Compiled from his record lists of the time
As played at Wigan Pier and Legend (Manchester).
Listen to the full rundown here:
1.(-) Oneness Of Juju ‘Every Way But Loose’
Written by Plunky Nkabinde
Produced by Plunky & Muzi Nkabinde
US Sutra 12”
2.(1) D Train ‘You’re The One For Me’ (Instrumental)
Written by Hubert Eaves III / J. Williams
Produced by Hubert Eaves III
Mixed by François Kevorkian & Hubert Eaves III
US Prelude 12”
3.(-) Stone ‘Time’ (Instrumental)
Produced by Auvil Gilchrist
Mixed by Tee Scott
US West End 12”
4.(-) Gilberto Gil ‘Palco’
from LP ‘Luar’
Written by Gilberto Gil
Produced by Liminha
Portuguese WEA
5.(5) Goldie Alexander ‘Show You My Love’
Produced by Tony Green
Written by Kat Dyson
Remixed by Roy B
US Chaz Ro 12”
6.(2) Lesette Wilson ‘Caveman Boogie’
From LP ‘Now That I’ve Got Your Attention’
Written by Lesette Wilson
Produced by Lesette Wilson
US Headfirst
7.(-) Kleeer ‘Taste The Music’
from LP ‘Taste The Music’
Written by Norman Durham & Woody Cunningham
Produced by Dennis King & Kleeer
US Atlantic
8.(3) Vicky D ‘This Beat Is Mine’
Written by Andre Booth
Produced by Gary R. Turnier & Andre Booth
US Sam 12”
9.(8) Aurra ‘Make Up Your Mind’
Written by S. Washington / C. Jones / S. Young
Produced by Steve Washington
Mixed by Steve Washington & Julian Robertson
US Salsoul 12”
10.(7) Grover Washington Jr ‘Little Black Samba’
From LP ‘Come Morning’
Written by Grover Washington Jr
Produced by Grover Washington Jr & Ralph MacDonald
US Elektra
Other big tunes included:
Brandi Wells ‘Watch Out’ 12” – Slyck ‘Bush Beat’ 12” – Xavier ‘Work That Sucker To Death’ / ‘Love Is On The One’ 12” – P Funk All-Stars ‘Hydraulic Pump Pt III’ 12” – Yvonne Gage ‘Garden On Eve’ 12” – Komiko ‘Feel Alright’ 12” – The Whispers ‘In The Raw’ / ‘Turn Me Out’ LP – Ray Barretto ‘Passtime Paradise’ LP – The Band AKA ‘Grace’ LP – Sugarhill Gang ‘Funk Box’ LP – Henderson & Whitfield ‘Dancin’ To The Beat’ 12” – Kryptic Krew ‘Jazzy Sensation’ 12” – Ednah Holt ‘Serious Sirius Space Party’ 12”.
GREG WILSON’S EARLY 80S FLOORFILLERS:
A fascinating insight on how the fading Jazz-Funk scene gave way to the emerging Electro-Funk movement in the early 80s, ‘Greg Wilson’s Early 80s Floorfillers’, marks the 30th anniversary of when these tracks first appeared. Compiled from his record lists of the time, and unfolding month by month, Greg Wilson counts down the Top 10 Floorfillers played at his venues during the key years of ’82 and ’83. Featured, most notably, on his Tuesday sessions at Wigan Pier and Wednesday gatherings at Legend in Manchester, the most cutting-edge weekly black music nights of the era, these were the clubs most associated with the evolving Electro-Funk sound.
The majority of music played on the black scene in the UK was initially only available on import, mainly out of New York during this period, with the club nights described as ‘upfront’, meaning that the DJ’s were way ahead of the curve – what they played now, others played later, or not at all. Without these DJ’s, many now classic dance tracks would never have become UK hits (many without enjoying similar crossover success in the US) – the reason they were released here in the first place was because these specialist DJ’s were breaking them via the underground.
Things would change in a big way during those 2 years; we were entering the hybrid age for dance music, and the oncoming House and Techno and Hip Hop directions would all owe a huge debt to this era of dance alchemy and groove experimentation.
© Greg Wilson, February 2012
