The Emotions - The Early Sides

Originally a gospel act calling themselves Hutchinson Sunbeams, the 3 Hutchinson sisters, Sheila, Wanda and Jeanette from Chicago began recording secular music as The Emotions in late 60s. Probably best known for their 70s hits Best Of My Love in 1977 and their collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire on Boogie Wonderland in 1979.

In this post I aim to highlight some of their lesser known material from late 60s / early 70s.

The Sunbeams [1964] - The Good Old Days [Tollie 9022]

Their first secular release on Chicago's Tollie label as The Sunbeams was a typical early 60s girlie group sound.  I've only ever seen white promos of this so it may have never been released, which may explain why their next release was 3 years later?

Tollie was a subsidiary of Vee-Jay and was famous for the release of the first 2 Beatles singles in the US in 1964 Twist And Shout and Love Me Do.  It was only in operation for around a year and closed in 1965 but output approx. 50 releases in that short time including the Northern Soul mid-tempo masterpiece by Sam Fletcher - I'd Think It Over in May 1964.

The Emotions [1967] - I Can't Stand No More Heartaches [Brainstorm 125]

Underrated driving Chicago Northern Soul.

The Emotions [1967] - You'd Better get Pushed To It [Brainstorm 125]

One probably best described as funky Northern Soul / Crossover.

The Emotions [1968] - Somebody New [Twin Stacks 126]

Deep soul / crossover, group soul harmony.

Red label variant seems to sell for double that of the green label variant.

This 45 got a UK release on Dave Godin's original Deep Soul label in 1969.

The Emotions [1968] - Brushfire [Twin Stacks 126]

Mid-paced Northern Soul.

The Emotions [1968] - I Love You But I'll Leave You [Twin Stacks 130]

Another great crossover tune which had Brushfire on the flip.

The Emotions [1969] - So I Can Love You [Volt VOA 4010]

Mellow crossover /  deep soul group harmony.

The Emotions [1969] - Got To Be The Man [Volt VOA 4010]

Northern Soul

The Emotions [1969] - Stealing Love [Volt VOA 4031]

Northern Soul

The Emotions [1969] - When Tomorrow Comes [Volt VOA 4031]

An Isaac Hayes & David Porter deep soul ballad composition originally released as a more uptempo version by Carla Thomas on Stax in 1967.

Carla Thomas [1967] - When Tomorrow Comes [Stax S-214]

The Emotions [1970] - Heart Association [Volt VOA 4045]

Sweet and soulful ballad/stepper.

The Emotions [1970] - The Touch Of Your Lips [Volt VOA 4045]

Deep and sweet soul group harmony - those soulful harmonies ... just sublime!

I believe it's Theresa Davis on lead on this track

The Emotions [1970] - Black Christmas [Volt VOA 4053]

Don't let the title put you off - yes it's a Christmas record but so soulful and easily one of the best after Donny Hathaway's This Christmas. Written by Pervis Staples, son of Pops Staples.

The Emotions [1971] - You Make Me Want To Love You [Volt VOA 4054]

Early 70s funky crossover.

The Emotions [1971] - Show Me How [Volt VOA 4066]

Superb mellow deep soul stepper.

The Emotions [1972] - Blind Alley [Volt VOA 4077]

Written by David Porter and sampled no fewer than 164 times by the likes of Mariah Carey - Dreamlover, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Notorious B.I.G, 2 Pac, Pete Rock etc.

The Emotions [1972] - I Could Never be Happy [Volt VOA 4083]

Another melodic, deep soul, group soul harmony stepper with hints of Ain't No Mountain High Enough.  This one just builds and builds.

The Emotions [1972] - I've Fallen In Love [Volt VOA 4083]

A sweet and deep soul ballad written by Carla Thomas and released on her Memphis Queen album.

Carla Thomas [1969] - I've Fallen In Love (With You) [Stax STA-0011]

Joss Stone [2003] - I've Fallen In Love With You [S-Curve]

A nice version from The Soul Sessions album.

The Emotions [1972] - I Call This Loving You [Volt VOA 4088]

Early 70s funky soul dancer.

The Emotions [1972] - I Call This Loving You [Volt VOA 4088]

A sweet soul toe-tapping stepper.

The Emotions [1972] - I Wanna Come Back [Volt VOA 4095]

Sweet and deep

The Emotions [1973] - Peace Be Still [Volt VOA 4100]

Gospel / Deep soul with video footage of The Emotions singing in church.  The 45 version is an edited live version from Wattstax 1972 - the full version is 8:54 and on 'The Living Word' album.

The Emotions [1973] - What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas [Volt VOA 4104]

Another Christmas song but this Homer Banks & Carl Hampton deep soul cut is just too soulful to be omitted.

The Emotions [1974] - Anyway You Look At It [Volt VON 4113]

Wonderful mellow soulful ballad on the flip to their cover of Johnny Nash's There Are More Questions Than Answers. No label scan available.

That concludes their best releases before they left Volt after the demise of Stax and joined Columbia. I'll finish off with a couple of tracks before they had their first major hit Best Of My Love in 1977.

The Emotions [1976] - Flowers [Columbia 310347]

Modern soul stepper which I always thought was a hit but it only reached #87 in US and didn't trouble the UK charts at all.  I recall buying it on 12" in UK which at the time was one of the first 12" singles released (it's the 12" version posted below).  A great double-sider with I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love on the flip.

The Emotions [1976] - I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love [Columbia 310347]

Modern soul dancer.

There's plenty more material from this greatly underrated and overlooked group from 1976 onwards which I may post later.