Hustle To Survive - Les McCann (1975) (1LP Vinyl)

Hustle To Survive by Les McCann.

Few artists straddled the line between soul, funk, and jazz quite like Les McCann, and "Hustle To Survive" finds him leaning fully into that expansive vision. Here McCann is not just the pianist you may know from the smoky organ combos and gospel-tinged trios; he arrives as a full creative force, credited with piano, electric piano, and clavinet, along with vocals, arranging, and conducting duties. This is McCann as auteur, shaping every dimension of the session.

The album opens with "Us" and moves through the warm, shifting textures of "Changing Seasons" before hitting the title cut, "Got To Hustle To Survive," a statement of purpose that anchors the A-side. "Butterflies / Everytime I See A Butterfly" closes the first half with a lighter, more lyrical touch, showcasing the range McCann brings to the electric keyboard and his voice.

Flip to the B-side and the record deepens its reach. "Says Who Says What?" and "Will We Ever Find Our Fathers" carry a searching, questioning spirit, while "Well, Cuss My Daddy" injects a bit of grit and attitude. The closing pair, "Why Is Now" and "Let Your Learning Be Your Eyes," turns reflective, letting McCann's gifts as an arranger and bandleader ring out through the final grooves.

The players surrounding him are locked in tight. Jimmy Rowser lays down the bass across most of the album, with Miroslaw Kudykowski adding guitar and acoustic guitar textures, Harold Davis on percussion, and Bert DeCoteaux serving as both arranger and conductor. DeCoteaux also shares production credit with McCann himself and Tony Silvester, a team that gives the record its polished, orchestrated sweep without losing the earthy pulse at its core.

The sound of this pressing is the product of serious studio pedigree. Sessions were tracked at Village Recorders in Los Angeles and at Media Sound Studios in New York, with recording engineers Alan Varner and Rick Heenan capturing the performances and Tim Kramer assisting. Harvey Goldberg handled the re-mix back at Media Sound, and Dennis King mastered the album at the legendary Atlantic Recording Studios in New York, giving the whole thing a rich, spacious presence.

For collectors chasing McCann's mid-period run, "Hustle To Survive" is a rewarding find, a record where soul-jazz ambition meets orchestral arrangement and personal vision. It rewards close listening and repeated spins, revealing new details in the interplay between McCann's keyboards, his vocals, and DeCoteaux's charts. Slip it onto the turntable and let McCann's world unfold.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Us
A2. Changing Seasons
A3. Got To Hustle To Survive
A4. Butterflies / Everytime I See A Butterfly
B1. Says Who Says What?
B2. Will We Ever Find Our Fathers
B3. Well, Cuss My Daddy
B4. Why Is Now
B5. Let Your Learning Be Your Eyes

Credits:
Bert DeCoteaux - Arranged By, Conductor
Jimmy Rowser - Bass (A1 to B1, B3 to B5)
Tim Kramer - Engineer [Assistant]
Harvey Goldberg - Engineer [Re-mix]
Alan Varner - Engineer [Recording]
Rick Heenan - Engineer [Recording]
Miroslaw Kudykowski - Guitar, Acoustic Guitar (A1 to B1, B3 to B5)
Dennis King - Mastered By
Harold Davis - Percussion (A1 to B1, B3 to B5)
Les McCann - Piano, Electric Piano, Clavinet (A1 to B1, B3 to B5)
Bert DeCoteaux - Producer
Les McCann - Producer
Tony Silvester - Producer
Les McCann - Vocals, Arranged By, Conductor

Notes:
Recorded at Village Recorders, Los Angeles, California and at Media Sound Studios, New York, N.Y.
Re-mixed at Media Sound Studios, New York, N.Y.
Mastered at Atlantic Recording Studios, N.Y., N.Y.

Artist: Les McCann

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Atlantic

Catalog Number: SD 1679

Release Year: 1975

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)