How did these recordings stay "forgotten" for so long
Peppino | 07/22/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have reviewed the Leroy Hutson cd "two-for-one" before, on a private review.
Hutson II, as i described previously is a true masterpiece of the Chicago post-doowop style. Not as heralded as the "Stax sound", "Muscle Shoals style", or "Classic Motown" It seems to me the doowop sound really never caught on with the "gringos" as did the more dance-oreinted R&B, (especially the repetative & overrated sounds of James Brown or the Booker T. & MGs stuff), or the pop oriented Motown sounds that were mostly pure "blacksploitation" on the part of Berry Gordy (in my opinion)that is - until Marvin , Stevie and a few others got progressive minded and opened things up a bit..
Everyone still clings to those sounds as cherished childhood memories take precident over musical "growth". The Chicago sound, as embodied by the great work done at Brunswick and later Curtom studios IS legendary.(leave it to the English & Japonese to acknowledge this fact while the musics remain unreleased here domestically in the land and CITY of the music's origin!!)
I'll take the Chi-lites and Impressions EVERY day before the legendary "JB", but alas.. it is just a matter of taste.This being said, Hutson II is the centerpiece of the 2 re-issues, although the 2nd cd has memorable momnts too(Closer to the Source)..Highlights include-
"I do I do", classic doowop in the Impressions bag
" I think Im falling in Love", Love the Feeling" and "situations" are very PROGRESSIVE funk tracks with some jazzy backup work from the Curtom House Musicians from those years.
"In the mood" -a very musical but quite humorous "tip of the cap" to Marvin Gaye and the big Barry White. Leroy Hutson gives "off center" musical quotes from the "What's goin On" cadenza, and White's "Never gonna Give You UP"!... It will make you smile a bit.One more thing, I ALWAYS got a charge outta the Leroy Hutson lp covers. That over the top "70s Thang that the young folks nowadays can never top, no matter HOW hard they try. Why this guy is not a legend is beyond me..(actually, he IS , but in England, and I believe Japan. You can have your "Prince",I will stick with Leroy Hutson and the countless others who really INNOVATED .
MANY galaxies of stars for the recording-the best!"
The sun DOESNT ever set............
Peppino | 11/14/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"....... on the English Empire, does it??Again, a TREASURE of music from one of "Soul/Funk" musics almost completely neglected "Giacomo-of-all-trades"(I just dont like the name Jack, hehe!)LEROY HUTSON has to be re-issued by "BRITISH CURTOM records"------caralho(!!!!), I used to LIVE a few miles from Curtom studios in Chicago when we moved to the "North side"--and it takes the wonderful record company in UNITED KINGDOM, E-U-R-O-P-E to send it back here to us??? This has been happening since the BEATLES! Another "surprise", there is a BIG collector market for the original Hutson LPs, but now, DAMAS Y CABELLEROS, there are THREE "two for one" releases of Leroy hutson's INCREDIBLE 70s musics!!! HUTSON II is his finest hour, and the best cd of the bunch of "em.Anyone that doesnt know this composer/instrumentalist/producer was a hand picked replacement vocalist in Curtis Mayfield?Jerry Butler's incredible vocal group, the Impressions.WHAT exactly makes Leroy a cut above the rest, and WHY was he so neglected??Could it be- his vocal frasing combines with the beautifully voiced "doowop" style background vocals,or maybe the "usually unpredictable chord progressions of the compositions, first rate musicianship of the Curtom stable of session musicians?? Add, the nicely voiced chords,sometimes with some tricky intervals . The songs are not 2 minute "radio fodder", but TRUE expression of the man's musical voice. WAIT, this is probably why his musics DIDNT SELL, uffa!!!!!!the showcase songs on the cd are the honey dripped "doowop" *I Do I Do(Wanna Make Love)*- the Jazzy *Think Im Fallin In Love* and *Love to Hold You Close*(Think early Tower of Power sounded almost like these tracks).
The nice instrumental interlude *Situations* didnt impress the English reviewer pete Burns, but it is a gem, and while *Blackberry jam* is nothing more than an ordinary funk instrumental workout, it does feature a hidden treasure, Chicago Flautist/whistler(yes, WHISTLER) Joel Brandon. Check out his almost multi-fonic whistled solo on "B.J"., he also did some nice stuff with tenor saxman Chico Freeman here too!The second cd, the LP "Closer to The Source" is slightly more "commercial", but the lenght of the "jams" and the steady craftsmanship make it a winner too(although the song, "Your a Winner" is the only outright "dog" on both cds--"motivational" songs usually are, no???It isnt supposed to be anything more than this, EXCELLENT soulful musics.
I HATE that the term used to describe this music is catagorized as "OLD SCHOOL", school was never out at all!! You peoples were just subject to "musical detention", as administered by the myopic and greedy record companies who want everyone to listen and buy the same safe and sanitized manure.
That is, the musical BIG MAC hamburger the recording industry is frying on corporate grills right now as I rant, hehehehehehehehe
Dont pass this cd up!(ANOTHER of my "orders"??,hehehe)It's a dont miss for those who enjoy the "Soul/Funk side of the street..........................100000000 stars, Mr Leroy!
Viva o som, sempre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Genius + soul = genius + soul
Peppino | 11/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hutson II, as i described previously is a true masterpiece of the Chicago post-doowop style. I dont know why this idiom is not as heralded as the Stax sound, Muscle Shoals style, or Motown for example... I think it is because the doowop sound really never caught on with the "gringos" as did R&B, (especially the repetative & overrated sounds of James Brown or the Booker T. & MGs stuff), and the pop oriented Motown sounds that were mostly pure "blacksploitation" on the part of Berry Gordy (in my opinion), until Marvin , Stevie and a few others got progressive minded and opened things up a bit....... Everyone still clings to as cherished childhood memories take precident over musical "growth". The Chicago sound, as embodied by the great work done at Brunswick and later Curtom studios IS legendary. and leave it to the English & Japonese to acknowledge this fact while the musics remain unreleased here domestically in the land of the music's origin. I'll take the Chi-lites and Impressions EVERY day before the legendary "JB" it is just a matter of taste.....This being said, Hutson II is the centerpiece, but there are also treasures on the 2nd cd ("Closer.....").Highlights including a very musical but quite humorous "tip of the cap" to Marvin Gaye and the big Barry White. Leroy Hutson gives "off center" musical quotes from the "What's goin On" cadenza, and White's "Never gonna Give You UP"!!!! CUTE!One more thing, I ALWAYS got a charge outta the Leroy Hutson lp covers.He really went "over the top" with alla that crazy "FLY" threads, his get-ups used to break me up,that look was as ridiculous as the Hippy outfits during those early 70's!Personally, the covers detracted from the quality of musics within, and in all probability, HURT Leroy's career(????).Why this guy is not a legend is beyond me.......... You cant judge a book by its cover, but ALAS, most people do JUST THAT ! Great cd, and ther'e 2 more of 'em, also "TWO for ONE" packages. Get 'em on Amazon also.the best!"
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1