THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

690-Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony-The Hustle.

1975-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.35.Strictly Come (Disco) Dancing.

Van Allen Clinton McCoy was born on January 6th, 1940, in Washington D.C.United States, he died of a heart attack on July 6th, 1979.At the time of his death he was credited with approximately 700 song copyrights. He wrote, and produced for some of the worlds biggest names, including Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and The Stylistics.His best known writing credits include ‘When You’re Young and in Love’ (The Marvelettes,) ‘I Get the Sweetest Feeling'(Jackie Wilson,) and ‘This is It'(Melba Moore,) he also mentored the original Soul duo ‘Peaches & Herb.

While in New York City, Van McCoy visited the nightclub ‘Adam’s Apple’ where he watched people doing a dance that was known locally as ‘The Hustle,’He composed the song to compliment the dance moves, and released it on his mainly instrumental 1975 Album ‘Disco Baby.’The song, when released as a single, became a Billboard Number 1 in 1975. This was the only top 40 hit for McCoy on Billboard, but in the UK he achieved a further three top 40 songs including ‘The Shuffle,’ which peaked at Number 4 in 1977.

‘The Hustle’ was produced by Hugo Peretti (1916-1986,) and Luigi Creatore (1921-2015,) and released on their ‘Avco’ record label. which would later on become ‘H&L’ records (see also best songs 194.) In 1979 after the death of McCoy, the record label commissioned a posthumous remix 12 inch version of the song,using parts of the original recording, plus added Synthesizer, this version was credited to Van McCoy alone, mixed by ‘The Mix Masters,’ whose identity was not revealed, the remix is well worth a listen.

‘Do the Hustle.’