Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony was a musical ensemble led by Van McCoy. The group had several hits during the 1970s. Their biggest hit was "The Hustle".
Background The ensemble which was led by Van McCoy had three charting hits in the 1970s. They were "Love is the Answer", "Boogie Down", and "The Hustle".MusicVF.com - Van McCoy Top Songs, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography
Career Love is the Answer (album) The Love is the Answer album was reviewed in the 26 August 1974 issue of Billboard. The review was positive with the reviewer saying that the soul hits from a number of sources, either funky tunes or soft ballads worked when arranged with a symphony orchestra. The reviewer said that the vocals on some of the tracks worked. "Touch Me in the Morning" and "Funky Feet" were singled out as the best cuts.Billboard, October 26, 1974 - Page 70 Billboard LPs *Continued from page 68, soul, VAN MCCOY AND THE SOUL CITY SYMPHONY - Love Is The Answer, Avco AV-60092.
"Love is the Answer" (single) The single "Love is the Answer" by Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony was from the album of the same name.Record World, August 10, 1974 - Page 39 It's a Great Year On the week of 15 June 1974 "Love is the Answer" by Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony was in the Record World editor Dede Dabney's Dede's Ditties to Watch list.Record World, June 15, 1974 - Page 28 Soul Truth By Dede Dabney, DEDE'S DITTIES TO WATCH:
On the week of 29 June, "Love is the Answer" debuted at no. 50 in the Billboard Top 50 Easy Listening singles chart.Billboard, June 29, 1974 - Page 47 Billboard Top 50 Easy Listening, This Week 50, Last Week -, Weeks on Chart 1
On the week of 27 July, "Love is the Answer debuted at no. 69 on the Record World R&B Singles chart. Record World, July 20, 1974 - Page 320 The R&B Singles ChartRecord World, August 3, 1974 - Page 32 The R&B Singles Chart Aug. 3 62, July 27 69 On the week of 3 August, "Love is the Answer" debuted at no. 96 in the Record World singles chart.Record World, August 3, 1974 - Page 27 The Singles Chart, Aug. 3 96, July 27 _, Wks on Chart 1 The following week (10 August) the single peaked at no. 92.Record World, August 10, 1974 - Page 27 The Singles Chart, Aug. 10 92, Aug. 3 96, Wks on Chart 2Record World, August 17, 1974 - Page 29 The Singles Chart, Aug 17 99, Aug. 10 92, Wks on Chart 3
On 24 August, "Love is the Answer" was at its second week at no. 51 on the Record World R&B Singles Chart.Record World, August 24, 1974 - Page 22 The R&B Singles Chart, Aug. 24 51, Aug. 17 51
Avco Records ran a full-page ad for the single which appeared in the 31 August issue of Billboard. It read "SEX IS NOT THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING "LOVE IS THE ANSWER" AV 4639 by Van McCoy &The Soul City Symphony". It also had short reports of the song by Tom McLaine, Program Director, CKGM /Montreal, John Bettencourt, Program Director, KL1V /San Jose, Dean Tyler Program Director, WIP /Philadelphia, and Ron Vance Program Director, WING /Dayton.Billboard, August 31, 1974 - Page 9 SEX IS NOT THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING "LOVE IS THE ANSWER" AV 4639 by Van McCoy &The Soul City Symphony Also that week, at week ten, the song peaked at no. 22 on the Billboard Easy Listening Top 50 chart.Billboard, August 31, 1974 - Page 30 Billboard Top 50 Easy Listening, This Week 22, Last Week 24< Weeks on Chart 10
On June 19, 1975, Van McCoy was in Montreal, Canada. He attended a reception at the Limelight night club, which was hosted by Quality Records. There he was presented with a giant award with the inscription, "Presented to Van McCoy by Quality Records Limited, in recognition of "Love Is the Answer" for the song's achieving hit status in Quebec. The function was to also commemorate the first concert appearance of Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony at the Montreal Forum the following day on the 20th.RPM Weekly. Volume 23. No. 20. July 12, 1975 - Page 4 COVER STORY, Van McCoy - Soul with disco power
"Boogie Down" "Boogie Down" backed with "A Rainy Night in Georgia" was released on Avco AV-4648.45Cat - Van McCoy And The Soul City Symphony - Discography, A: Boogie Down On the week of 1 February 1975 "Boogie Down" made its debut at no. 91 in the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.Billboard, February 1, 1975 - Page 36 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 91, NEW ENTRY On the week of 22 February, it peaked at no. 67 on the chart. It spent a total of five weeks in the chart.Billboard, February 22, 1975 - Page 42 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 67, Last Week 74 Weeks on Chart 4#Records and Charts - Van McCoy, “Boogie Down”
"The Hustle" "The Hustle" was a Pop Pick in the 12 April 1975 issue of Cash Box. The reviewer said that the song, a Hugo and Luigi production which was arranged and conducted by Van and his Soul City Symphony was a tapestry of vivid colors. The percussive undercurrent was noted and the reviewer said that it added spark to the production. The high chart potential was noted as well.Cash Box, April 12, 1975 - Page 24 cash box/singles reviews, pop picks, VAN McCOY (Avco AV 4653) The Hustle (3:27) (Van McCoy/Warner-Tamerlane/BMI - Van McCoy)
On the week of 19 July, "The Hustle" was at no. 1 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart.Cash Box, July 19, 1975 - Page 3 NUMBER ONE SINGLE OF THE WEEK THE HUSTLE VAN McCOYCash Box, July 19, 1975 - Page 4 Cash Box Top 100 Singles, 1 The Hustle Van McCoy (Avco AV 4653), 7/12 2, 7/5 4
Pictured on page 16 in the 2 August issue of Cash Box, Van McCoy was with Jim Tyrell, the vice-president of CBS Records. He was at the Seafood Playhouse where F.O.R.E. (Fraternity of Record Executives) had their 4th annual disco party the previous week. With executives from most other record companies present, Avco-Embassy records presented McCoy with his gold record for selling a million copies of "The Hustle". McCoy was also presented with a plaque by F.O.R.E. for his outstanding achievement in the music business.Cash Box, August 2, 1975 - Page 16 cash box / news F.O.R.E. Honors Van McCoy McCoy was also pictured on page 30 in the same issue with Frankie Crocker, holding his gold record for achieving a million and a half sales.Cash Box, August 2, 1975 - Page 30 Gold for the Hustle
Disco Baby (album) The album Disco Baby was also reviewed in the 12 April issue. The album was produced by Hugo & Luigi and released in the US on Avco AV 69006 in April 1975. It was a Cash Box Pop Pick. Referring to the ten tracks on the album as pistol packin' power, the reviewer also said that it would be hard to keep your feet from workin' out. The tracks singled out were, "Disco Baby", "Fire", "Doctor's Orders", "Pick Up the Pieces", and "Get Dancin'".Cash Box, April 12, 1975 - Page 27 cash box/album reviews, pop picks, DISCO BABY - Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony - Avco AV - 69006 - Producers: Hugo & Luigi
On the week of 19 April 1975, Disco Baby made its debut on the Cash Box 101 to 175 Albums chart.Cash Box, April 19, 1975 - Page 50 cash box top 100 albums cont'd 101 to 175, 175 DISCO BABY VAN MCCOY & THE SOUL CITY SYMPHONY (Avco AV 69006)
On the week of 10 May, Disco Baby debuted in the Cash Box Top 100 albums chart at no. 96.Cash Box, May 10, 1975 - Page 37 Cash Box Top 100 Albums, 96 Disco Baby, 5/3 158
On the week of 7 June, Disco Baby was at no. 9 in the Cash Box Top 50 R&B Albums chart.Cash Box, June 7, 1975 - Page 38 Top 50 R&B Albums, 9, VAN McCOY & THE SOUL CITY SYMPHONY (Avco AV 69006)
On the week of 28 June, Disco Baby peaked at no. 4 on the Cash Box Top 50 R&B Albums chart.Cash Box, June 28, 1975 - Page 32 Top 50 R&B Albums, 4 DISCO BABY Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony (Avco AV 69006), 5Cash Box, July 5, 1975 - Page 28 Top 50 R&B Albums, 6 DISCO BABY Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony (Avco AV 69006), 4
On the week of 12 July, Disco Baby had moved up from the previous week's position of no 13 to no. 10 on the Cash Box Top 100 Albums chart.Cash Box, July 12, 1975 - Page 45 Cash Box Top 100 Albums 10, Disco Baby, 7/5 13 It held that position for an additional two weeks.Cash Box, July 19, 1975 - Page 33 Cash Box Top 100 Albums, 10, Disco Baby, 7/12 10Cash Box, July 26, 1975 - Page 41 Cash Box Top 100 Albums, 10, Disco Baby, 7/19 10Cash Box, August 9, 1975 - Page 41 Cash Box Top 100 Albums, 24, Disco Baby, 8/2 12
Further activities It was reported by Cash Box in the magazine's 5 July 1975 issue that in the week before, Van McCoy and his Soul City Symphony orchestra made a first-time appearance at the Montreal Forum. The event was a sellout. Also, with "The Hustle" going gold the previous week and it currently at no. 4 with a bullet, Bud Katzel the vice-president an GM for Avco reported that the sales volume was continuing to build.Cash Box, July 5, 1975 - Page 10 cash box / news Page 10 “Hustle” Hits Million Mark
Musicians Bass, Gordon Edwards Drums, Herbie Lovelle Drums, Rick Marotta Guitar, David Spinozza Guitar, John Tropea Harp, Gloria Agostini Keyboards, Leon Pendarvis Keyboards, Richard Tee Keyboards, Van McCoy Horns, Bernie Glow Horns, Dominick Gravine Horns, Garnett Brown Horns, Jim Buffington Horns, Marvin Stamm Horns, Melvin Lincoln Davis Horns, Paul Faulise Horns, Robert Alexander Horns, Urbie Green Horns, Warren Covington Vibraphone, Dave Carey Vibraphone, George Devens Strings: Alfred Brown, Arnold Black, Charles McCracken, David Nadien, Emanuel Green, Emanuel Vardi, Gene Orloff, George Ricci, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, Joseph Malignaggi, Julien Barber, Kathryn Kienke, Kermit Moore, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Phil Bodner (also piccolo), Romeo Penque, Selwart Clarke Session Days - 1975 Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – Love Is The Answer, Musicians
Discography (USA or where otherwise specified) Singles Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony - "Love Is the Answer" / "Killing Me Softly" - Avco AV-4639 - 1974Soulful Kinda Music - Van McCoy, Van McCoy And The Soul City Symphony, Avco 4639 - Love Is The Answer / Killing Me Softly - 1974 Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony - "African Symphony" / "Boogie Down" - Avco AVCO 3000X - 1974 (Canada)45Cat - Van McCoy And The Soul City Symphony - Discography, Canada Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony - "Boogie Down" / "A Rainy Night in Georgia" - Avco AV-4648 - 1974 / 1975 Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony - "The Hustle" / "Hey Girl, Come and Get It" - Avco AV-4653 - 1975Soulful Kinda Music - Van McCoy, Van McCoy And The Soul City Symphony, Avco 4648 - Boogie Down / A Rainy Night In Georgia - 1975; Avco 4653 - The Hustle / Hey Girl, Come And Get It - 1975 Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – "Disco Baby" / "The Hustle" - Avco 16 049 AT (Germany, Netherlands)45Cat - Van McCoy And The Soul City Symphony - Discography, Netherlandshtparade.ch - Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – Disco Baby
Albums Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – Love Is the Answer - Avco AV-69002-698 - 1974Billboard, October 26, 1974 - Page 70 Billboard LPs *Continued from page 68, soul, VAN MCCOY AND THE SOUL CITY SYMPHONY - Love Is The Answer, Avco AV-60092. (NOTE: Billboard seems to be incorrectDiscogs - Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – Love Is The Answer Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – Disco Baby - Avco AV-69006 - 1975.Cash Box, April 12, 1975 - Page 27 cash box/album reviews, pop picks, DISCO BABY - Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony - Avco AV - 69006 - Producers: Hugo & Luigi
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