Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony ~ The Hustle 1975 Disco Purrfection Version
1,446,957
Published 2020-11-20
I had just finished Walter Murphy's "A Fifth Of Beethoven" and feeling inspired, I again tried "The Hustle" and this time it seems to have clicked. Reaching back to find songs I haven't remixed yet like this is giving me the strength to move ahead and now with the political landscape changes, I feel hopeful again like I did when I was 15.
Van was born January 6, 1944 in Washington D.C. where at the age of four his mother enrolled him to learn piano. Soon he was jamming with his brother Norman who played the violin. He began to write songs at the age of 12, but gave in to peer pressure and gave up his dreams of a musical career until he took up psychology at Howard University.
He began to sing with a local group called the Starlighters, left them and moved on to the Heartbeats where he learned recording and then moved to Philadelphia. He founded the Rockin' Records label with his uncle and released "Hey Mr DJ" which got picked up by Florence Greenberg's Scepter Records.
He was then promoted to A&R and wrote "Stop The Music" for the Shirelles then worked for Lieber and Stoller as a staff writer composing songs for the likes of Gladys Knight & The Pips, Barbara Lewis and Ruby & The Romantics. Aretha Franklin, Brenda & The Tabulations, Nancy Wilson and Tom Jones.
In 1970 he wrote and produced "5-10-15-20 (25-30 Years Of Love)" for the Presidents a #11 pop hit. That led to his association with Hugo & Luigi of Avco Records.
While working on his second LP "Disco Baby" he geared the songs for club play since that was the best way to introduce new music that the club DJ's would embrace. He realized that the DJ's were now influencing the all important radio play.
He was just about finished with the album when the DJ David Todd at the Adam's Apple in New York City wanted to introduce him to the latest dance craze, The Hustle. McCoy was interested, but with no time to visit the club, he sent his business partner Charles Kipps Jr in his place.
Kipps was so enamored of the sound and the dance moves that he went to the studio to show Van what was going on. McCoy realized that the Hustle dance re-introduced hand holding moves that were reminiscent of ballroom dancing, two people moving in sync with each other instead of the frantic one person dancing alone with another.
McCoy already had drummers Steve Gadd and Rick Marotta, Eric Gale and on John Tropea on guitars, Richard Tee on piano, with a horn and string section conducted by legend Gene Orloff. During the recording of "The Hustle", co-producer Hugo suggested that a piccolo be used instead of the guitar Van was using. Phil Bodner stepped in and played the instrumental motif that was the icing on the cake.
Released April 19, 1975 it entered the chart at #95 it peaked at #1 on the Hot100 July 26, 1975, #1 on the R&B chart July 12, and then #3 on the disco chart. It was to be his only Top 40 hit, but he won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental.
McCoy then produced David Ruffin (Walk Away From Love) and worked with his protegés Faith, Hope & Charity. Almost four years later, McCoy passed away at the age of 35 from a heart attack. It was a shock to find out about his death at such an early age. He did leave us with this joyous song to remember him by.
All Comments (21)
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1975! Remembered very well. Spring, Summer, Fall of 1975 was a beautiful time to be alive in USA. The Hustle, 40¢ a gallon gas, 10¢ sodas, 10¢ candy bars, 5¢ scoop of ice cream at Thrifty's, 65¢ Big Macs and Whoppers. 35¢ movies. No cable, internet, cell phones, video games, flat TVs, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc... Just barely in it's infancy. Glad I lived it, even with Gerald Ford in the White House! Never to return, but in our pipedreams.
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R.I.P. Van McCoy Long may his song play on!
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Ahhhhhhh... The good old days. Disco was clean.... Music was the only thing that made us high. RIP Van McCoy. Thank you for the music.
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J avais 5 ans a l époque , je suis né en 77 mc coy était la depuis lgtps , mais quel plaisir d écouter ça a nouveau, au moins CT de la vrai musique, pas comme tous ces branleurs de maintenant, où est tu disco? Mon amour...
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In 2023 I'm listening 🎧 to the 70's music 🎵🎶 and bands, priceless take me back to the 70 and hoping i never comeback 😊
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I dedicate this song to my best friend Sherri (Cheryl) who passed away about a week and a half go. We were young teenagers. Next door neighbors for life. We would do the hustle anywhere and at anytime when disco was “it”. You know I didn’t even find out she passed away until 2 days ago. I’m so hurt. Her and I did everything together. We were a wild and crazy pair. You know what we always said we wouldn’t attend each other’s funerals. I know in my heart ❤️ she didn’t want me there. She knows I’m the happiest person in the world. She didn’t want me to shed no tears over her or be sad. She brought me my first pair of Calvin Klein jeans. Wow. But today I cry 😢 I could write several books on how much fun we had. Oh the memories of her ....and I will live with me forever. Sherry I can’t wait to see your smile on the other side. I love you. Your best friend forever........💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊
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I love this song ♥️ I used to dance this with my aunt 🤗 I’m only 8 years old back then now I’m 52 😂
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Wow I was 14 years old.....this song was so beautiful to me then as it is now at 59 years young
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A 10 year old I was and Disco sounded like Heavenly music to me ♥️
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The Classic Genius of Mr.Van McCoy made awesome by DJDiscoCat. How I wish We could turn back time and reminisce the Discos and Parties of the 70s and 80s....
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I have not forgotten this wonderful dance, very good😃🙂💖💖💖
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This song is a great piece of art ever !! ❤
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This song to me is the hearts core of disco...bless this era n all whom lived n experienced it in all parties, n many many places...its an abs belting chune..a regular on my playlist....credit to those whom where teens on this day..bet u all had a blast. Peace.
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the violins are a thing of beauty...just lift you into another dimension
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The music that will keep you alive and kicking..
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Definitely brings back some childhood memories as a kid in the 70s
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I was 15 when this came out I remember Lessing to it on the radio and dancing around in my room
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I love this song, happiness, hope, long hot summer days👍
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ONE OF THE GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME
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This song is the National Anthem that defines the Disco Era and all the great music that we danced the night away to...I had many good times at the Discos and great memories...this song is the ringtone on my phone...Thank you DJDiscoCat for spinning your vinyl as you do...Thank you, Van McCoy, and RIP my friend...
