The real McCoy
"The real McCoy" is an idiom and metaphor used in much of the English-speaking world to mean "the real thing" or "the genuine article", e.g., "he's the real McCoy". The phrase has been the subject of numerous false etymologies.
History
The phrase "The real McCoy" may be a corruption of the Scots "The real MacKay", first recorded in 1856 as: "A drappie o' the real MacKay," (A drop of the real MacKay). This appeared in a poem Deil's Hallowe'en published in Glasgow and is widely accepted as the phrase's origin.
In 1881, the expression was used in James S. Bond's The rise and Fall of the 'Union club'; or Boy life in Canada. A character says, "By jingo! yes; so it will be. It's the 'real McCoy,' as Jim Hicks says. Nobody but a devil can find us there."
The expression was used in 1920s flapper slang to describe something that was good or the best, most likely related to its origins in the prohibition era and Bill McCoy's rum-running operation.
The expression has also been associated with Elijah McCoy's oil-drip cup invention (patented in 1872). One theory is that railroad engineers looking to avoid inferior copies would request it by name, inquiring if a locomotive was fitted with 'the real McCoy system". This possible origin is mentioned in Elijah McCoy's biography at the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The original publication of this claim can be traced to an advertisement which appeared in the December 1966 issue of Ebony. The ad, for Old Taylor Bourbon whiskey, ends with the tag line: "...but the most famous legacy McCoy left his country was his name."
Real McCoy (band)
Real McCoy, originally known as M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy, is a German musical group, best known for their '90s singles "Another Night" and "Run Away", which were both Top 10 hits worldwide.
Biography
Formation
Real McCoy is the brainchild of German rapper and producer Olaf "O-Jay" Jeglitza. After having released a few limited edition 12" singles in Germany under various project names (e.g. The Alliance, The Admirers) on his own label "Freshline Records" (founded 1988 by Frank "Quickmix" Hassas & O-Jay), their first major breakthrough came in December 1989 when a cover of the Technotronic hit "Pump Up The Jam" went to No. 16 on the German singles chart. Juergen Wind joined the production team before the single was released.
At this point, the act was faceless so for the second single, the original track "It's on You", singer Patsy Petersen and 'rapper' Shampro were enlisted to join the group. O-Jay felt uncomfortable being the frontman, so Shampro mimed O-Jay's raps. The single, on its release in 1990, climbed to No. 11 in Germany. An album On The Move was also released.
Real McCoy (ferry)
The Real McCoy was a ferryboat that operated for 63 years from Rio Vista, California, and was the oldest and most reliable piece of equipment owned by the California Department of Transportation. During its operating life – making the trip 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and roughly 200 trips a day – totaling approximately 460,000 safe passages over the 800 foot gap in the Sacramento River delta, between Ryer Island and Rio Vista.
Notes
Podcasts:
Real McCoy
ALBUMS
- Another Night: Best of Real McCoy released: 2005
- It's on You 99 released: 1999
- Love and Devotion released: 1998
- Another Night released: 1995
- Space Invaders released: 1994
- On the Move! released: 1990
- Platinum & Gold Collection released:
- Singles Collection released:
- One More Time released:
On the Move!
Released 1990- On the Move (Intro)
- It's on You
- Be Yourself
- Serious (feat. Diamond Ross)
- McCoy's House (feat. Jay-Rapper)
- Don't Stop (a cappella version)
- Pump Up the Jam (original rap version)
- She's Gone
- Get on Up
- Que Pasa
- I Owe You Nothin'
- Cut the C.
- Pump Up the Jam Rap (US remix)
- It's On You (Allstars remix)
- Undercover
- Don't Stop (Single mix)
Singles Collection
- It's on You
- Automatic Lover (Call for Love)
- Pump Up the Jam (original rap version)
- Run Away (original rap version)
- Get on Up
- Love & Devotion (Summer mix)
- One More Time (original radio mix)
- Another Night
- I Owe You Nothin'
- Give a Little Love
- Come and Get Your Love (long version)
- How Deep Is Your Love?
- Take a Look at Your Life
- Don't Stop (single mix)
- Ooh Boy (extended single version)
- It's on You (Allstars remix)
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Automatic Lover (Call For Love)
by: Real McCoyCall for love
I would call you up
Cause you're my automatic lover, you're number one
Call for love
I would call you up
Cause you're my automatic (automatic),
My automatic lover
Can you feel the force
Yeah can you feel it, can you deal with
My reincarnation and combination
With absolute sophistication
Deep deep down, deep in my heart may beat
You know there's something deep inside, a kind of mystery
So if you really need to satisfy your burning desire
You'd better call me up and I will set you on fire
I feel my love is going stronger
I can't fight this feeling
I need your loving all night long
I can't control myself
You wish is my command
I'm teacher not a man
Cause I got everything it takes to be
Your everlasting friend
You know, I'm someone very special
A brand new love attraction
And if you dial my number, I will give you satisfaction
Yes, call for love, get in touch with me
So feel my super magic space erotic ecstasy
I feel my love is going stronger
I can't fight this feeling
I need your loving all night long