Closer to the Source

Closer To The Source
Studio album by Leroy Hutson
Released	February 1978
Recorded	1977-1978 at Curtom Studios, Chicago, Illinois
Genre	Funk Soul Chicago soul R&B
Label	Curtom Records
Producer	Leroy Hutson Gil Askey Bob Monaco
Leroy Hutson chronology
Hutson II 1976 Closer To The Source 1978 Closer to the Source 1979

Closer to the Source is the sixth solo album by Leroy Hutson. Released February 1978 on Curtom Records.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

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

Track listing

1. "In the Mood" (Mendell) – 6:24
2. "Where Did Love Go?" (Gil Askey) – 4:01
3. "They've Got Love" (Davis, Mendell) – 4:04
4. "Get to This (You'll Get to Me)" (Michael Hawkins, Leroy Hutson, Lonnie Reaves) – 3:40
5. "Closer to the Source" (Hutson, Reaves, Alfonzo Surrett) – 6:08
6. "Heaven Right Here (On Earth)" (Hutson, Reaves) – 5:31
7. "Everybody's a Masterpiece" (Clinton, Riecheg) – 3:02
8. "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

Charts

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions[2]
		US	US R&B	US Dance
1978	"In The Mood"	—	56	—
	Where Did Love Go?"	—	45	—

External links

• Leroy Hutson-Closer To The Source at Discogs

References

1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r330510/review
2. ^ "Leroy Hutson US singles chart history". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p25241/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 2011-06-25.