One of my all time favourite jazz tracks. The intensity of Gene Ammons's sax solo is amazing. It makes me wanna cry with joy. George Freeman's guitar sizzles with heat. Idris Muhammad coming correct on the kit as usual. 1970. Crank it up loud, it's the definition of soulful playing. Anyone who can't take jazz is a pussy. Period.
Thursday 22 October 2009
Wednesday 21 October 2009
Motown's Long Forgotten Son
For many years I've felt it's criminal that one of Motown's brightest lights Willie Hutch has been so unfairly overlooked by the record buying public. With no real massive career *hits* to speak of Mr Hutch's talents have somehow been lost amid the gargantuan shadows cast by his label mates Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. But to me he was equally as gifted whether it be in his immaculate late 60's sides that still have Northern Soul fans in a lather, his awesome 70's soundtrack work (The Mack and Foxy Brown) all the way to his slightly experimental but solid solo efforts with their cool ghetto concepts.
There's an amazing vulnerability to his voice and an edge to his music that screams out he was the *real deal*. His production's were lavish and intricate and there was a sense of craft and subtlety to his work.
Throughout his career Hutch seemed content to busy himself more behind the scenes of Motown as a staff writer and as such remained a marginal artist on a roster overflowing with big names.
He died aged 60 in 2005 at his home in Texas. His manager, Anthony Voyce, said of Hutch: "I've never met a more generous and caring person." You can feel this throughout his music, a modesty and grace. A refreshing lack of ego. The Guardian gave a reasonable obituary HERE
Sadly and most neglectfully many of his albums remain unreleased on CD except for Shout's 2009 release of his debut album 1969's 'Soul Portrait' and the current Motown issue of the seminal blaxploitation soundtrack 'The Mack'. The 1996 Motown reissue of 'Foxy Brown' has sadly been out of print for some time now but luckily I still have my copy.
I've posted a few tracks here for your scrutiny but the amazing BLOGSPORTSOUL blog has most of his albums for download HERE so indulge yourself and give due credit to an amazing artist who hopefully but sadly posthumously may one day be remembered with the same fondness as his peers.
There's an amazing vulnerability to his voice and an edge to his music that screams out he was the *real deal*. His production's were lavish and intricate and there was a sense of craft and subtlety to his work.
Throughout his career Hutch seemed content to busy himself more behind the scenes of Motown as a staff writer and as such remained a marginal artist on a roster overflowing with big names.
He died aged 60 in 2005 at his home in Texas. His manager, Anthony Voyce, said of Hutch: "I've never met a more generous and caring person." You can feel this throughout his music, a modesty and grace. A refreshing lack of ego. The Guardian gave a reasonable obituary HERE
Sadly and most neglectfully many of his albums remain unreleased on CD except for Shout's 2009 release of his debut album 1969's 'Soul Portrait' and the current Motown issue of the seminal blaxploitation soundtrack 'The Mack'. The 1996 Motown reissue of 'Foxy Brown' has sadly been out of print for some time now but luckily I still have my copy.
I've posted a few tracks here for your scrutiny but the amazing BLOGSPORTSOUL blog has most of his albums for download HERE so indulge yourself and give due credit to an amazing artist who hopefully but sadly posthumously may one day be remembered with the same fondness as his peers.
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