Something new I'm going to try out on an occasional basis is a featured album post. This is inspired by a couple of albums I've been listening to lately that I haven't been able to remove from the turntable or even have to get up to skip a track i.e. just let them play through.
The first one is from Willie Hutch who seems to be so under the radar, but to those who know his music he is a genius. It's quite disillusioning to realise that his only UK chart entries were for his much weaker 80s material 'In And Out' #51 in 1981 and Keep On Jammin' #72 in 1985. I bought In And Out at the time, as it was quite a big club tune, but didn't really rate it very highly, but having said that, compared to a lot of 80s material, it does actually stand the test of time listening to it again.
The featured album is 'Ode To The Lady' released in 1975 on Motown, one I regard as his best throughout, although every album he recorded contains several gems.
It's pretty hard to find any for sale in UK in decent condition for under £50, plenty available from the US but the postage obviously bumps up the price. If you are not concerned with having it on original vinyl, Soul Brother reissued it on CD in 2011, the only time it has been reissued.
Curiously this track is credited to F. (Frank) Hutch. I knew he had a brother called Richard who wrote some songs but have not come across Frank before. It was released as a single in 1976 and got a belated UK issue in 1983, presumably to try and capitalise on the success of 'In And Out'? It's my least favoured track on the album as this funky style is not typical of the remainder of it. I guess the style was 'in vogue' at the time but there was better material on the album more deserving of a 45 release..
A Marvin Hamlisch, Alan & Marilyn Bergman song first recorded by Barbara Streisand in 1973 which was the theme song from the film of the same name and won an Oscar for Best Original Song. It was also a hit for Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1974, albeit a different interpretation and titled The Way We Were / Try To Remember. It is still their highest charting UK single reaching #4.
With 234 different versions of this song listed on SecondHandSongs, amazingly, Hutch's version isn't listed!
A few other of the soul related versions came from Freda Payne (Payne And Pleasure), The Dells (The Mighty Dells) in 1974, Jimmy Helms (Songs I Sing) , Little Jimmy Scott (this is a terrific version if you like jazz), 21st Century (Ahead Of Our Time) all in 1975, Eruption Feat. Precious Wilson (45) 1978 and Amii Stewart (Lady To Ladies) 1994. The other versions, as you may imagine are from MOR/cabaret type singers.
Don't be put off if you think the song is a bit MOR as Hutch's arrangement is almost unrecognisable from the original.
This is a stunning toe-tapping deep soul ballad. You can hear and feel the pain and soul in his voice. For me, this is the epitome of what soul music is all about. If this doesn't move you then you must be on the wrong blog! It may take a few listens to fully appreciate this true masterpiece.
This up-tempo, modern soul dancer just grooves and glides along with Willies silky smooth, at times gritty, vocals.
An orchestrated jazz/funky instrumental in the Blaxploitation movie theme mode.
Another fine modern soul dancer. Released as a single and his highest chart entry reaching #8 R&B and #41 Pop. Written by Frank Hutch.
This has been a firm favourite on UK modern soul scene for many years. It gained a 45 release on the flip side to Party Down in 1976.
Another pleasant modern soul stepper slightly above mid-tempo, released on 45 on B side to Love Power.
A mellow stepper which (for me at least) seems to have a Curtis Mayfield feel about it.
Bouncy modern soul dancer written by his brother Richard Hutch.
