Closer to the Source
Encyclopedia
After a series of albums where he handled much the production and writing as a one-man show, Leroy Hutson
teamed up with a number of collaborators (including Linda Clifford
producer Gil Askey) to record 1978's Closer to the Source. The result is an unambitious but slick album of pop-soul. The big problem with this album is that its music is too derivative too often to make a strong case for Hutson's gifts as a performer: The jazzy melody of "They've Got Love" sounds almost identical to Stevie Wonder
's late-'60s string of orchestrated pop-soul hits and the Marvin Gaye-inspired "Where Did Love Go" has a lovely, string-sweetened arrangement but quotes "What's Going On
" a little too closely for its own good. Another problematic cut in this area is the title track, which closely imitates the light, jazzy sound that was bringing Earth, Wind & Fire
hit after hit around this time. Although the outside writers and production help aid the album's consistency, the best cuts on Closer to the Source are the ones either written or co-written by Hutson himself: "Get to This (You'll Get to Me)" builds a strong melody on the tension between an ethereal melody and percolating, horn-spiced groove, and "Heaven Right Here on Earth
" is the kind of silky slow jam that Hutson always excelled at. In the end, Closer to the Source is a solid album that will please Hutson's cult of fans but will probably seem a little too derivative to other soul music enthusiasts.
~ Donald A. Guarisco, Allmusic
Leroy Hutson
Leroy Hutson is an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and instrumentalist, best known as former lead singer of the R&B band, which came to fame vocal group, The Impressions....
teamed up with a number of collaborators (including Linda Clifford
Linda Clifford
Linda Clifford is an American R&B, disco and house music singer and actress, who scored hits from the 1970s to the 1980s, most notably "If My Friends Could See Me Now", "Bridge over Troubled Water", "Runaway Love" and "Red Light"....
producer Gil Askey) to record 1978's Closer to the Source. The result is an unambitious but slick album of pop-soul. The big problem with this album is that its music is too derivative too often to make a strong case for Hutson's gifts as a performer: The jazzy melody of "They've Got Love" sounds almost identical to Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's late-'60s string of orchestrated pop-soul hits and the Marvin Gaye-inspired "Where Did Love Go" has a lovely, string-sweetened arrangement but quotes "What's Going On
What's Going On
What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released May 21, 1971, on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records...
" a little too closely for its own good. Another problematic cut in this area is the title track, which closely imitates the light, jazzy sound that was bringing Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
hit after hit around this time. Although the outside writers and production help aid the album's consistency, the best cuts on Closer to the Source are the ones either written or co-written by Hutson himself: "Get to This (You'll Get to Me)" builds a strong melody on the tension between an ethereal melody and percolating, horn-spiced groove, and "Heaven Right Here on Earth
Heaven Right Here on Earth
Heaven Right Here on Earth is the third album by the Oakland, California group The Natural Four. It was released in 1975 on Curtom Records.-Track listing:#Heaven Right Here on Earth - 4:15#Love's So Wonderful - 3:25...
" is the kind of silky slow jam that Hutson always excelled at. In the end, Closer to the Source is a solid album that will please Hutson's cult of fans but will probably seem a little too derivative to other soul music enthusiasts.
~ Donald A. Guarisco, Allmusic
Track listing
- "In the Mood" (Mendell) – 6:24
- "Where Did Love Go?" (Gil Askey) – 4:01
- "They've Got Love" (Davis, Mendell) – 4:04
- "Get to This (You'll Get to Me)" (Michael Hawkins, Leroy Hutson, Lonnie Reaves) – 3:40
- "Closer to the Source" (Hutson, Reaves, Alfonzo Surrett) – 6:08
- "Heaven Right Here (On Earth)" (Hutson, Reaves) – 5:31
- "Everybody's a Masterpiece" (Clinton, Riecheg) – 3:02
- "You're a Winner" (Hutson) – 4:31
Personnel
- Phil Upchurch, Ross Traut, Stephen Harris, Tom Ferrone - Guitar
- Al Radford, Bernard Reed, Larry Williams, Louis Satterfield - Bass
- Floyd Morris, James Mendell, Lonnie Reaves, Tom Washington - Keyboards
- Andre Fisher, Donnell Hagan - Drums
- Billy Howell, Donald Myrick, Elmer Brown, George Patterson, Jerry Wilson, Louis Satterfield, Michael Harris, Willie Henderson - Horns
- Bobby Christia - Vibraphone
- The Curtom Strings - Strings
- Alfonso Surrett, Charles Beadle, Hank Ricks, Jackie Johnson, Jerline Brandy, Linda Clifford, Marie Marsh, Rickie Linton, Sherline Shelton - Backing Vocals
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
US Dance |
||
| 1978 | "In The Mood" | — | 56 | — |
| Where Did Love Go?" | — | 45 | — | |