Leroy Hutson
Leroy Hutson is an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and instrumentalist, best known for his work as the lead singer of The Impressions after Curtis Mayfield and for his solo career in the 1970s soul scene.
Born on June 4, 1945, in Newark, New Jersey, Hutson showed early musical talent as a teenager by forming the vocal group Nu-Tones, which won several high school talent shows. He attended Howard University initially planning to study dentistry but switched to music theory and composition after rooming with future soul star Donny Hathaway, with whom he co-wrote the 1970 hit "The Ghetto".
In 1971, shortly after college, Hutson joined The Impressions as lead singer, replacing Curtis Mayfield, and recorded two albums over two and a half years, including tracks like "Love Me". He left amicably in 1973 to pursue solo work as a writer, producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist.
Hutson's 1973 debut solo album Love Oh Love on Curtom Records featured the hit "So In Love With You" and showcased his lush soul-funk-jazz blend with falsetto vocals. He released eight albums through 1992, charting 13 U.S. singles, and built a cult following for romantic tracks like "All Because of You" and "Lucky Fellow," influencing quiet storm and later artists. His work has been sampled in hip-hop and reissued for vinyl collectors.
Active mainly in the 1970s–1990s on labels like Curtom, Warner Bros., and Elektra, Hutson is the father of producer JR Hutson and remains celebrated for his sophisticated soul sound.
Hutson
Written-By – LeRoy Hutson
7:03
A2 I Bless The Day
Written-By – LeRoy Hutson
4:45
A3 It's Different
Written-By – LeRoy Hutson
4:42
B1 Cool Out
Written-By – LeRoy Hutson, Michael Hawkins
3:00
B2 Lucky Fellow
Written-By – C. Boyd*, G. Dickerson*, LeRoy Hutson
5:02
B3 Can't Stay Away
Written-By – LeRoy Hutson, Michael Hawkins
6:33
B4 So Much Love
Written-By – LeRoy Hutson
3:19
Label: Curtom – CU 5002
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1975
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Seventies Soul, Chicago Soul
LeRoy Hutson's self-titled 1975 album, Hutson, is a landmark Chicago soul masterpiece known for its lush, orchestral arrangements, warm production, and sophisticated blend of soulful grooves and tight funk, featuring classics like "All Because of You" and "Lucky Fellow", and showcasing Hutson's prowess as a producer, arranger, and vocalist, often compared to Marvin Gaye or Roy Ayers but with a unique, intimate, and classy feel.
It's celebrated for its consistent quality, deep grooves, and intricate musicality that revealed new layers with each listen, solidifying its status in the rare groove scene.
The album was self-produced at Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Studios, featuring rich strings, horns, tight rhythms. It's elegant, atmospheric, intimate, yet deeply groovy, with a focus on sophisticated arrangements and seductive vocals. A highly influential and beloved album, rediscovered and praised during the rare groove era for its timeless quality and lack of "flat spots".
Offers continuous "soul goodness" with intricate details, bridges, and breakdowns that reward repeated listening. Masterfully balances intimacy with grand, expansive instrumentation demonstrating Hutson's full range as a musician, arranger, and producer.
The album features several tracks that became staples of the "Rare Groove" era:-
"All Because of You": A smooth-soul standout often compared to the work of Isaac Hayes and Barry White.
"Lucky Fellow": A masterful cover of the Maurice Jackson song, highlighted for its beautiful arrangement.
"Cool Out": A soaring instrumental groove frequently compared to Kool & The Gang’s "Summer Madness".
The album was voted number 26 in Mojo magazine's top 75 soul albums of the 1970s. Originally released in 1975, it has been reissued several times, including a deluxe remastered version by Acid Jazz Records. It is often paired with its successor, Hutson II (1976), as the definitive representation of his solo work.
The Man!
Written-By – L. Hutson, M. Hawkins 6:17
A2 Gotta Move - Gotta Groove
Written-By – D. Reed, Q. Joseph, T. Green, Wm. Robinson 3:37
A3 Ella Weez
Written-By – L. Hutson, M. Hawkins 2:59
A4 Give This Love A Try
Written-By – E. Dixon, J. Thompson 3:34
B1 The Ghetto '74
Written-By – D. Hathaway, L. Hutson 4:32
B2 After The Fight
Written-By – D. Reed, Q. Joseph, T. Green, Wm. Robinson 3:15
B3 Could This Be Love
Written-By – L. Hutson, M. Hawkins 3:06
B4 Dudley Do-Right
Written-By – B. Davis (10), D. Reed, L. Hutson, Q. Joseph 3:44
Label: Curtom – CRS-8020
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk
Leroy Hutson's 1974 album, The Man!, marked a significant step in his sophisticated soul journey, blending Chicago/Impressions tradition with modern soul sounds, featuring smooth dancers like "Ella Weez," ballads such as "Give This Love a Try," and a notable cover of his Donny Hathaway-co-written "The Ghetto '74," showcasing his rich arrangements, versatility, and deep groove that paved the way for his even more acclaimed 1975 self-titled album, Hutson.
The album showcases Hutson's evolving sound, moving towards lush, orchestrated soul with intricate arrangements, notes Soul Brother Records and Record Collector Magazine.
It features a mix of styles, from upbeat modern soul and funk tracks like "Ella Weez" and "Could This Be Love" to poignant ballads like "Give This Love a Try," demonstrating his range as a singer, writer, and producer.
The album includes a version of "The Ghetto '74," a song Hutson co-wrote with Donny Hathaway, highlighting their close creative relationship and mutual influence.
While brilliant, critics often point to The Man! as a strong precursor, with its sound perfected and elevated on his subsequent, highly acclaimed albums, Hutson (1975) and Hutson II (1976).
Reviewers praise its exquisite arrangements, intimate sensuality, and deep grooves, comparing the feeling to being "wrapped in a warm embrace".
It's seen as a pivotal work, developing the "auteur-like vision" Hutson brought to his music, blending funk, smooth soul, and orchestral textures.
In essence, The Man! is a crucial listen for soul fans, capturing Leroy Hutson at a key moment as he honed his signature sound, delivering rich, classic 70s soul.