Review Summary: The best soul album you've never heard of.
The phrase “hidden gem” is one that gets thrown around far too often. In the age of the internet, it seems everyday a new artist is rescued from the dark, unearthed corners of the zeitgeist and hailed as a hidden gem--- almost to the point at which the phrase has lost all meaning. Despite this, however, there are few other terms I can think of to aptly describe Soul Portrait as than just that: a hidden gem. This album bumps, grooves, digs, and pulses like no other and invokes feeling with such soul and conviction that it’s hard to believe it wasn’t a smash success. Soul Portrait is a twenty-nine minute joyride that grips you from the start and never lets go, delivering an experience of soulful joy that’s hard to find anywhere else. Though Hutch later claimed most of his success after his solo career through his songwriting for Motown giants like Marvin Gaye and the Jackson 5, his real brilliance can be found on this powerful yet forgotten classic.
Soul Portrait kicks off with the track “Ain’t Gonna Stop”, a groovy, bass-driven opener that immediately puts Hutch’s impressive vocals on display. Right out the gates, Soul Portrait harnesses a massive amount of energy and refuses to give it up, setting the tone for the album and establishing a palpable mood of happiness and joy. Following the opener, the album transitions into the equally powerful tracks “You Can’t Miss Something That You’ve Never Had” and “A Love that’s Worth Having”, where Hutch boasts his clever songwriting and outstanding range. The energy of the album continues to build and eventually peaks at “Lucky to Be Loved By You”, a catchy, blissful tune that is easily the highlight of the album. Throughout the entirety of the track’s three minute runtime, Hutch’s infectious happiness makes it impossible not to smile and hum along to the soaring horns and feel-good lyrics. Soul Portrait’s conclusion eventually arrives with the track “Do What You Want to Do”, a worthy closer featuring a prominent bass line and swelling chorus. Soul Portrait finishes on a triumphant note, leaving the listener with a warm afterglow that reflects the record’s bliss.
The magic behind Soul Portrait is without a doubt chemistry between Hutch’s brazen vocals and the booming brass horns. As seen on tracks like “Lucky to Be Loved By You” and “Ain’t Gonna Stop”, the two complement each other perfectly, with the brass providing energy and Hutch bringing the emotion. This is true throughout the entire album--- the brass lays a heavy foundation and fuels Hutch’s honey-soaked vocals, infusing each track with an overwhelming sense of joy. The dynamic between the two gives the album a tremendous amount of energy and creates moments of pure bliss, acting as the driving force behind the LP. Another strong point of Soul Portrait is Hutch’s lyrics. Though simple, Hutch’s words are both effective and joyous, singing lines like “My dreams are high /As the clouds above /My day's full of laughter /My heart's full of love”. Through his vocals, Hutch is able inject feelings of love and jubilance into his tracks and does so with incredible success.
Soul Portrait encapsulates everything a soul album should be--- powerful brass, smokey vocals, love-inspired writing, and masterful production all contribute to the greatness that Soul Portrait so easily attains. Listening to Soul Portrait gives a rush of carefree happiness like seeing your high school crush or driving in a convertible that is rare to find in today’s landscape of music. In an era where everyone is scouring the internet to find an obscure artist and uncover a forgotten masterpiece, do yourself a favor and look to this album instead--- a worthy recipient of title “hidden gem”.
