"My Favorite Fantasy" was a 1978 hit single by American musician, composer and producer

Van McCoy Van Allen Clinton McCoy (January 6, 1940 – July 6, 1979) was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter and singer. He is known for his 1975 internationally successful hit " The Hustle". He has approximately 700 song copyrights to his c ...

. It was from his album of the same name. Featuring McCoy himself on vocals, it charted in the United States, Canada and the UK. It registered in the ''

Billboard Magazine ''Billboard'' (stylized in lowercase since 2013) is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events and styles related to th ...

'', ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'', ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of three major weekly music industry trade magazines in the United States, with ''Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 as ''Music Vendor''. In 1964, it was changed to ''Record World'' under the ...

'', ''

RPM Weekly ''RPM'' ( and later ) was a Canadian music-industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. ''R ...

'' and ''

Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper published between 1954 and 1991, aimed at pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after ''New Musical Express'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK Album ...

'' charts.

Background

"My Favorite Fantasy" comes from McCoy's album ''My Favorite Fantasy'' which was made up of original McCoy compositions and was co-produced with Charles Kipps. While "My Favorite Fantasy" was charting, another composition of his, "

Don't Pity Me "Don't Pity Me" was a hit for Faith Hope & Charity in 1978. A Van McCoy composition, it made it onto the ''Billboard'', ''Cash Box'', and ''Record World'' music charts. Background Early version Former 1976 Eurovision British contestant Louisa Jan ...

" by

Faith Hope & Charity Faith Hope and Charity was the name of a vocal group from Tampa, Florida. They are best known for their 1975 hit record, hit, "To Each His Own (Faith, Hope & Charity song), To Each His Own". They were also an in-demand group of session singers ...

was seeing chart action in the same ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' and ''

'' charts. The album was reviewed in the March 25 issue of ''Billboard''. The reviewer noted that McCoy seemed to have mellowed in his direction musically. A Top Album Pick, the songs "That's the Story of My Life", "Two Points", " Before and After", "Wings of Love" plus "You're So Right for Me" etc. were recommended as "Best cuts", but "My Favorite Fantasy" wasn't selected then. Two weeks later, it was in the Soul recommended section of ''Billboards Top Single Picks for the week of April 8, 1978. Released on MCA 40885, the song was one of the ''

'' Single Picks for April 8, 1978. Referring to the song as a melodic dance number and an r&b natural with wistful and amorous lyrics, the reviewer also noted McCoy's capability as a vocalist and producer. Also in the same issue, along with the sleeper, " Woman to Woman" by

Barbara Mandrell Barbara Ann Mandrell (born December 25, 1948) is an American retired country music singer and musician. She is also credited as an actress and author. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was considered among country's most successful mus ...

and the album, ''Let's Get Together'' by the Detroit Emeralds, it was one of the three R&B Picks of the week. The reviewer there noted the strong backbeat which led to heavy danceable rhythm. The song was also issued on 12" 45.

Charts and airplay

''Billboard''

The single debuted at No. 88 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Soul Singles chart for the week ending April 29, 1978. From May 20 to June 3 (week 6) it stayed at the peak position of #76. Also on that week, his composition, "Don't Pity Me" by

had made its debut at #85. "My Favorite Fantasy" spent a total of eight weeks in the chart.

''Cash Box''

The song made its debut on the ''Cash Box'' Top 100 R&B chart on the week ending April 22, 1978. Being noted as one of the R&B Playlist Highlights, it was also seeing a fair amount of radio play action for that week. It was getting spins on Paul Childs' show at WIGO in Atlanta, Don Brooks's show at WWIN in Balitimore, E. Rodney Jones' show at WVON in Chicago, Mike Payne's show at WABQ in Cleveland and several others. It was also noted as the third most added r&b single at WESL, WABQ, KPRS, WJLB and WYLD for that week. At week 10, on June 24, the song peaked at #51. Also on the same chart that week, "Don't Pity Me" by Faith Hope & Charity was at 46.

''Record World''

The single made its debut on the ''Record World'' R&B Singles Chart at #67 on April 29, 1978. It peaked at #48 on week 8 on June 17.

''RPM Weekly''

By the week of May 27, the single was seeing some airplay in Canada. It was getting spins on the Pierre Borque show at CHRC in Quebec City. It also charted in Canada. On the week of June 10, it was making its debut at #50 on the RPM Adult Oriented Playlist. On the week of June 24 the A side was getting spins on David Collins Carter's show at

CKBW CKBW-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 98.1 FM in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. The station also operates in Liverpool at 94.5 and in Shelburne at 93.1. The station plays a classic hits format branded as ''CKBW''. CKBW is owned & oper ...

in Bridgewater while the B side "You're So Right For Me" was getting spun on Guy Bonnier's show at CHCL in Medley. It was now in its third week and had moved up to #42 on the RPM Adult Oriented Playlist chart. It peaked at #37 on the week of July 15 which was its sixth and final week in the chart.

''Record Mirror''

On the week of July 1, the record was getting air play on BRMB Radio. On the week of July 8, the record was one of the five records in the Radio One Record of the Week section, and a pick on Tony Blackburn's show. It was also a hit pick by Steve Hamilton on

Radio Forth Radio Forth is a group of two Independent Local Radio stations serving Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife. Radio Forth is owned and operated by Bauer, based at studios in Edinburgh and forms part of Bauer's Hits Radio network and Greatest Hits Radio ne ...

. By July 15, the record was getting played on

Radio Tees Hits Radio Teesside, formerly TFM, is an Independent Local Radio station for Teesside, England, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. The station is owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to areas of ...

. On the week of July 29, the 12" version issue of the record made its debut in the ''Record Mirror'' UK Disco Top 90 chart. Peaking at #70 on August 5, it spent a total of three weeks in the chart. It was still being played on the Radio City Playlist for the final week. * The single also came in at no. 10 in the twelve Male Vocalists - Highest Debuts section of the ''Cash Box'' 1978 Black Singles Winners.

Legacy

The song has achieved a degree of popularity on the

beach music Beach music, also known as Carolina beach music, and to a lesser extent, beach pop, is a regional genre of music in the United States which developed from rock/ R&B and pop music of the 1950s and 1960s. Beach music is most closely associate ...

circuit, and was part of the WWER playlist for 28 September 2021, Brian Brewer's Weekend Beach Party on WQFS 90.9 FM for 24 February 2024, the WSGE playlist for 1 September 2024, and the Beach Waves Radio playlist. The song appears on beach music compilation, ''The Beach Music Anthology Vol. 3'',AllMusic
Beach Music Anthology, Vol. 3 Various Artists, Track Listing, 10 My Favorite Fantasy, Van McCoy
/ref>

References

{{reflist

External links

* Van McCoy - Topic Channel
My Favorite Fantasy
* Metropolitan Soul Channel
My Favourite Fantasy ~ Van McCoy
Songs written by Van McCoy American disco songs Beach music songs 1978 singles Van McCoy songs Song recordings produced by Van McCoy Song recordings produced by Charles Kipps