Soul Brother Records recently re-issued three albums from the early seventies of the former Motown producer, writer, and arranger Willie Hutch. These albums are 'Fully Exposed', 'The Mark Of The Beast' and 'Ode To My Lady'. This album 'The Mark Of The Beast' is from 1974 and was originally released on Motown Records (M6-815S1). This nine track album is funkier, rougher than his previous debut album 'Fully Exposed', recorded a year earlier. On this album Hutch exchanged the strike instruments Violins and Harps for the brass instruments like trumpet, sax. This album reached #41 on the R&B Billboard chart.

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The mix of down/up-tempo songs are equal. You notice that this album is funkier when you press play on your CD player, or put the needle in the groove, fantastic heavy funk bass on the first track 'Get Ready for the Get Down'. The Title track 'The Mark of the Beast' feautures on of the early drum machines on the market. It sounds like an organ drum machine;-). This song is about the bible of Jesus. Hutch his outstanding vocals on 'Try It You'll Like It' and funky guitar hooks make this track a killer tune.

'Life's No Fun Living in the Ghetto' is dedicated to all beautiful people who live in the ghetto. The tempo differences in this track makes it a great soul tune. 'I'm Gonna Stay' and 'Woman You Touched Me' are love songs. On of my favorite songs on this album is 'Don't You Let Nobody Tell You How to Do Your Thing' the same is true for (I Wanted to Be a Rock and Roll Star) Woman I Still Got Loving You ... The drum machine is also used on the previous two tracks.
Mark Berbiers