One of Van McCoy's Last Releases : Johnny Nash

[remicks]

*****

As Disco Funk mentioned , it was thirty years ago this month: July 6th, 1979 that Van McCoy passed away.

This LP came out that year:



Three songs here were produced and arranged by Van McCoy

WONDERFUL WOMAN
DON'T FORGET
LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER
these three songs are very true to the McCoy sound and are easily recognizable as his work ... DON'T FORGET being the most adventuresome

The other songs on the LP are produced and arranged by Odell E. Brown JR.

a name you don't find around much ... (did he produce anything besides part of this LP ??)... except that ....he was a close associate of Marvin Gaye ....he had a hand in GOT TO GIVE IT UP ( keyboard and synths) and co-wrote with Marvin SEXUAL HEALING.

Once you are aware of that, it's hard not to wonder if some of this was some work intended for Marvin who was missing in action around this time ....Johnny Nash has that same falsetto type vocalizing and maybe that's one reason Odell Brown chose to work with him.

Besides the three songs already mentioned , Van McCoy and Charles Kipps remixed CLOSER & LET's GO DANCING

One other note:
the slow tempo "disco" song LET'S GO DANCING
was written by

Joan Armatrading!!!:icon_eek::icon_eek::icon_eek:

Let's go dancing
Let's do the disco
Come on come on come on reggae
let's do the bus stop
let's worrrrrrrrm all night long
Freak!
come on let's freak
let's go dancing
All night long
I've got the fever

Not to disrespect Johnny Nash but its hard not to wonder how Marvin Gaye might have further enriched this song in that sultry way of his ..... it might have even taken hold in the clubs if it were additionally layered with his creative influence .....


*****

oh yes
Faith Hope & Charity (minus Diane Destry )and Zulema are on here too

[Disco Funk]

Thanks for that info, Remicks. I wasn't aware of this project. I'll definitely have to check it out.

Incidentally, 'Wonderful Woman' was previously recorded by Van McCoy with the group State Department in '75. It was the flip side to 'I'm Counting On You', which would also be remade by another artist Van produced a couple of years later - Peaches & Herb.

Johnny Nash did another great crossover project in '75. He recorded the LP Tears on My Pillow. There are certain tracks on that record produced by Bunny Sigler, using the Instant Funk group as backing. i.e. A philly record!

Disco Funk

[tmob]

One other note:
the slow tempo "disco" song LET'S GO DANCING
was written by
Joan Armatrading!!!:icon_eek::icon_eek::icon_eek:

Well, she's not a total stranger to dance music--don't forget that in 1986, there was a great remix of her "Kind Words (and a Real Good Heart)" that got some club play.

[markydefad]

I liked this dance-oriented rocker from Joan Armatrading... here's a "live" version of that 1983 tune..."(I Love When You) Call Me Names"....very S&M!