Closer to the Source

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Closer to the Source

Studio album by Leroy Hutson
Released	01/01/1978
Genre	Funk/Soul Chicago soul/R&B
Label	Curtom
Producer	Leroy Hutson
Professional reviews
All Music Guide [1] Song review - Closer To The Source [2]

Closer to the Source is the sixth solo album by Leroy Hutson.

1 Track listing
2 Review
3 Song Review
4 Chart positions

[edit] Track listing

"In the Mood"
"Where Did Love Go?"
"They've Got Love"
"Get to This (You'll Get to Me)"
"Closer to the Source"
"Heaven Right Here (On Earth)"
"Everybody's a Masterpiece"
"You're a Winner"

[edit] Review

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, All Music Guide

[edit] Song Review

Off his 1978 Curtom album of the same name, this Leroy Hutson/ Joe Reaves/ A. Surrett song is a beautifully executed, socially conscious pièce de résistance. Hutson's ably accompanied by mellow backing voices, sweet flute toots, and a sax that breaks off a tiny solo on the break and continues to make its presence felt throughout the song. The contemporary jazz arrangement is classy and invigorating.

~ Andrew Hamilton