BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1979
“The Hustle” is a disco song by songwriter/arranger Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony. It went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts during the summer of 1975. It also peaked at number 9 on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report) and number 3 in the UK. It would eventually sell over one million copies and is one of the most popular songs of the disco era. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1976.
While in New York City to make an album, McCoy composed the song after his music partner, Charles Kipps, watched patrons do a dance known as “the Hustle” in the nightclub Adam’s Apple. The sessions were done at New York’s Media Sound studio with pianist McCoy, bassist Gordon Edwards, drummer Steve Gadd, keyboardist Richard Tee, guitarists Eric Gale and John Tropea, and orchestra leader Gene Orloff. Producer Hugo Peretti contracted piccolo player Philip Bodner to play the lead melody.
According to producers Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore, who owned the Avco record label that originally released “The Hustle”, McCoy met with them shortly before his death in 1979 to discuss ideas for a new, longer version of the song, in order to appease Avco’s UK and German affiliates who were clamoring for a 12″ disco single release. The new version, clocking in at just under 6-and-a-half minutes, was assembled posthumously as a remix, using parts of the original recording plus new parts, including drum, Syndrum, and a “little” Moog synthesizer. It was credited to Van McCoy alone or with an unnamed orchestra, mixed by “The Mix Masters”, identity unknown.
The b-side “Love Is The Answer” is also an extended “Disco Mix” but not credited as such on sleeve.
SIDE A:
The Hustle (Disco Mix) 6:27
SIDE B:
Love Is The Answer (Disaco Mix) 8:12
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | The Hustle | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #1 |
| 1976 | The Hustle | U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: H & L Records – 9198 436
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1979
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco
CREDITS:
Disco Mix By – The Mix Masters
Arranged By – Van McCoy
Conductor – Van McCoy
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Ohhhh!!! This is a very nice surprise. It brings lots of beautiful memories to me. This song was the motif of a small mini-program on the Canal 13 Chilean television on late 70’s, called “La Moda al Día” (Fashion to date, more or less). Loved this sweet song.
Thank you for your enormous efforts giving us these moments of happiness.
🙂
I agree with several of the others: I miss Disco Fridays. Thanks for posting this. I’ve never heard this version. Actually, never even knew it existed.
Thank you very much Paul. It takes me back to school discos.
Well, it’s a Disco Classic and a nice 70’s style Disco Mix, but I would much prefer an 80s
style disco or dance mix with fat kicks, snares and claps. A great example what I’m talking about is Linda Fields and the Funky Boys – Shame, Shame, Shame (New Disco Version)from 1983, remake of a song they originally recorded in 1975 and which in turn was a cover of the 1974 Shirley and Company hit.
https://www.discogs.com/Linda-Fields-The-Funky-Boys-Shame-Shame-Shame-/master/238175
I have it on a CD compilation, can’t find a video or audio-clip of it online for you to hear what I mean.
I’ll be honest here, I do miss Disco Fridays. This may not be the case here, but I am glad to see a disco track today!
Thanks for this mix! Indeed a pleasant surprise!!
This is a great song to end the week. Fantastic song to remember how well we can move on the dance floor, back in the days.
Thanks Paul.
Great track Paul, the 70’s and 80’s produced some classics!
In the 70’s I loved the Starsky & Hutch theme (I still do),
there were four different versions by three composers:
Season 1 Lalo Schifrin
Season 2 Tom Scott, the track was called “Gotcha”
Season 3 Mark Snow
Season 4 Tom Scott “Gotcha” (reworked)
Do you have any of these in stereo, please.
Sorry JD I don’t at this time 🙂
Thanks for posting this one; it’s great to have a “Disco Friday”! I didn’t know this version existed and it’s nice to be able to hear it, thanks to you!
You’re welcome VanceMan it’s always fun to do some disco tracks 🙂
It’s so nice to have a “Disco Friday” Paul!! Thank you so much for the disco version of this classic Classic!! I’m quite pumped over it. My Dad loved this song because it wasn’t as crazy as the music I would try to get him and my Mom into. No crazy mult-edits and frenzied sampling for my parents.
Hey, thanks again for the very special weeks you showcased Prince inspirations and productions. You are so marvelous Paul!!
Have a great weekend!!!
Jeff
You’re welcome Jeff have a great weekend 🙂
Fantastic surprise Paul !! Many, many thanks 🙂
You’re welcome Jay65 🙂