Prior to gaining recognition as a co-writer of {|the Jackson 5|}'s {|I'll Be There|} and establishing himself as a valuable songwriter, arranger, and producer at {|Motown|}, {|Willie Hutch|} released singles on {|Dunhill|} and {|Soul City|} and wrote... Read more

Prior to gaining recognition as a co-writer of {|the Jackson 5|}'s {|I'll Be There|} and establishing himself as a valuable songwriter, arranger, and producer at {|Motown|}, {|Willie Hutch|} released singles on {|Dunhill|} and {|Soul City|} and wrote for {|the 5th Dimension|}. He was also signed to {|RCA|} as a solo artist, and {|Soul Portrait|} was his debut album, the first of two sets he recorded for the label. {|Hutch|} compared his approach here to that of {|Otis Redding|}; though there are definite parallels, such as its convincing Southern tint, {|Hutch|}'s vocals, rough-hewn as they are, tend to roam within the range of sweet and tender to deeply impassioned and emphatic, yet without ever reaching {|Redding|}'s belting levels a la {|Try a Little Tenderness|} or {|Respect.|} Backed by an uncredited roster of studio musicians that often involves a rich combination of horns, strings, and female background vocalists -- best heard together on the ecstatically reeling {|Your Love Keeps Liftin' Me Higher,|} an original that indicates where {|Hutch|} would take his sound on {|The Mack|} -- {|Soul Portrait|} is as complete as any other soul album released in 1969, consistent without obvious high or glaring low points. That lack of a signature song or two likely hindered its progress. Regardless, it deserved to make more of an impact. [The {|Shout!|} offshoot of the U.K.-based {|Cherry Red|} label issued the album on compact disc for the first time in 2009.] ~ Andy Kellman Less