New World Music – Intellectual Thinking
Leroy Hutson might not be a household name, but you might’ve heard his work through another great soul singer, Donny Hathaway. Hutson was Hathaway’s roommate at Howard University and co-wrote “The Ghetto” with the late singer. Paradise is a soul/funk cult classic containing a few unforgettable cuts. “Classy Lady” and “Paradise” are the gems here with addictive grooves, futuristic synthesizers, just the right amount of slap bass, and Hutson’s wonderfully smooth vocals guiding us through. The album would be Hutson’s only release on Elektra and his last for decades before 2009’s Soothe You Groove You on Acid Jazz.
Recommended – A1 Classy Lady, A4 Paradise
Tags: Cult Classic / Disco
Tracklist:
A1 Classy Lady
A2 Nice And Easy
A3 You Make It Happen
A4 Paradise
B1 She’s Got It
B2 Nobody But You
B3 Stay At It
Credits:
Arranged By [Horn] – Leroy Hutson
Arranged By [String] – Lonnie Reaves
Arranged By [Vocal] – Leroy Hutson, Nicholas Caldwell
Backing Vocals – Carl Carlton (tracks: B3), Gavin Christopher (tracks: B3), Greg Levias (tracks: B3), Leroy Hutson (tracks: A1 to A4, B2, B3), Rikki Linton* (tracks: B1)
Bass Guitar – Lonnie Reaves, Melvin Coleman (2), Reggie Gillerson
Drums – Don Simmons*, Donzell Davis, Kirk Perkins, Leroy Hutson
Engineer [Additional] – Ann Fry, David Egerton, Jeffrey Norman, Steve Cohen (9)
Engineer [Recording] – Larry Millas, Rick Sanchez
Executive-Producer – Dick Griffey
Guitar – Larry White, Rick Sanchez, Stephen Harris (2), Tom Ferrone
Keyboards – Grady Wilkins, Lawrence Dawson*, Leroy Hutson, Lonnie Reaves, Pat Leonard D*, Tim Tobias
Mastered By – Wally Traugott
Mixed By – Rick Sanchez
Mouth Organ – Nicholas Caldwell
Percussion – Kenneth Nash, Leroy Hutson, Lonnie Reaves, Stephen Harris (2)
Producer – Leroy Hutson, Nicholas Caldwell
Saxophone – Jerry Wilson
Synthesizer [Bass] – Leroy Hutson, Lonnie Reaves, Louis Biancaniello
Trombone – Orville McFarland*
Trumpet – Ken Cooper*
