The Emotions

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Emotions


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Origin = Chicago, Illinois, United States
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Genre = R&B, soul music, disco
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Years_active = 1968-present
Label = Stax, Volt, Columbia, Motown, Raging Bull
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URL = [http://www.theemotionsweb.com/ TheEmotionsWeb.com]
Current_members = Pamela Hutchinson Sheila Hutchinson Wanda Hutchinson
Past_members = Jeanette Hutchinson Theresa Davis Adrianne Harris
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The Emotions are an all female soul, disco, and R&B singing group of the late-1970s and into the 1980s. The group was formed in their hometown of Chicago, Illinois in 1968, and originally consisted of the three Hutchinson sisters, all the children of Joseph and Lillian Hutchinson

Main personnel

* Jeanette Hutchinson (born in 1951)
* Wanda Hutchinson (born 17 December 1951)
* Sheila Hutchinson (born 17 January 1953)

History

Origins and early years

Joseph had prayed for talented children before the girls were born, and wasted no time in developing their musical skills. As soon as the girls could talk, he began teaching them music skills, and had them practice in the basement of their home on the south side of Chicago. When Sheila, the youngest, was five years old, they began singing in church choirs and were known as the Hutchinson Sunbeams. Joseph's son, Joseph, Jr. (born 1957) would eventually become the Sunbeams' guitarist.

In 1968, the girls changed their name to "The Emotions", and released their first album, "So I Can Love You", the following year. The album's title track, written by Sheila, was a minor hit single, as was "The Best Part Of A Love Affair".

Jeanette was married in 1970, and quit the act once she became pregnant with her first son, Chicha. She was replaced by a close friend, Theresa Davis, who was in turn replaced by another Hutchinson sister, Pamela. The following year, the Emotions released "Untouched", their second album, which featured hits such as "Show Me How" and "If You Think It". By 1976 and the "Flowers" album, Jeanette had returned to the act. "Flowers" included the hits "Flowers", and "I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love".

uccess with Earth, Wind & Fire

Their association with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire brought them their greatest success. With White's assistance, the Emotions released the albums "Rejoice" and "Sunbeam" in 1977 and 1978. The White-produced single "Best Of My Love" spent five weeks at number-one on the US pop chart in 1977. Jeanette left the act for the second time in 1977, to give birth to her second child, Pili, whose father is Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire.

In 1978, Jeanette returned to the act, and the group collaborated with Earth, Wind & Fire on another single, "Boogie Wonderland", which was a top 10 hit in 1979. The group continued to record together during the 1980s, and were signed briefly with Motown Records at one point. However, they were not able to repeat the success they had during the disco period.

The Emotions today

The Emotions, today comprised of Wanda, Pamela, and Sheila Hutchinson, released their final album in 1996. They continue to perform and make personal appearances. Pamela, now married, resides in Glendale, California and has three daughters, two of which plan to enter the music industry themselves. Wanda lives in Hollywood, California with her husband and daughter. Sheila still resides in Chicago, where she takes care of her mother Lillian, her youngest sister Keena, and Keena’s daughter (Joseph Hutchinson died in 1985).kklk

The Emotions influence

The Emotions' 1970 Stax track "Blind Alley" formed the basis for Mariah Carey's 1993 Billboard chart-topping hit "Dreamlover". She also acknowledged her love for their sound with her song "Emotions", which samples "Best of My Love". The latter song was previously sampled in 1988 for Big Daddy Kane's "Ain't No Half Steppin'". The Cheryl Lynn hit "Got To Be Real" is based on the song's bridge.

Discography

Albums

*1969: "So I Can Love You" (Stax) - US R&B #45
*1971: "Untouched" (Stax)
*1972: "Songs of Innocence & Experience" (Stax) (Unreleased)
*1976: "Flowers" (Columbia) - US Pop #45, US R&B #5
*1977: "Rejoice" (Columbia) - US Pop #7, US R&B #1
*1977: "Sunshine" (Stax) - US Pop #88, US R&B #39
*1978: "Sunbeam" (Columbia) - US Pop #40, US R&B #12
*1979: "Come Into Our World" (Columbia) - US Pop #96, US R&B #35
*1981: "New Affair" (Columbia) - US Pop 168, US R&B #46
*1984: "Sincerely" (Red Label)
*1985: "If I Only Knew" (Motown) - US R&B #54
*1996: "Live in '96" (Sunbeam Records)

Compilations

* 1979: "Chronicle Greatest Hits" (Stax)
* 1996: "Best Of My Love: The Best Of The Emotions" (Columbia) - US R&B #77
* 2004: "Songs of Innocence and Experience ...And Then Some!" (UK Stax/Ace)

Singles

*1967: "I Can't Stand No More Heart Aches/You'd Better Get Pushed to It" (Brainstorm 125)
*1968: "Somebody New/Brushfire" (Twin Stacks 126)
*1968: "Never Let Me Go/I Can't Control These Emotions" (Twin Stacks 129)
*1968: "I Love You, But I'll Leave You/Brushfire" (Twin Stacks 130)
*1969: "So I Can Love You" - US Pop #39, US R&B #3
*1969: "The Best Part of a Love Affair" - US R&B #27
*1970: "Stealing Love / When Tomorrow Comes" - US R&B #40
*1970: "Heart Association" - US R&B #29
*1970: "Black Christmas"
*1971: "You Make Me Want to Love You"
*1971: "If You Think It (You May As Well Do It)"
*1971: "Show Me How" - US Pop #52, US R&B #13
*1972: "My Honey and Me" - US R&B #18
*1972: "I Could Never Be Happy" - US Pop #93, US R&B #23
*1973: "From Toys to Boys" - US R&B #37
*1973: "Runnin' Back (And Forth)"
*1973: "Peace Be Still"
*1973: "What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas"
*1974: "Put a Little Love Away" - US Pop #73
*1974: "Baby, I'm Through" - US R&B #82
*1974: "Anyway You Look At It"
*1976: "Flowers" - US Pop #74, US R&B #16
*1976: "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love" - US Pop #51, US R&B #13, UK #40
*1977: "Best of My Love" - US Pop #1, US R&B #1, UK #4
*1977: "Don't Ask My Neighbors" - US #44, R&B #7
*1978: "Baby, I'm Through (re-release) - US R&B #59
*1978: "Shouting Out Love" - US R&B #31
*1978: "Whole Lot of Shakin'" - US R&B #44
*1978: "Smile" - US R&B #6
*1979: "Boogie Wonderland" ('as featured guests with Earth, Wind & Fire) - US Pop #6, US R&B #2, UK #4
*1979: "Walking the Line" - US R&B #58
*1979: "What's the Name of Your Love?" - US R&B #30
*1980: "Where Is Your Love?"
*1981: "Turn That Out"
*1981: "Now That I Know"
*1984: "You're the One" - US R&B #34
*1984: "You're The Best"
*1984: "Are You Through With My Heart"
*1985: "Miss Your Love"
*1985: "If I Only Knew Then (What I Know Now)"

References and external links

* [http://www.theemotionsweb.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.soultracks.com/the_emotions.htm The Emotions biography and updates at Soul Tracks]
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* [http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/emotions.htm Full single discography]