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  DC Groups (shermanb) 1-Arriviste Username: shermanb Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 205.131.188.5 |
I was reading the following article about Van McCoy's Family reaquiring the right to his song The Hustle. and was wondering if this is a common practice in the music business? Do the Hustle and Remember the Legacy of Van McCoy By Richard Harrington Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, July 30, 2004; Page WE06 WASHINGTONIAN Van McCoy's classic, "The Hustle," sold 10 million copies, making it the biggest dance record of the '70s. It won a 1975 Grammy (for best pop instrumental) and almost three decades on, continues to pop up all over the place, from disco-themed compilation CDs to television, where "The Hustle" has been used on "Ally McBeal," "The Drew Carey Show" and "The Simpsons," as well as in Old Navy's 10th anniversary spots, which featured a reunion of the B-list '70s celebrities who'd appeared in its ads over the years, including Morgan Fairchild, Erik Estrada, Joan Collins, Sherman Hemsley and the late Isabel Sanford. They all did "The Hustle." Sadly, the composer didn't get to enjoy his best-known song's amazing durability: On July 6, 1979, McCoy died of a heart attack in Englewood, N.J., at age 39. In January of this year, McCoy's heirs reclaimed copyright on "The Hustle." The song's initial copyright (held by Warner-Chappell) dated from publication, and copyright law gives heirs the right to reclaim a work after 28 years. Van McCoy Music, headed by McCoy's sister, Mattie Taylor, did just that, as it had been doing for several years with the rest of McCoy's 600-song catalogue. Regaining "The Hustle" kicked off a seven-month campaign by the company to raise awareness of McCoy's work and rekindle interest in his catalogue, an effort that peaks with Saturday's "25 Year Legacy Tribute to Van McCoy" at Theodore Roosevelt High School (4301 13th St. NW), from which McCoy graduated in 1958. The program will feature performances and reminiscences by Melba Moore, who recorded numerous McCoy songs, including "Lean on Me" and "Good Love"; Jean Carne, who recorded the 1995 album "Carne Sings McCoy"; Herb Fame of Peaches and Herb, the Washington duo discovered by McCoy in the mid-'60s; musical director Nathan Heathman and the Legacy Band; evangelist Dorothy Norwood; and Silvana and Brian Gallagher, winners of the 2004 International Hustle and Salsa Dance Competition held in Miami in April. There is no charge for the concert, scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m., with doors opening at 3:15, but admission is limited to adults and teenagers only. Ironically, "The Hustle" was already a popular dance that had emerged in the early '70s in Latino circles and was brought to McCoy's attention when a New York DJ took him to a local nightclub to check it out. McCoy loved seeing people dancing together again -- he once said it reminded him of ballroom dancing -- and he wrote "The Hustle" in an hour, at the last minute tagging it onto the already finished "Disco Baby" album. "The Hustle" catapulted McCoy into the spotlight and helped fuel a pulsating disco frenzy here and abroad. The word "hustle" captured a work ethic as well: McCoy started taking piano lessons at age 4 and, with older brother Norman on violin, began to give neighborhood concerts. He wrote his first song when he was 12 and sang with a doo-wop group called the Starlighters; in a preview of things to come, their first single, "The Birdland," was named after a popular '50s dance. After attending Howard University for a couple of years, McCoy moved to Philadelphia and started a record label, Rockin' Records, which released his "Hey Mr. DJ." It was picked up by Scepter Records, which then hired McCoy as an A&R man; he eventually went to work as a staff writer and arranger for Mitch Miller and then for legendary songwriter-producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Among McCoy's best-known songs: Barbara Lewis's "Baby, I'm Yours," which figured in a 2003 episode of "American Dreams." McCoy also wrote for the Shirelles, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Ruby and the Romantics, and later, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson and Tom Jones. Additionally, he championed local talent, producing such acts as the Blossoms, the D.C. Playboys and Choice Four. His last major project was 12-year-old Stacy Lattisaw, whose 1979 album, "Young and in Love," featured a dozen new and old songs composed by McCoy. McCoy also created groups he named State Department and the Presidents -- until the federal government asked him to change those names because overseas audiences might think the groups were state-sponsored (he also had to change his company name from White House Productions). And McCoy's Soul City Symphony was his version of Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, albeit a much less expensive one. "Van liked to have a showcase for his own works and to have control over presenting it," Mattie Taylor says. "But Soul City Symphony was not people but the music, all scored by hand by Van, who hired studio musicians, passed out the music and fine-tuned it while producing." And when that aggregation toured, it was made up of musicians hired city to city. "Soul City Symphony traveled in a foot locker," Taylor explains. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 908 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.44.131 |
Van was a great friend and colleague of mine. I had the esteemed pleasure of playing on many of his productions in Philly and witnessing first hand his incredible virtuosity. He was truly a gentleman and a scolar to the nth degree. Just watching him work in the studio was a marvel to behold. The way he stacked his own background vocals to make it sound as if it were different people with different timbres was pure magic. Thats mostly him on Right on the tip of my tongue! If I remember correctly the only other backing vocalist was Diane Destry. Vinnie barrett and I have been to his home in DC and he was the gracious host. One time it was a party for then mayor of DC, Walter Washington. His passing was truly a shock to us all. Van...RIP | ||
mel(andthensome) (mel) 5-Doyen Username: mel Post Number: 409 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.154.129.172 |
Van is featured on a lot of my personal rare/northern soul 45s A TRUE LEGEND andthensome........... gone and foreer missed but as eer his genius is here in one way or another Thanks for the music Mr McCoy mel | ||
Mark Speck (mark_speck) 4-Laureate Username: mark_speck Post Number: 75 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.188.113.76 |
Just picked up a pair of Northern soul 45s written by Van McCoy, both of which I'd been after for a while: "I'll Never Forget You" by Marke Jackson and "In the Sunshine" by the Marvellos. Two great sounds from one great man! Best, Mark | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 984 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 70.16.140.126 |
FYI.. If you listen to some of Van's later day arrangements, you will notice that he liked to double his lead string line with a glock type bell. Just an observation. | ||
mike s (mike_s) 4-Laureate Username: mike_s Post Number: 96 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
Bobby-Interesting to hear that Van would stack his own voice for backups. I thought he used Faith Hope and Charity a lot too?? The man was a marvel. Did he come to the studio all prepared with the arrangements all ready for the musicians or did he work a lot out in the studio (as per Motown)? | ||
Richard Felstead (felstead2001) 4-Laureate Username: felstead2001 Post Number: 78 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 128.40.91.183 |
Thankyou so much for taking the time to post this information. So often there is little info about our singers, artists, or groups. By passing information on to others like this, ensures that they will not be forgotten. I played the Hustle at a gig I was working at over the weekend, but had no idea it was the biggest dance record of the 1970's, selling 10 million copies. To sell that many copies back then, was quite something. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 991 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.50.205 |
Hi Mike, van came prepared with chord charts of the songs. At Sigma, he did al the vocals himself. He added diane destry in NYC, if at all. Listen to walk away from love and the Hustle and you will hear that glock bell thing, as it was his trademark. | ||
dvdmike (dvdmike) 5-Doyen Username: dvdmike Post Number: 229 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.208.234.61 |
Van McCoy once said, "I love classical music as much as I love Gamble & Huff and Thom Bell" | ||
Carl Dixon (carl_dixon) 3-Pundit Username: carl_dixon Post Number: 62 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 82.44.203.80 |
What about 'Why didn't I think of that' by Brenda & the Tabulations, covered over here by The Flirtations: http://home.earthlink.net/~lls cotts8/Why_Didn_t_I_Think_of_T hat.mp3 | ||
dvdmike (dvdmike) 5-Doyen Username: dvdmike Post Number: 235 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.208.234.61 |
One of my favorite Van McCoy cuts is "Turn This Mother Out" which unfortunately unavailable on CD. | ||
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 4-Laureate Username: davie_gordon Post Number: 114 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
I've ben playing the old "The Best of Irma Thomas" CD that EMI issued in the early nineties. Irma recorded a batch of Van McCoy songs "He's My Guy" "Times Have Changed" "Some Things You Never Get Used To" "It's Starting To Get To Me Now" Absolutely wonderful stuff produced by either Nick DeCaro or Jerry Ragavoy. From what I've read up until he teamed up with Faith Hope and Charity most of the backup vocals on his productions is Van himself overdubbed with occasiobnal help from Sandi Sheldon. I think it's a case of him knowing exactly what he wanted and it was easier to do it himself than teach the background parts to other singers. He was an immense talent and personally I think it's tragic that to non-specialists he's best known for his least-interesting records. That said I certainly don't begrudge him the money he made from "The Hustle" - it at least compensated for the pitiful sales of infinitely better records. Davie | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1059 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 70.16.137.151 |
Man, poor sweet Brenda. She was such a nice person and didnt deserve to die so young. I saw her just several months before she passed, gave her a big hug and that was that.  | ||
stillsoulin (rob_hurcomb) 1-Arriviste Username: rob_hurcomb Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 81.152.201.15 |
tip of my tougue, all time classic and and i readilly remember following this song on the american charts in blues and soul magazine in the early 70,s, duly purchased on UK CBS and being utterly distraught when playing it out to an unapreciative audiance at that time, btw the other side always and together, was a great tune as well in my opinion. One of my all time favorite Van McCoy tracks though was "i,m in love with you baby" from the soul improvisations lp. A true master of production and a guarentee of class whenever his name was associated with a tune. | ||
Soulaholic (soulaholic) 5-Doyen Username: soulaholic Post Number: 382 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.41.40.105 |
Dear Sweet Lord, Bobby: How many of the true treasures of the Soul Music world have passed away at such a young age. It seems as if your pictures are testaments to those who where and are no more half the times. It is with such bittersweet feelings that I view the jewels you post from back in the day. Some day�s your heart must just be heavy with sorrow when you think back to such a wonderful time. If only one had the hindsight and knew what was going to be, how different we would treat our brothers and sisters. Thanks once again for posting those memories that where yours alone. Peace and Love Soulaholic | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1076 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.25.185 |
Yes Brian, I totally agree. When I think of all the brothers and sisters who I worked with for all those years who are no longer on this plane, I do get misty eyed and miss all the great times we all shared, the sessions, the parties, the cammeraderie, the true friendship and common bond we all shared. | ||
mike s (mike_s) 4-Laureate Username: mike_s Post Number: 110 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
Hey Bobby You are right to be misty eyed for a wonderful past with great times...but what an opportunity to have shared in those times..and compare with the music business today!! What a shame attitudes and feelings for music and the bonds that it forms have largely disappeared. | ||
motown_david (motown_david) 2-Debutant Username: motown_david Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
Doing the rounds in England a few months ago was a demo of Van McCoy singing all the background parts and the lead vocal of "Baby I'm Yours." It shows what a marvellous musician the man was. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1092 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.35.84 |
Hey Mike S, Yes we were all a close knit family. We genuinely had a great time making all those records and had a cammeraderie which was second to none. It was not a tense situation as it usually was in NYC or L.A. We shared jokes, anecdotes and stories and all of that was a blast. We did have some "colorful characters" but that made it even better. It didnt matter if we got three songs or even one song done because it was all about quality not quantity in our neck of the woods. We had, imo some of the best musicians, songwriters, producers, arrangers and singers on the planet and I was and am proud to be part of that family. | ||
isaiah imani (isaiah) 3-Pundit Username: isaiah Post Number: 52 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 66.119.33.135 |
When You're Young and In Love... Thanks Van!(smile!) Peace! Isaiah |
