Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: Detroit native Bobby Hutton made history by performing on the first nationally televised Soul Train episode in 1971. His journey in music led him to record with Phillips, producing many sought after tracks.
The two tracks on this 7" were originally released back-to-back in 1974 on the ABC label. Both songs were co-written and produced by McKinley Jackson, who played a significant role in crafting hits for Lamont Dozier, Freda Payne, and The Four Tops at ABC during the early to mid-70s. Grammy Award-winning Reggie Dozier, Lamont Dozier's brother, also contributed as a co-writer. This 7" has not been reissued in 40 years, and original copies are highly prized in the UK. Northern Soul music is one of the most in-demand genres for rare 45 diggers. This is a great example.

Review: The 1973 album Piece of the Action by Bobby Hutton has been reissued on vinyl for the first time since its original release. Hailing from Detroit, Hutton began his career after winning a talent show at the 20 Grand nightclub and went on to perform on the inaugural nationally broadcast Soul Train episode in 1971. Influenced by Jackie Wilson, he transitioned from writing under his birth name, Harold Hutton, to adopting the stage name Bobby Hutton, encouraged by Billy Davis at Chess Records. Hutton's journey through labels saw him eventually land at Philips, where he created the Northern Soul classic 'Come See What's Left Of Me,' famously played at the Stafford All-Nighters in the mid-80s. With standout contributions from Patti Hamilton, Jean Plum, Mikki Farrow, and Frankie Karl. The Gary Wright-penned 'Lend A Hand,' championed by DJ Colin Curtis in 1974, remains a defining track, marking a high point in Northern Soul history.