Paradise

Leroy Hutson’s 1982 Elektra album has an almost jazzy feel to it, due in part to a prominent electric piano on most tracks and the sparseness: no big horn sections or strings. Most of the cuts are laid-back, perfect for chilling out. The cornerstone track is his luscious cover of fellow Chicagoans Omni’s “You Make It Happen.” The dance track could serve as a sampling precursor as it includes a section of the Whispers’ “In the Raw” and the guitar riff from Zapp’s “More Bounce to the Ounce.” Other highlights are the mid-tempo sax-laced title track, “Nice and Easy,” the funky dance jam “Nobody but You,” and the upbeat, uplifting “Stay at It with backing vocals by Carl Carlton. – Ed Hogan