Hutch, Willie


Band members               Related acts

- Danny Ackerman -- trumpet (1974-75)

- Arthur Adams -- guitar

- George Bohanan -- trombone (1974)

- Oscar Brashear -- trumpet (1974)

- Burt Brisbois -- trumpet (1974)

- Eddie Brown -- percussion (1974)

- Lawrence Dickens -- bass (1974)

- Scott Edwards -- bass

- Willie Hutch (aka Willie McKinley Hutchinson) 

  (RIP 2005) -- vocals,

  guitar

- James Gadson -- drums

- Bill Greene - sax (1974)

- Daryyl Jackson -- percussion (1974)

- Harold Johnson -- keyboards

- Bob Kee -- sax (1974-75)

- Tim Lawson -- guitar (1974)

- Abe Mills -- drums (1974)

- Nate Morgan -- keyboards (1974)

- Gemini Taylor -- guitar

- Kenny Strawhill -- trombone

- Carl Suttles -- sax (1974)

- Ernie Watts -- flute (1974)

- Terry Winch -- trumpet

 

 

- The Ambassadors

 

 


 

Genre: soul

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  The Mark of the Beast

Company: Motown

Catalog: M6-815 S1

Year: 1974

Country/State: Los Angeles, California

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: minor crease along bottom edge

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5311

Price: $20.00

Cost: $66.00

 

Having enjoyed considerable success with his 'blaxploitation' soundtrack efforts ("The Mack", "Foxy Brown"), 1974's self-produced "The Mark of the Beast" found Willie Hutch moving in a more commercial (aka dance) direction.  As on his earlier albums Hutch's silky voice recalled an interesting cross between George Benson and Curtis Mayfield.  That's actually an interesting analogy since Hutch-penned selections like the title track (complete with a drum machine) and 'Try It You'll Like It' offered up a mix of nifty melodies and Mayfield-styled social commentary. Yeah, quite a bit of the set was hideously over-produced with 'Woman You Touched Me' and '(I Wanted To Be a Rock and Roll Star) Woman I Still Got Loving You On My Mind' sounding like leftovers from an earlier soundtrack project.  Elsewhere, 'Life's No Fun Living In the Ghetto' and 'I'm Gonna Stay' were clearly intended for club success, but Hutch was simply too talented to turn in a complete wipeout.  Motown also tapped the LP for a single in the form of 'Don't Let Nobody Tell You How Do Your Thing' b/w 'Get Ready for the Get Down' (Motown catalog M1339F).  Ironically it may have been the weakest song on the album showcasing a forgettable melody and a vocal that was barely in tune.  Weird choice ...

 

Certainly not Hutch's creative zenith, having pulled the LP and spun it for the first time in a couple of years I have to admit that it was better than I recalled and with a couple of minor modifications it could have been a massive hit. 

 

"The Mark of the Beast" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Get Ready for the Get Down   (Willie Hutch) - 

2.) The Mark of the Beast   (Willie Hutch) - 

3.) Try It You'll Like It   (Willie Hutch - Katy Wakefield) - 

4.) Life's No Fun Living In the Ghetto   (Willie Hutch) - 

 

(side 2)

1.) I'm Gonna Stay   (Willie Hutch) - 

2.) Woman You Touched Me   (Willie Hutch) - 

3.) Do the Thing That's Best for You   (Willie Hutch) - 

4.) Don't Let Nobody Tell You How Do Your Thing   (Willie Hutch) - 

5.) (I Wanted To Be a Rock and Roll Star) Woman I Still Got Loving You On My Mind   (Willie Hutch) - 

 

 

 

Willie Hutch (RIP 2005)

 

 


Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Concert In Blues

Company: Motown

Catalog: M6-854 S1

Year: 1976

Country/State: Los Angeles, California

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: promo sticker on cover - see picture above

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4456

Price: $10.00

 

 

I recognized Willie Hutch's name as a writer and producer (The 5th Dimension, The Jackson Five, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, etc.) and bought this album thinking it was a live set.  

 

In spite of the title and the packaging, 1976's "Concert In Blues" is a studio collection.  Produced and arranged by Hutch, the album serves as a decent introduction to Hutch's multitude of talents.  Musically the set's quite diverse with Hutch showing an ability to handle blues ('Stormy Monday'), light funk ('Don't Let a Little Money Keep You Acting Funny') and even adult contemporary material ('Stormy Weather').  For those of you who haven't heard him, Hutch has a nice bluesy voice, that occasionally recalls Bobby Whitlock ('I Wish You Love').  If there's something to complain about, it's the needless over-orchestration that all but drowns tracks such as 'Baby, Come Home'.  Elsewhere, 'Party Down' b/w 'Just Another Day' (Motown catalog number M1371F) provided Hutch with a top-20 R&B hit.  Still, an enjoyable, if largely forgotten mid-1970s slice of Motown history.

 

"Concert In Blues" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Party Down   (Frank Hutch) - 

2.) I Finally Made the Headlines   (J.W. Alexander - J. Anderson) - 

3.) Baby, Come Home   (Willie Hutch) - 

4.) Stormy Weather   (T. Koehler - H. Arlen) - 

5.) I Wish You Love   (A. Beach - C. Trenet) - 

 

(side 2)

1.) Come On Let's Do the Thang   (Willie Hutch) - 

2.) Don't Let a Little Money Keep You Acting Funny   (Willie Hutch) - 

3.) Stormy Monday   (T-Bone Walker) - 

4.) Precious Pearl   (Willie Hutch) - 

5.) Shake, Rattle and Roll   (C. Calhoun) - 

 

 

 

 

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