This is it! The record that helped put disco over in a huge way, with a sound that would go on to be heavily imitated for years to come. Sweeping disco production from Hugo & Luigi arranged and conducted by Van McCoy, already a studio mainstay by this point, coupled with a set of accessible numbers paved the way towards huge mainstream appeal for tracks like "The Hustle". This album also includes the title track, "Get Dancin", "Spanish Boogie", "Turn This Mother Out" plus covers of the Ohio Players' "Fire" and AWB's "Pick Up The Pieces". LP, Vinyl record album

Van McCoy at the top of his game – stepping out strongly into the limelight with this massive disco set – after working in the background for years as one of the best arrangers, producers, and songwriters in the east coast soul scene of the 60s and 70s! The title hit is obviously the standout number here, but the rest of the record's pretty great too – lots of tight, groovy little tracks that offer up a great blend of soul and class – much more basic and stripped down than the host of "Hustle" imitators that sprung up in the latter half of the 70s. Titles include "The Hustle", "Soul Cha Cha", "The Disco Kid", "Disco Baby", "Party", "Change With The Times", and "Love Is The Answer". LP, Vinyl record album

A clear follow-up to "The Hustle" (not on this album), with a number of tracks that come close to the genius of that track, but never quite manage it altogether. Van's on lead vocals, and the record's got some good keyboard work by Paul Griffin, Richard Tee, and Leon Pendarvis. Includes the Barry White-esque "Roll With The Punches", plus "Keep On Hustlin", "The Disco Kid", "I'm Gonna Love You", "Earthquake", and "The Walk". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent album of smooth soul tracks, and maybe Van's best record of the 70s! The record shows Van sitting at the piano in an intimate setting – ala Barry White – and it's got a similar Love Unlimited Orchestra approach, with much large backing behind Van's voice, and a very full instrumental sound. Van sings lead vocals, which aren't always that great – but he more than makes up for it with some great piano and keyboard work, and some wonderful soul songwriting and arranging that recall his best uptown moments of the late 60s. The record has a few uptempo hustle-type tracks, but they're all pretty darn great soul songs, and there's loads of great mellow soul moments woven in to make the record a nice album of ballads and groovers. Titles include "Before & After", "Wings Of Love", "My Favorite Fantasy", "That's The Story Of My Life", and "You're So Right For Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet overview of the Van McCoy songbook from the early 60s to early 70s – and a stellar compilation from Ace Records – a label that's gone above and beyond in its efforts to shine a light on the songwriters and producers behind some of most moving songs of the era! The breadth ofMcCoy's talent is pretty amazing, all the more so given his huge disco era hit "The Hustle", a world away from the soaringly emotional soul songs he penned for top shelf singers like Betty Everett, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Nancy Wilson, Donny Hathaway, Erma Franklin, Jerry Butler and more – many of the best of which are compiled here! 24 tracks in all: "I Got The Sweetest Feeling" by Erma Franklin, "Getting Mighty Crowded" by Betty Everett, "Baby I'm Yours" by Barbara Lewis, "Sotp And Get A Hold Of Myself" by Gladys Knight & The Pips, "So Soon" by Aretha Franklin, "Giving Up" by Donny Hathaway, "Nothing Worse Than Being Alone" by The Ad Libs, "I've Lost You" by Jackie Wilson and many more. CD

Aretha Franklin's definitely growing into her role as a soul sister here – a later date for Columbia Records that hints a bit at the sounds to come on Atlantic! Backings are by Robert Mersey and Belford Hendricks – both of whom use some relatively full orchestrations and occasional backing vocals – in ways that almost translate a 60s country soul aesthetic to a leaner, cleaner sound for Aretha's strong vocals. Franklin, as always, is great – the kind of singer that really illuminates any tune she gets – even familiar numbers that seem to take on new life in her hands. The material is a bit deeper-digging than before on Columbia – less covers, and more tunes that are well-suited to Aretha's sensibilities – including a few penned by Van McCoy or Hendricks. Titles include "Until You Were Gone", "Follow Your Heart", "A Mother's Love", "I'm Losing You", "Take A Look", and "Can't You See Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A vocal group classic from back in the day – the one and only full length set issued by The Presidents – one of those east coast groups who really knew how to knock it out of the park! Van McCoy handles the production, and wrote and arranged most of the tracks too – and the record's got that careful approach he brought to all of his best late 60s indie work, but touched with some great 70s currents that really echo nicely with the generation of the Stylistics, Moments, and Delfonics! The set includes the big title cut "Years Of Love" – plus "Gotta Keep Movin", "For You", "Sweet Magic", "This Is My Dream World", and "How Can You Say You're Leavin". LP, Vinyl record album

Later Motown work from David Ruffin, but still pretty darn great – thanks to vocals that rise to the top, no matter what the tune! The album was co-produced by Van McCoy and Charles Kipps, with arrangements by McCoy – but the overall sound is light years away from some of Van's poppier albums of the time – much more in line with the kind of classy soul that we'd come to expect in Ruffin's music. There's a Philly sparkle to many of the tunes, and titles include "I Can't Stop The Rain", "Nightmare", "You're My Piece Of Mind", "Questions", "I'm Jealous", "Rode By The Place", and "Hey Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

David Ruffin at the height of his solo powers – working in that mature mix of soul and strings that made him one of the more sophisticated Motown talents of the time! The set's produced and arranged by Van McCoy – at a level that's maybe more Philly soul than the Detroit sounds of David's roots – and the singer's vocals open up beautifully as he hits a few upbeat groovers, and some especially nice midtempo tracks that really make the album shine! McCoy also wrote most of the songs, too – and titles include the classic "Walk Away From Love", one of Ruffin's sweetest numbers ever – plus the tracks "Who I Am", "Wild Honey", "Statue Of A Fool", "Heavy Love", "It Takes All Kind Of People To Make A World", "Love Can Be Hazardous To Your Health", and "The Finger Pointers". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album of deep deep soul! Recorded way before Sharon Ridley became a big club diva, this record mixes deep soul vocal stylings with some well produced Van McCoy arrangements, and backing by some crack New York players. The result is one of the best female vocal soul albums we can think of from the early 70s – and the kind of lost soul album that makes you keep tracking down rare wax! Includes the incredible cut "You Sold Me A One Way Ticket", which begins with an amazing intro, and has a hook so strong you could hang a parka on it – plus the cuts "Stay A While With Me", "I Found Him, I Loved Him, I Lost Him", and "When A Woman Falls In Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A dancing soul party, but one that's got a nice sort of focus too – not a completely random collection of cuts, but one that features a fair bit of very early work from Van McCoy, and some great group soul too! Unlike a DJ set in the clubs, the collection's got no problem with mixing together a few tracks in a row by certain artists – which does a great job of compartmentalizing the big run of 25 tracks that make up the set – almost all unusual numbers that really keep things interesting! Titles include "Help Is On The Way", "The Woman Who Made Me A Man", "Ain't Got No Love", "Generation Gap", "Back Tracking", "Just Another Dress Rehearsal", and "If I Could Make You Mine" by Van McCoy; "Appreciation", "Giving Up", and "If She Wants Him" by The Ad-Libs – plus "Funky Drop" by The Soul Suspects, "I'm Stuck On You" and "Merry Christmas Baby" by The Poets, "Hold On Baby" and "It Hurts So Bad" by Sam Hawkins, "I'm Your Love Man" and "If Change Don't Come Soon" by The Lost Souls, "When I Fall In Love" by The Imperial Wonders, and "Ain't It Funny What Love Can Do" by Kenny Young. (Funky Compilations, Soul) CD

Arranged by Van McCoy – with tracks that include "I'm Ready For A New Love", "Keep Me Baby", "Don't Pity Me", "You Never Were My Friend", "Find What You Need", and "People In Love Oughta Be Together". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album of deep deep soul! Recorded way before Sharon Ridley became a big club diva, this record mixes deep soul vocal stylings with some well produced Van McCoy arrangements, and backing by some crack New York players. The result is one of the best female vocal soul albums we can think of from the early 70s – and the kind of lost soul album that makes you keep tracking down rare wax! Includes the incredible cut "You Sold Me A One Way Ticket", which begins with an amazing intro, and has a hook so strong you could hang a parka on it – plus the cuts "Stay A While With Me", "I Found Him, I Loved Him, I Lost Him", and "When A Woman Falls In Love". CD also features the bonus track "Scandal In Bedrock (single mix)". CD

Warm and wonderful soul from David Ruffin – key proof that the singer could keep on going strong, long after his earlier fame at Motown! The record's got a new sense of sophistication that really breaks David into new territory – a style that's nicely different than the backings Ruffin got from Van McCoy in his later Motown years – and which opens up a more mature sound, courtesy of producer Don Davis – who's casting Ruffin in the same blend of rough and smooth that worked so well for The Dramatics! There's a sophistication here that's completely sublime – a sound that's right up there with Leroy Hutson or Leon Ware – and most tunes hit a mellow or midtempo mode that's totally great! Tracks include "Chain On The Brain", "Break My Heart", "Morning Sun Looks Blue", "Let Your Love Rain Down On Me", "So Soon We Change", and "Sexy Dancer". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Van McCoy, Blackbyrds, Gwen McCrae, Sugarloaf, Styx, Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes, Stylistics, Hot Chocolate, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Gloria Gaynor, Carol Douglas, Kool & The Gang, Billy Preston, George McCrae, Jim Gilstrap, Hues Corporation, Kiss, and BT Express. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Billy Preston, Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony, Brass Construction, Ramsey Lewis & Earth, Wind & Fire, Electric Light Orchestra, Deodato, Gary Glitter, Chakachas, and more – 18 tracks total. (Rock, Soul) CD

Soaring soul from Melba Moore – a singer who really came into her own with this sweet 70s album! Melba always had a great voice, right from the start – but here, she's working with arrangements and production by Van McCoy – updating her sound with a bit of a clubby groove, in a way that helps Moore reach even greater heights than usual – and cross over to a big audience with ears for the growing disco sounds of the time! McCoy really knows how to pitch things right – and overall, the album's got a much deeper feel than some of his own disco work of the time – thanks, no doubt, to Melba's rich vocal approach. Titles include "So Many Mountains", "Good Love Makes Everything Alright", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "The Greatest Feeling", "Mighty Clouds Of Joy", and "Ain't No Love Lost". LP, Vinyl record album

A vocal group classic from back in the day – the one and only full length set issued by The Presidents – one of those east coast groups who really knew how to knock it out of the park! Van McCoy handles the production, and wrote and arranged most of the tracks too – and the record's got that careful approach he brought to all of his best late 60s indie work, but touched with some great 70s currents that really echo nicely with the generation of the Stylistics, Moments, and Delfonics! The set includes the big title cut "Years Of Love" – plus "Gotta Keep Movin", "For You", "Sweet Magic", "This Is My Dream World", and "How Can You Say You're Leavin". CD

Mid-period Stylistics, recorded after their association with Thom Bell and Linda Creed, and during the time that the group was handled by Hugo & Luigi. H&L do an ok job with them, and they've got Van McCoy handling arrangements to add a bit more soul to the mix – but the record is still down a few notches from the classic years. The album includes one last Thom Bell arrangement – the group's huge "You Make Me Feel Brand New" – plus other cuts like "Love Is The Answer", "I Got Time On My Hands", "I Got A Letter", and "We Can Make It Happen Again", perhaps the group's wish for a bigger hit. LP, Vinyl record album

A dozen tracks from McFadden & Whitehead, Andrea True Connection, Silver Convention, Rose Royce, Van McCoy, A Taste Of Honey, Hues Corporation, Evelyn King, Blondie, Vicki Sue Robinson, The Sylvers and Cher. CD

An incredible album of deep deep soul! Recorded way before Sharon Ridley became a big club diva, this record mixes deep soul vocal stylings with some well produced Van McCoy arrangements, and backing by some crack New York players. The result is one of the best female vocal soul albums we can think of from the early 70s – and the kind of lost soul album that makes you keep tracking down rare wax! Includes the incredible cut "You Sold Me A One Way Ticket", which begins with an amazing intro, and has a hook so strong you could hang a parka on it – plus the cuts "Stay A While With Me", "I Found Him, I Loved Him, I Lost Him", and "When A Woman Falls In Love". CD also features the bonus track "Scandal In Bedrock (single mix)". CD