- Theresa Davis -- vocals (replaced Jeanette Hutchinson)

- Adrianne Harris -- vocals (replaced Pamela Hutchinson)

  (1995-)

- Jeanette Hutchinson -- vocals (1968-70, 77, 79)

- Pamela Hutchinson -- vocals (replaced Theresa Davis) 

  -95)

- Shelia Hutchinson -- vocals (1968-)

- Theresa Hutchinson -- vocals (1968-)

- Wanda Hutchinson -- vocals (1968-)

- The Sunbeams 

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Sunshine

Company: Stax

Catalog: STX-4100

Year: 1977

Country/State: Chicago, Illinois

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened)

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4430

Price: $7.00

Cost: $66.00

With the Hutchinson sisters ripping though the charts via their collaboration with Columbia, Maurice White and Earth, Wind and Fire, former label Stax was more than willing to take a stab at grabbing some of the market.  The funny thing is that though they had enjoyed some minor R&B hits, it's always been a mystery to me why these ladies weren't major stars for Stax.  Anyone listening to 1977's "Sunshine" will be hard pressed to figure out why it took White and EWF to turn them into a commercial blockbuster.  Musically the album isn't a major departure from their earlier releases.  Reflecting earlier material that had teamed the sisters with some of  Stax's most talented producers including Al Bell, Al Jackson, Jr., Jim Stewart and Pervis Staples, the collection served to showcase their wonderful harmonies (the only people even coming close being The Staple Singers).  With all three sisters handling lead vocals, tracks such as 'Shouting Out Love' (recalling the Staples), 'Innocent' and their stark cover of Bill Withers' 'Ain't No Sunshine' were simply stunning.  Mind you, there were a couple of misfires. There was no need to cover Carla Thomas' 'Gee Whiz', while 'I Really Miss You' was a pretty but bland and forgettable ballad. Unfortunately for the group the album was the first to be released under Stax's newly signed distribution agreement with Fantasy Records.  With Stax's finances in rapid collapse the set enjoyed little or no support and quickly disappeared into cutout bins.  Sporting one of the of the year's most unimaginative covers certainly did help sales.  Stax also tapped the album for a couple of instantly forgotten singles:

- 1977's 'Shouting Out Love' b/w 'Baby, I'm Through' (Stax catalog STS-3200)

- 1978's 'Baby, I'm Through' b/w 'Anyway You Look At It' (Stax catalog number STS-3205)

"Sunshine" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Shouting Out Love   (Carl Smith) - 3:15

2.) Gee Whiz! (Look at His Eyes)    (Carla Thomas) - 3:23

3.) I Really Miss You   (Wanda Hutchinson) - 3:17

4.) Ain't No Sunshine   (Bill Withers) - 4:45

5.) Runnin' Back (and Forth)   (Eddie Floyd - Mack Rice) - 2:58

(side 2)

1.) Anyway You Look At It   (Smith - Wilkes) - 3:54

2.) Baby, I'm Through   (Joe Hutchinson) - 4:12

3.) Innocent   Bettye Crutcher - Snell) - 3:11

4.) Put a Little Love Away   (Brian Lambert - Dave Potter) - 5:18

Genre: soul

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Sincerely

Company: Red Label

Catalog: RLLP-001-1

Year: 1984

Country/State: Chicago, Illinois

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5314

Price: $6.00

Released by the Chicago-based Red Label, 1984's "Sincerely" marked somewhat of a comeback for the Hutchinson sisters.  Working with a slew of producers  (the liner notes credited four separate teams, including sister Wanda and her husband Wayne Vaughn and Billy Osbourne and Zane Giles) the collection reflected a then state-of-the-art sound, complete with synthesizers and loads of high tech production.  The problem is that similar to the glossy, glamour shot group photo on the back cover, the glossy high tech sound robbed the sisters of much of their original charm and creative strengths.  

Wanda, Sheila and Pamela (back cover of "Sincerely"

Tracks like 'You're the One', 'Can't Blow Out the Candle' and 'You're the Best' were recognizable as Emotions songs, but came off as fragile and frequently shrill.  Imagine slapping the sisters into a studio with mid-1980s Prince and you'll get a feel for what most of the album sounded like.  Sure, there were glimmers of promise throughout. The Hutchinsons' voices remained wonderful instruments and they remained capable of turning in some to-die-for harmonies, but for the most part they'd become tools for their handlers.  Major disappointment ...   

That didn't stop the label from releasing a string of singles off the LP:

- 1984's 'You're the One' b/w 'I Can Do Anything' (Red Label catalog number RSLG- 001-3A/B)

- 1984's 'You're the Best' b/w 'You Know I'm The One' (Red Label catalog number RSLG-002A/B)

- 1984's 'Are You Through With My Heart' b/w 'You Know I'm The One' (Red Label catalog number RLSG-001-3A/B)

"Sunshine" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) All Things Come In Time   (Wayne Vaughn - Wanda Vaughn) - 5:20

2.) Are You Through with My Heart   (Keg Johnson - Danni Johnson - Marlo Henderson - Pat Henderson) - 3:45

3.) You're the One   (Billy Osbourne - Zane Giles) - 3:49

4.) Can't Blow Out the Candle   (Jerry Williams - Jeanette Williams) - 3:45

5.) Sincerely   (Sheila Henderson - Keith Henderson) - 4:10

(side 2)

1.) You're the Best     (Billy Osbourne - Zane Giles) - 6:05

2.) You Know I'm the One   (Keith Henderson) - 4:45

3.) Never Let Another   (Sheila Hutchinson - Wayne Vaughn)

4.) I Can Do Anything   (Wayne Vaughn - Wanda Vaughn - Debbie King) - 5:25