Van McCoy

The archetype of "cheesy" 1970's disco music. Van arranged many bands throughout the 1960's and 1970's, including Melba Moore, The Stylistics, Peaches and Herb, and Gladys Knight & the Pips.

After releasing a few marginally successful records in the early 1970's (including "From disco to love" on Buddah, which contains the brilliant disco song "Soul improvisations") he cashed in on a new disco-dance craze in 1975 and released "The hustle". It was an instant international success and sold over 8 million copies worldwide (although Van, interviewed a year later, claimed he had no idea what the hustle dance was)...

Many releases over the next two years were very good disco tunes ("Jet setting", "Party") but failed to make much impact. Finally, his last big UK hit in 1977 was "The Shuffle" which was nearly as successful as "The Hustle" - so much so that it was used as the theme to the Sports Report on BBC radio 4 for nearly 20 years. He released little in 1978 after switching to the MCA label, and died young of a heart attack in 1979, effectively dying with disco.

There is no US 12" of "The Hustle" although there is a UK 12" which was pressed in 1978.

Love is the answer (H&L 12" 2001, 1976) - b/w Softones track Rhythms of the world / Soul cha cha (H&L 12" 2002, 1976) Two points / (same) (MCA 12" L33-1990, 1978) Lonely dancer / The samba (MCA 12" MCA-13912, 1979)

 

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  1. Soul Improvisations (Buddah LP, 1972)
  2. From disco to love (Buddah LP, 1974)
  3. Disco baby (Avco LP, 1975)
  4. The disco kid (Avco LP, 1975)
  5. The Real McCoy (Avco LP, 1976)
  6. The Hustle (Avco LP, 1976)
  7. Rhythms of the world (Avco LP, 1976)
  8. Lonely dancer (Avco LP, 1977)
  9. My favourite fantasy (MCA LP, 1978)
  10. Sweet rhythm (Avco LP, 1979)                                  BACK