MUSIC WEEK, MAY 5, 1979 Iii^A PINNACLE ITS DISCO Dcpartmcni
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MUSIC WEEK, MAY 5, 1979 iii^a Pinnacle on prc-paid post cards but PINNACLE this was altered. A brand new form MCA MCA IS ITS DISCO Dcpartmcni was set up has been designed to allow DJs to be iiapet fortuitous position of having thean prior 10 the New Phase launch. THIS LABEL more informative and increase the anffm ^m'keen embarrassment of riches in The fact that Pinnacle's new standard of feed back. This form is was the first of the independent records for ourselves m v,ew of ne singles policies meant that there not pre-paid but already the returns labels to really hit British discos in a present product available i0 big way by breaking Silver success we've had with artists like it from the Infinity and ABC would be increased penetration in have doubled which as far as Ce ar catalogues. Marketing manager the UK disco market. This Pinnacle is concerned, proves that Convention and JALN Band as well Zd , hZFlamingo got away to warranted an active department and the club DJs arc keen to reach a as Brendan and Adrian Baker. Stuart Watson has enlisted two new mailing lists. Pinnacle now certain level of professionalism. And Promotions girl Joanna Kochen the best possible start withD clthe outside consultants/promotions mails to 800 carefully selected DJs the DJ Unity Campaign launched joined just after the formation of the Bombers' (Everybody) Get "" " companies — MIF to work on throughout the UK and the emphasis recently by Tony Berry around the company 5 'A years ago, working up releasebut Us offlexibility Boogie Man is ^by 'own Match m thea MCA product and St. Pierre is on the club DJs, who are "Boogie Woman" single by from secretary/receptionist to one Publicity (through Sally Q's considered to be more suited to Tuesday's Children proved of the most popular promo ladies in Britishwhile guys produced based in record Bucks. from five Funk Funktion) for ABC and breaking new sounds to their club extremely successful. the business with an effective 350 or Infinity. audiences than the mobile jocks, as Pinnacle's disco policies since the so names on her list. But despite the wealth of product "In the not too distant future many mobile jocks base their 'New Phase' launch began, has Gene Farrow has been the most that Mike and Tilly are stfnng we may bring someone in to look operation on one night stands. tended to fall in line with the current recent success, but now Joanna is through, release will be confined to after disco solely on its own," he In addition to Phil Smith's trends and all of Pinnacle's disco says. "In July, for instance, all contribution as disco promotion releases have been available in 12" ABC product will come under manager the appointment of Tony form and various colours of vinyl the MCA banner and we will be Berry as marketing and operations have been used. Many of the releases thinking about in-house manager resulted in further expertise have also been packaged in picture promotion then." in this area Tony was regional bags. In the meantime, MCA is promotions manager with Arista for Pinnacle is about to launch its currently looking strong with three years and one of his first 7" picture disc in the form of War, the Keane Brothers, M, responsibilities was to build up "A Walk In The Park" by the Nick The Floaters, Chromium and Arista's disco department during the Strakcr Band (Pin 1) which is an Battlcstar Galactica. period when Raydio's Jack and Jill infectious pop/disco release that *■%- "Unfortunately at the moment charted. should meet with instant reaction. we can't work everything and we Until recently. Pinnacle's DJ This record will also be available in must set priorities," Watson reactions were coming back to 12" form. adds. "We have to wait for a buzz on import and if you look at the stuff we haven't yet gone with . the Dells, Joe Sample, .11 8 the Dramatics. A1 Hudson and THE BOMBERS: off to a good start. the Soul Partners. As a general ON THE independent promotion side, two companies lead the way. rule MCA will be importing US itching to get back into the discos as about one a month. "Because copies of records for quick "The long established MIF, headed by Garrell Redfearn, is now a result of a deal concluded by America is so over the top and circulation prior to UK release, ' active again while at St. Pierre Publicity, Sally O,' with no less a enterprising A&R man Tilly expensive when it comes to deals, we using UK pressings only when pedigree than Garrell, operatesoher Funk Funktion. Rutherford, with publisher Mike are looking more and more towards (hey can get material sufficiently Formerly at B&C/Trojan before ■ " ■ a Collier, to launch the Flamingo Europe, " says Tilly. "I must admit in advance. setting op the nolorioos RCA label. I'd like to produce something that Another standardisation in Disco Direction operation with "It's something I've always was a live UK act, whom we had for Greg Lynn, Sally Joined Roger St. , W wanted to do and the opportunity the world — a sort of Heatwave line with the ABC/MCA merger Pierre's Publicity company six W arose when Mike Collier wanted to situation," will be that of 12" bags. "There months ago. form a label as an outlet for the As a DJ himself, Tilly recognises will be a full-colour standard "I left RCA because I wanted to publishing that he picked up, " Tilly the need for 12" pressings, and now MCA bag and ABC product will be in the position of working explains. "I'd taken Marsha Hunt's he's using coloured vinyl on all probably go over to that. It's independently with bands like the The Other Side Of Midnight from product — despite the extra costings important to have a special MCA Olympic Runners and Kandidate at him last year so when Mike came up involved — and retailing at £1.99. disco bag to establish label , the level of PR and disco identity because racking of 12" promotion," she says. And with . records in shops is now so her activities extending into the important." field of consultancy and generally is Great! Phono|ram lists — a general pop list, a soul list recommending companies when vai t vn — and then I have a special list of ! and what to release, she plans to n ne WHEN JOHN Waller moved from hip DJs who are most influential in introduce an assistant shortly. ' months, flexing his muscles at his position of assistant marketing playing new releases and that Current consultees include ihe birth of the disco boom with services manager at Phonogram to includes the "London Mafia" and Handle ArUsts, A&M, MX ABC, Johnnynd Gl Bristol's Hang On In There head up the disco department just people like Ian Dewhurst, Colin dnfinlly, RAK and Solar. "The ■l, «n» Gaynor's Never Can over a year ago, it was to mark the Curtis and Paul Schofield up north first thing I did was bring in the ® 5' Goodbye. start of a new era for the company's as well as specialist DJs on the Solar account and we picked that "Since then," he says, "I've in-club promotion. regional stations." up direct from Dick Griffey in the worked with almost every record "There wasn't really a disco UK release depends on the results States," she says proudly. "I'd like company with the exception of department as such. Before I of his test-marketing through these to pick up more on my contacts in WEA, and looking at the whole ' arrived, Yvonne Marville's function 50 or so DJs. the States whilst in this country the development of disco I suppose the was to mail out records and In addition to working product on important people to keep in touch WBSrecord I'm most proud of working information, receive information the Philips, Vertigo, Mercury, with are the import dealers — such 'he Bee Gees' Jive Talking — back, and get out whenever possible. Rocket, Ensign, All Platnum and as Record Corner in Balham and * hit of a milestone in view of ' That was fine as far as it went but H&L labels, Lollipop and All Eats in Hariesden." subsequent developments. Then with the expansion of disco I've Mountain, Waller is effectively Sally is acutely aware of the G'herer were ail the hit singles from taken on various other product manager of the Can't Stop general lack of understanding n Wash, Bob Marley's Exodus, 0 *' = shown towards disco from within E'vis Coslello's Watching The responsibilities — including helping the record Industry. "People are Detectives, in the selection and scheduling now Jumping on the bandwagon, "It makes sense for companies process and some A&R mm.— WEA IS far from but it's the fact that they think '<> use independent consultants — unhappy with us chart and sales they know It all that annoys me — I'm gelling so much information ■r success as far as disco material eventually they'll kill it for -coming back all the lime that not is concerned, but Fred Dove everybody." being able to put it to the disposal comments: "We aim in the long Her biggest achievements to date 0' record companies would be a term to develop into more than have been working product by pity." just disco: to a more solid kind Shalamar and GQ and co- Garrell's mailing list comprises of black music.