Hutson Vol.2/Closer To The Source

Leroy Hutson's second and sixth LPs are paired together here on a narrow double-CD set (which must have been a contractual obligation -- the combined running times of both LPs is well under 70 minutes). The remastering was state-of-the-art in 1999 and still holds up a half decade later with no apologies; the richness of the arrangements on ballads such as "In the Mood" and the harder sounds of "Get to This (You'll Get to Me)" and "Closer to the Source" are all presented in sharp relief, and Hutson's voice is showcased as never before -- indeed, the latter song's second half sort of "blooms" on this CD, gradually enveloping the listener as the mastering captures the sweep and boldness of the arrangement in the song's second half. The annotation is still minimal, as on the rest of these non-Curtis Mayfield Curtom reissues, but the music and sound are strong enough to overcome any slight shortcomings in packaging; indeed, the members of the Curtom string section and drummer Donnelle Hagan will probably regard this reissue as almost as big a gift as Hutson and his fans should. ~ Bruce Eder|