about everything issued that’s got any sort of beat? (But where would that have placed ‘Magic Roundabout’, huh?!)

I’ve always reckoned I have a pretty good set of ears when it comes to running my own discotheque so please don’t shatter my confidence now!



LP Trax

Dooley Silverspoon: Dooley Silverspoon (Seville SEL 1) (‘Let Me Be The No. 1 (Love Of Your Life)’ mentioned in column 9/27; chart debut 10/18)
It’s not just the fact that I was the first person anywhere in the world to be given a copy of this that makes me enthusiastic. But also the fact that Dooley’s debut album is produced by Sonny Casella, the man who made Jane Burton’s incredible ‘Nobody Loves Me Like You Do’ and the fact that there’s much of the same great sound on many of these tracks . . . now do you understand? My fave is the one most like Jeanne, the ultra-long ‘Let Me Be The No. 1 (Love Of Your Life)’, although even better for dancing is the full, long version of Dooley’s new single, ‘As Long As You Know (Who You Are)’, and the combined parts 1 & 2 of ‘Bump Me Baby’. Strings, shrieking, pretty melodies and ever-hustling hi-hats are the main elements of this Miami-influenced New York Sound. That’s the way I like it, uh-huh!

B. T. Express: Non-Stop (EMI International INA 1501) (mentioned in column 7/26; chart debut 8/2)
The BTE’s first LP thru EMI is, as the title says, non-stop all the way except for a truly awful slow attempt at ‘Close To You’ on Side 2. To tell the truth I find the result a bit monotonous and the tracks too similar to differentiate between them. However, my own fave is the last cut of all, ‘Whatcha Think About That’, while in the US the two most popular are the first two, ‘Peace Pipe’ and ‘Give It What You Got’. Funky fodder through and through, with more vocals than their hit singles might have led one to expect.



New Spins

Crown Heights Affair: Dreaming A Dream (Polydor 2001 602) (mentioned in column 5/31; chart debut 6/7)
Beautifully arranged with synthetics and brass vying for the lead, the instrumental disco side just keeps on changing in sound as it drives along, full of melody and hustling rhythm. Phew, but they’re makin’ some good records these days!

Dooley Silverspoon: As Long As You Know (Who You Are) (Parts 1 & 2) (Seville SEV 1015)
Produced and arranged under the influence of S. O. N. N. Y. (Sound Of New New York) - in other words, Sonny Casella - this sparkling churner has much of the George McCrae thing plus a whole lot more that’s all its own. Get the album if you can.

Seventh Wave: Manifestations (Gull GULS 17)
Totally overwhelming and almost too busy for its own good, this comes-and-goes pounder is a weird mixture of Hawkwind, Four Tops, Steve Harley, Arthur Brown, Deep Purple, and Todd Rundgren, based very much on ‘Reach Out (I’ll Be There)’. Decidedly oddball but definitely exciting if played loud.

Buddy Holly: Oh, Boy Everyday (MCA 207)
Hardly a gig goes by without my using this, the most crowd-rousing of all Buddy’s rockers. I generally cut abruptly into it out of the middle of ‘That’ll Be The Day’ for unexpected impact, and, at one stage, I stopped the motor so that it ran down to a standstill during the guitar break, before I overlapped the slow Mud version.

Walter Carlos: Dance Of The Reed Pipes (CBS 3590)
Known by the intelligentsia as Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, this will be immediately sung along to by most thickies as the tune to “Everyone’s A Fruit And Nut Case!” Lovely fun as a surprise insert.

Andrews Sisters: Rum And Coca-Cola Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (MCA 206)
The 1950s Capitol remakes of these 1940s originals sound better if you can find them, though these should still be good for carefully judged moments at MOR gigs.

Jonny Williams: You’re Something Kinda Mellow (Polydor 2001 506)
Something (else) kinda like the Detroit Emeralds.

Irene Chanter: Cuckoo-Cuckoo (Polydor 2058 608)
Homegrown funk from Fulham’s own chanteuse.

Edwin Starr: Stay With Me (Bradley’s BRAD 7520)
Squeaky sax and sustained screams make this modish medium swayer sound special.

Jackson 5: Forever Came Today (Tamla Motown TMG 1001) (mentioned in column 5/31; chart debut 6/7)
Boundlessly bounding subtle thumper cut down from the ‘Moving Violation’ LP (which you should get instead). Their best ever?

Dobie Gray: Out On The Floor (Black Magic BM 107)
The classic 1965 Northern dancer, its chart placing is practically guaranteed by advance orders alone.

Carl Malcolm: Miss Wire Waist / Skin, Flesh & Bones: Wire Dub (Black Wax 7)
The ‘Fattie Bum-Bum’ star, huge in the Midlands, is doing well already with this reggae plodder. As usual, I prefer the dub version - it’s a goodie.

I. Roy: Welding / Version (Philips 0006479)
Double-entendres about soldiering on. Another nicely ethnic reggae thudder, overshadowed again by a great version.

Dee Clark: Ride A Wild Horse (Part 1 & 2) (Chelsea 2005 037)
TK-type sounds that sound mightily fine by the ‘Just Keep It Up’ veteran, whose amazing voice is right up to it. Instrumental flip.

Atlantic Ocean: Jaws (Atlantic K 10065)
First to reach us of the many spinoffs from the Exorcist-type movie that America currently loves to hate. This mainly instrumental slow funker has amusing dialogue inserts by two blokes going down to the beach (the flick’s about a man-eating shark). You need to know about it to see the joke.

Fire: Oh, That’s My Man (Jay Boy BOY 97)
Casey/Finch-penned, produced slab of TK rhythm, sung for once by a girlie group. Heavy beat predominates.

Executive Suite: When The Fuel Runs Out (Polydor 2001 597)
New label for this re-issued 1973 Philly dancer from 1973. Smooth harmonies, thudding matt drums and backing track flip.

Faith, Hope & Charity: To Each His Own (RCA 2599) (chart debut 7/19)
Van McCoy’s girlie group are riding high in US disco charts with this pleasant vocal-switching semi-hustler.

Rolling Stones: Out Of Time / Jiving Sister Fanny (Decca F 13597)
From ‘Metamorphosis’, the Chris Farlowe backing behind Mick & Co. Chunky archetypal flip.

Barefoot Rockers: Giddyup (Ride Your Horsey Home) (Private Stock PVT 36)
Bob Crewe-produced amalgamation of lotsa fave oldies, set to a slow heavy rhythm.

Federation: Back To Back (State STAT 11)
Not Back to Bach, it’s an appealingly-sung girlie group, TK-style, steady rhythm chatterer.

Sam & Dave: Under The Boardwalk (UA UP 36008)
Produced by Steve cropper even, the soul duo go through the Drifters’ oldie fairly straight, though the backing’s fancy.

Ray Charles: Living For The City (London BLU 10505)
Great raspingly-preached rap stands out in this masterly reading of Stevie’s tune. Reviewed last week as an import.

Mahavishnu Orchestra: Can’t Stand Your Funk (CBS 3007)
One for Les Spaine. It’s solidly intricate funk all the way, tortuous enough to tie you in knots.

Felix Cavaliere: Flip Flop (Bearsville K 15520)
The ex-Rascal goes funky with some tricky stereo on this attractive medium beater.

Bobby Keys: Gimme The Key (Ring O’ 2017102) (mentioned in column 8/23; chart debut 10/11)
Blatant ripoff of AWB.

Charlie James: Make My Life A Little Bit Brighter (Polydor 2058 635)
Soul Sisters beat (surprisingly) plus a catchy pop song done by a chick voice I like.

Barbara Hall: You Brought It On Yourself (EMI International INT 514) (chart debut 6/28)
Great credentials - penned by Sam Dees, produced by Major Lance and Otis Leavill! Lovely result, though more soul than disco.

Velvet Love: Symphony Of Dreams (Alaska ALA 1010)
‘I Hear A Symphony’, Part 2, out of ‘Lovers’ Concerto’.

Tabou Combo: New York City (Parts 1 & 2) (Decca FR 13596)
Presumably African, the rhythms on this live and rapturously greeted frantic workout are simply terrific . . . but will British kids be able to dance to them? Adventurous jocks should try and see. In many ways, the find of the year.

Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes: Boogie Flap (Chelsea 2005 033) (mentioned in column 4/19)
A disappointingly desultory re-run of the ideas from his first two hits. However, it’s already popular with many of you, I see.



Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:

Carl Malcolm: Fattie Bum-Bum (UK)
Diversions: Fattie Bum-Bum (Gull)
Magic Disco Machine: Control Tower (Motown)
Earth, Wind & Fire: That’s The World (CBS)
Esther Phillips: What A Diff’rence A Day Makes (Kudu) (chart debut 6/21)
Innervision: Honey Baby (Be Mine) (Private Stock)
Frankie Laine: Proud Mary (Amos LP cut - US Import)
Diamonds: Hey Girl (Jama)
Ohio Players: Love Rollercoaster (Mercury) (chart debut 9/20)
Roger Glover & Guests: Love Is All (Purple)

[SandraDee]

i lived in your old town at this time and while you were tucked up in bed with your teddy and peter pan pajamas al matthews was a big hit at 'the place'
al was american too.al matthews.jpg

DD, I so wished I'd been born 10 years earlier & sampled that Northern Soul scene in my home town & in Manchester, Wigan & Blackpool! BTW, how did u know I had Peter Pan pyjamas? (satin of course!!)

[drlove]

how cool ! didn't realize that Ralph Carter's biggest disco smash had received UK attention in the clubs (as it didn't make the UK singles chart in 1975). It was a minor hit on US pop/R&B charts. It's one of my fave disco tunes of all time -- the Van McCoy production values are superior, me thinks.

[remicks]

how cool ! didn't realize that Ralph Carter's biggest disco smash had received UK attention in the clubs (as it didn't make the UK singles chart in 1975). It was a minor hit on US pop/R&B charts. It's one of my fave disco tunes of all time -- the Van McCoy production values are superior, me thinks.

he wrote it
but didn't produce it my dear doctor of love .

Mastered By [Deadwax Inscription] - JR*
Mixed By - Tom Moulton
Producer - Reid / Whitelaw
Producer, Arranged By - Norman Bergen
Written-By - V. McCoy*

easy mistake to make . I think Marky spanked me on that one years ago .....



*****

[drlove]

thanks, remicks -- LOL. Was giving FAR too much credit to the talented Mr. McCoy. Lord knows he was having a great year in 1975 !

[shootyourshot]

UK Disco Top 20 - September 20, 1975

9/20 9/13 Artist - Title - Label
1 1 KC & The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It) - Jay Boy
2 2 George McCrae - It's Been So Long - Jay Boy
3 10 Al Matthews - Fool - CBS
4 NEW 5000 Volts - I'm On Fire - Philips
5 3 Stylistics - I Can't Give You Anything - Avco
6 6 Banzaii - Chinese Kung Fu - Contempo
7 7 People's Choice - Do It Anyway You Wanna - Philadelphia Int'l
8 14 Fatback Band - Yum Yum (Gimme Some) - Polydor
9 4 Rod Stewart - Sailing - Warner Bros.
10 NEW Calendar - Hypertension - All Platinum
11 5 Ritchie Family - Brazil - Polydor
12 NEW Carl Malcolm - Fatty Bum Bum - UK
13 11 Jimmy Bo Horne - Gimme Some - RCA
14 17 Ralph Carter - When You're Young And In Love - Mercury
15 NEW Hamilton Bohannon - Happy Feeling - Brunswick
16 NEW Natalie Cole - This Will Be - Capitol
17 NEW Esther Phillips - What A Diff'rence A Day Makes - Kudu
18 RE Hello - New York Groove - Bell
19 9 Bimbo Jet - El Bimbo - EMI
20 8 Moments - Dolly My Love - All Platinum

Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (mentioned in column 7/26, chart debut 9/13)
#4 (mentioned in column 10/25, chart debut 12/6)
#5 (mentioned in column 5/24)
#6 (mentioned in column 6/28, chart debut 7/5)
#7 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#8 (chart debut 7/12)
#10 (chart debut 5/17)
#11 (mentioned in column 7/5, chart debut 7/12)
#13 (chart debut 7/12)
#14 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#16 (chart debut 9/13)
#17 (chart debut 6/21)
#19 (mentioned in column 5/3, chart debut 5/10)



As I did last week, I’m reviewing everything that’s come out this week which has any bearing on the disco scene. And as last week, I’m still wondering whether that’s what DJs want, or whether you’d be happy to let me exercise my critical judgment. Please write and tell me what you think.



New Spins
Bob Marley & The Wailers: No Woman, No Cry (Island WIP 6244)
Recorded live at their Lyceum gig, Bob and the boys’ mournful slowie is almost Dylanesque - which may help explain its enormous appeal to Capital Radio’s listeners, who have voted it up to No. 1 in the Capital Hit Line. More rock than reggae, so those unfamiliar with reggae have nothing to fear. Pity it fades early (3:50), though doubtless the LP cut’ll be longer.

Jack Ashford & The Sound Of New Detroit: Do The Choo-Choo (Parts 1 & 2) (London HLA 10507) (chart debut 7/5)
Archetypal disco sounds of the Hamilton Bohannon type, just made to be danced to. Basically instrumental, nothing to do with Archie Bell (or Little Eva).

B. T. Express: Give It What You Got (EMI INT 515) (mentioned in column 7/12; chart debut 8/2)
Repetitive funky chanter, the US hit from their ‘Non-Stop’ LP. Presumably the equally big ‘Peace Pipe’ has been taken off the flip so it can be our follow-up; instead we get the sparse but spry ‘Happiness’ as coupling.

Trammps: Hold Back The Night / Tom’s Song (Buddah BDS 437) (chart debut 6/21)
Solidly whapping easy beat and Four Toppish effortless vocals give this the feel of a British hit. Is the attractive instrumental ‘Tom’s Song’ dedicated to Mr. Moulton of the celebrated disco mix?

Gary Toms Empire: Drive My Car / Love Me Right (Epic EPC 3611) (mentioned in column 7/26, chart debut 11/1)
Losers of the chart battle but possible disco winners with ‘7-6-5-4-3-2-1’, the Empire are back in style and blowing their hooters this time, as they give the Beatles oldie their very own rhythm-packed treatment. Lovely flip with Latin lope and Pete Wingfield-ish vocals.

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds: Whatever Happened To The Love We Know (Pye 7N 45524)
My old mate Jimmy gets well served on this happily bouncing whomper-stomper by a supremely confident Biddu production job.

Su Shifrin: All I Wanna Do (EMI 2343)
The New Seekers have indeniably left a void that MOR jocks find hard to fill. Here to help them is a mixture of Lyn Paul, Lynsey de Paul, Hurricane Smith’s sax player and a few “la-la-la”s . . . OK, but at least the old folks can dance to it!

Fred Astaire: The Wailing Of The Willow City Of The Angels (UA UP 36013)
Brand new bossa-nova-ish swayer from ever-youthful Fred - this and the ‘My Kind Of Town, L. A. Is’ flip, should be of interest to easy listening crowds, especially if pre-announced.

Dr. Hook: Only Sixteen (Capitol CL 1836)
Never thought I’d dig these guys, but now I love their affectionate treatment of Sam Cooke’s gentle classic. Great MOR.

Chris Farlowe: Out Of Time (Immediate IMS 101)
Like the ad says, “accept no substitute”. Immediate is now owned by NEMS, and this particular release can be ordered thru CBS depots (that’s just so your local unfriendly record store has no excuses).

Jo Jo Bennett & Mundie’s All Stars: Leaving Home (Cactus CT66)
Originally out about three years ago, this delightful lightly reggae-fied instrumental has a gorgeous melody topped off by twittering birds. Great to see it out again.

Ray Williams: It’s Been A Long Time (Vasko 53)
Initially put off by the packaging, I was totally floored on hearing this. Instead of the dreadful pub singer the blurb suggested, composer/producer/performer Ray turned out to be the most truly soulful singer I’ve heard this year. Surrounded by a stunningly soulful sound of incredibly intense purity and simplicity, Ray turns the clock back to the old Goldwax sound of the mid 60s, as he tenderly emotes an achingly felt slowie that positively drips with blues feelings. If you’re a soul fan from way back, don’t on an account miss this, or Ray’s similar 1974 slowie, ‘Growing Old’. This guy is great.

George Harrison: You (Apple R 6007)
Nice MOR appeal on Hari’s Spector-ish new churner, even if the lyrics are a bit disjointed.

Morris Albert: Feelings / Come To My Life (Decca FR 13591)
Brazilian Morris is huge worldwide with this romantic late-nite slowie, and he should go over well here too. Expect an easy listening breakout, at least. Flip’s fine, too.

Barbara Lynn: You’ll Lose A Good Thing (Oval 1006)
A 1962 smash for the ‘Oh Baby’ gal, this bluesy sax-backed slowie is perennially popular with West Indians and is already getting plays aplenty in black clubs. It’s effective enough to cross over, so try it.

Jackie Lee: Do The Temptation Walk / The Shotgun And The Duck (Contemporaries CS 9035)
Well, I remember Pete Stringfellow waving Jackie Lee’s album cover about on one of my visits to his King Mojo Club in Sheffield back in 1965 . . . was that the birth of Northern Soul? ‘The Duck’ could certainly claim to have started it all, and this follow-up to it was probably just as influential. A classic coupling.

Bill Harris: Uptown Saturday Night (Part 2) (Warner Bros. K 16586)
OK, I’ve turned it over, and now I can see why Glasgow’s Judge Jay has been raving about it - the flip continues as a ‘Night Train’/’Disco Stomp’-type inventory of funky US place names.

Greyhound: Dream Lover (Transatlantic BIG 529)
The guys who played at Mick’s wedding do a pop-reggae version of Bobby Darin’s oldie that’s fine in its way.

Buster Pearson: Ain’t It Groovy (K&B KB 5514)
Straightforward reggae of no great inventiveness.

Blackbyrds: I Need You (Fantasy FTC 117)
Lively and rather too obvious bouncy chanter, edited down from their ‘Flying Star’ LP.

Soul On Delivery: Hustle (Dance Of The Day) (Decca F 13601)
Commendably American-sounding instrumental that does that job denoted by the title, produced here by Mike Vernon and Pip Williams.

Eleventh Hour: Hollywood Hot (20th Century BTC 2215) (mentioned in column 7/5, chart debut 7/26)
Bob Crewe’s group are hotter than hot in US discos with this ponderous medium stomper. Simple stuff that works.

Susan Cadogan: Congratulations (Klik KL 604)
Lee Perry-produced reggae slowie that should go over big at West Indian weddings! I’d rather hear this than her pop things, any day.

Trapeze: On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Warner Bros. K 16606)
Unorthodox rockified treatment of the evergreen, it might work at jolly MOR gigs.

Dizzy Heights: Don’t Be Down On Me / Someone Somewhere Is Waiting (Philips 6006478)
Going over great at the Gold Mine, Canvey Island, this perky girlie group shuffler is winsome and sweet, while the instrumental with phonecalls flip sounds like a ‘Hot Buttered Soul’ backing track.

Snoopy Dean: Lady, Lady, Lady (Seville SEV 1006)
Nice sound even if not much substance to this lazy soul swayer.

Chequers: Rock On Brother (Creole CR 111)
Modish instrumental, kinda like a theme in search of a movie.

Al Southern: Puttin’ It Down (To The Way I Feel About You Girl) (UA UP 36014)
UK sweet slowie, structured Stylistically, but minus the high notes.



Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:

Executive Suite: When The Fuel Runs Out (Polydor)
Kay-Gees: Hustle Wit Every Muscle (Gang - US import)
Mike Harper: I’m Crying (Retreat)
B. T. Express: Discotizer (EMI LP cut)
George Benson: Supership (CTI - US import) (chart debut 5/17)
Pointer Sisters: How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On The Side) (ABC)
Brothers: Are You Ready For This (RCA - US import) (mentioned in column 4/5)
Silver Convention: Fly Robin Fly / I Like It (Magnet) (mentioned in column 7/19, chart debut 8/2)
Eruption: Let Me Take You Back In Time (RCA)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: No Woman, No Cry (Island)
ABBA: S.O.S. (Epic)
Blackbyrds: I Need You (Fantasy)
Sonny Charles & Checkmates Ltd.: Proud Mary (A&M)
Real Thing: Watch Out Carolina (Pye)

[SandraDee]

Buster Pearson: Ain’t It Groovy (K&B KB 5514)
Straightforward reggae of no great inventiveness.

Trivia time: I'm sure that Buster was father to 80s hit making siblings Five Star.

[shootyourshot]

UK Disco Top 20 - September 27, 1975

9/27 9/20 Artist - Title - Label
1 1 KC & The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It) - Jay Boy
2 4 5000 Volts - I'm On Fire - Philips
3 8 Fatback Band - Yum Yum (Gimme Some) - Polydor
4 3 Al Matthews - Fool - CBS
5 2 George McCrae - It's Been So Long - Jay Boy
6 9 Rod Stewart - Sailing - Warner Bros.
7 RE Leo Sayer - Moonlighting - Chrysalis
8 7 People's Choice - Do It Anyway You Wanna - Philadelphia Int'l
9 12 Carl Malcolm - Fatty Bum Bum - UK
10 13 Jimmy Bo Horne - Gimme Some - RCA
11 NEW Disco Tex - Boogie Flap - Chelsea
12 5 Stylistics - I Can't Give You Anything - Avco
13 RE George Baker - Paloma Blanca - Warner Bros. Warner Bros.
14 6 Banzaii - Chinese Kung Fu - Contempo
15 NEW David Essex - Hold Me Close - CBS
16 16 Natalie Cole - This Will Be - Capitol
17 RE Leroy Brown - One Woman Man - EMI
18 RE B. T. Express - Give It What You Got - EMI
19 NEW Chris Spedding - Motorbikin' - Rak
20 14 Ralph Carter - When You're Young And In Love - Mercury

Breakers:
Crown Heights Affair: Dreaming A Dream (Polydor) (mentioned in column 5/31; chart debut 6/7)
Faith, Hope & Charity: To Each His Own (RCA) (chart debut 7/19)
Jasper Carrott: Magic Roundabout (DJM)

Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (mentioned in column 7/26, chart debut 9/13)
#2 (mentioned in column 10/25, chart debut 12/6)
#3 (chart debut 7/12)
#8 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#10 (chart debut 7/12)
#11 (mentioned in column 4/19)
#12 (mentioned in column 5/24)
#14 (mentioned in column 6/28, chart debut 7/5)
#16 (chart debut 9/13)
#18 (mentioned in column 7/12; chart debut 8/2)
#20 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)



Following my pleas for DJ reaction to the number of singles I reviewed each week, I am again cutting back to just those I personally would consider using - not only in my own mobile DJ but also as a club DJ.

To quote from contributing DJ Mark Rymann (Porthcawl), “I have to play records which I reckon can be easily accepted or else there’s an empty floor.”



New Spins

Elton John: Island Girl (DJM DJS 610)
At last, another good fast dancer from Elt, who may be extremely popular but does tend to do too many dead slowies. Now maybe ‘Crocodile Rock’ can take a rest!

Sparks: Looks, Looks, Looks (Island WIP 6249)
Unlikely source for the new Hurricane Smith, but that’s what this brassy big-band swinger could easily be! Reminiscent of Manhattan Transfer, whose slower ‘Tuxedo Junction’ is even more MoR.

MFSB: Let’s Go Disco (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 3635) (mentioned in column 5/3)
Simple stomp beat chanter, a certified smash!

John Schroeder Orchestra: All Night (Baby Do It All Night) (Alaska ALA 1011)
Latin salsa feel and a title line just like ‘Uptight’ give this perky chanter an appeal that’s both funky and Northern. Instrumental flip.

Bimbo Jet: La Balanga (EMI 2332)
Formula (and almost tune!) as before, so a fine follow-on to continue any gaiety whipped up by El Bimbo. Version 2 with chat on the flip, as before. Useful, but not a hit (as before).

Speedy Keen: Bad Boys Cold Hand Warm Gun (Island WIP 6247)
Backed up by up-coming reggae-rock band Third World, this brilliantly evolving reggae-tempo and sound FX tale of living for the city is actually overshadowed by the instrumental flipside version, which is a pure and far more direct dub which ranks with the best of the genre. My own fave of the week.

Martin Black: Sooner Or Later (20th Century BTC 1006)
Incredibly American-sounding UK production by Gerry Shury and Ron Roker, this happily churning pop-soul pounder should follow Al Matthews chartwards.

Silver Convention: Fly Robin Fly / I Like It (Magnet MAG 43) (mentioned in column 7/19, chart debut 8/2)
Huge in NY discos, these consecutive LP cuts have been separated onto a double-sided 45 that’s full of sinister plodding rhythm and massive modern dance appeal. Get two copies and do your own edit!

Magic Disco Machine: Control Tower (Tamla Motown TMG 1004)
Lead track from the first rather muzaky DiscoTech LP, an instrumental with sound FX and hand-clapping breaks. By the way, the second DiscoTech album has tracks by the Jackson 5, Temptations, Yvonne Fair, Undisputed Truth, Commodores, etc, all segueing into each other, and is a much better bet!

Ebony, Ivory & Jade: Samson (CBS 3599) (chart debut 8/23)
Morricone-type whip-cracks and a dramatic build-up to this Philly vocal group beater, which has catchy guitar bits.

Eddie Kendricks: Get The Cream Off The Top (Tamla Motown TMG 1003) (mentioned in column 6/28, chart debut 7/19)
Relegated to the B-side here, Eddie’s US smash is a delicately sung ambiguous rhythm jiggler with staccato girlie group support. Standout track on his new LP, ‘The Hit Man’, is the slow-starting then shifting ‘I’ve Got To Be’ - skip the intro and segue with the J5 newie!

Armada Orchestra: Feel The Need In Me (Contempo CS 2069) (chart debut 11/29)
True to the original, so if you dug that, you’ll stomp along to the strings here.

Arthur Mullard: I Only ‘Ave Eyes For You (RCA 2610)
Our Arthur slaughters the Art Garfunkel hit to a Misty backing. Good short-term novelty.

Blue Magic: Look Me Up (Atlantic K 10352)
Stylistics-type 1973 Philly lolloper.

Steve Cooke: Take Me Higher (Sonet SON 2063)
Blatant rip-off of the KC sound, down to the “uh-huh”s, but effective nonetheless.




Import Picks

Dickie Goodman: Mr. Jaws (Cash CR 451)
Not a dancer, nor as good as ‘Super Fly Meets Shaft’, the Flying Saucer guy’s latest comedy smash uses little snippets from Tony Camillo, Olivia Newton-John, James Taylor etc as the answers when he questions the cast of the world’s most successful movie - which, if you didn’t know, is about a man-eating shark.

War: Low Rider (UA-XW706-Y) (mentioned in column 9/13)
Their best dancer since ‘Baby Brother’, this bouncy Afro rhythm plopper has catchy tootling sax sounds between the simple lyrics.

Hubert Laws: The Chicago Theme (Love Loop) (CTI 0J-27F) (mentioned in column 5/17, chart debut 6/7)
Flautist Laws blends smoothly with the lush instrumentation on this silky instrumental wuk-kawuk dancer.

Jeff Perry: Love Don’t Come No Stronger (Than Yours And Mine) (Arista AS 0133)
Shooting up R&B, Jeff’s slower starting beater suddenly lurches into easy grooving rhythm and picks up Four Tops appeal.

Choice Four: When You’re Young And In Love (RCA PH-10342)
Actually produced by Van McCoy himself and marginally bigger pop than Ralph Carter, this version is - surprise! - dead slow. Exquisitely lovely as a late nite smoocher.



LP Trax

Contempo have four compilation albums out which should be of interest to many DJs. As the title suggests, ‘Gold ‘N Decayed’ (CLP 525) is an oldies collection, but as it ranges from Johnny & The Hurricanes, Del Shannon, and The Teddy Bears via The Dixie Cups, Ketty Lester & The Shangrilas to John Fred & The Playboy Band, Tami Lynn and Bob & Earl, it has a wide appeal for mobile jocks.

’20 Fantastic Soul Hits’ (CLP 527) repeats the John Fred and includes the current Reparata, but otherwise is exactly what it says, with goodies from Willie Henderson, Melvin Bliss, Oliver Sain, Seeds Of The Earth, Gentlemen & Their Ladies, Ernie Bush and The Quadraphonics, amongst others.

More Northern in its appeal, ‘Dance Dance Dance’ (CLP 524) has classic sounds from Jackie Lee, J. J. Barnes, Jimmy Conwell, The Ad-Libs, and The Belles, plus a bit of duplication with the first two.

The least danceable but most satisfyingly soulful is ‘Soul Deep’ (CLP 526), with beauties from Roshell Anderson, The Montclairs, Seventh Wonder, Jerry Washington, The Escourts, Ted Taylor, and The Whispers.

As there are twenty tracks on each album, and as all the songs included by all the above named tend to be their most famous, these really are good value packages.



Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:

Capt. Skidmark: Chick-A-Boom (Pye)
Dr. Feelgood: Back In The Night (UA)
Marvelettes: When You’re Young And In Love (Tamla)
George Benson: Supership (CTI - US import) (chart debut 5/17)
Dr. Hook: Only Sixteen (Capitol)
Ink Spots: Whispering Grass (MCA)
Hotrocks: Can’t Get It Thru My Head (Bell)
Louisa Mark: Caught You In A Lie (Safari)
Eleventh Hour: Hollywood Hot (20th Century) (mentioned in column 7/5, chart debut 7/26)
Black Blood: A. I. E. (Bradleys)
Fatback Band: Street Dance / Nija Walk (Perception - US import)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: No Woman, No Cry (Island)
Rockin’ Horse: Love Do Me Right (RCA - US import) (chart debut 5/10)
Trammps: Hold Back The Night (Buddah) (chart debut 6/21)
Dooley Silverspoon: As Long As You Know (Who You Are) (Seville)
Meters: Fire On The Bayou (Reprise)
People’s Choice: Nursery Rhymes (Philadelphia Int’l - US import) (chart debut 11/8)
Binzi: Touch A Touch A Touch Me (Part 3) (Antic)

[shootyourshot]

UK Disco Top 20 - October 4, 1975

10/4 9/27 Artist - Title - Label
1 2 5000 Volts - I'm On Fire - Philips
2 1 KC & The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It) - Jay Boy
3 15 David Essex - Hold Me Close - CBS
4 3 Fatback Band - Yum Yum (Gimme Some) - Polydor
5 7 Leo Sayer - Moonlighting - Chrysalis
6 4 Al Matthews - Fool - CBS
7 8 People's Choice - Do It Anyway You Wanna - Philadelphia Int'l
8 16 Natalie Cole - This Will Be - Capitol
9 10 Jimmy Bo Horne - Gimme Some - RCA
10 14 Banzaii - Chinese Kung Fu - Contempo
11 9 Carl Malcolm - Fatty Bum Bum - UK
12 NEW Drifters - There Goes My First Love - Bell
13 6 Rod Stewart - Sailing - Warner Bros.
14 18 B. T. Express - Give It What You Got - EMI
15 NEW Tavares - It Only Takes A Minute - Capitol
16 RE Jasper Carrot - Magic Roundabout - DJM
17 11 Disco Tex - Boogie Flap - Chelsea
18 NEW Crown Heights Affair - Dreaming A Dream - Polydor
19 NEW Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman, No Cry - Island
20 NEW Dee Clark - Ride A Wild Horse - Chelsea

Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (mentioned in column 10/25, chart debut 12/6)
#2 (mentioned in column 7/26, chart debut 9/13)
#4 (chart debut 7/12)
#7 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#9 (chart debut 7/12)
#10 (mentioned in column 6/28, chart debut 7/5)
#14 (mentioned in column 7/12; chart debut 8/2)
#15 (chart debut 7/26)
#17 (mentioned in column 4/19)
#18 (mentioned in column 5/31; chart debut 6/7)



New Spins

Joneses: Sugar Pie Guy (Mercury 6167223) (chart debut 10/26/74)
Remixed and re-issued, this goodie by the guys with the amazing “spudadoo spudadoo” bass man now has a disco flip that features an instrumental build-up to the “spudadoo”s and a long wukkawuk passage, broken into by some gruff joviality and repartee with a chick. If it worked before you’d better play it some more!

George Benson: Supership (CTI CT SP 002) (chart debut 5/17)
1975’s jumping bumpy rhythm re-write of ‘Sea Cruise’ (ship’s hooter and all) shows off George more on vocals than guitar, and should be a disco smash with ship’s bells on. Already breaking out as an import, it’s gotta be good.

Black Rock: New York City Bump (Seville SEV 1011) (mentioned in column 5/17; chart debut 9/20)
SONNY - the Sound Of New New York strikes again as Sonny Casella follows Jeanne Burton and Dooley Silverspoon with his most ambitious production yet. On the special effects B-side the entire chix-led Temptations-type relaxed bumper is backed by a montage of New York City street sounds as it takes us on a bus ride uptown . . . like ‘Living For The City’ gone mad! Heard in stereo it’s a mind-messer of awesome proportions.

Roxy Music: Love Is The Drug (Island WIP 6248)
Bryan and the boys go soul with a bass-dominated thumping rhythm and a powerful revving intro. Unfortunately, this early promise doesn’t really develop, and while still useful, the whole side ain’t as good as it could’ve been.

T. Rex Disco Party: Dreamy Lady / Do You Wanna Dance / Dock Of The Bay (EMI MARC 11)
Van McCoy meets the Bopping Elf on the dusty road of hits, but it’s ill met by moonlight. In fact, apart from the bad fade, the A-side newie will be OK once it’s a hit, while the B-side oldies do feature Gloria Jones fairly extensively.

Lloyd Parks: Mafia (Cactus CT 75)
Already big in reggae circles, Lloyd’s soulfully sung lazy thudder is even better than the flipside version (dub) - which, coming from a confirmed dub fan, is praise indeed.

Allen Toussaint: Soul Sister (Reprise K 14200)
Slinky undulating slowie from 1972, this should be good, especially in black clubs.

David Courtney: My Mind (EMI 2349)
Good beat on a pop-rock stomper.

Duke & The Drivers: What You Got (ABC 4079)
Ditto.

Playthings: Stop What You’re Doing (Pye DDS 2007)
Biddu’s 1973 girlie-group crib of ‘I Can’t Help Myself’.

Nosmo King: All The Good Guys (Pye 7N 45528)
Great Fats Domino-style slow rocker. Amazingly authentic.



Import Picks

Trammps: Hooked For Life / I’m Alright (Atlantic 45-3286) (chart debut 8/16)
Tom Moulton mixed the Baker-Harris-Young team’s latest smooth Philly thumper, which for oldies and doo-wop fans will be overshadowed by the terrific gospelly flip. Dig the burbling bass!

Prophecy: Betcha Can’t Guess My Sign (Mainstream MRL 5569)
Craziness - a funky chunky slinker duetted by gruff bloke and Alvin Chipmunk! I presume that the chipmunk voices are the Chubukus of ‘Witch Doctor Bump’ fame. Straight instrumental flip.

Calvin Arnold: Satisfy My Woman (IX Chains NCS 7009)
Author of the Prophecy single. Calvin’s mellow swayer will please all old fans of the Winstons, as it’s highly reminiscent of their great ‘Color Him Father’.

J. R. Bailey: The Entertainer (If They Could Only See Me Now) (Midland Int’l MB 10305)
Whatever next - an R&B version of Scott Joplin’s theme from ‘The Sting’! With a long chorus intro to put you off, J. R. suddenly launches song as that familiar melody finally makes its funked-up appearance. Interesting, and I like it.

Black Satin: Everybody Stand Up And Clap Your Hands (For The Entertainer) (Buddah BDA477-N) (chart debut 8/9)
Nothing to do with Scott Joplin, this is the new guise for Fred Parris and the Five Satins, who do some nicely soulful vocal group work over a modern ambiguous rhythm. Do you remember (‘In The Still Of The Night’)?



Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:

Silver Convention: Fly Robin Fly / I Like It (Magnet) (mentioned in column 7/19, chart debut 8/2)
Kay-Gees: Hustle Wit Every Muscle (Gang - US import)
Diversions: Fattie Bum-Bum (Gull)
Dooley Silverspoon: As Long As You Know (Who You Are) (Seville)
Bimbo Jet: La Balanga (EMI)
Eddie Drennon: Let’s Do The Latin Hustle (Friends & Co. - US import) (chart debut 9/20)
Exciters: Reaching For The Best (20th Century)
Trammps: Hold Back The Night (Buddah) (chart debut 6/21)
R. B. Freeman: I’m Shaft (Avco)
Heavy Metal Kids: Ain’t Nothing But A Houseparty (Atlantic)
Speedy Keen: Bad Boys Cold Hand Warm Gun (Island)
Faith, Hope & Charity: To Each His Own (RCA) (chart debut 7/19)
Isley Brothers: Fight The Power (Epic) (chart debut 6/14)
Betty Wright: Ooola La (RCA)
Bill Howard: King Of The Cops (Penny Farthing)
Electric ARP Synthesizer: Yellow Submarine (RCA)
Hello: New York Groove (Bell)
Tommy Hunt: Crackin’ Up (Spark)
Willie Henderson: Dance Master (Contempo)
Eruption: Let Me Take You Back In Time (RCA)

[shootyourshot]

UK Disco Top 20 - October 11, 1975

10/11 10/4 Artist - Title - Label
1 3 David Essex - Hold Me Close - CBS
2 12 Drifters - There Goes My First Love - Bell
3 1 5000 Volts - I'm On Fire - Philips
4 4 Fatback Band - Yum Yum (Gimme Some) - Polydor
5 2 KC & The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It) - Jay Boy
6 13 Rod Stewart - Sailing - Warner Bros.
7 NEW Four Seasons - Who Loves You - Warner Bros.
8 8 Natalie Cole - This Will Be - Capitol
9 20 Dee Clark - Ride A Wild Horse - Chelsea
10 5 Leo Sayer - Moonlighting - Chrysalis
11 NEW Jonathan King - Una Paloma Blanca - UK
12 7 People's Choice - Do It Anyway You Wanna - Philadelphia Int'l
13 9 Jimmy Bo Horne - Gimme Some - RCA
14 19 Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman, No Cry - Island
15 NEW Chi-Lites - It's Time For Love - Brunswick
16 18 Crown Heights Affair - Dreaming A Dream - Polydor
17 14 B. T. Express - Give It What You Got - EMI
18 NEW Faith, Hope & Charity - To Each His Own - RCA
19 RE Leroy Brown - One Woman Man - EMI
20 6 Al Matthews - Fool - CBS

Appeared in Billboard:
#3 (mentioned in column 10/25, chart debut 12/6)
#4 (chart debut 7/12)
#5 (mentioned in column 7/26, chart debut 9/13)
#12 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#13 (chart debut 7/12)
#16 (mentioned in column 5/31; chart debut 6/7)
#17 (mentioned in column 7/12; chart debut 8/2)
#18 (chart debut 7/19)



New Spins

George McCrae: I Ain’t Lyin’ / You Treat Me Good (Jay Boy BOY 105)
The rhythm section that rules the world does its thing as George soars and cut-price brass battles through the dominating drumkit. So simple, so effective. Cooled-out though still busy beat on the flip.

Stretch: Why Did You Do It (Anchor ANC 1021)
Heartily-compressed drum beats and Doobie-type guitar jiggling back gruff Elmer Cantry on a superbly-produced semi-slow thudder that’s kinda like Bad Company meeting the Ides of March. Sounds like a smash.

Bud Flanagan: Who Do You Think You’re Kidding Mr. Hitler? (Pye 7N 45530)
I goofed by playing this (the Dad’s Army theme) once at a gig where evidently the German ambassador was a guest! Oh well, the point being that I use it all the time, especially as part of a routine where it leads into Glen Miller’s ‘In The Mood’. Great jolly MOR.

Paul Melba: You’re The Cream In My Coffee (Pye 7N 45537)
Silliness, ideal for certain MOR gigs, hidden on the flip of an unsuccessful ‘Misty’-fication of ‘Tenderly’.

Maxine Nightingale: Right Back Where We Started From (UA UP 36015)
Here comes Pierre ‘Fool” Tubbs again, giving Al Matthews’s back-up singer an amazingly infectious clapalong bouncy beat and a dead simple catchy tune. She looks great, too!

Freddie Waters: Kung Fu And You Too (Mint CHEW 2)
Punchy soul thumper that should become a fave, even though crazily it’s buried as flip to an Al Green copy called ‘Groovin’ On My Baby’s Love’.

Labelle: Messin’ With My Mind (Epic EPC 3624) (mentioned in column 8/30, chart debut 9/6)
Less direct at first than ‘Lady Marmalade’, this chunky bouncer is a comer even so, and should get soul folk jumping.

Hubert Laws: The Chicago Theme (Love Loop) (CTI CT SP 001) (mentioned in column 5/17, chart debut 6/7)
Flautist Laws goes MFSB on this classy smooth hustler, which seems themed for a TV cop show but isn’t. Hardly jazz, though kinda nice!

Salsoul Orchestra: Salsoul Hustle (Epic EPC 3672) (mentioned in column 8/9, chart debut 8/16)
Vince Montana taps his vibes and produces the Philly fellas under yet another name as they latch onto salsa. Their jazzily-developing slick rhythm rattler’s a bit tame at first before the 6:41 disco version gets down to really cook.

Seven Seas: Super Jaws (Jay Boy 98) (chart debut 9/13)
Funky wah-wah instrumental by Little Beaver and the “other” band at TK, it’s the first of all the Jaws spinoffs to be a US hit.

Ultrafunk: Sting Your Jaws (Parts 1 & 2) (Contempo CS 2071)
And another - although there’s nothing to let you know it on this livelier and funkier instrumental. Incidentally, the actual Jaws movie theme by John Williams (US MCA) is an awesomely sinister piece of pseudo-classical music, and not a dancer.

Firefly: Hey There Little Firefly (Parts 1 & 2) (A&M AMS 7195) (chart debut 10/25)
If you love Young-Holt’s soulful strut you’ll go for this, as it’s a vocal version with new words!

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers: Got To Get You Into My Life (Alaska ALS 1013)
Re-issue (in stereo) of the 1966 brassy Beatles hit, fresh enough to go well today.



Import Picks

Undisputed Truth: Higher Than High / Spaced Out (Gordy G7145F) (chart debut 10/25)
Exciting “boom-boom-chicka-chicka-boom” opening and wildly abandoned tearaway construction make the topside a dancer’s delight, while the flip starts with bedroom noises before becoming a slinkily-chanted beefy thruster. Few things are sexier than that intro!

Pat Lundi: Party Music (Vigor VI 1723) (chart debut 8/2)
Disco side of this great hustler is 5:15 of instrumental bliss, like a poppier, lighter version of ‘Dreaming A Dream’. Strings scrape, rhythms clatter, everything swirls around and - the clincher for me - the guitar plays a lovely old-fashioned ‘Tighten Up’ lick.

Soul Searchers: Boogie Up The Nation (Polydor PD 14277) (mentioned in column 7/5)
Somber synthetics and dramatic brass intro this huskily-sung bumpy rhythm dancer, which gets down and does it most effectively.

Mike Post: Manhattan Spiritual (MGM M14829)
While we’ve been resurrecting his old ‘Rhino’, Mike’s been hot Stateside with ‘Rockford Files’ - to which this big-sounding revival of Reg Owen’s 1959 hit instrumental is the follow-up. Lotsa brass, wheeling synthetics, richly resonant rhythm.



Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:

Roxy Music: Love Is The Drug (Island)
Silver Convention: Fly Robin Fly / I Like It (Magnet) (mentioned in column 7/19, chart debut 8/2)
Dooley Silverspoon: As Long As You Know (Who You Are) (Seville)
Black Rock: New York City Bump (Seville) (mentioned in column 5/17; chart debut 9/20)
Eleventh Hour: Hollywood Hot (20th Century) (mentioned in column 7/5, chart debut 7/26)
Jack Ashford & The Sound Of New Detroit: Do The Choo-Choo (London) (chart debut 7/5)
Trammps: Hold Back The Night (Buddah) (chart debut 6/21)
Brothers: Are You Ready For This (RCA - US import) (mentioned in column 4/5)
MFSB: Let’s Go Disco (Philadelphia Int’l) (mentioned in column 5/3)
Speedy Keen: Bad Boys Cold Hand Warm Gun (Island)
Todd Rundgren: Real Man (Bearsville)
Mike Harper: I’m Crying (Retreat)
Clarence Reid: See Through (Atco - US import)
James Brown: Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag ’75 (Polydor - US import)
South Side Coalition: Get Off Your Seat And Jam (Brown Dog - US import)
Susan Maughan: Bobby’s Girl (Philips)
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas: Jimmy Mack (Motown)
Prince Buster: Al Capone (Blue Beat)

[shootyourshot]

UK Disco Top 20 - October 18, 1975

10/18 10/11 Artist - Title - Label
1 1 David Essex - Hold Me Close - CBS
2 2 Drifters - There Goes My First Love - Bell
3 5 KC & The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It) - Jay Boy
4 9 Dee Clark - Ride A Wild Horse - Chelsea
5 RE Esther Phillips - What A Diff'rence A Day Makes - Kudu
6 3 5000 Volts - I'm On Fire - Philips
7 8 Natalie Cole - This Will Be - Capitol
8 4 Fatback Band - Yum Yum (Gimme Some) - Polydor
9 7 Four Seasons - Who Loves You - Warner Bros.
10 14 Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman, No Cry - Island
11 12 People's Choice - Do It Anyway You Wanna - Philadelphia Int'l
12 RE George Baker - Paloma Blanca - Warner Bros.
13 15 Chi-Lites - It's Time For Love - Brunswick
14 19 Leroy Brown - One Woman Man - EMI
15 NEW Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug - Island
16 NEW Trammps - Hold Back The Night - Buddah
17 20 Al Matthews - Fool - CBS
18 RE Ralph Carter - When You're Young And In Love - Mercury
19 18 Faith, Hope & Charity - To Each His Own - RCA
20 NEW Dooley Silverspoon - As Long As You Know (Who You Are) - Seville

Appeared in Billboard:
#3 (mentioned in column 7/26, chart debut 9/13)
#5 (chart debut 6/21)
#6 (mentioned in column 10/25, chart debut 12/6)
#8 (chart debut 7/12)
#11 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#16 (chart debut 6/21)
#18 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#19 (chart debut 7/19)



New Spins

Everly Brothers: Walk Right Back (Warner Bros. K 16613)
The original strutting 1961 smash, in stereo, now comes across as ideal MOR.

Tornadoes: Telstar (Decca F 11494)
The original 1962 smash, freaky intro and all. Probably best for older crowds now, but try mixing it with such as ‘Silver Machine’ for effect!

Goons: Bloodnok’s Rock ‘N Roll (Decca F 13609)
The ‘Ying Tong Song’’s original flip in 1956 , this craziness doesn’t sustain its dance beat, but played near the end of a gig can be lots of fun nevertheless. Goons freaks will even mime to it!

Harvey Smith: True Love (Handkerchief HANKY 3)
Slush, of obvious interest to horsey crowds, it needs pre-announcing for best effect. A sensation at my last gig, when followed it with Bing singing ‘Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle’!

Van McCoy: Good Night, Baby (Avco 6105042)
A natural for the last smooch of the evening, this pretty slowie finds Van in fine voice. Why it isn’t the A-side instead of the awfully ordinary ‘Change With The Times’ I’ll never know.

Millican & Nesbitt: Goodbye-ee (Pye 7N 45541)
Another perfect closer, this version of the Worthington E theme is the best of the two so far available.

Doobie Brothers: Sweet Maxine (Warner Bros. K 16601)
Far from brilliant, but it’ll be good for rock-orientated pop crowds, especially coming out of a slowie.

Johnny Clarke: Stranger In Love (Lucky DL 5100)
One of several currently out by cool-singing Johnny, this gentle reggae throbber is lovely enough until you flip it for the version, which is a superb
dub with incredible bass-heavy rhythm that just keeps on going. My fave of the week.

Sir Douglas Quintet: Mendocino (Oval 1007)
1969 Bubblegum which, for sentimental reasons, I still carry regardless! Bright and happy enough to happen.

Son Of Albatros: Africa (Decca FR 13605)
From Italy, this atmospheric echoing slow recitation has catchy chanting and sub-Moodies backing - plus a good funky flip called ‘Ha-Ri-Ah’ - while an Americanised cover by Joe Pass (CBS 3670) gets more production gloss and an amended title, ‘Africa (Indian Summer)’. The sort of thing that can catch on big, especially if Jo King does a cover too!

Robert Palmer: Which Of Us Is The Fool (Island WIP 6250)
Lovely blue-eyed soul semi-slowie from a Robert Redford look-alike with typically tuff Island image.

Wigan’s Ovation: Super Love (Spark SRL 1133)
Joyously happy whomping stomping harmonies on this incredibly infectious cover-job of Leon Huff’s Philly dancer.

Gloria Gaynor: (If You Want It) Do It Yourself (MGM 2006543) (mentioned in column 8/2, chart debut 8/23)
Just one third of the continuous topside to her new album, this thumping DIY anthem seems to me to be rather dull and computerized – which means it’s got all the ingredients, though.

Ohio Players: Love Rollercoaster (Mercury 6167225) (chart debut 9/20)
The Godfather’s fave, this freakily phasing funker’s got a heavily bumping rhythm and some of that ‘Yum Yum’ stuff.

Performance: Red Bullet (Polydor 2058649)
French instrumental with synthetic lead over hustling backing – could be useful.

Shabam: On The Planet Of The Apes (Pye 7N 45422)
Re-issue of last year’s Tommy James-type chugger – good bubblegum.

Allan Clarke: Born To Run (EMI 2352)
Unfashionable Allan’s got a cleaner disco mix than murkily mumblin’ Bruce Springsteen.

Johnny Mathis: Only You (And You Alone) (CBS 3673)
Lush ‘n easy reading of the Platters’ 1955 classic.

Brothers: Are You Ready For This (RCA 2618) (mentioned in column 4/5)
Jon Taylor’s fave, this hustling instrumental’s got the usual strings, bass, and hi-hat formula with which, I for one am getting bored, effective though it may be for some.

Tony Christie: Easy To Love (MCA 212)
Superb stereo arrangement and disco rhythm, wasted by weedy vocals. Maybe richer DJs can re-equalise the vocals out?

David Cassidy: Darlin’ (RCA 2622)
Disjointed FX intro lifted from ‘Drag City’, then darlin’ Dimples turns in a fine blue-eyed souling of the Beach Boys’ tune that’ll go well once it’s a hit.

Andy Bown: Supersonic (GM GMS 9039)
Noisy Sweet-type pop, from the TV show.

Jim Capaldi: Love Hurts (Island WIP 6246)
Classy interpretation of the Orbisong, with its steadily clopping rhythm it could go MOR.



Import Picks:

Crystal Grass: Love To Dance This One With You (Polydor PD 15109) (mentioned in column 3/22)
The French instrumentalists haven’t got another ‘Crystal World’ here, but they still get a quite good if less subtle herky-jerky rhythm going. It kinda hustles, and has some pronounced stereo effects.

Philly Devotions: I Just Can’t Make It (Without You) (Columbia 3-10191) (mentioned in column 4/19)
Arr / Cond / Penned and Prod by John Davis, the guys’ lolloping new Philly group dancer has a 4:51 disco version mixed by the ubiquitous Tom Moulton, and it all sounds very happy. Fast, it’s another that kinda hustles.

Latimore: There’s A Red Neck In The Soul Band (Glades 1729)
Huge on the juke boxes, Benny Latimore’s blues bouncer has great lyrics all about a tall skinny white boy playing guitar in a black band. The kid confesses that when he plays guitar he feels so soulful he has to wonder about his family tree!

Gwen McCrae: He Keeps Something Groovy Goin’ On (Cat 1999)
In fact the flip of her somewhat typical TK-type hit, ‘Love Insurance’, this powerfully emoted slowie is the sort of soul that Gladys Knight could have been singing now if she hadn’t gone so commercial. Less profitable maybe, but so nice!



Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
Black Blood: A. I. E. (Bradleys)
R. B. Freeman: I’m Shaft (Avco)
Maxine Nightingale: Right Back Where We Started From (UA)
John Holt: I’d Love You To Want Me (Trojan – LP cut)
Blue Magic: Look Me Up (Atlantic K 10352)
Jim Capaldi: Love Hurts (Island)
Gary Toms Empire: Drive My Car (Epic) (mentioned in column 7/26, chart debut 11/1)
Ebony, Ivory & Jade: Samson (CBS) (chart debut 8/23)
Van McCoy: Good Night, Baby (Avco)
Bad Company: Feel Like Makin’ Love (Island)
Neil Diamond: Sweet Caroline (Uni)
Seven Seas: Super Jaws (Jay Boy) (chart debut 9/13)
MFSB: T.L.C. (Philadelphia Intl.) (mentioned in column 5/3, chart debut 6/21)
Robert Palmer: Pressure Drop (Island)
Johnny Howard Band: Dance Crazy (Contour – LP cut)
Tina Charles: You Set My Heart On Fire (CBS) (mentioned in column 8/9, chart debut 9/6)
Rhodes Kids: Voo-Doo Magic (GRC - US import) (chart debut 12/28/74)

[drlove]

I just love the Philly Devotions cut mentioned above .....I Just Can't Make It Without You. The 45 rpm mix really really cooks !

Does anyone know much about that Rhodes Kids' record mentioned above "Voo-Doo Magic" ??? I have a couple of LPs from that act ....they're a family group that played in Vegas. I just wonder if their disco recording sounded alright ? I find them VERY unlikely disco stars !

[shootyourshot]

UK Disco Top 20 - October 25, 1975

10/25 10/18 Artist - Title - Label
1 1 David Essex - Hold Me Close - CBS
2 9 Four Seasons - Who Loves You - Warner Bros.
3 2 Drifters - There Goes My First Love - Bell
4 4 Dee Clark - Ride A Wild Horse - Chelsea
5 7 Natalie Cole - This Will Be - Capitol
6 5 Esther Phillips - What A Diff'rence A Day Makes - Kudu
7 15 Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug - Island
8 6 5000 Volts - I'm On Fire - Philips
9 8 Fatback Band - Yum Yum (Gimme Some) - Polydor
10 11 People's Choice - Do It Anyway You Wanna - Philadelphia Int'l
11 16 Trammps - Hold Back The Night - Buddah
12 NEW George Benson - Supership - CTI
13 NEW George McCrae - I Ain't Lyin' - Jay Boy
14 NEW Art Garfunkel - I Only Have Eyes For You - CBS
15 12 George Baker - Paloma Blanca - Warner Bros.
16 3 KC & The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It) - Jay Boy
17 10 Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman, No Cry - Island
18 RE Leo Sayer - Moonlighting - Chrysalis
19 NEW Mud - L-L-Lucy - Private Stock
20 RE Jasper Carrot - Magic Roundabout - DJM


Appeared in Billboard:
#6 (chart debut 6/21)
#8 (mentioned in column 10/25, chart debut 12/6)
#9 (chart debut 7/12)
#10 (mentioned in column 6/14, chart debut 7/5)
#11 (chart debut 6/21)
#12 (chart debut 5/17)
#16 (mentioned in column 7/26, chart debut 9/13)



New Spins

John Asher: Let’s Twist Again (Creole CR 112)
Well! As a direct result of this page’s speculation about a Twist revival, here’s the star of ATV Birmingham’s Tiswas show doing a perfectly acceptable revival of Chubby Checker’s original smash (which now belongs to Allan Klein’s Abko label in America). Can a Twist craze really be on the way? Stay tuned to ‘Record Mirror & Disc’!

Bing Crosby: I Love To Dance Like They Used To Dance (UA UP 36025)
A gift for MoR DJs, this happy lilter has to be the best easy listening dancer since ‘Dance In The Old Fashioned Way’. Thanx for making life a little easier, Bing!

Biddu Orchestra: I Could Have Danced All Night / Jump For Joy (Epic EPC 3708) (chart debut 11/22)
Just made for the discos, with solidly thumping beat for kids and famous melody for oldsters - this could be bigger than ’42. Afro-type rhythms on even more exciting flip, which many will prefer.

Nat King Cole: Unforgettable / Smile (Capitol CL 15837)
One of the classic late night smoochers, plus another lush slowie now used as a film theme, from Natalie’s late daddy.

Arthur Brown: Fire! / Thunderclap Newman: Something In The Air (Track 2004017)
Two old number ones back-to-back. I haven’t heard the new pressing yet myself, but Rod “King” Schell reckons that ‘Something’’s side has been remixed.

Tommy Roe: Dizzy (ABC 4033)
And another old number one.

Canned Heat: On The Road Again (UA UP 36001)
Edited slightly differently than the original 1968 single.

Judy Gee & The Classmates: Let Me In (Route RT 20)
Good recreation of the Yvonne Baker & The Sensations original, which was one of THE disco hits of 1962, this shrill and punchy twister makes a great substitute if you can’t find the Pye/Argo oldie.

T. G. Sheppard: I Can’t Help Myself (Mowest MW 3031)
One of Motown’s new country stars does the Four Tops classic in a way that sounds like it could follow ‘Misty’ kinda nicely. It’s in fact the flip to ‘Another Woman’.

Wizzard: Rattlesnake Roll (Jet 758)
Boogie-woogie piano intro, then Roy Wood does another ‘Are You Ready To Rock’ that jumps and hops along with great gusto. Brilliantly conceived and fun for influence spotters, but hopefully not too clever for the masses. He’s in danger of completing the Spector cycle.

Simba: Africa (EMI 2364)
British cover of the Italian slowie by Son Of Albatros, this is useful as the flip’s an instrumental version that augurs well to prolong the atmospheric mood.

Snafu: Lock And Key (Capitol CL 15838)
Archetypal white blues noises delivered with enough drive and impact to work well first time out for rock audiences.

Sydney Thompson: Rock Around The Clock (from the LP ‘Take Your Partners’, BBC REB 316)
Lunacy that works! If you can imagine a ‘Come Dancing’ version of this, then you’ve got it in one. Yes - ghastly, but great fun! There’s also tangos n’ stuff like that.

Daniel Boone: I Think Of You (Penny Farthing PEN 897)
Beautiful Garfunkel-type version of the Merseybeat oldie, sung by its writer to shimmering strings and aaahhing voices. Even if doesn’t hit, this slowie’s worth plugging.

Billy Connolly: D.I.V.O.R.C.E. (Polydor 2058652)
Good short-term novelty.

Laurel & Hardy: The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine (UA UP 36026)
From the actual soundtrack of 1937’s ‘Way Out West’, Stan & Ollie join The Avalon Boys and Chill Wills for a Don Estelle & Windsor Davies-type bit of silliness. Great fun for attentive nostalgia-prone audiences!



Reggae Mix

Johnny Clarke: No Woman, No Cry (Grounation GRO 2003)
Complete with crying chick, this is much more ethnic than Marley, and actually sounds like reggae rather than Dylan. As for the flipside version, it’s a total mind messer!

Johnny Clarke: I’m Gonna Put It On (Vulcan VUL 1001)
Already very popular, this brassy bouncer has ska-type backing (re-used from something else, I think) and a great rhythm. Dub flip.

I Roy: Straight To Derrick Morgan’s Head (Total Sounds - import from Jamaica)
Mind-blowing shouting intro, then laughter, as the backing begins and I Roy phases in and out of the beat with all his old skill. Incredible! Dub flip.

Dave & Ansell Collins: Single Barrel (Klik KL 602)
Pop-slanted synthetic sounds on an instrumental that’s extremely reminiscent of something . . . ‘I’m Your Puppet’, maybe? It’s good enough to stir up interest outside ethnic circles.

Andy’s Allstars: Banjo Serenade (Bullet BU 552)
Actually my fave of the week, this freaky dub version of I Roy’s ‘Step Right Up’ (on the A-side) has a banjo as the lead instrument amongst all the throbbing bass and clanking echo. Strangely fascinating to my jaded ears!

Sons Of Jah: Nyah Chant (Bullet BU 557)
Atmospheric relaxed chant of enduring Rasta faith, with good stereo effects.

Ronny Davis: That’s Life (Dip DL 5099)
Fairly ordinary backing made most interesting by Ronny’s brilliant vocal control - he phrases and uses his voice like a sax.

T. T. Ross: Last Date (Lucky DL 5104)
White chick doing a vocal reggae-fication of Floyd Cramer’s oldie. It’s popular already, and oddly effective.

Carlton Patterson: Dread Locks Power (Ocean OC 006)
Old ska brass line, with Carlton’s Rasta lyrics echoed by another almost falsetto voice. Nice.



Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:

Van McCoy: Good Night, Baby (Avco)
Gloria Gaynor: (If You Want It) Do It Yourself (MGM) (mentioned in column 8/2, chart debut 8/23)
Maxine Nightingale: Right Back Where We Started From (UA)
Ebb Tide: Give Me Your Best Shot Baby (Polydor) (mentioned in column 12/21/74, chart debut 2/8/75)
Don Williams: You’re My Best Friend (ABC)
Frankie Miller: A Fool In Love (Chrysalis)
Mike Reid: That’s Who (Pye)
J.A.L.N. Band: Street Dance (Magnet)
Marcels: Blue Moon (Pye)
Johnny Cymbal: Mr. Bass Man (London)
MFSB: T.L.C. (Philadelphia Intl.) (mentioned in column 5/3, chart debut 6/21)
Dickie Goodman: Mr. Jaws (Cash - US import)

[shootyourshot]

I find the acceptance of reggae music in the UK disco community interesting. Hamilton himself seems to have been a fan of Jamaican music, possibly explaining why he responded so favorably to Levan's work some years down the road.

[remicks]

I find the acceptance of reggae music in the UK disco community interesting. Hamilton himself seems to have been a fan of Jamaican music, possibly explaining why he responded so favorably to Levan's work some years down the road.

I find the acceptance of this music in the UK disco community rather interesting as well ! :

Bing Crosby: I Love To Dance Like They Used To Dance (UA UP 36025)

A gift for MoR DJs, this happy lilter has to be the best easy listening dancer since ‘Dance In The Old Fashioned Way’. Thanx for making life a little easier, Bing!

*****