Which 1975 song by Van McCoy became a US one-hit wonder?

“The Hustle” made Van McCoy a US one-hit wonder in 1975.

Van McCoy composed and produced the instrumental disco track after observing the popularity of a dance called the hustle in New York clubs. The recording features a prominent orchestral arrangement, rhythmic percussion, and vocals by the Soul City Symphony, but it is primarily remembered as a dance instrumental.

“The Hustle” reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1975. It also topped the US Hot Soul Singles chart and helped make the hustle one of the decade’s best-known social dances. McCoy continued working as a songwriter and producer, but he did not return to the same level of pop-chart success as a solo artist.

The title refers to the dance rather than to a separate vocal story. That distinction explains why the song is often grouped with disco instrumentals rather than conventional singer-led hits.