original version of david ruffin classic

[the disco kid]

I just found an LP by The Choice 4 (self titled on RCA) from 1975, produced by Van McCoy, and it has what I think might be the original version of "Walk Away From Love" on it, on this LP it's entitled "I'm Going To Walk Away From Love". It's a nice version, I still prefer David Ruffin's vocals, and the arrangement is a bit smoother on David's as well...both were produced by Van McCoy...I just never knew there was an earlier version of this song. The rest of the Choice 4 LP is very nice. Stand out cuts for me are "Hook It Up", "Until We said Goodbye", "I'm Going To Walk Away From Love", "Happy Go Lucky Girl" and "Keep In Touch". All definitely disco and fine examples of early Van McCoy productions, he certainly had a great sound.

[drlove]

thanks, DiscoKid, for posting that . . .I've always loved that song, and didn't know an earlier version existed. At age 40, this old dog can still learn new tricks. yippee !:icon_biggrin:

[markydefad]

Did any other disco producer ever recycle his tunes with his various acts more than Van McCoy???? I'm just askin'.

[Jow]

I just found an LP by The Choice 4 (self titled on RCA) from 1975, produced by Van McCoy, and it has what I think might be the original version of "Walk Away From Love" on it, on this LP it's entitled "I'm Going To Walk Away From Love". It's a nice version, I still prefer David Ruffin's vocals, and the arrangement is a bit smoother on David's as well...both were produced by Van McCoy...I just never knew there was an earlier version of this song. The rest of the Choice 4 LP is very nice. Stand out cuts for me are "Hook It Up", "Until We said Goodbye", "I'm Going To Walk Away From Love", "Happy Go Lucky Girl" and "Keep In Touch". All definitely disco and fine examples of early Van McCoy productions, he certainly had a great sound.

David Ruffin sings like a god! I always loved the stuff Van Mccoy produced. It's tragic Mr. Ruffin died of a drug overdose. Actually David Ruffin recorded some songs that Van Mccoy previously had recorded with a group called Faith, Hope & Charity, I Can mention "You're my Peace of Mind". I have a clip where David Ruffin performs "Walk Away from Love" on the Soul Train Show... damn that's heavy stuff. If you are into soul too you should check out the unreleased David Ruffin album... contains some fantastic songs found on no other albums. :icon_cool:

[Disco Funk]

Here's a thread I created a number of months ago devoted to Van McCoy

Van McCoy Double Takes

Disco Funk

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

I just found an LP by The Choice 4 (self titled on RCA) from 1975, produced by Van McCoy, ... Stand out cuts for me are "Hook It Up", "Until We said Goodbye", "I'm Going To Walk Away From Love", "Happy Go Lucky Girl" and "Keep In Touch".

I have the RCA one-sided pro 12" of "Until We Said Goodbye". It's one of my favorite pieces. I've never seen, nor heard the rest of the LP.

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Did any other disco producer ever recycle his tunes with his various acts more than Van McCoy???? I'm just askin'.

I dunno if these guys did it as much, but they were known to do it...
Berry Gordy
Stock, Aitken and Waterman
Cerrone
Bobby 'O'
Simon Soussan

[remicks]

*****


Should we add Norman Whitfield??? He liked to reheat his hash....



******

[the disco kid]

Here's a thread I created a number of months ago devoted to Van McCoy

Van McCoy Double Takes

Disco Funk

Disco Funk

Thanks for pointing me to that thread, I figured it had been spoken about earlier somewhere on this site. Always a wealth of information to be found here, thanks for all the responses.

[the disco kid]

I have the RCA one-sided pro 12" of "Until We Said Goodbye". It's one of my favorite pieces. I've never seen, nor heard the rest of the LP.

Stephen, I am officially jealous! :icon_mrgreen:
Now that's a rare 12" single.

[Disco Funk]

Stephen, I am officially jealous! :icon_mrgreen:
Now that's a rare 12" single.

It wasn't too expensive when I found it a few years ago. It's one sided, if I recall correctly. My copy had a plain red sleeve. The mix is slightly different from the LP mix, so its worth checking out.

I hope you enjoy digging through the information! I also created a thread a year or so again that asked if anyone else thought Van McCoy's sound was a sub genre unto itself. From around 1975 onward, he had a distinctive musical arrangement that unfortunately changed in '78. The only other producer who I feel got close to that sound was Bert DeCoteaux who had a mixture of Van McCoy and Philly in his music from around late '74 to '76. I guess it didn't hurt that he also used some of the same musicians McCoy did, and I believe they both recorded at Media Sounds in NYC.

Here's an example of a DeCoteaux production from that period. The beat and rhythm sound philly-esque, but the layered on orchestra and xylophone are Van McCoy-ish.



Disco Funk

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Stephen, I am officially jealous! :icon_mrgreen:
Now that's a rare 12" single.

I'll admit I've never seen another copy...maybe once, on eBay.
I got it from an RCA promoter I knew, back in '76, along with a couple other "old things":icon_lol: he had left over.