The Biggest Tunes From Back In The Day
The lists below contain the top tunes played at Wigan Pier and Legend in Manchester as well as The Stars Bar in Huddersfield, The Exit, Berties and The Haçienda in Manchester plus the many all-dayers throughout the north and the midlands.
These records were obtained from three main sources. These were the two specialist black music shops where I bought most of my imports (mainly US but also European and Japanese), Spin Inn in Manchester and City Sounds in London. In addition to this I’d receive promotional copies from the UK record labels (plus a trio of US labels – Becket, Sunnyview and Sound Of New York). I’d generally opt for the dub / instrumental version whenever this type of mix was included as part of the 12”.
Many of these tracks were featured in the regular mixes I did during 1982 and 1983 for “T.C.O.B” (“Taking Care Of Business”), the main Soul Show outside London, which was presented by Mike Shaft on Manchester’s Piccadilly Radio.
Two further tracks worthy of mention, which achieved floorfiller status some time after their original release (following their revival during the Electro-Funk period) were Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “Riot In Lagos” (1980) and “The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel”, by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (1981).
I’ve tried to be as thorough as possible in compiling these lists, but I’ve no doubt missed a couple of tracks that should have been included. If anyone notices any glaring omissions, please email to let me know.
WIGAN PIER JAZZ-FUNK OLDIES – 1981
During 1981 oldies were a vital part of a Jazz-Funk night due to the lack of current releases of a similar quality. The list below was handed out at Wigan Pier and reflected the continued popularity of these classic tracks. Also worthy of special mention is Richie Cole’s “New York Afternoon”, undoubtedly the biggest Jazz-Funk oldie during the latter part of the year.
- LEE RITENOUR — Marketplace
- CHIC COREA — Central Park
- BENNY GOLSON — The New Killer Joe
- MONGO SANTAMARIA — Watermelon Man
- EARL KLUGH — Amazon
- LEON HUFF — Latin Spirit
- JUDY ROBERTS — Never Was Love
- B. BAKER CHOCOLATE CO — Snowblower
- BOB JAMES — Snowbird Fantasy
- WAR — The World Is A Ghetto
- LONNIE LISTON SMITH — Expansions
- MARK SOSKIN — Walk Tall / Caribbean Party Stomp
- EDDIE HENDERSON — Prance On
- RICHARD TEE — First Love
- JEFF LORBER FUSION — The Samba
- MASS PRODUCTION — Shante
- CEDAR WALTON — Latin America
- PAULHINO DA COSTA — Love ’til The End Of Time
- RONNIE LAWS — Youngchild
- HERBIE HANCOCK — I Thought It Was You
- ROY AYERS — Running Away
- ROY HAYNES — Vistalite
- DONALD BYRD — Dominoes
- AL DI MEOLA — Roller Jubilee
- BLACKBYRDS — Rock Creek Park
- CHICO HAMILTON — Strut
- RICHIE COLE — Hi-Fly
- WILTON FELDER — Let’s Dance Together
- GIL SCOTT HERON / BRIAN JACKSON — The Bottle
- HIROSHI FUKUMURA — Hunt Up Wind
- CANDIDO — Jingo
- AL JARREAU — Spain
- GEORGE DUKE — Brazilian Love Affair
- SADAO WATANABE — Samba do Marcos
- LONNIE LISTON SMITH — In The Park
- GEORGE BENSON — The World Is A Ghetto
- FRANCINE McGEE — Delerium
- LONNIE LISTON SMITH — Space Princess
- JOE SAMPLE — There Are Many Stops Along The Way
- FATBACK BAND — Spanish Hustle
- HIROSHIMA — Lion Dance
- CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR — Dreaming A Dream
- DAVID MATTHEWS ORCHESTRA — Mato Grosso
- DAVID VALENTINE — Blackbird
- RYO KAWASAKI — The Breeze And I
- RONNIE FOSTER — Argentina
- DAVE GRUSIN — Rag Bag
- RONNIE LAWS — Always There
- LAMONT DOZIER — Going Back To My Roots
- GEORGE BENSON — On Broadway
40 MORE CLASSIC PIER OLDIES
- AL HUDSON & THE SOUL PARTNERS — Spread Love
- AQUARIAN DREAM — You’re A Star
- ATMOSFEAR — Dancing In Outer Space
- AZYMUTH — Jazz Carnival / Dear Limmertz
- CAMEO — It’s Serious / The Sound Table
- CHARLES EARLAND — Let The Music Play
- CHICK COREA — Spain / 500 Miles High
- CRUSADERS — Street Life
- DAVID BENDETH — Feel The Real
- DENNIS COFFEY — Wings Of Fire
- DEXTER WANSEL — Life On Mars
- DEODATO — Whistle Bump
- DONALD BYRD — Change (Makes You Want To Hustle)
- SEA LEVEL — Fifty-four
- EARTH WIND & FIRE — Runnin’
- EDDIE HENDERSON — Say You Will
- EDDIE RUSS — Zaius
- GEORGE DUKE — I Want You For Myself
- GILBERTO GIL — Maracatu Atomica
- GOODY GOODY — It Looks Like Love
- HARVEY MASON — ’Til You Take My Love
- IDRIS MUHAMMED — Could Heaven Ever Be Like This
- KAT MANDU — The Break
- LALO SCHIFRIN — Jaws
- LEO’S SUNSHIP — Give Me The Sunshine
- LOCKSMITH — Blackjack
- MANU DIBANGO — Big Blow / Soul Makossa
- MIROSLAV VITOUS — New York City
- MONGO SANTAMARIA — Sambita
- MYSTIC MERLIN — Just Can’t Give You Up
- NED DOHENY — To Prove My Love
- PAULINHO DA COSTA — Déjà Vu/Love ‘til The End Of Time
- RICHIE COLE — New York Afternoon
- RICHIE HAVENS — Going Back To My Roots
- ROY AYERS — Can’t You See Me?
- SPYRO GYRA — Shaker Song / Morning Dance
- STARSHIP ORCHESTRA — You’re A Star
- TOM BROWNE — Funkin’ For Jamaica
- WILBERT LONGMIRE — Black Is The Colour
- WILLIE BOBO — Always There
30 FLOORFILLERS SEPT 1980 – JAN 1981
In September 1980 I took over the residency at Wigan Pier which included the weekly Jazz-Funk night held on Tuesday. This is a selection of the biggest tunes I was playing during my first four months.
- BILLY FRAZIER — Billy Who?
- COFFEE — Casanova
- DEODATO — Night Cruiser
- FANTASY — You’re Too Late
- FRANKIE SMITH — Double Dutch Bus
- FREEEZ — Southern Freeez
- FUNK MASTERS — Love Money
- GERALDINE HUNT — Can’t Fake The Feeling
- GLEN ADAMS AFFAIR — Just A Groove
- HARRY THUMANN — Underwater
- KURTIS BLOW — The Breaks
- LEVEL 42 — (Flying On The) Wings Of Love
- LIGHT OF THE WORLD — London Town / Pete’s Crusade
- LINX — You’re Lying
- M.F.S.B — Mysteries Of The World
- MAIN INGREDIENT — Think Positive
- MAZE — Joy and Pain
- PATRICE RUSHEN — Never Gonna Give You Up
- RAH BAND — Falcon
- RJ’S LATEST ARRIVAL — Ultimate Masterpiece
- SKYY — Here’s To You
- SLAVE — Watching You
- TWENNYNINE WITH LENNY WHITE — Fancy Dancer
- UNLIMITED TOUCH — I Hear Music In The Streets
- WILLIAM DE VAUGHN — Be Thankful For What You Got
- WILLIE ‘BEAVER’ HALE — Groove On
- WILTON FELDER — Inherit The Wind
- YARBROUGH & PEOPLES — Don’t Stop The Music
- YOUNG & CO — I Like (What You’re Doing To Me) / Waiting On Your Love
- ZAPP — More Bounce To The Ounce
75 FLOORFILLERS 1981
These tracks were played at Wigan Pier and later at Legend in Manchester from August 1981. They also featured at various all-dayers throughout the north and the midlands. Tracks by artists with more than one major floorfiller during these years are listed together.
- AL JARREAU — easy/roof garden
- ALPHONSE MOUZON — by all means
- ALTON EDWARDS — I just wanna (spend some time with you)
- ARTHUR ADAMS — you got the floor
- AURRA — are you single
- BB&Q BAND — on the beat
- BOB JAMES — sign of the times
- BOHANNON FEAT DR PERRI JOHNSON — lets start II dance again
- CANDY BOWMAN — I wanna feel your love
- CARL CARLTON — she’s a bad mama jama (she’s built, she’s stacked)
- CENTRAL LINE — walking into sunshine
- CHAKA KHAN — I know you, I live you
- D TRAIN — you’re the one for me (instrumental)
- DEBRA LAWS — on my own
- DENROY MORGAN — I’ll do anything for you
- DONALD BYRD — love has come around
- DR JECKYLL & MR HYDE — genius of love (instrumental)
- DR YORK — shake and skate
- EARL KLUGH — twinkle
- EARTH WIND & FIRE — I’ve had enough / let’s groove
- EAZY — project funk
- EIGHTIES LADIES — turned on to you
- EVELYN KING — I’m in love / if you want my lovin’
- FINE QUALITY — ahh dance
- FIREFLY — love (is gonna be on your side)
- FUNK FUSION BAND — can you feel it
- GARFIELD FLEMMING — don’t send me away
- GINO SOCCIO — try it out
- GRAND GROOVE BUNCH — catch the groove
- HEAVEN & EARTH — I really love you
- INVERSIONS — loco-moto
- J. WALTER NEGRO — shoot the pump
- JIMMY ROSS — first true love affair
- JOE SAMPLE — burnin’ up the carnival
- JONES GIRLS — nights over egypt
- K.I.D — hupendi muziki wangu?! (you don’t like my music)
- KEITH DIAMOND BAND — the dip
- KENI BURKE — let somebody love you
- KLEEER — get tough
- KOOL & THE GANG — get down on it
- LEPRECHAUN — loc-it-up
- LETTE MBULU — kilamanjaro
- LEVEL 42 — turn it on / love games / starchild
- LINX — intuition
- MIKE T — do it anyway you wanna
- NORTHEND — tee’s happy
- POWERLINE — journey / double journey
- RAFAEL CAMERON — funtown usa / boogie’s gonna get ya (instrumental)
- RAHMLEE — think
- RAY CARLESS — tarantula walk
- RICK JAMES — give it to me baby
- ROGER — do it roger
- ROSE ROYCE — r.r express
- ROY AYERS — land of fruit and honey / there’s a masterplan
- SAVANNA — I can’t turn away
- SHARON REDD — can you handle it
- SKYY — let’s celebrate / call me
- SLAVE — snapshot / wait for me
- STRIKERS — body music / inch by inch
- SYLVIA STRIPLIN — give me your love
- T.S MONK — candidate for love / bon bon vie
- TEENA MARIE — it must be magic / square biz
- THELMA HOUSTON — if you feel it
- TOUCHDOWN — ease your mind
- TW FUNKMASTERS — love money (champagne mix)
- TWENNYNINE — the rap
- UNLIMITED TOUCH — searchin’ to find the one
- VAUGHAN MASON — rockin’ big guitar
- VICKY D — this beat is mine
- WANDA WALDEN — don’t you want my lovin’
- WAR — cinco de mayo
- WEBSTER LEWIS — welcome aboard
- WEEKS & CO — rock your world
- WHISPERS — it’s a love thing
- WISH — nice and soft
100 FLOORFILLERS 1982
Played at Wigan Pier and Legend in Manchester (also The Stars Bar in Huddersfield, The Exit in Manchester), plus various all-dayers throughout the north and midlands. Tracks by artists with more than one major floorfiller during the year are listed together.
- AFRIKA BAMBAATAA & THE SOUL SONIC FORCE — planet rock (instrumental)
- AL McCALL — hard times
- ARETHA FRANKLIN — jump to it
- ATLANTIS — keep on movin’ and groovin’ (instrumental)
- AURRA — make up your mind
- B.B.C.S & A BAND — rock shock
- B.T (BRENDA TAYLOR) — you can’t have your cake and eat it too
- BANG GANG — fill me up
- BB&Q BAND — imagination
- BLT — tighten it up
- BOOTSY COLLINS — body slam
- BRANDI WELLS — watch out
- BRASS CONSTRUCTION — can you see the light
- CANDELA — love you madly
- DAVID MORRIS — saturday night
- DEODATO — keep on movin’ / sweet magic
- DR JECKYLL & MR HYDE — the challenge
- DUNN & BRUCE STREET — shout for joy
- EDDIE MURPHY — boogie in your butt
- ELECTRA — feels good (carrots & beets)’ (instrumental)
- ELECTRIK FUNK — on a journey (I sing the funk electric) (instrumental)
- EVELYN KING — love come down
- EXTRA T’s — e.t. boogie (instrumental)
- FAT LARRY’S BAND — act like you know
- FOREAL PEOPLE — love begins with you (instrumental)
- GARYS GANG — knock me out
- GEORGE CLINTON — loopzilla / atomic dog
- GOLDIE ALEXANDER — show you my love
- GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE — the message / scorpio / it’s a shame
- GUNCHBACK BOOGIE BAND — funn (instrumental)
- GWEN GUTHRIE — it should have been you
- GWEN McCRAE — keep the fire burning
- HIGH FASHION — feelin’ lucky lately
- HOWARD JOHNSON — so fine / keepin’ love new
- INDEEP — last night a dj saved my life
- JONZUN CREW — pack jam (look out for the ovc) (instrumental)
- KLEEER — taste the music / wall to wall
- KLIEN AND MBO — dirty talk (usa connection instrumental)
- KOMIKO — feel alright
- LARRY GRAHAM — sooner or later (instrumental)
- LINDA TAYLOR — you and me just started
- MALCOM McLAREN & THE WORLDS FAMOUS SUPREME TEAM — buffalo gals
- MAN PARRISH —hip hop be bop (don’t stop) (extended edit) / techno trax
- MARVIN GAYE — sexual healing
- MELBA MOORE — love’s comin’ at ya
- MICHAEL WYCOFF — lookin’ up to you
- MICHELLE WALLACE — tee’s right / jazzy rhythm
- MIKE & BRENDA TAYLOR — don’t let go of me (grip my hips and move me)
- MONTANA SEXTET — heavy vibes (club mix)
- MYSTIC MERLIN — mr magician
- NAIROBI — soul makossa
- NEW JERSEY CONNECTION — love don’t come easy
- ODYSSEY — inside out
- ONENESS OF JUJU — every way but loose
- ORBIT — and the beat goes on (lunar mix)
- PATRICE RUSHEN — forget me nots / number one
- PATRICK BOOTHE — dance all night
- PEECH BOYS — don’t make me wait (dub mix)
- P-FUNK ALL STARS — hydraulic pump pt III
- PLANET PATROL — rock at your own risk
- PRINCE CHARLES & THE CITY BEAT BAND — the jungle stomp
- Q the voice of q (instrumental)
- RAFAEL CAMERON — boogie’s gonna get ya (fk instrumental)
- RAW SILK do it to the music
- REGGIE GRIFFIN & TECHNOFUNK — mirda rock
- RICHARD JON SMITH — don’t go walkin’ out that door
- RICHIE FAMILY — I’ll do my best
- RICK JAMES — dance wit’ me
- ROCKERS REVENGE — walking on sunshine
- S.O.S BAND — high hopes
- SAVANNA — never let you go
- SECRET WEAPON — must be the music (mastermix)
- SHARON BROWN — I specialize in love
- SHARON REDD — beat the street (instrumental remix)
- SHOCK — electrophonic phunk
- SINNAMON — thanks to you (instrumental / fierce reprise)
- SLYCK — bush beat (mixers de-lite)
- STEVE ARRINGTON’S HALL OF FAME — way out
- STONE — time (instrumental) / girl I like the way you move (dub mix)
- SUGARHILL GANG — the lover in you
- THE ARMED GANG — all I want
- THE BAND AKA — grace
- THE JAMMERS — and you know that (dub version)
- THE SYSTEM — it’s passion (instrumental) / you are in my system
- THE TEMPTATIONS FEAT RICK JAMES — standing on the top
- TONEY LEE — reach up (dub mix)
- TOUCH — keep on
- TOUCHDOWN — ease your mind (us remix)
- TYRONE BRUNSON — the smurf
- UNIVERSAL ROBOT BAND — barely breaking even (instrumental)
- VANITY — 6 nasty girl
- WANDA WALDEN — I must be dreamin’
- WAR — you got the power
- WARP 9 nunk (instrumental)
- WAS (NOT WAS) — tell me that I’m dreaming (souped-up version)
- WHODINI — magic’s wand (special extended mix)
- WILLIE HUTCH — in and out
- WRECKIN’ CREW — chance to dance
- XAVIER — work that sucker to death
- YVONNE GAGE — garden of eve
FEATURED JAZZ SELECTION (ALBUM TRACKS) 1982
These were the biggest Jazz tunes of the year for me – all album tracks
- BAYA — a vegas kind of guy
- BOBBY McFERRIN — dance with me
- CHUCK RAINEY — born again
- COCONUTS CREW — sambolero
- DOM UM ROMAO — braun blek blu
- GENE HARRIS — meditation
- GILBERTO GIL — palco
- GROVER WASHINGTON JNR — little black samba
- LESSETTE WILSON — caveman boogie
- MANU DIBANGO — waka juju
- PAZ — ac/dc
- PETER MAGADINI — samba de rollins
- RAY BARRETTO — pastime paradise
- STUDIO TRIESTE — malaguena
- TOKI & SAMBA FRIENDS — brasil
100 FLOORFILLERS 1983
Played at Wigan Pier and Legend in Manchester (also The Stars Bar in Huddersfield, The Exit, Berties and The Haçienda in Manchester), plus various all-dayers throughout the north and midlands. Tracks by artists with more than one major floorfiller during the year are listed together.
- ADVANCE take me to the top
- AFRIKA BAMBAATAA & THE SOUL SONIC FORCE — looking for the perfect beat
- ARKADE FUNK — search and destroy
- ART OF NOISE — beat box
- ATMOSPHERE — what do we do
- AURRA — baby love (instrumental) / such a feeling
- B BEAT GIRLS — for the same man (dub version)
- B BOYS — two, three, break / cuttin’ herbie / rock the house
- BAR KAYS — she talks to me with her body
- BARBARA MASON — another man
- BOHANNON — let’s start the dance III (instrumental – club play)
- BOOKER NEWBERRY III — love town
- BRASS CONSTRUCTION — walkin’ the line
- BRIAN & ZAN — pump your body (club version)
- C.O.D — in the bottle (extended edit)
- CANDIDO — jingo breakdown
- CAPTAIN RAPP — bad times (I can’t stand it)
- CAPTAIN ROCK — return of captain rock (instrumental)
- CASHMERE — do it anyway you wanna
- CENTRAL LINE — nature boy
- CHARADES — give up the funk
- CHOCOLATE MILK — who’s getting’ it now (instrumental)
- CLASS ACTION — weekend
- CONVERSION — sweet thing
- CURTIS HAIRSTON — I want you (all tonight)
- CYBOTRON — clear
- D TRAIN — music (instrumental)
- DAVID JOSEPH — you can’t hide (your love from me)
- DIMPLES D — sucker djs (I will survive)
- DJ DIVINE — get into the mix (instrumental scratch version)
- ELECTRIC POWER BAND — papa smurf (instrumental)
- EX TRAS — haven’t been funked enough
- FATBACK — is this the future
- FEARLESS FOUR — just rock
- 52nd STREET — twice as nice
- FREEEZE — I-dub-u
- G.L.O.B.E & WHIZ KID — play that beat mr dj (instrumental)
- GALAXXY — sexy style (dub mix)
- GAP BAND — outstanding
- GARY’S GANG — makin’ music (dub mix)
- GRANDMASTER & MELLE MEL — white lines (don’t don’t do it)
- HASHIM — al-naafiysh (the soul)
- HERBIE HANCOCK — rockit (long / album version)
- HOT STREAK — body work (instrumental)
- I LEVEL — give me (dub version)
- INGRAM — dj’s delight / smoothin’ groovin’
- JAZZY DEE — get on up
- JOHNNY CHINGAS — phone home
- JONZUN CREW — we are the jonzun crew (instrumental) / space is the place
- KASHIF — I just gotta have you (lover turn me on)
- KLIEN & MBO — wonderful (instrumental)
- LEROY BURGESS — heartbreaker
- LIQUID LIQUID — cavern
- MAJOR HARRIS — all my life
- MALCOLM X / KEITH LeBLANC — no sell out
- MARY JANE GIRLS — all night long
- MELLE MEL & DUKE BOOTEE — the message II (survival)
- MIDNIGHT STAR — freak-a-zoid
- MTUME — juicy fruit
- NEW ORDER — confused beats
- NEWCLEUS — jam on revenge (the wikki wikki song)
- NEWTRAMENT — london bridge is falling down (dub mix)
- PACKMAN — I’m the packman (eat everything I can) (instrumental)
- PROJECT FUTURE — ray gun omics
- PUMPKIN — king of the beat
- PURE ENERGY — spaced out (party mix)
- R.P BAND — you are in my system
- RADIANCE — you’re my number 1
- RAMMELZEE Vs K-ROB — beat bop
- ROCK MASTER SCOTT — it’s life (you gotta think twice)
- ROD — just keep on walking (roch niangandoumou) (instrumental)
- RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN — ain’t nobody
- RUN DMC — it’s like that (instrumental) / sucker mc’s
- RUSSELL BROTHERS — the party scene
- S.O.S BAND — just be good to me (long version)
- SALSOUL ORCHESTRA — ooh, I love it (love break)
- SANDY KERR — thug rock (chimental mix)
- SHANNON — let the music play
- SHARON REDD — love how you feel (dub)
- SHAWNE JACKSON — loveline (instrumental)
- SHIRLEY LITES — heat you up (melt down mix)
- SINNAMON — I need you now (the fierce reprise)
- STEVE ARRINGTON — nobody can be you
- STOCKINGCAP — wave craze
- THE RAKE — street justice
- TIME ZONE — the wildstyle (long version)
- TOM BROWNE — rockin’ radio
- TONEY LEE — love so deep (instrumental)
- TWILIGHT 22 — electric kingdom (instrumental dub version)
- TWO SISTERS — high noon (part 2) / b boys beware
- UNIQUE — what I got is what you need (dub)
- VANITY 6 — nasty nasty girls (hot tracks mix)
- VISUAL — the music got me (instrumental)
- WARP 9 — light years away (dub version)
- WEBBOES — under the wear (webboe mix)
- WEEKS & CO — if you’re looking for fun (master dub version)
- WEST STREET MOB — break dancin’ – electric boogie
- WUF TICKET — the key (long version)
- XENA — on the upside (dub)
- X-RAY CONNECTION — replay
JAZZ BREAK / FEATURED ALBUMS 1983
As was the case with the Jazz Breaks of the time, the selections listed are a mixture of new and old releases.
- ART BLAKEY — the jazz messenger / a night in tunisia
- ART PEPPER — today
- BOY KATINDIG — midnight lady
- BRAZILIA — brazilia
- CAYENNE — roberto who?
- CHICK COREA — return to forever
- GERRY MULLIGAN — little big horn
- LONNIE LISTON SMITH — dreams of tomorrow
- MASURU IMADA — andalusian breeze
- PAULHINO DA COSTA — agora
- RICHIE COLE — return to alto acres
- SWAMP CHILDREN — so hot
- TANIA MARIA — come with me
- VICTOR FELDMAN — secret of the andes
- WAR — the music band jazz
© Greg Wilson, 2006
