Anyone know who originally recorded this Van McCoy gem?

This is the only one I know of, who else did it?

Tommy Hunt sang it on Atlantic  (2278), and that version came out first.  Both versions are great recordings.

Edited February 1, 201411 yr by RobbK

I never realised Tommy Hunt did it Robb, although I am aware of his Atlantic side "I don't want to lose you" which is the other side of "Hold on" - Until now I hadn't connected them as Van McCoy songs.

 

45 Cat has this down as a 1965 release, with Marvin Smith as a 1967 release.

There is another recording, earlier than MS, a group, i think. It is on a cd which I cant find, poss a Goldmine cd. Didnt know about Tommy H.

Here's the Tommy Hunt.  Another brilliant Van McCoy composition. 

Folk might have noticed that the Kent Release of this from the tapes that appeared on the Kent Tommy hunt LP back in the 8'ts, is allot different than the Atlantic 45, think I prefer the Kent one over the Atlantic one.

 

As for Marvin Smith's version, one of my favourite 45's that, I always thought the way they did that recording at Brunswick, was like Chicago's answer to Motown..its just fabulous...the orchestration is outstanding.

 

Fabulous song, all the versions....

 

Malcolm

Edited February 2, 201411 yr by Mal C

Can anyone post a link to the Kent version of Tommy Hunt's "Hold On"?  I'm very curious to hear it.

..

Edited February 3, 201411 yr by Mal C

Do you know what Robb, I might have egg on my face, cant see that listed on the LP, but I know it exists, cause when I got the Atlantic 45, I distinctly remember it being different, and I'd wished I had the version I'd heard first, let me do some checking...

Sleeve Notes on the Kent LP is by Clive Richardson, as follows:

Now while the sequence of events appears fairly accurate in its Chronology there is a slight aberration dating from 1965. Michael Ruppli's Discography (Greenwood Press, 1984) lists a Chicago session in February 1965 yielding "Some things Take Time" while a 45 coupling I Don't want to Lose you / Hold On, Both written by Van McCoy appeared in 1965, listed as 'Purchased Master' and sounding like a New York Production.

Malcolm

Edited February 3, 201411 yr by Mal C

Do you know what Robb, I might have egg on my face, cant see that listed on the LP, but I know it exists, cause when I got the Atlantic 45, I distinctly remember it being different, and I'd wished I had the version I'd heard first, let me do some checking...

Sleeve Notes on the Kent LP is by Clive Richardson, as follows:

Now while the sequence of events appears fairly accurate in its Chronology there is a slight aberration dating from 1965. Michael Ruppli's Discography (Greenwood Press, 1984) lists a Chicago session in February 1965 yielding "Some things Take Time" while a 45 coupling I Don't want to Lose you / Hold On, Both written by Van McCoy appeared in 1965, listed as 'Purchased Master' and sounding like a New York Production.

Malcolm

I'm sure that Van McCoy produced that session in New York, and that the master was purchased by Atlantic.  Otherwise there would have been at least two Tommy Hunt singles released by Atlantic.