By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 09:11 pm:

The genius of Van McCoy never ceases to amaze me.
He left us with an extensive legacy of brilliant songs. The following are a few that come to mind:

Baby I'm yours ... Barbara Lewis
Dream, dream ...Leon Heywood
I don't want to lose you ...Tommy Hunt

I'm sure you have your favourite Van McCoy gems. Lets hear about them.

By stephanie (64.63.221.83) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 10:44 pm:

Of course we all know the Hustle but I like
Love aint Love by Florence Ballard which should have been a hit
and Change with the Times by Van McCoy..
Stephanie

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.90) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 11:39 pm:

The great Van McCoy.
I have numerous 45s with his great mark on them.This was covered before on an earlier thread.
Anyway,
heres a few that I have or have had.All once rare soul obscurities on the scene.

Vonnettes-Touch my heart-Cobblestone.
Sandi Sheldon-Youre gonna make me love you-Okeh.
Chris Bartley-Sweetest thing this side of heaven-(uk)Cameo Parkway.
Billy Woods-Let me make you happy-Sussex.
Ad-Libs-Nothing worse than being alone-Share.
Van McCoy Strings-Sweet and Easy-Share.
Chris Jackson-Ill never forget you-(uk)Soul City.
Just for starters.
mel.

By recordboyusa (67.34.73.196) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 12:06 am:

"Let Me Make You Happy" has to be way up there.
Honorable mention to "So Much Love" - Faith Hope & Charity.

Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com

By Eli (141.151.86.96) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 12:29 am:

Van started his career a a member of the Starlighters on End along with his brother Norman.
He was a wonderful man and a good friend and a joy to behold in the studio.

By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 08:41 am:

What I find remarkable about Van is the poignancy of his songs. His beautiful ballad "To Make A Long Story Short" has some vey touching lines. It goes:

"I could use a thousand words to say what I've got on my mind
but what's the use in beating 'round the bush, wasting words, wasting time
boring you with talk ain't what I want, so I'll try to get right to the point
to make a long story short, darling I love you

Whew!!! Brilliant.

By Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (68.80.164.254) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 09:53 am:

Van was my dear friend , he lived next door to me when he was in Philly,we recorded two songs on my group the Larks, "Lets Drink A Toast" and "There Is A Girl" both are on the CD The Best Of The Larks, on Jamie records 4014 (www.jamguy.com) I remember Van and I went to the uptowne theater to see a R&B show, thats when he meet Gladys Night & The Pips and the Marvelettes,he said I got songs for both groups,the rest is history.
WELDON

By Sly fan (64.169.104.228) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 06:42 pm:

Mr. Mccoy was a genius!! I loved the material he did for David Ruffin's "Walk Away" lp and countless other prductions and yes.."The Hustle"(Steve Gadd gets busy on that song!!) is still my all time favorite. He brought a level of sophistication to production that has been unmatched since...

I am glad someone mentioned Faith, Hope and Charity..a really great group!!

By dvdmike (12.84.102.68) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 07:10 pm:

I remember an album that he cut for Columbia in the mid-sixties which I believe Mitch Miller produced. He also co-wrote (with Leiber & Stoller) "Rat Race" for The Drifters (1961).

By Mark Speck (65.56.222.187) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 12:57 am:

On my birthday Thursday, I went out for a little record-hunting and picked up two 45s (among the small haul I found) that had Van involvement:

Adlibs--"Giving Up"/"Appreciation" (Share)
Diplomats--"Help Me"/"Hey Mr. Taxi Driver" (Arock)

Two distinctly different 45s, but two great examples of the work of a genius!

Soulpuss--I mentioned that you should sign up for Yahoo Groups in another thread. When you do, check out the Van McCoy group there!

Best,

Mark

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.11) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 04:10 am:

Hey Mark,
A belated happy birthday to you mate.
Mel.

By TonyRussi (68.210.2.104) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 01:21 pm:

I always liked the Van McCoy song "We're Just Two of A Kind" recorded by Mary Wells on her first non-Motown LP in 1964.

By Sly fan (67.115.72.48) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 01:33 pm:

Happy B-Day Mark!! Great Findings!!

Best,
SF

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 02:20 pm:

Van's work with Peaches & Herb ("Let's Fall In Love") and David Ruffin are my all-time faves as well as "The Hustle."
Great talent, taken from us too soon.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By dvdmike (12.84.143.53) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 04:49 pm:

I liked Gladys Knight & The Pips' "Giving Up" from 1964 released on the Maxx label. It was cut in NYC. Does anyone know what studio?

By Mark Speck (65.57.20.39) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 12:45 am:

Thanks Mel and Sly for the belated B-day wishes!

Tony--there's also a neat version of "Two of a Kind" by Jack and Jill on the Maxx label (a label on which every single featured Van's involvement).
It's a neat little predecessor to his later work with Peaches & Herb.

Best,

Mark

By John Perrone (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 01:54 am:

So glad to see this thread on Van McCoy....I play his music regularly on my radioshow "Nightflight".
I knew his music in the 60's, and it wasn't until I was in the Navy in Washington DC in the early 70's when I began hearing his name mentioned. While in DC, I got to hear a 45 rpm release and occaisional airplay of
of my (still) favorite Van McCoy song "On and Off"
by Anacostia...I know David Ruffin did a version
but to me, Anacostia's is sublime! Other favorites of mine are:
Gotta be Ready:Betty Everett
One Girl Too Late;Right on the Tip of My Tongue;
Where There's a Will;A Part of You;Lies Lies Lies:
Brenda and the Tabulations
Life Goes On: Faith Hope & Charity(the WHOLE LP)

Nice to be able to chat about Van! Thanks. John

By Common (209.2.55.170) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 09:26 am:

Hello everyone,

I think I read/heard somewhere that 'Walk Away From Love' was a previously done a couple of years before David's version. Does anyone know this to be a fact?

Peace!

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 09:28 am:

David Ruffin said that Van McCoy was the producer that gave him the most freedom to be himself in the studio.

By Scratcher (63.188.32.229) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 10:12 am:

Common, Choice Four first recorded "Walk Away From Love" and some of the other Van McCoy songs that David recorded, i.e. "Finger Pointers," "On and "Off." Their versions on every one is inferior to Ruffin's renditions.

By TonyRussi (68.210.2.104) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 10:17 am:

dvdmike, I agree with you about "Giving Up"By Gladys Knight & the Pips...that was the first LP I bought by them. I loved the song on the LP "Stop & Get Ahold of Myself"...Did Van McCoy produce that LP?It was on MAXX, I know a Larry Maxwell had something to do with.I can't locate my LP offhand.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 10:24 am:

Tony,

Larry Maxwell was the owner of Maxx but Van was
the producer / arranger. Larry ended up working at Motown - I'm not sure if he had a hand in Gladys and the guys joining the label.


As we all have Edwin on our minds one thing that
sticks in my mind about Van was just how young he
was when he died (39?) and just how much he accomplished in that time.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 10:56 am:

Davie:
Agreed 100 percent regarding Van's departure in 1979.

I was in junior high school when I heard on the radio that he died of heart failure at age 39. It was shocking to hear this happen to someone at such an early age. Then to read what he accomplished up to that point was even more amazing.

I know there are those out here who know of this man's career but check out the website Van's family put together. It is such a fine tribute to fine talent.

http://www.vanmccoymusic.com

Regards,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 05:16 pm:

Didn't Van McCoy write "Either way I lose" for Gladys Knight & The Pips? I just remember the 45 was navy blue. Also was that Van McCoy that recorded "Love has come Around" in the 80's. Let me know, thanks.

By Sly fan (67.115.73.2) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 05:28 pm:

Handsome: "Love Has Come Around" was recorded by Dr. Donald Byrd. Thats still my jam!! Good call!!

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 05:47 pm:

Thanks Sly for helping me out. Wonder if I can track it down?

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:12 pm:

Handsome:
"Either Way I Lose" was released on the Maxx label (Maxx 331). The label also released Gladys' "Giving Up".
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Sly fan (67.115.73.2) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:17 pm:

Elektra or Mr. Byrd has not re-issued that yet but you can occasionally find it on wax or comps..good luck!!

SF

By Eli (151.197.225.98) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 09:06 am:

Van was a dear friend of mine and a joy to work with. I played on many of his sessions and he was a gifted producer.
He was a wiz at stacking backing vocals. Just listen to Right on the tip of my tongue.
He could do both male and female parts!!

I even played on the posthemous Mae West soundtrack that Van produced, Sextete while I was out in LA playing on the last Thom Bell produced Spinners album.

By Flynny (81.135.14.202) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 09:37 am:

What, what, what...nobody has mentioned Bobby Reed's "The time is right for love"...arranged, produced, conducted and co-written by Van...oh and published too...sublime! :-)

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (217.14.178.82) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 10:14 am:

Flynny,
what do you think of the flipside to
Bobby Reed
'if I dont love you'?
on Bell(no.800+)not sure.
your blue-nosed buddy
mel.

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 10:55 am:

Thanks Sly & Kev for the info.

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 11:07 am:

I think Van did some work with the Shirelles--
"Stop The Music" perhaps.

By Vammi (68.50.92.243) on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 08:46 pm:

How we loved reading all of your great rememberances of VAN McCOY. We are preserving his legacy here at Van McCoy Music, Inc. in Clinton, MD. July 6, 2004 will mark the 25th year of his untimely death and we are in the planning stages of commemorating his life (1940-1979) and 25 yr. legacy (1979 -2004). What are some of the ways you would like to join in the 25 yr. legacy effort? Visit our official website on www.vanmccoymusic.com and leave a guest book entry. Van would love and appreciate all of you if he were here, so we try to do it for him.

Love and Peace,
Mattie Taylor, Van's sister and President/CEO of the company

By Eli (151.197.60.215) on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 10:10 pm:

Hi Mattie,
Welcome to Soulful Detroit.

Bobby Eli here.
I was one of the members of MFSB who played on all of Van's seventies Philly productions.
Myself and DC writer Vinnie Barrett were good friends of Van and we sure do miss him.


God Bless

By medusa0e2003 (66.73.5.207) on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 11:32 pm:

Thanx Kev, 4 the website on Van McCoy, very informative, didn't know he wrote a lot of those songs!

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 09:14 am:

Was Van ever married? Did he have any children?

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 11:41 am:

Mattie:
Welcome to Soulful Detroit & thank you for the information regarding the celebration of Van's life and music.

I co-produced a Jackie Wilson compilation for Brunswick Records that included Van's "I Get The Sweetest Feeling" & Tony Drake recorded "It Hurts Me More." His compositions were held in high regard by Brunswick's producers, arrangers & artists.

Looking forward to visiting the website.

Best regards,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 02:27 pm:

Handsome:

If I am not mistaken Van McCoy worked with Gladys Knight and the Pips after they left Motown and before their stint with Columbia on Buddah records. I believe the album is called Second Anniversary or possibly Still Together. It was around a the time he was big with "The Hustle." He produced several cuts on the album.

Help me out KevGo, I know you know!!

By Eli (151.197.216.185) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 02:43 pm:

Van also worked with Gladys and the Pips on their early stuff such as Lovers always forgive.

By Greg C. (207.103.134.37) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 02:51 pm:

The song "Life Goes On" by Faith, Hope, and Charity. I love that song! The lyrics are so powerful...
"But in the meantime, life goes on
The world keeps turning,
Everyday another fool is learning."

Damn, I wish I wrote that.

I ran into Van McCoy in NYC back in the early seventies. He was on his way to a recording session yet he stopped and chatted for a few minutes. Nice guy. Very warm and humble...

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 02:55 pm:

Hi Everyone.

Michael/Cleoharvey, you are right! I forgot all about that album! My song was "Baby, Don' change your mind" I have that 45 too. Now since you've brought it up, I'm going home & dig it up!! Thanks for jogging our memories.

By Greg C. (207.103.134.37) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 02:56 pm:

ADDENDUM: I also have to include "To Each His Own"
by Faith, Hope, & Charity

"The best of business in the line of business is to mind your business,
If you got no business then make it your business to leave other people's business alone,
To Each His Own
That's my philosophy
I don't know what's right for you
And you don't know what's right for me..."

You'd better tell it, Van! LOL Just as timeless today as it was when it came out in 1975.

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 03:43 pm:

Greg C., what about Faith, Hope & Charity's "So Much Love" from the early 70's on the Maxwell label (I think)? Wasn't that Van McCoy who wrote that too?

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.3) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 04:01 pm:

Bobby,
I have a 45 by Van McCoy called
"soul improvisations"
on the Buddah Label.

It sounded ahead of its time when I bought it around 1973 and was spun at a few all-nighters but never became a huge dancer,mainly because I think it was so ahead of its day,and the sounds at that time were the very uptempo numbers.

Even today when I spin it
I can understand why a lot of people didnt take to it then,but even now it sounds quite a unique 45.

Do you know anything regards this cut Bobby.

many thanks
mel.

By WaltBaby (64.12.97.7) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 07:49 pm:

Okay folks, especially in the midwest let's travel back to the sixties when the mighty O'Jays released a song entitled "Let It All Out" which is also a Van McCoy production.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.251) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 11:29 pm:

"Let It All Out" has been mentioned on this forum before but not on this thread. It seems only those in the midwest remembers this beautiful song led by the late William Powell. Some have probably heard it and never knew it was the O'Jays. I always thought it strange that Van McCoy never recorded this song on anybody else. It he did I'm unaware of the rendition.

By dvdmike (68.72.98.3) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 10:51 am:

The O'Jays' "Let It All Out" was produced by Tommy LiPuma and arranged by Nick DeCaro. The session was recorded on July 8, 1965 at United Recording Studios in Hollywood. Released as Imperial single 66131 in August 1965, it peaked at #28 on Billboard's Top Selling Rhythm & Blues chart, not crossing over to the Hot 100. I believe Bobby Massey was the lead vocalist, correct me if I'm wrong. The track was included on their 1965 LP, "Comin' Through" (Imperial LP-12290).

By Scratcher (65.238.127.158) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 10:58 am:

Bobby Massey never sang lead with the O'Jays, it was William Powell as I previously posted. The song was popular in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton area and pretty much unheard of everywhere else.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.158) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 11:11 am:

The O'Jays lead vocalists to date have been Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and the late William Powell (a first tenor). "Let It All Out" is done by Powell in falsetto. McCoy didn't produced the song but he sure as hell influenced how Powell sang it and the fact that Powell was chosen to sing lead on the song. McCoy was also a first tenor and probably sang the demo. Powell was chosen because his voice was closet to McCoy's. At time the O'Jays were a five man group, Bill Isles also sang with them. Isles and Massey never sang lead.

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 11:58 am:

Hi Scratcher!
For me Let It All Out was a good ballad, but perhaps with too a complex arrangement (by Nick DeCaro) for the '65 market. Tommy LiPuma (the producer) used Nick a lot, and, as far as I know, they had a taste for richly orchestrated but always not-so-easy arrangements. There's also a change in tempo on this track. But it became a small hit, so I can't say it was ahead of its time. I like it a lot.
Best regards
Heikki

By dvdmike (68.72.98.3) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 12:14 pm:

Okay, I stand corrected. I liked DeCaro's arrangement of his own composition, "Think It Over, Baby". The Big Easy's Harold Battiste arranged "Lipstick Traces", originally done in 1962 by Benny Spellman, who did the bass vocal on Ernie K-Doe's "Mother-In-Law". The B-side of Benny's cut was happening, too, "Fortune Teller".

By Scratcher (65.238.127.243) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 02:34 pm:

Heikki "Let It All Out" and all of the O'Jays' Imperial Recordings were huge in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area; the O'Jays sang the song on every show they did back then. People loved it. Nobody thought the arrangement was too complex; it didn't hit big because it wasn't promoted; none of their Imperial Records were promoted well.

The O'Jays were also known very well back then in Boston and Pittsburgh; but some cities like St. Louis never heard of them until they recorded for Bell Records as a quartet. I would think since their early mentor H.B. Barnum, was located in Los Angeles, that they received some airplay out there but I'm not sure of this.

Eddie Levert hated "Lipstick Traces" and wouldn't sing it, which is why Walter Williams sang lead on the recording.

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.192.238) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 03:20 pm:

What a master
Van Allen Clinton McCoy(andthensome)

Even more gems.

Chris Bartley-Baby its wonderful-Vando(3000)
"" "" Gotta tell Somebody-album track.

Toni Lamar-(classic)
"Just in the nick of Time"
Buddah Records(10).

Betty Lavette-Let me down easy-Calla(102)classic.

Brenda and the Tabulations (classic)
Lies,Lies,Lies.
Top and Bottom Records(cant remember)

mel.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 04:40 pm:

Scratcher;
NY & NJ loved The O'Jays back then too, I remember driving to Hackensack,NJ to The Relic Rack to purchase that album just for:
1. Stand-In For Love (my personal all-time favorite)!
2. Lonely Drifter

S.S.

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (217.14.178.102) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 04:47 pm:

Lonely Drifter
great sound.
still have it
and also workin'on your case.
mel(man in a briefcase)

By Scratcher (65.238.127.243) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 04:55 pm:

Right S.S. I know they were played in a few other areas. They played the Apollo back then. I didn't mentioned NY in my previous list because according to some they really didn't have a "big" record in the Apple until "I'll Be Sweeter," which was written by the Poindexter Brothers who lived in Jamaica, Queens.

I'll be interested in knowing what other cities played any of their Imperial and Minit recordings. The record they dislike the most "Lipstick Traces" was their most popular (chartwise) recording from that era and I know many cities played it, but what about the others?

And has anybody ever heard another version Van McCoy's "(Break Down And) Let It All Out?"

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 05:17 pm:

Scratcher;
Out of the tracks on that album I didn't like "Lipstick" either, I just couldn't get with it. Besides, Eddie was more my kind of gospely-soulful voice, not only that, I thought he had the greatest stage presence. The first time I saw the O'Jays was at the Apollo. Eddie instictivly caught my eye, he stood out , sang with more feeling,and had a charisma about him, plus he reminded me a little of "Smitty" in look and somewhat in style or projection, even tho' they didn't sound alike. That day at the Apollo they wore different color pastel suits and all were so skinny back then, but dancing and everything Eddie had it goin'on!
S.S.

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.7) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 06:04 pm:

Hello everyone. I remember when Van and his partner, my good friend Charles Kipps, came to Detroit and I played on a session for them at United Sounds. I also used to run into Van when I was in New York. He was a very talented person and super nice guy. I think Charles also wrote Walk Away From Love. I tried to get him to visit the site but so far he hasn't done so.

By Vammi (68.50.92.243) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 01:22 am:

Hello Scratcher and other Van Fans. Here's some info on Break Down and Let it All Out. Song was recorded by none other than the Late Nina Simone. They are re-releasing it on The Best of Nina Simone. Van's music turns up in all kinds of places. Did you know Nat Cole sang "Who's Next In Line" on a 45rpm by Van and Clyde Otis? Did you know that B.B. King recorded a soulful rendition of "Baby I'm Yours" and that the Northern Soul jump start song "You're Gonna Make Me Love You" by Sandi Sheldon is really by his former girlfriend, Kendra Spottswood, aka Kenny Woods? Seems there is no end to what there is to discover about the genius of Van McCoy.

Mattie at Vammi