The Stranglers were simply superb in 77 (and in many later years). Two fabulously aggressive albums matched with a mixture of classic pop/ rock sensibility and punk energy and attitude. ... and then we had those hilariously wonderful TOTP performances.
Tina: middling, uptempo disco, not the same as the Martha and the Vandellas song of more or less the same name. It mutates into Sweets for My Sweet by the Drifters / Searchers for the last 45 seconds. I guess being bitten by the love bug is less serious than being bitten by a trouser snake Bee Gees: well-known light, mellow, strongly melodic soul track Knights: I thought they had given up their sometimes humorous, satirical medleys when the '60s ended, but here they are again. "My tailor took my pants in, that's why I can't go dancing" to the tune of the Bee Gees' You Should Be Dancing is the first example here, Angelo by Brotherhood of Man is another. It's not the '60s, I barely know the rest ELO: fast-paced pop / rock track that Wikipedia says Jeff Lynne recorded in his home studio. It's alright, but certainly I can think of better uses for a cello. Not the same as the Four Tops track of the same name, although some of the title phrases are awfully close in both songs Boney: fairly lively pop tune that's a bit static, probably danceable, not awful, and comments to some extent on the issues relating to the title city. Not every German act includes the motorik beat, if you want to find some really good German music, go listen to what Grobschnitt was doing around the same time Jonathan: fairly quick instrumental that's pretty much what the title advertises, it has a reggae-ish beat and some Eastern sound effects Slade: early-sounding rockin' track that melds That's Alright Mama into the advertised track (both written by Arthur Crudup) Single of the Week: it's nowhere near my favourite song or even a favourite by the band, but the honours go to the Bee Gees for How Deep is Your Love, it's not really a contest although I'll give ELO second place. Nothing coming out of left field this week
Baccara - YES SIR, I CAN BOOGIE I like this. Watched the video awhile back as well. Very nice. I mean good. 3/5
Favs... Week Ending 29 October 1977 1 - NEW - 36 - Bee Gees - HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE 1 - NEW - 47 - Boney M - BELFAST 1 - NEW - 50 - Slade - MY BABY LEFT ME
Their parody of "Float On" wouldn't have been received well by the LGBT movement had it been issued in 2020. In 1977, however, it made some people laugh. How times change.
In the U.S., there was another parody of The Floaters' lone hit - "Bloat On" by Cheech And Chong, in the guise of "The Bloaters":
Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie For a record that propped up the charts for two weeks, number one was a bit of a shock. I don't know if the big jump in tbe charts came after they appeared on Top Of The Pops I cannot lie, I bought it after watching TOTPs. I'm not sure what happened around this time because Black Is Black and From New York To L.A. joined Donna Summer, Sex Pistols and The Stranglers amongst others.....
The name of that duo always reminded me of that of a card game played at casinos around the world, "Baccarat." Their accent also sounded similar to that of Brigitte Bardot on an English language version of "Mister Sun" from 1966 as from a special she did in 1967-68 that, in the U.S., came on right after Elvis' late '68 "Comeback Special" . . .
The Legs & Co performance of Egyptian Reggae was unforgettable! https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xw9av0
I was a big fan of the frantic four and remember that video being shown on Top Of The Pops. The "dummy" on bass was discussed at school the next day! Yes, it looked like Alan refused to fly back from Australia for the video - hence the substitute, though he did put in an appearance in Germany:
#17 of 1977 (#415 in total) - "The Name Of The Game" by ABBA (#1 for 4 weeks - 05 November-26 November 1977) The UK single: The US single: Wikipedia entry - also NME #447 and Melody Maker #388 (both 2 weeks - 12 November-19 November 1977); in U.S., would reach peaks of #12 in Billboard, #16 in Cash Box, #24 in Record World and #19 in Radio & Records the following March. (Meanwhile, in the here and now, their "Money, Money, Money" which made the UK charts the year before, was reaching its peaks within the lower half of three of the U.S. charts - a throwback to the period between "Waterloo" and the life raft known as "SOS.")
Week Ending 05 November 1977 03 - 05 - 01 - ABBA - THE NAME OF THE GAME 08 - 01 - 02 - Baccara - YES SIR, I CAN BOOGIE 04 - 03 - 03 - Rod Stewart - YOU'RE IN MY HEART 10 - 02 - 04 - La Belle Epoque - BLACK IS BLACK 05 - 06 - 05 - Status Quo - ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD 03 - 13 - 06 - Queen - WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS 11 - 04 - 07 - David Soul - SILVER LADY 03 - 15 - 08 - Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY 03 - 08 - 09 - Sex Pistols - HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN 05 - 11 - 10 - Carpenters - CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT (THE RECOGNIZED ANTHEM OF WORLD CONTACT DAY) 09 - 07 - 11 - Ram Jam - BLACK BETTY 06 - 10 - 12 - Meco - STAR WARS THEME / CANTINA BAND 04 - 17 - 13 - Smokie - NEEDLES AND PINS 07 - 12 - 14 - The Stranglers - NO MORE HEROES 03 - 20 - 15 - Roxy Music - VIRGINIA PLAIN 08 - 09 - 16 - Danny Mirror - I REMEMBER ELVIS PRESLEY 07 - 24 - 17 - Giorgio - FROM HERE TO ETERNITY 08 - 18 - 18 - Yes - WONDEROUS STORIES 07 - 16 - 19 - Donna Summer - I REMEMBER YESTERDAY 07 - 21 - 20 - Nazareth - LOVE HURTS 04 - 26 - 21 - Dorothy Moore - I BELIEVE YOU 02 - 36 - 22 - Bee Gees - HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE 02 - 43 - 23 - The Barron Knights - LIVE IN TROUBLE 04 - 25 - 24 - David Bowie - HEROES 04 - 29 - 25 - Santana - SHE'S NOT THERE 09 - 14 - 26 - Emotions - BEST OF MY LOVE 02 - 43 - 27 - Electric Light Orchestra - TURN TO STONE 05 - 27 - 28 - Mary Mason - ANGEL OF THE MORNING / ANY WAY THAT YOU WANT ME 02 - 34 - 29 - Tina Charles - LOVE BUG 13 - 19 - 30 - Elvis Presley - WAY DOWN 09 - 23 - 31 - Patsy Gallant - FROM NEW YORK TO L.A. 05 - 38 - 32 - Commodores - BRICK HOUSE / SWEET LOVE 1 - NEW - 33 - Elvis Costello - WATCHING THE DETECTIVES 02 - 47 - 34 - Boney M - BELFAST 03 - 44 - 35 - Stella Parton - THE DANGER OF A STRANGER 06 - 32 - 36 - Pratt And McClain With Brother Love - HAPPY DAYS 1 - NEW - 37 - Darts - DADDY COOL / THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT 1 - NEW - 38 - The Jam - THE MODERN WORLD 07 - 30 - 39 - George Benson - THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL 03 - 41 - 40 - Rokotto - BOOGIE ON UP 1 - NEW - 41 - Showaddywaddy - DANCIN' PARTY 02 - 49 - 42 - Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers - EGYPTIAN REGGAE 02 - 50 - 43 - Slade - MY BABY LEFT ME 1 - NEW - 44 - Lenny Williams - SHOO DOO FU FU OOH! 1 - NEW - 45 - Ruby Winters - I WILL 13 - 22 - 46 - Yvonne Elliman - I CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY MIND 04 - 37 - 47 - Peter Mac Junior / Godiego - THE WATER MARGIN 1 - NEW - 48 - Chicago - BABY, WHAT A BIG SURPRISE 04 - 31 - 49 - Deep Purple - NEW LIVE AND RARE (EP) 1 - NEW - 50 - The Jacksons - GOIN' PLACES Week Ending 12 November 1977 04 - 01 - 01 - ABBA - THE NAME OF THE GAME 09 - 02 - 02 - Baccara - YES SIR, I CAN BOOGIE 05 - 03 - 03 - Rod Stewart - YOU'RE IN MY HEART 06 - 05 - 04 - Status Quo - ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD 04 - 08 - 05 - Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY 04 - 06 - 06 - Queen - WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS 11 - 04 - 07 - La Belle Epoque - BLACK IS BLACK 10 - 11 - 08 - Ram Jam - BLACK BETTY 06 - 10 - 09 - Carpenters - CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT (THE RECOGNIZED ANTHEM OF WORLD CONTACT DAY) 05 - 13 - 10 - Smokie - NEEDLES AND PINS 04 - 15 - 11 - Roxy Music - VIRGINIA PLAIN 03 - 22 - 12 - Bee Gees - HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE 04 - 09 - 13 - Sex Pistols - HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN 03 - 23 - 14 - The Barron Knights - LIVE IN TROUBLE 12 - 07 - 15 - David Soul - SILVER LADY 08 - 20 - 16 - Nazareth - LOVE HURTS 02 - 41 - 17 - Showaddywaddy - DANCIN' PARTY 05 - 25 - 18 - Santana - SHE'S NOT THERE 08 - 17 - 19 - Giorgio - FROM HERE TO ETERNITY 07 - 12 - 20 - Meco - STAR WARS THEME / CANTINA BAND 02 - 37 - 21 - Darts - DADDY COOL / THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT 03 - 34 - 22 - Boney M - BELFAST 05 - 21 - 23 - Dorothy Moore - I BELIEVE YOU 03 - 27 - 24 - Electric Light Orchestra - TURN TO STONE 05 - 24 - 25 - David Bowie - HEROES 03 - 29 - 26 - Tina Charles - LOVE BUG 08 - 14 - 27 - The Stranglers - NO MORE HEROES 09 - 16 - 28 - Danny Mirror - I REMEMBER ELVIS PRESLEY 02 - 45 - 29 - Ruby Winters - I WILL 02 - 50 - 30 - The Jacksons - GOIN' PLACES 03 - 42 - 31 - Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers - EGYPTIAN REGGAE 03 - 43 - 32 - Slade - MY BABY LEFT ME 02 - 33 - 33 - Elvis Costello - WATCHING THE DETECTIVES 06 - 28 - 34 - Mary Mason - ANGEL OF THE MORNING / ANY WAY THAT YOU WANT ME 1 - NEW - 35 - Crystal Gayle - DON'T IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE 09 - 18 - 36 - Yes - WONDEROUS STORIES 10 - 26 - 37 - Emotions - BEST OF MY LOVE 06 - 32 - 38 - Commodores - BRICK HOUSE / SWEET LOVE 1 - NEW - 39 - Kenny Everett And Mike Vickers - CAPTAIN KREMMEN (RETRIBUTION) 02 - 44 - 40 - Lenny Williams - SHOO DOO FU FU OOH! 04 - 35 - 41 - Stella Parton - THE DANGER OF A STRANGER 02 - 48 - 42 - Chicago - BABY, WHAT A BIG SURPRISE 1 - NEW - 43 - The Dooleys - LOVE OF MY LIFE 1 - NEW - 44 - Santa Esmeralda And Leroy Gomez - DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD 1 - NEW - 45 - Deniece Williams - BABY, BABY MY LOVE'S ALL FOR YOU 02 - 38 - 46 - The Jam - THE MODERN WORLD 1 - NEW - 47 - D.B.M. - DISCOBEATLEMANIA 1 - NEW - 48 - Noosha Fox - GEORGINA BAILEY 04 - 40 - 49 - Rokotto - BOOGIE ON UP 1 - NEW - 50 - Brighouse And Rastrick Brass Band - THE FLORAL DANCE Week Ending 19 November 1977 05 - 01 - 01 - ABBA - THE NAME OF THE GAME 05 - 06 - 02 - Queen - WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS 07 - 04 - 03 - Status Quo - ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD 10 - 02 - 04 - Baccara - YES SIR, I CAN BOOGIE 05 - 05 - 05 - Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY 06 - 03 - 06 - Rod Stewart - YOU'RE IN MY HEART 04 - 14 - 07 - Barron Knights - LIVE IN TROUBLE 03 - 17 - 08 - Showaddywaddy - DANCIN' PARTY 04 - 12 - 09 - Bee Gees - HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE 07 - 09 - 10 - Carpenters - CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT (THE RECOGNIZED ANTHEM OF WORLD CONTACT DAY) 06 - 10 - 11 - Smokie - NEEDLES AND PINS 12 - 07 - 12 - La Belle Epoque - BLACK IS BLACK 05 - 11 - 13 - Roxy Music - VIRGINIA PLAIN 03 - 21 - 14 - Darts - DADDY COOL / THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT 09 - 16 - 15 - Nazareth - LOVE HURTS 06 - 18 - 16 - Santana - SHE'S NOT THERE 05 - 13 - 17 - Sex Pistols - HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN 09 - 19 - 18 - Giorgio - FROM HERE TO ETERNITY 11 - 08 - 19 - Ram Jam - BLACK BETTY 06 - 23 - 20 - Dorothy Moore - I BELIEVE YOU 04 - 22 - 21 - Boney M - BELFAST 03 - 29 - 22 - Ruby Winters - I WILL 04 - 31 - 23 - Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers - EGYPTIAN REGGAE 04 - 24 - 24 - Electric Light Orchestra - TURN TO STONE 06 - 25 - 25 - David Bowie - HEROES 03 - 33 - 26 - Elvis Costello - WATCHING THE DETECTIVES 13 - 15 - 27 - David Soul - SILVER LADY 03 - 30 - 28 - The Jacksons - GOIN' PLACES 08 - 20 - 29 - Meco - STAR WARS THEME / CANTINA BAND 02 - 50 - 30 - Brighouse And Rastrick Brass Band - THE FLORAL DANCE 02 - 35 - 31 - Crystal Gayle - DON'T IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE 02 - 45 - 32 - Deniece Williams - BABY, BABY MY LOVE'S ALL FOR YOU 02 - 39 - 33 - Kenny Everett And Mike Vickers - CAPTAIN KREMMEN (RETRIBUTION) 02 - 43 - 34 - The Dooleys - LOVE OF MY LIFE 04 - 26 - 35 - Tina Charles - LOVE BUG 03 - 46 - 36 - The Jam - THE MODERN WORLD 09 - 27 - 37 - The Stranglers - NO MORE HEROES 03 - 40 - 38 - Lenny Williams - SHOO DOO FU FU OOH! 02 - 48 - 39 - Noosha Fox - GEORGINA BAILEY 04 - 32 - 40 - Slade - MY BABY LEFT ME 03 - 42 - 41 - Chicago - BABY, WHAT A BIG SURPRISE 1 - NEW - 42 - Kenny Williams - (YOU'RE) FABULOUS BABE 1 - NEW - 43 - Billy Paul - ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE 1 - NEW - 44 - The Boomtown Rats - MARY OF THE 4TH FORM (ALTERNATE VERSION) 02 - 44 - 45 - Santa Esmeralda And Leroy Gomez - DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD 1 - NEW - 46 - The Tubes - WHITE PUNKS ON DOPE 02 - 47 - 47 - D.B.M. - DISCOBEATLEMANIA 1 - NEW - 48 - Wings - MULL OF KINTYRE / GIRLS' SCHOOL 1 - NEW - 49 - Diana Ross - GETTIN' READY FOR LOVE 1 - NEW - 50 - The Righteous Brothers - YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN' Week Ending 26 November 1977 06 - 01 - 01 - ABBA - THE NAME OF THE GAME 06 - 02 - 02 - Queen - WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS 08 - 03 - 03 - Status Quo - ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD 04 - 08 - 04 - Showaddywaddy - DANCIN' PARTY 02 - 48 - 05 - Wings - MULL OF KINTYRE / GIRLS' SCHOOL 05 - 09 - 06 - Bee Gees - HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE 04 - 14 - 07 - Darts - DADDY COOL / THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT 06 - 05 - 08 - Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY 11 - 04 - 09 - Baccara - YES SIR, I CAN BOOGIE 05 - 07 - 10 - The Barron Knights - LIVE IN TROUBLE 07 - 16 - 11 - Santana - SHE'S NOT THERE 07 - 06 - 12 - Rod Stewart - YOU'RE IN MY HEART 03 - 30 - 13 - Brighouse And Rastrick Brass Band - THE FLORAL DANCE 04 - 22 - 14 - Ruby Winters - I WILL 07 - 11 - 15 - Smokie - NEEDLES AND PINS 08 - 10 - 16 - Carpenters - CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT (THE RECOGNIZED ANTHEM OF WORLD CONTACT DAY) 05 - 21 - 17 - Boney M - BELFAST 05 - 23 - 18 - Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers - EGYPTIAN REGGAE 06 - 13 - 19 - Roxy Music - VIRGINIA PLAIN 10 - 15 - 20 - Nazareth - LOVE HURTS 05 - 24 - 21 - Electric Light Orchestra - TURN TO STONE 04 - 26 - 22 - Elvis Costello - WATCHING THE DETECTIVES 02 - 44 - 23 - The Boomtown Rats - MARY OF THE 4TH FORM (ALTERNATE VERSION) 13 - 12 - 24 - La Belle Epoque - BLACK IS BLACK 03 - 34 - 25 - The Dooleys - LOVE OF MY LIFE 04 - 28 - 26 - The Jacksons - GOIN' PLACES 07 - 20 - 27 - Dorothy Moore - I BELIEVE YOU 12 - 19 - 28 - Ram Jam - BLACK BETTY 02 - 46 - 29 - The Tubes - WHITE PUNKS ON DOPE 03 - 31 - 30 - Crystal Gayle - DON'T IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE 02 - 49 - 31 - Diana Ross - GETTIN' READY FOR LOVE 03 - 33 - 32 - Kenny Everett And Mike Vickers - CAPTAIN KREMMEN (RETRIBUTION) 03 - 32 - 33 - Deniece Williams - BABY, BABY MY LOVE'S ALL FOR YOU 07 - 25 - 34 - David Bowie - HEROES 03 - 39 - 35 - Noosha Fox - GEORGINA BAILEY 06 - 17 - 36 - Sex Pistols - HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN 02 - 42 - 37 - Kenny Williams - (YOU'RE) FABULOUS BABE 14 - 27 - 38 - David Soul - SILVER LADY 02 - 43 - 39 - Billy Paul - ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE 09 - 29 - 40 - Meco - STAR WARS THEME / CANTINA BAND 03 - 45 - 41 - Santa Esmeralda And Leroy Gomez - DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD 1 - NEW - 42 - Yes - GOING FOR THE ONE 10 - 18 - 43 - Giorgio - FROM HERE TO ETERNITY 04 - 38 - 44 - Lenny Williams - SHOO DOO FU FU OOH! 03 - 47 - 45 - D.B.M. - DISCOBEATLEMANIA 02 - 50 - 46 - The Righteous Brothers - YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN' 1 - NEW - 47 - The Carvells - THE L. A. RUN 04 - 36 - 48 - The Jam - THE MODERN WORLD 1 - NEW - 49 - Hot Chocolate - PUT YOUR LOVE IN ME 1 - NEW - 50 - Chic - DANCE, DANCE, DANCE (YOWSAH, YOWSAH, YOWSAH)
Now for the weeks this was on top, what from all this is amongst my collection? Well . . . This single had the dubious distinction of being the last Top 10 hit for the group prior to the tragic suicide of Terry Kath, and also the last to be produced by James William Guercio; and what a way to go, peaking at #4 in both US Billboard and #4 in Cash Box, #8 in Record World, and #3 in Radio & Records. (To be continued.)
Part II: On two different record labels, the first of which had three variants (I have the first two): Issued initially on US Buddah in September, and Atlantic only a week later, this first big hit for this outfit ended up at #6 in both US Billboard and Cash Box, and #8 in both Record World and Radio & Records.
Now for the other 'newies' out there . . . Could only "bubble under" to 108 in US Billboard. No US release (which would have been near the AS 03## range), but a US export pressing:
The Name of the Game is possibly my favourite ABBA single. Yes, listening to it again now, that slow climbing bass line. Everything about this single is wonderous.
Perhaps Ms. Gayle's biggest and best-known hit; a "sorta' kinda' " #1, as it topped US Cash Box' Top 100 for 2 weeks (03 December-10 December 1977), but was stuck at #2 everywhere else (Billboard, Record World and Radio & Records). How long it ran on the charts is indicated by the change in label designs as above. Oddly, despite Mr. Everett not being all that well known in the States, this did indeed receive some U.S. release: In the States, this made #15 in Billboard and Radio & Records, #14 in Cash Box, and #17 in Record World.
ABBA could make love songs, break-up songs, disco songs, even a bit wacky songs. But when they dared to play a straightforward pop song... it turns out they could do it as well. And yes! It's a belter. From the first time you listen to this bass at the beginning you start thinking "boy, they have upped the game!". And they did. Another reason for another number one. And of course, they were the biggest band in the World at this time. 6/5
Four weeks at the top means a great number of new entries. And here we see them! Jacksons - The band abandons all the soul pretentions and go all the way to the pop route. A very fast paced song with, once again, Michael's voice in full swing. A small hit which ended quite a fantastic year for them. The future was something bright now. Chicago - For a band whose success in the US was enormous, this was only their second hit in 7 years. A very lovely ballad done with so much passion, showing that the once blues rockers were now deep into MOR territory. Ruby Winters - One of the best tunes of the 1977 winter comes courtesy of someone unknown in the UK market. Ruby's song is flawless: it really was the year for women balladeers, and this cover of the Vic Dana song proves that she nailed it. Lenny Williams - For the soul aspect, we find Lenny. A very fine bouncy song which reminds me of so many of those songs of this time, but it sounds very nice and classy (specially the brass part). It barely made the top 40, but it was nice to see it here. Oh, and it wasn't live. Showaddywaddy - Showy completes in which they went from dissapointment to success. How did they do? Simple, play classic tunes to a rock revival audience. It ain't very ingenious, pure cover territory. Like this one (a Chubby Checker classic): very infectious music that made people dance just in time for the Christmas party. The Jam - An EP by one of the best bands to appear in the UK scene in 1977. It was a relative flop (only got to number 36), but it was enough to prove what we already knew: this band's sound is as great as we expected, and their future started to look brighter and brighter. Could they survive 1978? Darts - If Showaddywaddy were sure of their power at the covers scene, they got it wrong. Helped by Dan Hegarty's voice, this was something new and fresh to the charts and sounded very good compared to the jading Showy sound... Fantastic 1950s throwback! Elvis Costello - The seeds were planted with the first time he appeared on Top of The Pops. Now he entered the charts with a touch of reggae and rock: Costello's introduction to mainstream charts was immaculate, powerful and nice. The world will see more of him in '78. Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band - SIX WEEKS at number two was perhaps too much for this. But again, it was Christmas. Charts showing that punk and disco may have taken Britain by storm, but naffness was still dominating the charts. This? If you like Morris Dancing, this is your tune. Oh, and let's wait till the first week of 78 for a surprise. Noosha Fox - She left Fox to play solo, and Noosha's style really was here when this first single was released: a touch of French chanson here, his sweet voice there and some sweet instrumentals helped this to be at touching distance of the Top 30. Unfortunately, it was as far as she got in the charts. DBM - Remember the Stars on 45 from the early 80s? Well, here is the predecessor. And yes, it sounds even cheaper than the 80s counterpart. The Beatles go disco, they say... for me, it's a complete waste of vinyl. Cheap, naff, horrible. Ugh. Deniece Williams - You talk about sweetness? Deniece is the sweetest singer of 1977. This is much more disco than all her previous efforts but, even with the disco beat, it's as lovely as ever. A taste of her new album, it's one of my favourites of this week. Santa Esmeralda - A huge hit in the US, it's time for more classic songs revamped: the great Animals hit with a touch of boogie AND flamenco. How this can sound? Well, let's say that this is one of the great unknowns and lost UK hits. Oh, how nice it sounds! The Dooleys - After a touch of British disco, The Dooleys try their luck with a much more simple approach to pop music. It sounds better than their previous attempt, although it still sounds very cheap. Nevertheless, a Top 10 hit which proved that the audience was on their side. Kenny Everett and Mike Vickers - Ah, Kenny... one of the best characters in UK's radio and TV history. His first touch of chart action almost made him a Top 30 hit, and it may have been a great oddity to see it, in an era where space music was charting high. Yes, Everett knew that this could have been a great hit. Crystal Gayle - The best word to define this is charm. Yes, Loretta Lynn's sister mix the typical country lyrics with some lounge-y music to make a sure winner: people fell in love with blue eyes and bought this en masse to make it a Top 5 hit. Fantastic tune. Righteous Brothers - The third time this particular tune was on the charts (this time to promote a Phil Spector album). Almost everything have been said about this: one of the best songs to be produced by the great mind of Spector and a classic on its own. Diana Ross - Her first hit for a year, this tune isn't as disco as Love Hangover but it's as dancing as that. A very lively upbeat tune that wasn't specially a great hit (only peaked at number 27), but it certainly sounds great. Although I may have listened this type of song in other singers... The Tubes - From 1975, this is an oddity. 6 minutes of post glam rock music with keyboards and catchy guitar riffs. It's a belated introduction to a band who was making their name in the West Coast and which were more famous after Xanadu. Certainly it's the closest as glam America got (if you don't count Jobriath or Brownsville Station...) Boomtown Rats - The second single from Geldof's band is a bit less punchy by the band, but nevertheless it's a very competent song. The band still could be that bastion of power rock and the more palatable alternative to some of the punk bands. What will their 1978 be? Billy Paul - Paul, the voice of serenity and tranquility, goes a bit disco this time. And, to my amazement, it sounds very nice this time! A catchy beat and chorus and something that people may loved to dance at the discos. A shame it was his last Top 50 hit... Kenny Williams - One of those second rate soul singles, this sounds very much like Lou Rawls. It was famous because it appeared on a Fabergé advert in the US and thus made the jump into the UK. A very weak song which it's very disposable in the end. Chic - One of the best disco records made (and there are a lot) by one of the most influential disco bands of all, this was a great introduction to Chic. Nile Rodgers' guitar, Bernard Edward's killer bass and the voice of Norma Jean were the ingredients of a very sleazy tune. Yes, we want to Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah! If all the disco records were like this... Hot Chocolate - After the number on of So Yo Win Again, a lot was expected by the band. The follow-up was a touch of Arab-influenced music with the slightest of funky beat. Reminds me of 1001 Nights and a funkyfied Lawrence of Arabia. Yes, they found their sound and were the best examples of British disco. Carvells - A California influenced song (complete with Beach Boys harmonies!) in which we see touch of soft rock which doesn't sound too bad. Indeed, I like it! Almost cracked the top 30 with that one. Unfortunately, it was the only hit they had (they released no less than 5 songs devoted to skateboarding!) Yes - Their second hit single of the Going for The One album is less esoteric and more rockier, at least at the beginning. Then you see the prog roots still are very deep, especially at the middle. But overall it's a great mix. We want more of this!
