[peel] 1977 Festive 50 (a billion questions (very slight exaggeration))

[bill.spiby@...]

Hi Rocker,

It seems likely that Althea & Donna was a Jamaican release. Presumably this would be the same version. I've not seen any evidence of alternative ones.

The version of Dancing the Night Away played during the 78 chart ran for 6.41, which is more weight behind the argument that he would have opted for this in 77. Didn't know he was a mate with one of the band, but it would explain his promotion of them. I must confess that they've never managed to win me over.

regards
Bill


> 
> From: rockerq@...
> Date: 2008/10/22 Wed PM 04:01:45 BST
> To: peel@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [peel] 1977 Festive 50 (a billion questions (very slight exaggeration))
> 
> > <<2 Althea & Donna ? Uptown Top Ranking
> > I think JP could only have played single, although despite its
> > megahit status I can't find a pre-early 78 release for it. Anyone
> > help with details about this one?>>
> > 
> Althea & Donna's "Uptown Top Ranking" was one of those very rare records that 
> only became a megahit due to John Peel's repeated playing of it (like "O 
> Superman") - I remember him bitterly telling the story on-air of how he later 
> heard A & D being interviewed on their first UK visit - saying something like 
> "We'd like to thank the Radio One DJ who has been playing our record and made it a 
> hit - thank you...   Kid Jenson"
> 
> I reckon he either had a pre-release - or more likely he had an original 
> Jamaican release (was the "Dub Vendor" shop in Soho there in those days - he often 
> said that's where he bought a lot of his reggae imports) - indeed it may only 
> have got a UK release off the back of his playing the record - not many 
> Jamaican 7"s by unknown artists got a UK release in those days!
> 
> re The Motors - I think he was a mate of one of the band - I certainly 
> remember him playing the long version of Dancing The Night Away in a F50 show - 
> although as Steve said it also made the chart the following year & I would have 
> been listening to both (and indeed recording both - shame I was too skint in 
> those days to keep the tapes!)
> 
> Cheers!
> 
> Rocker
> 
> 
> 

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