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  jdwheat (jdwheat) 5-Doyen Username: jdwheat Post Number: 294 Registered: 11-2006 |
Exactly 35 years ago yesterday -- July 26, 1975 -- the great Philadelphia writer, producer and arranger Van McCoy finally became a household name in pop culture when he ascended to the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100 pop music chart with "The Hustle." The song was one of the very last additions to the Avco LP "Disco Baby," and according to McCoy, almost didn't make the album. Songwriting partner Charles Kipps and New York DJ David Todd showed McCoy the Hustle dance, as it was performed at the Adam's Apple club in New York at the time. Van appreciated it because it marked a return of almost-Ballroom-style partner dancing after an absence of more than a decade. But he didn't think anyone outside of the Latin community and New York Disco subculture would be interested in a song about the Hustle. Nevertheless, at the urging of Kipps, McCoy wrote it in the studio in about an hour's time and recorded it with a group of musicians collectively known as the Soul City Symphony (with the "Do It!" background vocals apparently from the vocal group Faith, Hope & Charity), and Hugo & Luigi handling production. Avco reps liked the song well enough to release it to pop radio as well as the clubs, and the rest is history -- the song became a worldwide hit and reached the coveted Billboard #1 spot for one week (as well as #1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart), and became a radio and club staple during the great musical summer of 1975. The song also won the Grammy Award for Best Popular Instrumental Performance the following year. Here are two YouTube links to the song. The first is substandard audio, but shows dancers in action (including what I believe is the Hustle line dance at the 1:20 mark). The second link is better audio, although shorter (the 45 rpm/radio edit, which only runs to 3:20). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =gFz2WkVAk38 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =uQoz-203hz4 According to writer Fred Bronson, Van enjoyed the success of the record, although he felt a little pigeon-holed over being labeled the "The Hustle Guy" or "The Disco Kid." He wanted to do more creative out-of-the-box work, included possibly something in the classical field. (McCoy was also a big fan of classical music.) Sadly, for all of us, he never got the chance, as he died of a heart attack on July 6, 1979, at only 39 years of age. It's really cruel that such a talented man should be taken from us at such a young age -- it's obvious that Van McCoy would have contributed a LOT more great music to our world if he had lived. But we can be thankful that he at least lived to help bring to life the great music of David Ruffin, the Stylistics, the Presidents, Jackie Wilson, Barbara Lewis, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Shirelles, the Spellbinders, Chuck Jackson, Nina Simone, Betty Everett, Donny Hathaway, Chris Bartley, Peaches & Herb, Brenda & the Tabulations, Ruby & the Romantics, and many more. So celebrate the Hustle and the life of Van McCoy this week, and don't be afraid to tell someone you love to just "DO IT!" (Some info from Fred Bronson's Billboard Book of Number One Hits) | ||
Garo (gary_james) 6-Zenith Username: gary_james Post Number: 3037 Registered: 5-2004 |
It really reminds me of the summer of '75 and the job i was working. We had a good FM station playing on the radio and The Hustle played a lot. I liked it, my manager didn't, he called it the happy flute. The next year, i heard Walk Away From Love constantly on that same station! Great radio songs! |
