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Willie Hutch ensured his place in Motown history with his era-defining soundtracks to the blaxploitation films Foxy Brown and The Mack.  But the singer-songwriter’s C.V. was much deeper and more all-encompassing, both at Motown and elsewhere; he provided The 5th Dimension with memorable songs like “California My Way” and recorded as a solo artist for labels including RCA, Soul City, and Whitfield Records.  SoulMusic and Cherry Red, hot off a recent rarities anthology for Motown’s Brenda Holloway, has returned to the milieu of the label with a two-fer from Hutch.  Havin’ a House Party/Making a Game Out of Love features the artist’s final album before his departure for Norman Whitfield’s label and his “comeback” record upon returning to the Motown fold.

Hutch’s 1973 Motown solo debut Fully Exposed followed his triumph as co-writer of the Jackson 5’s chart-topping hit “I’ll Be There.”  His merger of soul and funk blossomed on his subsequent solo releases and soundtracks, culminating in 1977’s Havin’ a House Party.  His sixth proper solo release was a concept album, flowing continuously in the manner of a real party with a loose vibe encouraged by the improvisatory spirit of Hutch (on bass, guitar, Fender Rhodes, and congas) and his band of musicians.  Like any party, however, Willie’s had its ups and downs in the forms of uptempo dancers and slow-burning ballads.  Motown released three singles from the LP, two of which are included on SoulMusic’s expanded edition: “We Gonna Have a House Party” and “What You Gonna Do After the Party.”  (The third A-side, “What You Gonna Do After the Party,” is not included.)

In 1978, Hutch departed Berry Gordy’s label for one founded by a Motown alumnus: Norman Whitfield.  He delivered two albums for Whitfield (both reissued on CD in 2014 by Real Gone Music) but returned to Motown in 1982, as Whitfield Records had wound down its relatively short existence.  Hutch embraced the eighties’ glossy sound for “In and Out” and “The Girl (Can’t Help It),” a pair of tracks featured on the European compilation also entitled In and Out.  Soon, Hutch was contributing to the company’s all-star soundtrack to Berry Gordy’s motion picture The Last Dragon, and had the greenlight for another long-player.

1985’s Making a Game Out of Love was a contemporary affair, reuniting Hutch with producer Hal Davis, who had first brought him to the company years earlier.  Arranger Gene Page and sax man Ernie Watts were also part of the sessions, as were background vocalists The Waters, and guest artist Syreeta, who appeared on “The Glow.”  The Syreeta duet was one of two tracks on the album reprised from The Last Dragon, the other being “Inside You” with The Temptations.  SoulMusic’s reissue of Game adds both sides of the U.S. “In and Out” b/w “The Girl (Can’t Help It)” single, along with the 12-inch mix of the former, and extended versions of both “The Glow” and “Keep On Jammin’.”

Following Making a Game Out of Love, Willie Hutch stepped out of the spotlight, returning sporadically to the studio until his death in 2005 at the age of 60.  Kevin Goins and Donald Cleveland have handled the liner notes and remastering, respectively, in fine fashion.  This set of two classic albums from the late Motown veteran are available now from SoulMusic and Cherry Red at the links below!

Willie Hutch, Havin’ a House Party/Making a Game Out of Love (SoulMusic/Cherry Red SMCR  5162D, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: Havin’ a House Party (Motown M6-874S1, 1977) and bonus tracks

1. Willie’s Boogie
2. We Gonna Have a House Party
3. What You Gonna Do After the Party
4. I Can Sho’ Give You Love
5. I Never Had It So Good
6. We Gonna Party Tonight
7. After Love is Gone
8. Soul Strut
9. Train of Love
10. We Gonna Have a House Party (Motown single M 1416F-A, 1977)
11. We Gonna Party Tonight (Motown single M 1424F-A, 1977)

CD 2: Making a Game Out of Love (Motown 6142 ML, 1985) and bonus tracks

1. She’s Making a Game Out of Love
2. Super Sexy
3. The Very Best of Love
4. The Glow
5. Don’t Act Like That
6. Sexy Feelin’
7. Always
8. Keep on Jammin’
9. Inside You (with The Temptations)
10. In and Out (Motown single 1637 MF-A, 1985)
11. The Girl (Can’t Help It) (Motown single 1637 MF-B, 1985)
12. The Glow (Special 12-Inch Version) (Motown 12-inch single 4534 MG, 1985)
13. Keep on Jammin’ (Extended Version) (from Motown Today and Forever, Motown U.K. WL 72409, 1985)
14. In and Out (12-Inch Version) (Motown 12-inch single 4501 MG, 1985)