James Hamilton's Record Mirror Disco Page
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James Hamilton's Record Mirror Disco Page
@hammyrm.bsky.social
Reviews and charts from legendary DJ James 'Hammy' Hamilton's Disco column in UK magazine Record Mirror 1975-1990.

Note: Opinions and language reflect those of the time.
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?...
Quick Slick
YouTube video by Syreeta - Topic
youtu.be
December 12, 2024 at 8:17 PM
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?...
Diana Ross - Tenderness
YouTube video by koollatter
youtu.be
December 12, 2024 at 8:16 PM
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?...
Creme Souflee
YouTube video by Purple Flash - Topic
youtu.be
December 12, 2024 at 8:14 PM
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?...
Mr. Sea
YouTube video by Eddie Lovette - Topic
youtu.be
December 12, 2024 at 8:13 PM
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?...
youtu.be
December 12, 2024 at 8:11 PM
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?...
Vernon Burch - Do It To Me (12" Funk 1982)
YouTube video by Coolfunk Zézé 2
youtu.be
December 12, 2024 at 8:03 PM
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?...
MIRAGE "As From Now" (1981)
YouTube video by DiscoLover79
youtu.be
December 12, 2024 at 8:01 PM
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?...
MORRISSEY MULLEN - BLADERUNNER Beggars Banquet REC 82
YouTube video by DJ ETCUT69
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:34 PM
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?...
Message II (Survival) (feat. Melle Mel & Duke Bootee)
YouTube video by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five - Topic
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:32 PM
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?...
R.J.'S LATEST ARRIVAL - stay with me - 1982
YouTube video by giaSistaFunk
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:30 PM
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?...
Don't Try To Fight It
YouTube video by billyprestonmusic
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:29 PM
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?...
Be Bop Medley: Hot House / East of Suez (Come on Sailor) / Epistrophy (I Wanna Play) / Yardbird...
YouTube video by Chaka Khan - Topic
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:27 PM
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?...
My Jamaican Guy
YouTube video by Grace Jones - Topic
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:24 PM
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?...
Masurrati & Huey Harris - Super Duper (Lovin) " 12" Disco-Funk 1982 "
YouTube video by Coolfunk Zézé 2
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:20 PM
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?...
Michelle Wallace - Jazzy Rhythm (12" Disco-Funk 1982)
YouTube video by Coolfunk Zézé 2
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:18 PM
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?...
Master Jam - Dancin' All Night (12 inch 1982)
YouTube video by Coolfunk Zézé 2
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:15 PM
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?...
Are You Serious
YouTube video by Tyrone Davis - Topic
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:13 PM
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?...
Atomic Dog
YouTube video by George Clinton - Topic
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:12 PM
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?...
Be Mine Tonight
YouTube video by The Jammers - Topic
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:09 PM
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?...
Sandy Kerr - Thug Rock (12" Electro Disco-Funk-Rap 1982)
YouTube video by Coolfunk Zézé 2
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:06 PM
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?...
I Level - Give Me (Dub Version) (HQ)
YouTube video by carlospin65
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:04 PM
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?...
Oh, Yeah?
YouTube video by Jan Hammer - Topic
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:02 PM
Inner Circle- Jah Music (Capitol CL 15900)
1976-12-11
Particularly solid reggae slowie with slinky beat and big potential.
youtu.be/vDed45RRSx8?...
Jah Music
YouTube video by Inner Circle - Topic
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 9:00 PM
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?...
Andy Fairweather Low: Shimmie-Doo-Wah-Sae
YouTube video by jesse harper
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 8:57 PM
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?...
Peter Gunn
YouTube video by Eumir Deodato - Topic
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 8:55 PM