I don’t know anything about this record, except that it was pressed in the Philippines for the Pathe Marconi/EMI label and that it found its way somehow to a thrift store in north Phoenix. Released in 1975, it compiles a small handful of European dance singles, including the oft-collected smash “El Bimbo” by Bimbo Jet, as well as its follow-up “La Balanga. These tracks were no doubt repackaged to take advantage of the burgeoning disco market that had begun to nudge its way out of the clubs by the mid-seventies and onto the turntables of regular folks. The disco scene had been going strong for years in the real world by this time, but was just starting to make a dent on the US charts.
Unlike the formulaic disco preferred by American television-watching audiences, this album highlights a wide varieties of club styles. From the familiar Afro-Cuban “El Bimbo,” and the moody easy listening of “Sweet Summer Love,” to the giddily moog-centric “Slag Solution” and the heavy-metal robotics of “Diabolic Man,” this album showcases the kind of creative diversity hard core dance music fans enjoyed before the deluge. The flamboyant cartoon cover is just icing on the cake.
I have but one caveat to offer: since this is a disco album after all, both sides of the album are “blended.” I chose to leave them that way. Anyway, here’s the track list:
El Bimbo I & II – Bimbo Jet
Slag Solution – Buffalo’s Band
La Balanga II – Bimbo Jet
Tico Tico – Magic Merry Band
Soledao – Sam Clayton Band
Sweet Summer Love – Sam Clayton Band
She – Sam Clayton Band
Diabolic Man – Diabolic Man
La Balanga I – Bimbo Jet
Is that the same Sam Clayton that later ended up in Little Feat?
This link suggests not:
http://www.littlefeat.net/documents/39.html#sam
Hey Derrick, Which album is “Ginger Is Gentle And Waiting For Me” by Jim Ed Brown ( from your post http://derrickbostrom.com/bostrom/2006/04/01/report-from-the-country-part-four-songs-of-the-restless/ ) I emailed the man himself and haven’t received an answer. Thanks.
Sorry about this being some random comment.
That’s from Jim’s 1970 album, “Goin’ Up The Country.”
You can find a great Jim Ed Brown discography at the equally great LP Disocography site:
http://www.lpdiscography.com/
If JEB ever writes you back, send him my way. I want him to pose for a shrine I’m building in my living room.
Hey, Can’t believe someone else knows about this album! Don’t remember where or why I bought my copy, but I’m sure that artwork had plenty to do with it.
Always loved Slag Solution – killer Chipmunk vox.
Can any Europeans confirm that this stuff was actually commercial/popular? If so, you were lucky – your mid ’70s were a lot better then ours…
I agree. Buffalo’s Band seems much more deserving of their own weekly show than, say, the Hudson Brothers ever were.
Many thanks for the link, Derrick
Oh, by the way, building up a Jim Ed Brown collection is gonna take me a long time. But still, i if I keep an eye on what’s selling on Ebay, then eventually I’ll get all the LPs.
Maybe I’ll download via Torrent once I actually have the LP.
this record is also known as “Bimbo Jet” and was issued in Cananda, where it is fairly common
That I’ve seen as well. Here’s the cover, along with a couple of single sleeves:
http://rateyourmusic.com/misc/link_image?album_id=820490&q=Bimbo Jet Bimbo jet
Hi guys! I’m Boris from Moscow,Russia. I can confirm that this record (Non-Stop Instrumental Hits) was just huge in Europe back in 70s! I had a tapeversion of it and it had more hits on side B! There was Barry Whites “You’re the first, he last,my everything”(instrumental), “Never can say goodbye” (instrumental), “Fire”(played on Hammond organ) and few more cool songs.Any idea on who might it be? I\ve been looking for that record for years! Does anybody got a CD copy of it for sale? Thanks.
I was just listening to el bimbo…I still have all the vinal… the best in the start of disco
Just bought this on the strength of the artwork alone and have absolutely fallen in love with it.
Would love to get my hands on more stuff like this!