Sample Van's songs from the 1960's by clicking on the notes next to the songs below.
 
 ABRACADABRA AIN'T IT FUNNY WHAT LOVE CAN DO ALL I NEEDED WAS YOU
ANSWER IS YOU, THE AS LONG AS YOU ARE MINE  BABY DON'T TEASE ME
BABY I MISS YOU  BABY I'M YOURS BABY IT'S WONDERFUL
BABY STAY IN LOVE WITH ME BABY YOU'RE MINE  BABY'S BLUE
BABY'S GONE BACK TRACKING BACK WITH MY BABY
BAD BOY BE MINE FOREVER BEFORE AND AFTER
BIG CITY BABY BIG PARADE BILLY
BOYS HAVE FEELINGS TOO BUTTERFLY CAN'T GET HER OFF MY MIND
CAN'T HE TAKE A HINT CHAIN REACTION CHILD'S PRAYER
CHRISTINE CHRISTMAS BLUE CLOSE TO YOU
COME BACK AND GET THIS LOVIN... COME ON COME ON CRYIN TIME
DEEP DOWN IN MY HEART DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, A DIDN'T I TELL YOU
DO YOU REALLY LOVE ME DOIN' THINGS TOGETHER WITH YOU DON'T BREAK MY PRETTY BALLOON
DON'T FIGHT IT BABY DON'T THINK MY BABY'S ... DON'T YOU KNOW LOVE
DOUBLE TROUBLE DREAM GIRL EASY TO FORGET
 EITHER WAY I LOSE EMPTY WORDS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
 EVERYBODY LOVES A GOOD TIME FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF  FIRST KISS
 FOLLOW YOUR HEART FOR MYSELF FOR OLD TIMES SAKE
 FOR YOU FOUNTAIN OF LOVE FUNNY WHAT TIME CAN DO
GEE WHAT A BOY  GEE WHAT A GUY GET UP NOW
 GETTIN' MIGHTY CROWDED  GIVING UP GONE
 GONNA BE READY GOOD BOYFRIEND IS HARD TO FIND, A  GOOD OLD DAYS OF ROCK AND ROLL
GOODBYE, STRANGER GOTTA FIND A WAY GOTTA TELL SOMEBODY
GUARDIAN ANGELS HAPPINESS IS JUST ... HARD WAY TO GO
HAVEN'T GOT WHAT IT TAKES HELP ME HE'S A KINDA SHY GUY
HE'S MY GUY HEY LOVER HOLD ON
HOOKED ON YOU HOUSE THAT LOVE BUILT HOW BEAUTIFULLY YOU LIE
HOW COULD I STEAL WHAT SHE... HOW LONG WILL IT LAST  
 
Bobby Reed
Kenni Woods
Kenny Young
Chris Bartley
Van with Mitch Miller
Nighttime is Lonely Time Album Cover
In the early 1960’s Van was hired as songwriter for Florence Greenberg’s Scepter Records. He later became a staff writer for Columbia Record’s publishing arm, April Blackwood Music. Van worked with A&R man David Kapralik to bring new talent to Columbia’s “Date” label, and formed the renowned duo, “Peaches & Herb.”

Van moved to Englewood, NJ and next door to Kendra Spotswood, an aspiring singer. He recorded her as Kenny Woods and she and his brother, Norman, became his background singers. They turned out several singles with made up names such as Jack & Jill, Fantastic Vantastics, Ray Raymond, Tony Talent & Sandi Sheldon. Van and Kendra were engaged but his budding recording venture wrecked their wedding plans. A shake up at Columbia later ousted music personnel, including Van McCoy and his mentor, the famed Mitch Miller.

During the 60’s decade, Van was a prolific song and ballad writer. He developed his unique orchestration and production style using strings, horns and all of the orchestral instruments. His staccato beat, scatting strings and full instrument blasts, became the McCoy signature that characterizes his works.