Platinum Record [Level 8]
In addition to the sound of Philadelphia, I'm a huge Van McCoy fan. I love the distinctive sound of his production - the glockenspiel, the 'rubbing sandpaper', and the latin percussion and rhythm punctuated by Steve Gadd's intricate, syncopated drums. I noticed that in '78, McCoy suddenly dropped that sound for a more generic, commercial sound. Gone was the gritty latin groove for a more metronomic, static beat. He did do a track called 'Disco Samba' that was kind of a Hustle-melody-latin-groove track, but it didn't pack much punch. I think 'Two Points' is his best cut from that last period of his life.
Back to the topic - so, would you guys say that the Van McCoy sound (c. '74 to '77) was really a sub genre onto itself? And were there any exact imitators of the sound? In all my years of collecting disco, I don't recall hearing anything that sounded like a Van McCoy production. There were imitators of The Hustle, like the Eddie Drennon tracks Let's Do The Latin Hustle and Let's Do It Again, but I'm referring more to the syncopated latin feel, rather than the static beat found on The Hustle. Perhaps Steve Gadd's drums, which was never really duplicated by anyone else during that time, that really made the Van McCoy sound so unique...
Disco Funk
Underground Hit [Level 5]
I can think of a producer who recorded in that "Van McCoy Style" namely Bert DeCoteaux. If you think Of Linda Lewis "It's In His Kiss" - Sister Sledge "Love Don't Go Through No Changes In Me" and some of his many productions, i reckon they used the same session men.
Platinum Record [Level 8]
Hmm...I'll have to check those tracks out. Thanks for the recommendations!Originally Written by tony98
Update: I checked those tracks out - they sound like New York and slightly Philly, but more like a Warren Schatz production than Van McCoy. The Sister Sledge album even uses Jimmy Young on drums, who Schatz used a bit; Carlos Martin was the percussionist in the Warren Schatz group The Brothers and he's on the album from which 'In His Kiss' was taken. Not a bad thing - Schatz is another guy who's tracks I've been looking for, so anything that sounds like his work is worth checking out!
Disco Funk
Last edited by Disco Funk; November 15th, 2006 at 04:51 PM.
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Yes I'd say Van had his own sub genre going on ....as did KC with his punchy Sunshine sound .... Patrick Cowley's spacey Menergy sound ..... Bobby "O"s Native Love pot banging sound ...there were these distinctive styles ...... by certain producers ...
It occurred to me while listening to Tavares HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL that it owes a big nod toward that Van McCoy sound Disco Funk ... agree?
*****
Baby, take me
high upon a hillside
high up where the stallion
meets the sun
Indie Release [Level 4]
Hello All...:icon_smile: I'm so glad that DiscoFunk brought up the subject of the legendary Van McCoy! What a major, major contributor to the disco sound was this genius of music! Van McCoy added "CLASS" to music...Something that is missing not only in today's music but moreover within our society. His music could be down-right funky and soulsy (Change With The Times 1975) to something very beautiful and melodic (The Way You Make Me Feel - Melba Moore). I still can hear the very first opening notes of: Walk Away From Love-David Ruffin...Wow, that sound made it simply too hard to keep still! Other David Ruffin songs like: Everything Is Coming Up Love, Heavy Love, and David's Beautiful ballad: Satute Of A Fool carry that inimitable Van McCoy "touch." But perhaps Van McCoys most underrated and most beautiful productions came through his group: Faith, Hope, & Charity. Their music was PURE Van McCoy!(I still hold on to their vinyl with dear life, as it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to find their stuff on CD.) If Van McCoy were still with us today, imagine the impact he'd make on today's dance music? I have a feeling we'd have something just a little different than what we have today. :icon_cool: Thanks & Take Care...And many, many thanks to DiscoFunk for bringing this subject up. ~ Mario
Platinum Record [Level 8]
That's a tough call, remicks. The choice of instrumentation, especially the bells/xylophone playing the hook, is typical of Van McCoy's style. But I think that's where the comparison ends. James Gadson's tight hi-hat playing, which is heard on a lot of those mid-70s Motown albums, and most famously on Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive doesn't have that latin feel like Steve Gadd's playing on the Van McCoy stuff. Not enough tom-tom playing on Angel.It occurred to me while listening to Tavares HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL that it owes a big nod toward that Van McCoy sound Disco Funk ... agree?
The track 'To Each His Own' was included on an RCA dance compilation released in '88 on CD, but that's about it. I haven't seen any of their other stuff on CD.Hello All...:icon_smile: I'm so glad that DiscoFunk brought up the subject of the legendary Van McCoy! What a major, major contributor to the disco sound was this genius of music! Van McCoy added "CLASS" to music...Something that is missing not only in today's music but moreover within our society. His music could be down-right funky and soulsy (Change With The Times 1975) to something very beautiful and melodic (The Way You Make Me Feel - Melba Moore). I still can hear the very first opening notes of: Walk Away From Love-David Ruffin...Wow, that sound made it simply too hard to keep still! Other David Ruffin songs like: Everything Is Coming Up Love, Heavy Love, and David's Beautiful ballad: Satute Of A Fool carry that inimitable Van McCoy "touch." But perhaps Van McCoys most underrated and most beautiful productions came through his group: Faith, Hope, & Charity. Their music was PURE Van McCoy!
In addition to David Ruffin's stuff, Disco Baby was put on CD, and a number of Stylistics albums with Van McCoy produced tracks ('Thank You Baby'; 'Fabulous'). There have also been best of CDs with Van McCoy produced tracks for Melba Moore and The Choice Four. I think the latter's best of CD was alright, but I think it would have been better if it included more cuts from their last album On Top of A Clear. Also, the awesome 'Am I Cold Am I Hot' by Bill Harris was on some compilation CD released in the late 80s; and Unidisc has put out a couple of Anacostia albums, the first of which has a couple of Van McCoy produced tracks. The other cuts on those albums are produced by Charles Kipps and don't sound so great.
Cheers. I don't know if Van would still be making dance music. Perhaps he'd do more soundtrack music, since that seemed to be the trend for him in the late 70s.If Van McCoy were still with us today, imagine the impact he'd make on today's dance music? I have a feeling we'd have something just a little different than what we have today. :icon_cool: Thanks & Take Care...And many, many thanks to DiscoFunk for bringing this subject up. ~ Mario
Disco Funk
Indie Release [Level 4]
Hello Again...:icon_biggrin: I couldn't help but jump right back into the subject of Van McCoy...I was remembering that FANTASTIC song that Gladys Knight and The Pips put out around 1977: "Baby, Don't Change Your Mind." What a greaaat song!!!! It is absolutely Van McCoy at his very, very best...Couldn't get any better than that! It's a shame that song didn't get more air play than it did...If I remember correctly, it didn't even crack into the Top 40~Super UNDERRATED! :icon_cry: Alright, Take Care, Mario :icon_cool:
Platinum Record [Level 8]
Was that cut the same one that he produced for the Stylistics the year before? I know he liked to shop around some of his songs, so you'll see the same song performed by different artists he produced, kind of like how Motown used to do that back in the 60s. The Stylistics track was on the Fabulous record:
Fabulous
Disco Funk
Gold Record [Level 7]
Van McCoy fans theres a great 9 page article on vans work in the latest issue of theres that beat magazine just out [issue 2]
check out the promo film to promote the mag,but first 'read the disclaimer'
NO DISCO RECORDS,RECORD SCANS WERE TAKEN BY ANYONE ON THE NORTHERN SOUL SCENE FOR USE IN THIS FILM/MAG,THEY ARE ALL BONA FIDE U.S ORIGINAL COPIES THAT HAVE NEVER LEFT THE COUNTRY:icon_lol:
enjoy [details how to buy in the film]
YouTube - There's That Beat! Northern Soul-Van McCoy
Underground Hit [Level 5]
The first Van McCoy production i bought was Faith,Hope & Charity "So Much Love" On U.K. Maxwell i've also picked up some of the 60's stuff he did Chris Bartley. Chris was some talent,he is similar to Eddie Holman.
Platinum Record [Level 8]
I was browsing youtube and discovered this little documentary made around 76 in the Baltimore/Washington DC area. The most interesting part of this, outside seeing discos pre-SNF, is the interview with Van McCoy (he appears a couple of times). RIP Van McCoy.
Discos 1976
Disco Funk
Gold Record [Level 7]
Nice short trip down memory lane, this is a time capsule, I wish the guy would post the rest of it, funny how they even found a Cuban in 1976 DC doing the 'Hustle':icon_mrgreen:
That Blondie at the end of the 'Bumper' club bit was having lots of fun, reminds me of the way it was...many women used to get lost in the music and dancing..
Like McCoy said, by the time He wrote the song, Latins were doing the Hustle already for a while, Like He said, this was a touch dance that actually borrowed steps from the past, but mainly from Latin Salsa dancing.
Gold Record [Level 7]
Listen to how the announcer states "Discos were the artifact of the first half of the 70's , but for the Nation, not as well known as Macdonalds and Exxon."
Discos were the best little secret in America until SNF ruined it all.
Acetate [Level 1]
It's a great track for sure. Just listened to it in the car. I didn't realise Van wrote it. Very Philly in approach.
Ed
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Baby Don't Change Your Mind was a huge pop hit in the UK for Gladys Knight & the Pips; I'm sure it made the top 10. Then they did it the following year again with Come Back & Finish What You Started; that was a Van McCoy production too wasn't it?
...ya gotta beat the street......
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
SandraDee : Baby Don't Change Your Mind was a huge pop hit in the UK for Gladys Knight & the Pips; I'm sure it made the top 10.George Michael working this Van McCoy song in 1991:crafty: It's a great track for sure.
original :
*****
Last edited by remicks; December 4th, 2007 at 02:39 AM.
Baby, take me
high upon a hillside
high up where the stallion
meets the sun
No Longer Charting
Van was a genius and his career stretched waaaaay back before Disco !
That bit from youtube and 'Theres That Beat' magazine Discodisk linked to is really nice and illustrates it. The track used on it is 'Sweet & Easy' and there's a vocal version called 'A Love You Can Depend On' by Brenda & The Tabulations. they also did a version of one of the Gladys Knight Buddah tracks which as Sandra says were UK hits. Right now I can't think which one it is though.
There's a bit more early Van related stuff here -
When Van Met Kenni
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
He's always loved disco hasn't he? (no surprise I s'pose!). He did that cover version of 'Love Machine' on Wham's 1st LP & later sampled 'Forget Me Nots'.
...ya gotta beat the street......
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Britain's best export of the eighties.He's always loved disco hasn't he? (no surprise I s'pose!
BTW ...you're right . BABY DON'T CHANGE YOUR MIND was Top 10 for you .... all the way to #4 in fact.
Sadly ... completely ignored here .
*****
Baby, take me
high upon a hillside
high up where the stallion
meets the sun
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
A rare occasion when the UK had taste!
...ya gotta beat the street......
Platinum Record [Level 8]
Speaking of Gladys Knight & The Pips' 'Baby Don't Change Your Mind':
Disco Funk
Underground Hit [Level 5]
I just bought my first Van McCoy album, "My Favorite Fantasy". I love the songs but not the vocals. I'm aware that "The Hustle" is his most popular song but you should hear how Aretha Franklin transformed his "Sweet Bitter Love" on her album "Aretha". It's currently my favorite of Aretha's recorded performances....an absolute standout.
Platinum Record [Level 8]
Between his two vocal albums he did before he died ('My Favourite Fantasy' and 'Lonely Dancer'), I think Fantasy is the better album. They're both departures from his 'sound'. His instrumental Two Points is my favourite cut on the album. Get the 12" version if you like it because it's much longer. I think 'That's the Story Of My Life' is his best song, next to 'Words Spoken Softly at Midnight' and 'I'm Gonna Love You' from his '75 Disco Kid LP. It's such a depressing song, but it's so well done, and sadly, really short. It's almost autobiographical.
Here's one of my favourite productions of his, which is a one off single he cut with Bill Harris (no LP). The original 45 is expensive to get. I discovered the song on a CD compilation released in the mid 90s.
Disco Funk
Underground Hit [Level 5]
If you're talking about George Michael, he's also covered "Sexual Healing", Gladys Knight's "If I Were Your Woman" and Stevie Wonder's "They Won't Go When I Go"He's always loved disco hasn't he? (no surprise I s'pose!
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Remicks, that is a completely brilliant point and I never thought of it until I read it here. Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris should have sent him a cheque back in the day !
I know Disco Funk disagreed on an earlier post, but I think it's the 'vibe' of the song, how much glitter and the sweeps it has , while honouring DF's opinion that there's not enough toms to make it completely Van-like, because it's a little more latin twisted..either way it's a point well made..
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