Van McCoy & Friends - Dancin' (LP 1976 SSS International - Digital 2019 Remastered With Bonus Track) - Rare Soul (FLAC 141MB)

Here,s a great album i,ve loved and had for years, my copy is well worn so over the moon to get a digital copy, also released on Charly vinly only. Van Allen Clinton McCoy was born in Washington D.C. in 1940 and would go on to become an internationally acclaimed music producer, arranger, conductor and writer with over 700 songs to his credit. To the pop buying public he is known for his 1975 Grammy Award chart-topper “The Hustle”, which at the time of recording was a throw-away track on a low-budget instrumental album called Disco Baby. McCoy was unable to repeat the success, and within three years, in 1979, he died of a heart attack at the age of only 39. To rare soul fans Van McCoy is a Legend, THE most prolific writer and producer of Northern Soul of all time, working with a host of legendary artists including… Barbara Lewis, Jackie Wilson, The Vonettes, Gene Chandler, The Sweet things, Barbara Mercer, Irma Thomas, Ruby & The Romantics, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Bobby Reed, David Ruffin, The Ad libs, Billy Woods, Dee Dee Warwick, Chris Bartley, Tony Talent, Betty Everett, Juanita Williams, and Kendra Spotswood (aka Sandi Sheldon) with whom he had a five year relationship.The list is endless who he collaborated with. DANCIN’ was released by Shelby Singleton in 1976 on his SSS International label and attributed to Van McCoy & Friends, although none of the “friends” are actually listed on the album. Clearly this was released to cash in on the worldwide success of “The Hustle” and McCoy himself probably had little to do with it. All of the ten original songs were recorded much earlier, circa 1968-69, and all but three – “Sweet And Easy”, “If I Could Make you Mine” and “The Generation Gap” had been languishing, unheard and unreleased, in the Nashville vaults at that time. It is hard to believe that the album, with its corny cover and out of time track list, garnered any commercial success at the time, although it did get a release in Australia. However, copies soon filtered through into the UK and into the hands of club DJs at Wigan Casino with perhaps “Help Is On The Way” becoming the stand out track. Richard Searling played the mid-tempo “Just Another Dress Rehearsal” in the latter days of the club while unreleased instrumental versions of “Ain’t Got No Love” and “Dress Rehearsal” were played post Wigan. It has long been contested just who the mysterious vocalists are. Chris Bartley is the favourite, although Van himself almost certainly appears on some of the tracks. Either way, this is a cult album amongst soul fans, complete with the aforementioned, previously unreleased, instrumentals & a Bonus track included with this digital copy. Semi Vocal Album and still class from the one and only Van McCoy!..I,ve included my album covers and the bonus track is listed under the back cover.

AMM

                                                                                                  The Northern Tasters!

Digital Bonus Track 11 Ain't Got No Love (Inst)