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The Emotions are an American all-female soul and R&B singing group. The group was formed in its current hometown of ChicagoIllinois originally consisting of three sisters, all children of Joseph and Lillian Hutchinson.

Contents[]

 [hide*1 History

History[edit][]

Origins and early years[edit][]

Joseph had prayed for talented children before the girls were born, and wasted no time in developing their musical skills. As soon as his daughters 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. 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". In 1969 the girls were asked to be part of a summer outdoor concert in Rochester, New York. The group caught the eye of the host of the concerts, Herb Hamlett the soul DJ of WCMF FM. Father Joe was the group's guitarist and formed a friendship with Hamlett, that brought the group bookings and headliners in the state of New York.

Jeanette was married in 1970 to Reginald Hawes, and gave birth to her first son, Chicha. A close friend, Theresa Davis, a former member of Our Ladies Of Soul began to sing with the group. The following year, the Emotions releasedUntouched, their second album, which featured hits such as "Show Me How" and "If You Think It". During their Stax years, they were produced by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. By 1976 and the Flowers album, they had left Stax and Jeanette had returned to record and perform. Flowers included the hits "Flowers" and "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love". Later Pamela began to tour in live performances with the group while Jeanette pursued individual personal goals.

Success with Earth, Wind & Fire and Beyond[edit][]

Their association with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire brought them their greatest success.[1] With White's assistance, The Emotions released the albums Rejoice and Sunbeam in 1977 and 1978. Maurice White and Clarence McDonald co-produced the single "Best Of My Love" which spent five weeks at number one on the US pop chart in 1977. Jeanette left in 1977, to give birth to her second child, Pili and their youngest sister Pamela was brought in to record on the album Rejoice and perform live dates. In 1978, Jeanette returned to the group. In collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire, the group scored big with the single, "Boogie Wonderland", which was a top ten hit in 1979. The group continued to record together during the 1980s, and were signed briefly with Motown Records. Their last recording to date was 1996's The Emotions Live released on their own record label Sunbeam Records.

The Emotions today[edit][]

The current lineup of The Emotions consists of Wanda, Pamela, and Sheila Hutchinson. They continue to perform and make personal appearances. Wanda has three daughters, two of whom plan to enter the music industry themselves.

In 2013, Wanda, Sheila, and Pam moved to Stardom Records record label, which is owned by The Stylistics lead singer and Smooth Jazz recording artist Eban Brown, and teamed up with rapper Snoop Dogg for a sultry Hip Hop/R&B single called "Life", written by Terrace Martin and the Daughters of Wanda Vaughn.

Influence[edit][]

The Cheryl Lynn hit "Got To Be Real" is based on the bridge of "Best of My Love". Mariah Carey's 1991 hit "Emotions" also samples "Best of My Love". Carey used The Emotions catalogue again when she sampled the group's 1972 Stax track "Blind Alley" for her 1993 hit "Dreamlover"[2] and also "Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings" by LL Cool J. "Blind Alley" was previously sampled in 1988 for Big Daddy Kane's "Ain't No Half Steppin'".[3]Late 1970s family trio, The Jones Girls, was also influenced by the Emotions' sound.

Discography[edit][]

Studio albums[edit][]

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications

(sales thresholds)

Record label
US

[4]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Albums US

R&B] [4]

AUS

[5]

CAN

[6]

1969 So I Can Love You 43 Volt
1971 Untouched
1972 Songs of Innocence and Experience[A]
1976 Flowers 45 5
  • US: Gold [7]
Columbia
1977 Rejoice 7 1 64 29
  • US: Platinum [7]
Sunshine 88 39 Stax
1978 Sunbeam 40 12 66
  • US: Gold [7]
Columbia
1979 Come into Our World 96 35 ARC
1981 New Affair 168 46
1984 Sincerely 206 33 Red Label
1985 If I Only Knew 203 54 Motown
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.
  • A Album was never released

Compilation albums[edit][]

Year Title Peak chart positions Record label
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Albums US

R&B] [4]

1978 Chronicle: Greatest Hits Stax
1996 Best of My Love: The Best of the Emotions 77 Legacy
1998 The Emotions Sony Music
1999 Love Songs Legacy
2002 Super Hits
2004 Songs of Innocence and Experience… and Then Some! Stax
2007 Best of the Emotions Mastercuts Gold
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Singles[edit][]

Year Title Peak chart positions
US

[4]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Songs US

R&B] [4]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Dance_Club_Play US

Dan] [4]

AUS

[5]

CAN

[6]

NLD

[8]

NZ

[9]

UK

[10]

1962 "Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney"
1964 "Good Old Days"
1967 "I Can't Stand No More Heartaches"
1968 "Somebody New"
"I Can't Control These Emotions"
"I Love You But I'll Leave You"
1969 "So I Can Love You" 39 3 40
"The Best Part of a Love Affair" 101 27
1970 "Stealing Love" (A-Side) 40
"When Tomorrow Comes" (B-Side)
"Heart Association" 29
"Black Christmas"
1971 "You Make Me Want to Love You" 47
"If You Think It (You May As Well Do It)"
"Show Me How" 52 13
1972 "My Honey and Me" 113 18
"I Could Never Be Happy" 93 23
1973 "From Toys to Boys" 112 37
"Runnin' Back (And Forth)" 91
"Peace Be Still"
"What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas"
1974 "Put a Little Love Away" 73 53 79
"Baby, I'm Through" 82
"There Are More Questions Than Answers"
1976 "Flowers" (A-Side) 87 16 2
"I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love" (B-Side) 51 13 4 67 40
1977 "Best of My Love" 1 1 11 17 5 21 9 4
"Don't Ask My Neighbors" 44 7 88
"Shouting Out Love" (A-Side) 31
1978 "Baby, I'm Through" (re-release)(B-Side) 59
"Smile" 102 6
"Whole Lot of Shakin'" 44
1979 "Walking the Line" 58
"Boogie Wonderland" (with Earth, Wind & Fire) 6 2 14 6 11 4 7 4
"What's the Name of Your Love?" 30
"I Should Be Dancing" 41
1980 "Where Is Your Love?" 75
"Come into Our World" 95
1981 "Turn It Out" 48 50
"Now That I Know" 68
1984 "You're the One" 34
"You're the Best" 52 33
"Are You Through with My Heart?" 87
1985 "Miss Your Love"
"If I Only Knew Then (What I Know Now)"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.
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