Happy Radio: The Soulful Sounds Of The Seventies

C-Heads Magazine

Enjoy a soulful hour on vintage FM Radio, although two of the tracks are brand new (Jacques Renault and Redwood Club) and one was previously unreleased. The latter is from C.J. & Co., who were a so-called proto disco group from Detroit. The act was created by producer Mike Theodore and Motown guitarist Dennis Coffey, who played on many classics like Cloud Nine and War. Coffey also worked with Del Shannon and wrote the soundtrack to Black Belt Jones. Devil's Gun by C.J. & Co. (co-written by Barry Green a.k.a. British singer Barry Blue) was the first record played at Studio 54 when it opened in 1977. In August of that year it reached #22 on the Dutch Top 40. Rainmaker is from Ain't It Amazing: The Unreleased Westbound Masters, out on Ace Records.

American Gypsy, who were based in the Netherlands, are best known for their song Inside Out, which has been sampled by DJ Shadow and Groove Armada. Unfortunately, this funk band never had any worldwide hits. Angel Eyes (top ten in the Netherlands) was written by Piet Souer, who played guitar on 'The troubadour', the Eurovision Song Contest winner of 1969 and who co-wrote many hits for Dutch girl band Luv' in the 1970s.

Chanson were not a French, but a American R&B duo, comprising guitarist David Williams, and bassist James Jamerson II, the son of the legendary Motown bass player James Jamerson. The two built a reputation via their extensive session work before cutting their own LP Chanson, on Ariola Records. Jamerson met Williams while on the road with the Temptations, Williams, at the time, was playing behind the Dells. On their debut Earth, Wind & Fire's horn section and members of Toto (Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro and David Paich) played as session musicians. The album spawned the hit Don't Hold Back, which reached the R&B top ten at #8, and went to #21 Pop in 1978. Strangely enough, none of their other songs did anything, so they returned to studio work and playing behind major artists on the road.

Tracklist:

Edwin Starr ‎– H.A.P.P.Y. Radio (1979)
Jacques Renault – Bridge Music (2018)
Hot Chocolate – Cheri Babe (1974)
American Gypsy – Angel Eyes (1974)
Erik Tagg – Babies (1977)
C.J. & Co. – Rainmaker (1970s)
Redwood Club – Give It A Try (2018)
Average White Band – School Boy Crush (1975)
GQ – Disco Nights (Rock Freak) (1979)
Minnie Riperton – Stick Together (1977)
Chanson – I Love You More (1978)
Roy Ayers – Simple And Sweet (1979)
Pleasure – Thoughts Of Old Flames (1979)
Ian Matthews – Stealin’ Home (1975)
The Hollies – Draggin’ My Heels (1976)
Bryan Ferry – Tokyo Joe (1977)