SYREETA- Quick Slick (Motown TMGT 1247) 1981-12-12 Delightfully sung bass synth burbled slinky 116bpm bouncy funk bumper suddenly comes alive now it’s on beefed-up 12in, with instrumental flip. youtu.be/L0CQZwjSX2w?...

DIANA ROSS- Tenderness (Motown TMGT 1248) 1981-12-12 Infectiously buoyant bubblingly tugging 119bpm 12in skipper from her Chic session, and a lot stronger than anything on her new album, flipped by a brand new but very disjointed long ‘Medley’ of old Supremes classics. youtu.be/5gjTgrUo2bI?...

PURPLE FLASH- Crème Souflee (Uniwave (Canada) PBI 5) 1981-12-12 Extremely effective purposefully thumping 116bpm 12in funk rapper combines growling Wolfman Jack-like vocals with a Young & Co-type moronically simple backing and more than a trace of ‘The Breaks’... youtu.be/PiOIKHSNdlk?...

EDDIE LOVETTE- Mr Sea [Rockers For Lovers LP] (KR KRLP 3001) 1981-12-12 In a subtle onomatopoeia, this surf effects introed and accompanied lovely 75bpm lover’s rock jogger turns out to be about that other ‘Mr C’ — Sam Cooke. Well worth hearing. youtu.be/-60_gCwSr4c?...

FATBACK- Gigolo LP (Spring SP-1-6734) 1981-12-12 Further confirmation of the new US dancestep, this surprisingly strong set’s subdued scat introed (like a less lush Bob James) title track is a braggingly conversational good funky slow 102bpm groin grinding groove... youtu.be/z2bL37AQdW8?...

VERNON BURCH- Do It To Me (SRI SRI-00018) 1981-12-12 Particularly funky granite hewn monolithically powerful starkly smacking sparse 110bpm 12in jolter with Prince-like guitar, chinks between beats and vocoder both introing and duetting. youtu.be/-l-1S5ad_Cs?...

MIRAGE- As From Now (Copasetic COP 005) 1981-12-12 Extremely classy excellent smoothly pushing then choppily jiggly Michael Jackson / Brothers Johnson-ish exciting high-flying 122-123-125bpm backbeat stormer with some yowling guitar, presumably on 12in but reviewed off 7in. youtu.be/q8_8g1XZWGY?...

MORRISSEY MULLEN- Bladerunner (Version) (Beggars Banquet BEG 87T) 1982-12-11 Although played in its original soundtrack version by Dick Morrissey this new stop-start 121(intro)-119-120-122bpm 12in jazz-funk instrumental remake doesn’t remind me of anything in the film... youtu.be/m_Yy1MZ_xzQ?...

MELLE MEL & DUKE BOOTEE- Message II (Survival) (Sugar Hill (US) SH-594) 1982-12-11 Masquerading as the follow-up to ‘The Message’ but nowhere near as bitingly good, this 125bpm 12in electro rapper nevertheless works well with the Soul Sonic Patrol orbiters. youtu.be/jNYNbpe4Yj8?...

RJ’S LATEST ARRIVAL- Stay With Me (Zoo York (US) 4W9 03383) 1982-12-11 “D” Train-ish acappella introed 121bpm 12in electrophonic phunker excellent out of ‘You’re The One For Me’ and while not maybe a floor builder certainly a floor holder. youtu.be/7WgTYukDfzE?...

BILLY PRESTON- Don’t Try To Fight It [Pressin’ On LP](Motown STML 12177) 1982-12-11 Good brassily rolling slightly Benson-ish 108-107-109(break)-107bpm jittery jolter, unjustly ignored by most jocks. youtu.be/PyYTN1JHny0?...

CHAKA KHAN- Be Bop Medley [Chaka Khan LP] (Warner Bros (US) 23729) 1982-12-11 Impressively sung 115-117bpm discotization of various old ’40s/50s/60s be-bop tunes by the likes of Thelonius Monk, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane... youtu.be/MK9U5bdQzuY?...

GRACE JONES- My Jamaican Guy [Living My Life LP] (Island ILPS 9722) 1982-12-11 Less than vital as a disco set, though this 92½-94-95-96bpm jitterer continues the progressive slowing down process of ‘Nipple To The Bumper’... youtu.be/UJ-lDL6Zvtk?...

MASURRATI & HUEY HARRIS- Super Duper (Lovin') (Lioness Ltd (US) MC-0001) 1982-12-11 Incredibly infectious chix cooed sweetly swaying 116-115½-116bpm 12in tapper chugs gently along with lovely odd plopping noises... youtu.be/ZYkASfN1lKc?...

MICHELLE WALLACE- Jazzy Rhythm (System SYS/L 101) 1982-12-11 Arthur Baker produced (and as good as you’d expect) jiggling steady 116bpm 12in groove, not jazzy despite the title, soulfully wailed over nagging synth and grunting guys... youtu.be/RgIXREQwPHY?...

MASTER JAM- Dancin’ All Night (2nd To None Records (US) STNR 1000) 1982-12-11 Maddeningly familiar happily cantering 0-130½bpm 12in skipper with butch guys before the standout electric piano break, at a tempo that’s best for jazz-soul specialists. youtu.be/T79mRQ8OrFM?...

TYRONE DAVIS- Are You Serious (High Rise (US) SHR 2004) 1982-12-11 The veteran soulster’s new label debut (he has an album just out too) is a gorgeous 40½(intro)-85-86bpm 7in deep soul slowie on a par for content if not intensity with Robert Winters & Fall. youtu.be/vcPXPY5QJaM?...

GEORGE CLINTON- Atomic Dog [Computer Games LP] (Capitol EST 12246) 1982-12-11 Amusing good jiggly 107½bpm P’funk chanter with “bow-wow-wow-yippee-yo-yippee-ay” chorus (an interesting synch with Malcolm McLaren)... youtu.be/YAaVpVUgGfE?...

THE JAMMERS- Be Mine Tonight [The Jammers LP] (Salsoul SA 8556) 1982-12-11 Dynamite “D” Train-type synth introed then chick sung almost Brass Construction-ish 119bpm groove, now due on 3-track 12in (SALT 101)... youtu.be/fJBprWp8Rg0?...

SANDY KERR- Thug Rock (Catawba (US) CA 7000) 1982-12-11 Already evidently being sued by I Level’s publishers, this is nothing other than ‘Give Me’ given a good 115bpm 12in female rap treatment with new words over their uncredited tune. youtu.be/ulC4btBX7Uk?...

I LEVEL- Give Me (Dub Version) (Epic (US) 49-03415) 1982-12-11 The US 12in is a 4-tracker with the original 113-114-113-114bpm ‘Give Me’ and ‘3 AM’ on one side and then two dynamite 114½bpm John Luongo remixes on the other, well worth getting. youtu.be/JJ_NDwZTlU4?...

Jan Hammer- Oh Yeah? [Oh Yeah LP] (Nemperor K 50276) 1976-12-11 Happily leaping avant-garde Jazz-Funk in the Miroslav Vitous bag youtu.be/QhX6RYtaj8g?...

Inner Circle- Jah Music (Capitol CL 15900) 1976-12-11 Particularly solid reggae slowie with slinky beat and big potential. youtu.be/vDed45RRSx8?...

Andy Fairweather Low- Shimmie-Doo-Wah-Sae [Be Bop ‘N Holla LP] (A&M AMLH 64602) 1976-12-11 Great happy carnival rhythm with gibberish lyrics. youtu.be/_cTZwATrQgU?...

Deodato- Peter Gunn (Very Together [LP]) (MCA MCF 2774) 1976-12-11 Purposefully pounding good new treatment has the 'Gotham City Boogie’ sound. youtu.be/wnFq1i5KTJE?...

Norman Connors- You Are My Starship (Buddah BDS 449) 1976-12-11 Top US soul hit finding friends here, it’s a cooled-out smoocher sung by Michael Henderson. youtu.be/7S2HNjfeaj4?...

Brick- Dazz (Bang (US) 727) 1976-12-11 Combining Disco and Jazz, this big US hit funky slow rhythm jiggler has both high-pitched vocals and flutes over the solid beat. youtu.be/AMeYaXkS24Y?...

Bar-Kays- Shake Your Rump To The Funk (Mercury 6167417) 1976-12-11 Overdue US funky smash in the Ohio Players bag, already much imported. youtu.be/nmNV24yDMIU?...

Rose Royce- Car Wash [Car Wash LP] (MCA MCSP 278) 1976-12-11 The full 5:06 version of this huge catchy clapper, which is due out as a 3:18 single any day now. youtu.be/_M2xng3jymM?...

THE WHATNAUTS- Still I’ll Rise (Pic Hit) 1983-12-10 A satisfying if low key return, the group-backed soulfully hoarse lead guy getting all het up over a burbling lurching 111bpm 12in shuffle ‘n bump undertow (bass led inst flip), sounding stronger the more you hear it.  youtu.be/06j7l4zI2Ek?...

LENNY WELCH- You Picked A Fine Time (To Change Your Mind) (Big Apple (US) BAR-01) 1983-12-10 Lenny never hit here but had a US smash with the lovely ‘Since I Fell For You‘ exactly twenty years ago, his new self co-prod/penned M&M-mixed lively jolting 117bpm 12in soul hustler youtu.be/np7eGIHJnj4?...

WARP 9- Beat Wave (Prism (US) PDS 485) 1983-12-10 This Jellybean-mixed 101bpm 12in hip hopper (dub flip) has been out a while without previously impressing me, but its chart progress prompted a re-listen... youtu.be/2FwYaRkl1eY?...

DAVE VALENTIN- Crotona Park [Flute Juice LP] (GRP (US) GRP-A-1004) 1983-12-10 The jazz flautist’s patchy set ranges from this delightful frisky 123bpm latin percussion ‘party’ skipper... youtu.be/A2OLPlpbDnM?...

LEW KIRTON- Just Can’t Get Enough (Epic TA 4066) 1983-12-10 Fantastic value 3-track 12in effectively fillets all the uptempo dancers from husky Lew’s import album, this cleanly bounding 117¾bpm soul smacker already having been huge... youtu.be/1n1v-3SeDC8?...

KOFFIE- And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going (Red Rooster HEN 1) 1983-12-10 Also big since September in Boys Town, this accurate vocal recreation of Jennifer Holliday’s soul-searing ‘Dreamgirls’ showstopper now adds a galloping beat... youtu.be/HkDEviU1U5Q?...

GLORIA GAYNOR- I Am What I Am (Chrysalis) 1983-12-10 Joel Diamond’s chest-thumping 0-127bpm 12in disc production of Jerry Herman’s anthemic showstopper from the smash Broadway musical version of the ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ gay farce has been huge in Boys Town since September youtu.be/kVzlQW-ygzw?...

MARY WELLS- My Guy (Allegiance (US) D-101) 1983-12-10 Nearly twenty years later, Mary’s back with a lovely slowed down and stretched out languidly swaying 114-115bpm 12in remake of her all-time classic, produced now by Wayne Henderson (inst flip). youtu.be/u9JI7-5viyk?...

KURTIS BLOW- Christmas Rappin’ (Mercury BLOW 1312) 1983-12-10 Timely revival (yet again) of his 1979 debut rapper — only out in Britain at that time as nationally the rap craze had broken here then ahead of the States... youtu.be/gsYi0icy4gw?...

WOMACK & WOMACK- T.K.O. [Love Wars LP] (Elektra (Germany) 96-0293-1) 1983-12-10 The entire Womack clan lend vocal support (the brothers used to sing as the Valentino’s in the ’60s, originating the Stones’ ‘It’s All Over Now’ in the spring of 1964)... youtu.be/_aXeOVWwKyY?...

WORLD PREMIERE- Share The Night (Easy Street (US) EZS-7506) 1983-12-10   A long effects intro leads into throbbing stereo drumbeats as the Jonathan Fearing-mixed sinuously weaving 0-108bpm 12in plodder picks up momentum... youtu.be/uY_ys7ZXi6c?...

EL COCO- Cocomotion (Pye 7N 25761) 1977-12-10 Already a disco smash on import alone, the smooth ‘n slick instrumental clapper makes a great gradual mix out of Chic. youtu.be/CD8tCY9KL7Y?...

BRASS CONSTRUCTION- III [LP] (UA UAS 30124) 1977-12-10 All tracks are good, being either funky fliers or soulful smoochers, with ‘We’, ‘Celebrate’ and ‘Get It Together’ the hotsies so far. Nothing new, but what they do they do well! youtu.be/VlhyT0681Dk?...

ODYSSEY- Native New Yorker (RCA PC 1129) 1977-12-10 The prettily swaying sophisticated Dr. Buzzard-type hustler’s been 12-inched to help the growing buzz about it. [106 bpm] youtu.be/pehx-LkWdCE?...

WHAM!- Last Christmas (Epic GA4949) 1984-12-08 Lovely gently chugging 106½bpm ethereal breathy floater with some seasonal sleighbells and strong short-term MoR appeal. youtu.be/BS6H28yBfDg?...

WINSTON REEDY- Baby Love (DEP International DEP 13-12) 1984-12-08 Jackie Mittoo-produced extremely catchy chunkily chugging 73bpm slow reggae swayer, ending in a much harder dub, powerful stuff (freaky dubwise 79bpm ‘Instant Buzz’ flip). youtu.be/C5igIl_Q0HA?...

DREAMBOY- In The Nite [Contact LP] (Qwest (US) 1-25163) 1984-12-08 Rhythmically similar to Jermaine Jackson’s ‘Come To Me’, this anxiously sung lead-swapping pent-up mellow 111bpm jitterer has been simmering in certain black clubs for some time... youtu.be/8Dc37N34PRY?...

THE ART OF NOISE- Close-Up (ZTT 12ZTPSO1) 1984-12-08 Their LP-promoting 7in hit is merely the old ‘Beat Box (Diversion Two!’ and now on 12in here’s yet another variation of the powerfully juddering hip hop instrumental, this time 106½-107bpm... youtu.be/gZlxLrktGfw?...

TWILIGHT 22- Mysterious (Remix) (Vanguard (US) SPV 80) 1984-12-08 Gordon Bahary has now treated his naggingly tugging 102bpm today’s groove jogger as if it had had a typical Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis remix (dub flip)... youtu.be/O9u-M9sTRHM?...

MAJOR HARRIS- I Believe In Love LP (Streetwave MKL 3) 1984-12-08 Produced by Butch and backed by the whole family Ingram (who typically go more for soul content than strict tempo), the traditional throaty soulster’s excellent classy set’s most haunting standout... youtu.be/8J3DcIQKjTk?...

MASCARA- Baja (Personal 12PER 110) 1984-12-08 ‘Jingo’-ish jaunty rattling 122¾bpm bounder with Spanish chattering chix and Kid Creole-ish rapping chap going into a vibes-based conversational break (useful Instrumental Dub and echoey Ruff Mix flip)... youtu.be/SlNyL7OvqLg?...