Category Archives: throwback weekends

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Song of the Day #6,208: ‘The Hustle’ – Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony

Throwing back to the week of July 5, 1975, we find Van McCoy and The Soul City Symphony atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘The Hustle,’ an instrumental disco track by Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony. McCoy was a prolific songwriter and producer, with more than 700 credits to his name (most recorded by other people), but this is his best-known release.

‘The Hustle’ is one of only 25 instrumental tracks to top the Hot 100. Despite the repeated chants of “Do it!” and “Do the hustle!,” this is considered an instrumental because the main melody comes courtesy of something other than the vocals.

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Song of the Day #6,202: ‘Wooly Bully’ – Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

The top of the Hot 100 was pretty stacked the week of June 29, 1965. At #1 was ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)’ by Four Tops, followed by The Rolling Stones’ ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.’ Then came The Byrds ‘Mr. Tambourine Man.’

And if that grouping isn’t eclectic (and great) enough for you, there was Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs with their biggest hit, ‘Wooly Bully.’

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Song of the Day #6,201: ‘A Blossom Fell’ – Nat King Cole

Throwing back to the week of June 28, 1955, we find two repeats atop the Billboard pop chart: Perez Prado’s ‘Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)’ (enjoying quite a run), and Bill Haley & His Comets’ ‘Rock Around the Clock,’ which I posted a couple of months back to recognize The Comets’ inclusion in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

In third place is a ballad by Nat King Cole titled ‘A Blossom Fell.’ This song spent 20 weeks on the chart and peaked at #2 in late July.

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Song of the Day #6,195: ‘Sussudio’ – Phil Collins

The week of June 22, 1985, found Bryan Adams topping the Hot 100 with ‘Heaven.’ It was Adams’ first #1 hit, one of four in his career. Interestingly, the other three were all movie themes: ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It For You’ from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, ‘All for Love’ from The Three Musketeers, and ‘Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?’ from Don Juan DeMarco.

Alas, I featured ‘Heaven’ ten years ago during a week of songs by Canadians tied to a family vacation, so you don’t get to hear that banger of a power ballad today.

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Song of the Day #6,194: ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’ – Captain & Tennille

Throwing back to the week of June 21, 1975, we find the husband and wife duo Captain & Tennille atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Love Will Keep Us Together,’ their debut single.

The track is a faithful cover of a Neil Sedaka song released a couple of years earlier. Toni Tennille gives a nod to Sedaka in the final seconds, singing “Sedaka is back” over the fade-out.

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