VARIOUS ARTISTS
THE SWEETEST FEELING A VAN MCC

The songs of the late Van McCoy have been part of the soundtrack to everyone’s life for more than fifty years. He became a hit artist in his own right in the mid-70s, thanks to ‘The Hustle’, but it’s his creativity as a composer/arranger in the 60s that has beguiled soul fans. Universally-admired figures, McCoy has long been overdue for an appearance in Ace/Kent’s ongoing songwriter and producer series. “The Sweetest Feeling” affords Van the kind of salute that talent of his stature deserves. There will be a second volume of Van’s songs and productions from Kent next year, concentrating primarily on the tracks that have filled Northern and crossover soul dancefloors over the past 40 years. “The Sweetest Feeling” is a more across the board affair that offers a spellbinding selection of sumptuous ballads, uptown and big city soul classics, national chart smashes – and, of course, more than a few of those tried and trusted Northern favourites. Featured artists, including Jackie Wilson, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Erma Franklin, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Butler, Esther Phillips, Irma Thomas and Chuck Jackson, show that McCoy ‘s songs were invariably given the VIP treatment by the biggest stars in the soul firmament. Van McCoy was only 39 when he died, leaving a catalogue of material that was as excellent as it was abundant. Very few soul songwriters have ever matched quality and quantity to quite the same lasting effect. The 24 songs featured on “The Sweetest Feeling” offer full proof of his all-around talents and will leave everyone eager for more.