Leroy Hutson
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 - Leroy Hutson -- vocals, keyboards, synthesizers
supporting musicians (1976) - Arnold Blair -- backing vocals - Cordell Carter -- drums, percussion - Tony Carpenter -- percussion - Richard Evans -- bass - Donald Hagan -- drums, percussion, backing vocals - Miachael harriss -- trumpet - Stephan Harris -- guitar - Eulaulah Hathaway -- backing vocals - Michael Hawkins -- keyboards - Steve Hawkins -- trumpet - Janice Hutson --backing vocals - Aaron Jamal -- keyboards - Bill McFarland -- trombone - Craig McMullen -- guitar - Joe D. Reaves -- backing vocals - Benny Scott -- bass - Alfonoso Surrett -- keyboards, backing vocals - Phil Upchurch -- guitar - Jerry Wilson -- sax
supporting musicians (1977) - Eulaulah Hathaway -- backing vocals - Michael Hawkins -- keyboards - Janice Hutson -- backing vocals - Quinton Joseph -- drums, percussion - The Natural Four -- backing vocals - Joseph Scott -- bass - Phil Upchurch -- guitar, sitar - Fred Walker -- percussion - Jerry Wilson -- sax
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- Lee Hutson (solo efforts) - The Mayfield Singers - The Nu-Tones - Sugar and Spice
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Genre: soul Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Feel the Spirit Company: Curtom Catalog:
CR 5010 Country/State: Newark, New Jersey Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened) Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2823 Price: $35.00
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Curtis Mayfield's replacement in the Impressions ... That's a pretty impressive credential, but goes a long way to explaining why the talented Leroy Hutson never seems to have enjoyed that major commercial breakthrough.
Anyone expecting to hear a continuation of Hutson's Impressions catalog was likely to be surprised by 1976's "Feel the Spirit". Sure, the sweet, melancholy 'Don't Let It Get Next To You' and the upbeat, self-empowerment track 'Never Know What You Can Do (Give It a Try)' would have sounded right at home on an Impressions album (or a Curtis Mayfield solo album for that matter). Those exceptions aside, the album found Hutson largely abandoned ballads in favor of a surprisingly impressive set of funky tracks. Even more surprising was what a good fit his snarling, slightly wry voice was to the gene. Maybe just my old ears, but I hear traces of early Prince and Sly Stone on tracks like 'It's the Music', 'Lover's Holiday', and 'Let's Be Lonely Together'. It's an album I quite fond of and were it not for the throwaway disco-fied title track it would have gotten a fourth star.
"Feel the
Spirit" track listing: 1.) It's the Music (Leroy Hutson - Stephan Harris) - 4:50 rating: **** stars The first minute of 'It's the Music' started out as a rhythm heavy instrumental. The rest of the song sounded like a good Earth, Wind & Fire dance track ... funky and propulsive, but still very radio-friendly and commercial. Always loved the jazzy Bill McFarland trombone solo. 2.) Let's Be Lonely Together (Leroy Hutson - Donnell Hagan - Michael Hawkins) - 3:32 rating: *** stars You wouldn't be blamed for mistaking 'Let's Be Lonely Together' for an early Prince track. Like the best of Prince's catalog, the song has a sweet, funky melody and wonderful, multi-tracked vocals 3.) Never Know What You Can Do (Give It a Try) (Leroy Hutson - Michael Hawkins) - 3:57 rating: **** stars Sporting a nifty melody and a set of upbeat, self-empowerment lyrics that Curtis Mayfield effortlessly tossed off, 'Never Know What You Can Do (Give It a Try)' would not have sounded out of place on an Impressions album. Hutson's snarling voice seldom sounded as good as on this track. Nice pick as a single, thought it should have been a much bigger hit.
- 1976's 'Never Know What You Can Do (Give It a Try)' b/w 'In the Mood' (Curtom catalog number CMS 0137) 4.) Lover's Holiday (Leroy Hutson - Michael Hawkins) - 3:47 rating: *** stars Want to hear a slinky ballad ? They don't come much better than 'Lover's Holiday'. Not sure the beach sound effects were necessary, but I'm guessing that if you were a guy and a certain age in the mid-'70s, this was on your bedroom play list. The song had previously appeared as the "B" side on his 1975 'So Much Love' single. Curtom also released it as a promo 45:
- 1975's 'Lover's Holiday' b/w 'Lover's Holiday' (Curtom catalog number CMS 0117)
(side 2) 1.) Feel the Spirit ('76) (Leroy Hutson) - 5:54 rating: ** stars Yeah it was a big hit for Hutson, but to my ears the title track came too close to anonymous disco for his own good. To be honest, the track was essentially an instrumental. Hutson didn't sing on this one; the vocals being handled by a bunch of female backing singers. Add in the cheesy synthesizer washes and some passing references to the bicentennial and it was completely forgettable. That didn't stop it from being tapped as a single (credited to Leroy Hutson and the Free Spirit Symphony:
- 1976's 'Feel the Spirit' b/w 'Feel the Spirit' (Curtom catalog number CMS 0112) # 25 R&B 2.) Don't Let It Get Next To You (Leroy Hutson - Michael Hawkins) - 3:39 rating: **** stars The album's most Impressions-like tune ... 'Don't Let It Get Next To You' offered up a wonderful slice of Philly-styled harmony soul. Anyone who gets a chill hearing The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The O'Jays, etc., will love this one. You just had to wonder why this one wasn't tapped as a single. Top-40 written all over it. 3.) Butterfat (instrumental)) (Steve Kahn) - 7:16 rating: *** stars This funky, extended instrumental gave everyone in the band a chance to stretch out and show their chops. The tune's just waiting to become the theme song to some television comedy show ...
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Genre: soul Rating: 3 stars *** Title: The Man! Company: Curtom Catalog:
CR 5020 Country/State: Newark, New Jersey Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 3173 Price: $35.00
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Leroy Hutson's sophomore album doesn't get the same rave reviews his debut "Love Oh Love" received. I liked the debut, but didn't think it was a classic effort. Accordingly, I'm probably in the minority in thinking 1973's "The Man!" was inconsistent, but on a song-for-song basis, was actually better than the debut.
Self-produced, the album was clearly intended to establish Hutson as a multi-dimensional artist. In case you missed it, the cover notes underscored that goal, describing him as "writer / producer / artist / superstar".
With respect to the writer tag, Hutson co-wrote five of the eight tracks. Three of those songs stood among the album highlights - the uplifting 'Can't Say Enough About Mom', the instrumental 'The Ghetto '74', and The Impressions-styled ballad 'Could This Be Love'.
In the role of producer the only fault I could find with Hutson's efforts stemmed from allowing some of Joe Long's arrangements to overwhelm his work and the cowboy sound effects on 'Dudley Do-Right' weren't necessary.
Remember, Hutson was picked to replace Curtis Mayfield in The Impressions and there's no denying he had a great voice that was capable of handling everything from smooth ballads 'Could This Be Love' to funkier numbers 'Ella Weez' and everything in between.
Superstar ??? Certainly a talented artist, but maybe a little short of the superstar designation at this point in his career.
Good album from start to finish and while it had at least five songs that I really enjoyed, there wasn't a drop dead, killer track to push it to the next level. Add to that Curtom did little to support the album which ultimate hit # 36 o the R&B charts, but failed to enter the pop charts.
"The Man!" track listing: 1.) Can't Say Enough About Mom (Leroy Hutson - Michael Hawkins) - 6:14 rating: **** stars The uplifting, pro-family lyrics would have made Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff proud. The upbeat, Chicago-soul melody would have made Curtis Mayfield proud. Okay, okay I'm a sap for this kind of stuff. 2.) Gotta Move - Gotta Groove (Daniel Reed - Quinton Joseph - Tony Green) - 3:38 rating: *** stars I always loved Phil Upchurch's fluttering guitar intro, but the "being a musician is hard" lyric was pedestrian. The upbeat 'gotta move' refrain was cute, but not enough to save the song. 3.) Ella Weez (Leroy Hutson - Michael Hawkins) - 3:01 rating: *** stars 'Ella Weez' was an upbeat, dance-ready track, but suffered from an overwhelming arrangement that all but drown Hutson's pleading vocals. The track was tapped as the album's only single:
- 1973's 'Ella Weez' b/w 'Could This Be Love' (Curtom catalog number CR 1996) # 81 R&B 4.) Give This Love a Try (Eugene Dixon - James Thompson) - 3:35 rating: **** stars With a smooth, adult contemporary edge, 'Give This Love a Try' was the album's best ballad and would have made a dandy single. Interestingly, with Hutson producing, The Natural Four had also recorded the tune. I'm guessing that's why they returned the favor providing backing vocals on this version.
(side 2) 1.) The Ghetto '74 (instrumental) (Donny Hathaway - Leroy Hutson) - 4:34 rating: **** stars 'The Ghetto '74' was penned with former Howard University roommate Donny Hathaway. Powered by Jerry Wilson's sax and a Joe Long arrangement that would have made War proud, the largely instrumental track was simultaneously funky and jazzy. 2.) After the Fight (Daniel Reed - Quinton Joseph - Tony Green) - 3:17 rating: **** stars He didn't write it, but 'After the Fight' found Hutson taking a page out of Curtis Mayfield's creative playbook with a melody was slinky and a lyric with a thought provoking, anti-violence theme. The Watergate reference always makes me smile. 3,) Could This Be Love (Leroy Hutson - Michael Hawkins) - 3:08 rating: **** stars Perhaps because Hutson's lead vocals were multi-tracks, the silky smooth 'Could This Be Love' has always reminded me of a first-rate Impressions track. To my ears it would have made a better single than 'Ella Weez'. Shame it was relegated to the "B" side of that 45. 4.) Dudley Do-Right (Daniel Reed - Quinton Joseph - Leroy Hutsob) - 3:44 rating: *** stars Opening with western film sound effects was an interesting production effect, but couldn't save this pedestrian funk number.
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