The Emotions
Encyclopedia
The Emotions are an American
all female soul
and R&B
singing group. The group was formed in its current hometown of Chicago
, Illinois
originally consisting of the three Hutchinson sisters, all the children of Joseph and Lillian Hutchinson.
Jeanette was married in 1970, and gave birth to her first son, Chicha. A close friend, Theresa Davis, a former member of Our Ladies Of Soul began to sing with the group. The following year, the Emotions released Untouched, their second album, which featured hits such as "Show Me How" and "If You Think It". During their Stax years, they were produced by Isaac Hayes
and David Porter. By 1976 and the Flowers
album, they had left Stax and Jeanette had returned to record and perform. Flowers included the hits "Flowers" and "I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love". Later Pamela began to tour live performances with the group while Jeanette pursues individual personal goals.
of Earth, Wind & Fire
brought them their greatest success. With White's assistance, the Emotions released the albums Rejoice
and Sunbeam
in 1977 and 1978. Maurice White-co-produced with Clarence McDonald the single "Best Of My Love
" spent five weeks at number-one on the US pop chart in 1977. Jeanette left in 1977, to give birth to her second child, Pili and their youngest sister Pamela was brought in to record on the album "Rejoice" and perform live dates. In 1978, Jeanette returned to the group. In collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire the group scored big with the single, "Boogie Wonderland
", which was a top 10 hit in 1979. The group continued to record together during the 1980s, and were signed briefly with Motown Records
at one point. Their last recording to date was 1996's "The Emotions Live" released on their own record label Sunbeam Records.
's 1993 Billboard chart-topping hit "Dreamlover" and also the famous "Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag" by LL Cool J
. Carey continued to show her love with the 1991 hit "Emotions", which samples
"Best of My Love
". "Blind Alley" was previously sampled in 1988 for Big Daddy Kane
's "Ain't No Half Steppin'". The Cheryl Lynn
hit "Got To Be Real
" is based on the bridge of "Best of My Love". Late 1970s family trio, The Jones Girls
, was also influenced by the Emotions' sound.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
all female soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singing group. The group was formed in its current hometown of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
originally consisting of the three Hutchinson sisters, all the children of Joseph and Lillian Hutchinson.
Origins and early years
Joseph had prayed for talented children before the girls were born, and wasted no time in developing their musical skills. As soon as the girls could talk, he began teaching them music skills, and had them practice in the basement of their home on the south side of Chicago. When Sheila, the youngest, was five years old, they began singing in church choirs and were known as the Hutchinson Sunbeams. Joseph's son, Joseph, Jr., one son, five daughters. In 1968, the girls changed their name to The Emotions, and released their first album, So I Can Love You, the following year. The album's title track, written by Sheila, was a minor hit single, as was "The Best Part Of A Love Affair". In 1969 the girls were asked to be part of a summer outdoor concert in Rochester NY. The group caught the eye of the host of the concerts, Herb Hamlett the powerful soul DJ of WCMF FM. Father Joe was the groups guitarist and formed a friendship with Hamlett, that brought the group bookings and headliners in NewYork State.Jeanette was married in 1970, and gave birth to her first son, Chicha. A close friend, Theresa Davis, a former member of Our Ladies Of Soul began to sing with the group. The following year, the Emotions released Untouched, their second album, which featured hits such as "Show Me How" and "If You Think It". During their Stax years, they were produced by Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
and David Porter. By 1976 and the Flowers
Flowers (The Emotions album)
-Side one:#"I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love" #"Me for You" #"You've Got the Right to Know"...
album, they had left Stax and Jeanette had returned to record and perform. Flowers included the hits "Flowers" and "I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love". Later Pamela began to tour live performances with the group while Jeanette pursues individual personal goals.
Success with Earth, Wind & Fire and Beyond
Their association with Maurice WhiteMaurice White
Maurice White is a Grammy Award–winning American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger. He is the older brother of Verdine White and Fred White and the leader and founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire...
of 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...
brought them their greatest success. With White's assistance, the Emotions released the albums Rejoice
Rejoice (The Emotions album)
Rejoice is an album by The Emotions released on Columbia Records and produced by Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. The album contains the highly successful number one Pop, R&B and Disco hit, "Best of My Love" and Rejoice has been certified platinum in the US by the RIAA. Rejoice was also the...
and Sunbeam
Sunbeam (The Emotions album)
Sunbeam is an album by The Emotions. Sunbeam has been certified Gold by the RIAA.-Side one:#"Smile" #"Love Is Right On"...
in 1977 and 1978. Maurice White-co-produced with Clarence McDonald the single "Best Of My Love
Best of My Love (The Emotions song)
"Best of My Love" is a disco song by the band The Emotions released as a single from their album Rejoice . The song was composed by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire. Earth, Wind & Fire would later team up with the Emotions for the 1979 hit "Boogie Wonderland"...
" spent five weeks at number-one on the US pop chart in 1977. Jeanette left in 1977, to give birth to her second child, Pili and their youngest sister Pamela was brought in to record on the album "Rejoice" and perform live dates. In 1978, Jeanette returned to the group. In collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire the group scored big with the single, "Boogie Wonderland
Boogie Wonderland
"Boogie Wonderland" is a 1979 hit single by Earth, Wind & Fire featuring The Emotions. Boogie Wonderland was written by Allee Willis and Jon Lind, and included on the album I Am...
", which was a top 10 hit in 1979. The group continued to record together during the 1980s, and were signed briefly with Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
at one point. Their last recording to date was 1996's "The Emotions Live" released on their own record label Sunbeam Records.
The Emotions today
The Emotions, continue to perform with Wanda, Pamela, and Sheila. They continue to perform and make personal appearances. Wanda has three daughters, two of whom plan to enter the music industry themselves.Influence
The Emotions' 1972 Stax track "Blind Alley" formed the basis for Mariah CareyMariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
's 1993 Billboard chart-topping hit "Dreamlover" and also the famous "Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag" by LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
. Carey continued to show her love with the 1991 hit "Emotions", which samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
"Best of My Love
Best of My Love (The Emotions song)
"Best of My Love" is a disco song by the band The Emotions released as a single from their album Rejoice . The song was composed by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire. Earth, Wind & Fire would later team up with the Emotions for the 1979 hit "Boogie Wonderland"...
". "Blind Alley" was previously sampled in 1988 for Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane
Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop...
's "Ain't No Half Steppin'". The Cheryl Lynn
Cheryl Lynn
Lynda Cheryl Smith , known better by her professional name Cheryl Lynn, is a female African-American disco, R&B and soul singer known best for her 1978 disco song, "Got to Be Real".-Early career:...
hit "Got To Be Real
Got To Be Real
"Got to Be Real" is a 1978 disco song by Cheryl Lynn from her self-titled album. The song, which was Lynn's debut single, was penned by David Paich, David Foster, and Lynn, and has since been called one of the defining moments in disco. Along with the tracks, "Star Love" and "You Saved My Day",...
" is based on the bridge of "Best of My Love". Late 1970s family trio, The Jones Girls
The Jones Girls
The Jones Girls were an R&B trio of sisters from Detroit, Michigan. They first recorded for GM Records in 1968, then recorded for Philadelphia International Records with Gamble & Huff.-History:...
, was also influenced by the Emotions' sound.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | US certifications |
Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
||||
| 1969 | So I Can Love You | — | 43 | — | — | Volt (Stax) Stax Records Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and... |
| 1971 | Untouched | — | — | — | — | |
| 1972 | Songs of Innocence and Experience | Unreleased | ||||
| 1976 | Flowers Flowers (The Emotions album) -Side one:#"I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love" #"Me for You" #"You've Got the Right to Know"... |
45 | 5 | — | Gold | Columbia Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
| 1977 | Rejoice Rejoice (The Emotions album) Rejoice is an album by The Emotions released on Columbia Records and produced by Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. The album contains the highly successful number one Pop, R&B and Disco hit, "Best of My Love" and Rejoice has been certified platinum in the US by the RIAA. Rejoice was also the... |
7 | 1 | — | Platinum | |
| Sunshine | 88 | 39 | — | — | Stax Stax Records Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and... |
|
| 1978 | Sunbeam Sunbeam (The Emotions album) Sunbeam is an album by The Emotions. Sunbeam has been certified Gold by the RIAA.-Side one:#"Smile" #"Love Is Right On"... |
40 | 12 | — | Gold | Columbia |
| 1979 | Come into Our World | 96 | 35 | — | — | ARC American Record Company The American Record Company was a United States record label, in business from about 1904 to 1908. Then re-activated in 1979.The American Record Company was founded by Ellsworth A. Hawthorne and Horace Sheble and Frederick M. Prescott. It was based in Springfield, Massachusetts... |
| 1981 | New Affair | 168 | 46 | — | — | |
| 1984 | Sincerely | 206 | 33 | — | — | Red Label |
| 1985 | If I Only Knew | 203 | 54 | — | — | Motown Motown Records Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit... |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified | ||||||
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Record label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
|||
| 1978 | Chronicle | — | — | Stax Stax Records Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and... |
| 1996 | Best of My Love: The Best of the Emotions | — | 77 | Legacy Legacy Recordings Legacy Recordings is Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division. It was founded in 1990 by CBS Records under the leadership of Jerry Shulman, Richard Bauer, Gary Pacheco and Amy Herot to handle reissues of recordings from the vast catalogues of Columbia Records, Epic Records and associated... |
| 1998 | The Emotions | — | — | Sony Music Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation.... |
| 1999 | Love Songs | — | — | Legacy |
| 2002 | Super Hits | — | — | |
| 2004 | Songs of Innocence and Experience...and Then Some! | — | — | Stax |
| 2007 | Best of the Emotions | — | — | Mastercuts |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart | ||||
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 Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 1962 | "Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1964 | "Good Old Days" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1967 | "I Can't Stand No More Heartaches" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1968 | "Somebody New" | — | — | — | — | |
| "I Can't Control These Emotions" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "I Love You, But I'll Leave You" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1969 | "So I Can Love You" | 39 | 3 | — | — | |
| "The Best Part of a Love Affair" | 101 | 27 | — | — | ||
| 1970 | "Stealing Love" (A-Side) | — | 40 | — | — | |
| "When Tomorrow Comes" (B-Side) | — | — | — | |||
| "Heart Association" | — | 29 | — | — | ||
| "Black Christmas" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971 | "You Make Me Want to Love You" | — | 47 | — | — | |
| "If You Think It (You May As Well Do It)" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Show Me How" | 52 | 13 | — | — | ||
| 1972 | "My Honey and Me" | 113 | 18 | — | — | |
| "I Could Never Be Happy" | 93 | 23 | — | — | ||
| 1973 | "From Toys to Boys" | 112 | 37 | — | — | |
| "Runnin' Back (And Forth)" | — | 91 | — | — | ||
| "Peace Be Still" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974 | "Put a Little Love Away" | 73 | 53 | — | — | |
| "Baby, I'm Through" | — | 82 | — | — | ||
| "There Are More Questions Than Answers" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1976 | "Flowers" (A-Side) | 87 | 16 | — | — | |
| "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love" (B-Side) | 51 | 13 | 4 | 40 | ||
| 1977 | "Best of My Love Best of My Love (The Emotions song) "Best of My Love" is a disco song by the band The Emotions released as a single from their album Rejoice . The song was composed by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire. Earth, Wind & Fire would later team up with the Emotions for the 1979 hit "Boogie Wonderland"... " |
1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | |
| "Don't Ask My Neighbors" | 44 | 7 | — | — | ||
| "Shouting Out Love" (A-Side) | — | 31 | — | — | ||
| 1978 | "Baby, I'm Through" (re-release) (B-Side) | — | 59 | — | — | |
| "Smile" | 102 | 6 | — | — | ||
| "Whole Lot of Shakin'" | — | 44 | — | — | ||
| 1979 | "Walking the Line" | — | 58 | — | — | |
| "Boogie Wonderland Boogie Wonderland "Boogie Wonderland" is a 1979 hit single by Earth, Wind & Fire featuring The Emotions. Boogie Wonderland was written by Allee Willis and Jon Lind, and included on the album I Am... " (with 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... ) |
6 | 2 | 14 | 4 | ||
| "What's the Name of Your Love?" | — | 30 | — | — | ||
| 1980 | "Where Is Your Love?" | — | 75 | — | — | |
| "Come into Our World" | — | — | 95 | — | ||
| 1981 | "Turn It Out" | — | 48 | 50 | — | |
| "Now That I Know" | — | 68 | — | — | ||
| 1984 | "You're the One" | — | 34 | — | — | |
| "You're the Best" | — | 52 | 33 | — | ||
| "Are You Through with My Heart?" | — | 87 | — | — | ||
| 1985 | "Miss Your Love" | — | — | — | — | |
| "If I Only Knew Then (What I Know Now)" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | ||||||
External links
- The Emotions official website