DENIM DISCO is a blog dedicated to the pop music and culture of the 1970's.
~ Glam Pop and Discotheque Rock ~
The Sound Of The 70's ~ Contact:denimdisco@hotmail.co.uk
CITY KIDS LONDON 1973 - 1975 is a recent addition to the British Documentary Photography book series published by Café Royal. All of the photos were taken by SIMON POPE at various locations around London. Some { including the selection below } were shot in the EAST HOLBORN area a stones throw from the Denim Disco HQ!
The TEENAGERS in the pics stand proudly outside their COUNCIL DWELLINGS sporting a riot of 'BUDGIE' STYLED HAIR, BUDGIE JACKETS, CROMBIE COATS, BEAGLE COLLAR SHIRTS, SCOOP NECK TANK TOPS, ' RUPERT' TROUSERS, CHECKED ' LUMBER ' and SHEARLING JACKETS. These are the SMOOTH youth fashions previously described on DENIM DISCO and strongly indicate the photos were taken circa '73
LINK TO ''SMOOTHIES - THE CULT THAT TIME FORGOT'' POST:
POSTSCRIPT:
Inevitably the area pictured has changed in the intervening years but has thankfully managed to resist the full force of gentrification that many parts of inner London have undergone. GRAY'S INN BUILDINGS has been extensively remodeled, but remains { like all the other buildings pictured } within the social rented sector
A Selection of 70's GLAM POP and DISCOTHEQUE ROCK Mixed By DENIM DISCO
TRACKLIST:
01 - April Wine - You Could Have Been A Lady
02 - Rick Derringer - Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo
03 - The Doobie Brothers - Pursuit On 53rd Street
04 - Cherry Vangelder-Smith - Jokers
05 - Shocking Blue - Ball Of Confusion
06 - Baker Gurvitz Army - Dancing The Night Away
07 - Poker - Driving In The City
08 - Zenda Jacks - Earthquake
09 - Rococo - Ultrastar
10 - Dragon - This Time
11 - Washington Flyers - Another Saturday Morning
12 - Pilot - Magic
13 - Mike Batt { with The New Edition } - Summertime City
14 - Brotherly Love - Weekend Love Affair
15 - Mark Bolan & T.Rex - Dreamy Lady
16 - Kristine Sparkle - Devil Woman
17 - Lulu - The Man Who Sold The World
18 - Child - River Of Love
19 - The Knack - Always
20 - Rubettes - Dancing In The Rain
21 - Mud - Shake It Down
22 - Glitter Band - Makes You Blind
23 - Life - Cat's Eyes
The latest issue of VIVE LE ROCK! magazine celebrates 50 YEARS OF GLAM ROCK with articles on SLADE, HELLO, THE GLITTER BAND, CHINNICHAP and SWEET [ including a final interview with the sadly missed STEVE PRIEST }. Nice to see the introductory feature namecheck DENIM DISCO along with the wonderful WIRED UP! fanzine and other keepers of the flame { see links at the end of this post }. The magazine is available from Newsagents in the UK and can also be ordered here: VIVA LE ROCK!
Leicester band LOCO released an excellent 45 on the BUK label in 1975 after they appeared on the NEW FACES TV TALENT SHOW. Both sides of the record were composed and produced by STEVE FERN who had previously led the 60's soul group FERNS BRASS FOUNDRY and worked with the former SPENCER DAVIS GROUP drummer PETER YORK. Side A ''AT THE LOCAL DANCE'' is a late period GLAM POP number that sounds reminiscent of MUD and early SHOWADDYWADDY, while the B Side ''THE MAN'' is a DISCOTHEQUE ROCK number that owes more than a little to the aforementioned SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
Dutch singer/songwriter WALLY TAX was born in Amsterdam in 1948 and found fame as the vocalist in the 60's NEDERBEAT group THE OUTSIDERS. The band were highly regarded in Holland and were considered by many to be the Dutch ROLLING STONES. The live side of their DEBUT LP from 1967 captures the wildness of their act and the hysteria they generated in their audience
The group recorded a string of amazing songs as good as any in the era, but made little impact in the rest of the world. They split at the end of the decade and Tax put together another band TAX FREE, briefly moving to the US where an LP was recorded and released
Unfortunately the anticipated US breakthrough failed to materialize and Tax returned to Holland to embark on a solo career and write songs for others. His 70's material moved closer to the MOR field, string dominated and often reminiscent of BUDDY HOLLY'S later pop discs { ''MISS WONDERFUL'' from 1973 is a good example of this }
His biggest hit would come in 1977 with ''LET'S DANCE'' and the songs he wrote for CHAMPAGNE { one of which: ''ROCK n' ROLL STAR'' charted in the US }. ''THIS GIRL IS MINE'' from 1975 didn't fare as well but was an artistic high, driven by a DISCO HI HAT, SWEEPING STRINGS and WAH WAH GUITAR it stands as a perfect example of MID SEVENTIES PHILLY INSPIRED DANCE POP
Amazing 'thought to be lost' footage of LINDA LEWIS performing her first UK CHART hit ROCK A- DOODLE DOO on TOP OF THE POPS. Tapes of the original show were wiped, but thankfully this Black and White recording has been unearthed. The record peaked at 15 in July 1973
A Selection of 70's GLAM POP and DISCOTHEQUE ROCK Mixed By DENIM DISCO
TRACKLIST:
01 - Ike & Tina Turner - Nutbush City Limits
02 - Ruby James - Summertime Time
03 - Zenda Jacks - Rub My Tummy
04 - Bobbie McGee - Upside Down
05 - Fancy - Touch Me
06 - Suzi Quatro - Daytona Demon
07 - Harley Quinne - Rock And Roll Is Back Again
08 - Peter D. Kelly - Rock To The Juke Box
09 - Ray Burgess - Love Fever
10 - Brotherly Love - Public Enemy No.1
11 - David Scott - The Getaway
12 - Whistle - When The Lights Go Out On Broadway
13 - K.W Winston - Slow Rock
14 - Willy Zango - Hot Rod
15 - Peter Blake - Clever Dick
16 - Stanley Frank - S'cool Days
17 - Method - Hold On Tight
18 - Ian Hunter - Once Bitten, Twice Shy
19 - Mike Batt {With The Mad Hatters} - The House Of The Clown
20 - Lynsey De Paul - All Night
21 - Redbone - The Witch Queen Of New Orleans
22 - Area Code 615 - Stone Fox Chase
23 - Blackfoot Sue - Standing In The Road
''Black You Know Is Beautiful,
Do You Go Along With That?
Coz When I Start To Do My Thing,
I Turn Into A Bat''
THE MAJESTICS were a UK based SOUL VOCAL GROUP, formed by the US stage actor CLARKE PETERS. They released a number of 45's for a variety of labels during the mid 70's, but failed to make any commercial impact. VAMPIRA was the title music for a 1974 UK COMEDY HORROR MOVIE that starred DAVID NIVEN and TERESA GRAVES. It came out on the B-Side of ''LITTLE BLACK PEARL'' a number which more closely reflected the rest of the groups recorded output
The US made BLACULA had been a box office success a couple of years earlier, so presumably a black American female vampire seemed like a winning idea at the time. The title theme was a funky tune in the 'BLAXPLOITATION' style of the day with humorous lyrics to match the camp action of the movie. The composer ANTHONY NEWLEY isn't a name associated with this musical style, but he did compose the lyrics to GOLDFINGER {with partner LESLIE BRICUSSE} and many of his numbers contain an element of humor. That sense of playfulness finds it's way into the songs lyrics {particularly in the RAP sections of the number}
''Back In Transylvania,
They Found A Drink That's New,
If Someone Wants To Drink Your Health,
They Drink It Out Of You!''
Clarke Peters went onto have a long and varied career on stage and screen, appearing as David Essex companion in the movie SILVER DREAM RACER and in numerous WEST END THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS. He wrote the hugely successful stage musical Five Guys Named Moe, but is probably best known for playing the role of Detective Lester Freamon in TV crime drama The Wire
DENIM DISCO helped to man the decks for the first time at Septembers PRETTIES FOR YOU night at HELGI'S. Thanks to everyone that came down. The management stated that it was one of the busiest nights the venue has ever had, so this month we are doing it again!
FULL DETAILS:
PRETTIES FOR YOU
☆ ALPHA MICHELLE ☆ and DENIM DISCO playing VINYL ONLY Glitter Rock, Glam, Shock Rock and Bubblegum - ENTRY IS FREE!
ON; FRIDAY 11th OCTOBER
FROM: 21:00-02:00
AT: HELGI'S 177 MARE STREET, HACKNEY, LONDON, E8 3HR, UNITED KINGDOM
''Down London town with the noise 'n' bustle,
We've got a dance, it's the Hammersmith Hustle!''
THE HAMMERSMITH PALAIS was a large DANCE HALL situated in a working class neighbourhood in WEST LONDON. Built in 1910 as Roller Skating Rink and converted to host ballroom dancing in the '20's, the venue weathered countless musical trends and was drawing crowds in excess of 2,000 for it's SATURDAY NIGHT DISCO during the mid seventies when songwriter/producer MIKE FINESILVER hit upon idea of a dance number with a distinctive LONDON flavour
Queuing to get into the Palais on a saturday night in '73
Finesilver had co-written the hit ''FIRE'' for THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN in the late 60's and went on to found PATHWAY STUDIOS with partner PETER KER. In early '76 he set about recording this cheeky tribute to ''THE HUSTLE'' by VAN McCOY In the tiny 8-TRACK STUDIO. He choose the name FLYOVER for the studio band {on account of a flyover running close to the venue} and ROCKET RECORDS pressed it on '45. It failed to set the world alight, but was presumably spun at the venue itself. Does anyone remember hearing it?
Dancing around the handbag on a Saturday night
During the next couple of years the studio became synonymous with the early PUNK/NEW WAVE movement and the likes of THE DAMNNED, SHAM 69, SQUEEZE and MADNESS recorded there. One band that didn't were THE CLASH, but they recorded their own tribute to the venue ''WHITE MAN AT THE HAMMERSMITH PALAIS'' at BASING STREET STUDIOS up the road in Notting Hill around mid '78. Pathway continued to operate untill the mid 90's and The Palais finally shut it's doors in 2007 and was demolished in 2012
BOB ROWE'S MUSIC BOX was one of many INSTRUMENTAL SYNTH-POP COVER LP's that were released in the wake of ''POPCORN'' by HOT BUTTER {a huge hit in 1972}. His 'CHICORY TIP meets SWEET' version of ''BLOCKBUSTER'' is a highlight from the 1973 release that also included a take on ''SON OF MY FATHER''
A super obscure up-tempo GLAM infused POP-ROCK number with a catchy sing along chorus and phased drum break. A UK release from '74 on the SKY Label. It appears to be the only record issued on SKY, so it's possibly a self released independent. The B-Side ''I'll Be There'' is a quirky COD REGGAE styled number. Additional information would be gratefully received. Are you out there Mr Pasha?
DENIM DISCO will be helping to man the decks at PRETTIES FOR YOU on SATURDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 2019
PLAYING ONLY THE MOST RAMPAGING 70's GLAM AND BOVVERSOME BANGERS TILL LATE...CLAP YOUR HANDS AND STAMP YOUR FEET! - ENTRY IS FREE!
The event will be held at the stupendously groovy HELGI'S BAR - A venue dedicated to the music of the 60's and 70's with a matching period decor that makes you feel a spell has been cast to magically wizz you back to '72!
FULL DETAILS:
PRETTIES FOR YOU
SATURDAY 14th SEPTEMBER
FROM: 21:00-02:00
AT: HELGI'S 177 MARE STREET, HACKNEY, LONDON, E8 3HR, UNITED KINGDOM
''THE HEAT IS ON'' was the second solo release from the former FOX vocalist after she left the band in 1977.Her first solo effort ''GEORGINA BAILEY'' was a minor hit that year,but a follow up didn't materialize until 1979.The song's dreamy half time LATIN/REGGAE feel,pepped up by a FUNKY CLAVINET and TIMBALE DRUM FILLS had all the makings of a SUMMER HIT,but sadly that was not to be.Ironically the song was re-recorded by the former ABBA vocalist AGNETHA FALTSKOG a few years later.It used a very similar arrangement and would go on to be the singers biggest international solo release
GINO VANNELI was a Canadian singer who combined JAZZ,POP,ROCK and SOUL influences in a captivating and unique fashion.''PEOPLE GOTTA MOVE'' {a SOULFUL LATIN DANCE tune from his 1974 LP ''POWERFUL PEOPLE''} began to pick up plays on BLACK RADIO in the U.S.A and a chance meeting with STEVIE WONDER led to him being offered a support slot on a short tour {replacing an unavailable CHAKA KHAN}.The tune was released on 7'' and shortly after DON
CORNELIOUS got in touch and offered a spot on his SOUL TRAIN TV Show.Gino was only the second non black artist to appear on the show {the first being the veteran MOTOWN session guitarist DENNIS COFFEY}.He put in a stellar performance and received an enthusiastic response from THE SOUL TRAIN GANG.The song went onto reach Number 22 in THE BILLBOARD HOT 100
MIKE MCGEAR began his recording career in the mid 60's as part of the comedy/poetry/music group SCAFFOLD.Liverpool born Mike had jettisoned his birth name McCARTNEY to avoid accusations of riding on the coattails of his famous brother BEATLE PAUL,but having achieved success with Scaffold he felt comfortable enough to embark on a collaboration for his second solo LP in 1974.Recording began in January at Strawberry Studios in Stockport.Paul took the producers seat and supplied his band Wings to lay down a set of tunes the brothers had co written
As expected from those involved,the resulting album contained some excellent melodic material with evocative and whimsical lyrics.Leaving aside Mikes vocals,a lot of the tracks could easily be mistaken as WINGS numbers from the same era and like those,the spectre of GLAM ROCK/GLITTER POP rears it's rouge cheeked face on a few occasions.The LP kicks off with the only cover ''SEA BREEZES'',a number written by Bryan Ferry .This version is shorter and more direct than the version recorded by ROXY MUSIC for their first LP
The opening number morphs straight into ''WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW?'' an UPTEMPO STOMPER with a fast shuffle beat that bears the influence of ''SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION'' by T-REX and MUD's ''TIGER FEET'' {the latter topped the UK charts for 4 weeks while the LP was being recorded}.The band cut loose on this and guitarists DENNY LANE and JIMMY McCULLOUGH really go to town!
The stomping continues in a strange offbeat way with ''Norton'' an incongruous crossbreeding of ''COZ I LUV YOU'' by SLADE and the crazed 60's novelty song ''THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE ME AWAY'' by NAPOLEON XIV.McGear switches to a menacing tone for these football chant style lyrics mouthed through the character of a small town bully
''Norton is a pretty boy
Norton is a sissy
Norton's got a lovely girl
Now is'nt that a pity''
''Norton is a daddies boy
Norton joined the army
He thought they'd make a man of him
He must be bloody barmy!''
''HAVE YOU GOT PROBLEMS?'' is NEW ORLEANS ROCK 'N' ROLL re-invented for the 70's in the manner of ''ALL THE WAY FROM MEMPHIS and ''THE GOLDEN AGE OF ROCK 'N' ROLL'' by MOTT THE HOOPLE.It features some great sax work from BRIAN JONES {from the legendary Mersey Beat group THE UNDERTAKERS}.Sounds like they were having a ball in the studio when they recorded this one!
McGear channels MARK BOLAN on ''GIVING GREASE A RIDE'',another powerful GLAM tinged rocker that comes across
as a heavier brother to brother Paul's ''HELEN WHEELS'' 45 and like that cut it also features some excellent MINI MOOG playing from LINDA.The title was presumably inspired by the 1950's musical GREASE which had recently enjoyed it's first west end run and the song plays out with another period reference in the form of the ''SHAKIN' ALL OVER'' guitar riff
Rockers aside,the LP is worth checking out in it's entirety.As with SGT. PEPPER,the album contains many moods and the lower key songs {such as ''LEAVE IT'' and ''THE MAN WHO FOUND GOD ON THE MOON''} are excellent in their own right.The original GULLIVER themed gate-fold sleeve is also a gem!
A Selection of 70's Soft Rock Grooves Mixed By DENIM DISCO
TRACKLIST:
01 - Don Ray - Garden Of Love
02 - Leo Sayer - The World Keeps On Turning
03 - Paul McCartney and Wings - Silly Love Songs
04 - Starbuck - Moonlight Feels Right
05 - Ned Doheny - Guess Who's Looking For Love Again
06 - Gino Vanelli - People Gotta Move
07 - Steely Dan - Do It Again
08 - Mud - Use Your Imagination
09 - The Marc Tanner Band - Lady In Blue
10 - Bob Welch - Ebony Eyes
11 - Todd Rundgren - I Saw The Light
12 - Silver - Wham Bam Shang - A - Lang
13 - America - Slow Down
14 - Photoglo - Steal Away
15 - Toto - You Are The Flower
16 - Exile - Never Gonna Stop
17 - Player - Baby Come Back
18 - Orleans - Spring Fever
19 - Jim Capaldi - 1890
''YOU HAD TO SEE A CLIENT OUTSIDE OF TOWN
ABOUT TO CLINCH A DEAL OR THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID
THE LINES YOU WOVE I NEVER NEEDED A DOUBT
BUT WORD GOT BACK ABOUT THAT LITTLE REDHEAD
MY OLD MAN'S AWAY
NOW'S OUR CHANCE TO PLAY
IT'S LOVELY WEATHER
LET'S GET TOGETHER''
FOX were a UK based group put together by the American Songwriter/producer KENNY YOUNG.Young had been active in the music industry for a number of years and his most notable achievement had been co-writing ''UNDER THE BOARDWALK'' for the DRIFTERS {Future Garry Glitter collaborator Mike Leander was responsible for the arrangement}.The band had a number of hits in the UK and were fronted by the charismatic vocalist NOOSHA FOX who possessed a distinctive and alluring voice and an elegant retro dress sense inspired by Marlene Dietrich
Their time in the limelight was brief and the bands last notable hit was ''S-S-S-SINGLE BED'' which was a top 5 hit in mid 1976.In the following year they released their third {and final} LP BLUE HOTEL
On their previous LP {TAILS OF ILLUSION} they made the mistake of relegating Noosha to a minor role and she had only provided lead vocals on some of the tracks.BLUE HOTEL {which included the previous hit ''S-S-S-SINGLE BED''} should have given them fresh impetus as it contained some great songs and marked a genuine return to form.Despite the quality of the record,it failed to produce any additional hits as the next single pulled from it ''MY OLD MAN'S AWAY'' failed to sell in substantial quantities.The songs lack of success is surprising as it was one of their best,containing a catchy guitar riff,strong melody,a contemporary sounding disco tinged rhythm and great lyrics {in the mold of ''ME AND MRS JONES'' by BILLY PAUL} which are perfectly complimented by Noosha's sultry trademark tone
