Donny Hathaway

[Alexander]

A few months ago, I picked up the Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway duet album. At the time, I was getting into Flack and I didn't have any idea who Hathaway was. The only tune I knew on the disc was "Where Is the Love," which got a lot of radio play when I was a kid (probably still does on the Adult Contemporary stations). Anyway, I loved the disc and I was blown away by Hathaway's voice. I decided to keep my eyes open and see what I could find by this guy.

Recently, I was browsing in the Reggae section at Borders. For some reason, the geniuses who work there have Hathaway shelved in the Reggae section (no wonder I never saw him in soul! ). The only disc they had was his second (self-titled) album, so I picked it up. Again, absolutely amazing! He had a beautiful voice. It's at once classic and completely contemporary, largely because Hathaway has influenced nearly every male soul singer (starting with Stevie Wonder). Even some female singers (like India.Arie and Alicia Keyes) cite Hathaway as an influence.

Sadly, this troubled genius only recorded three studio albums ("Everything Is Everything," "Donny Hathaway," and "Extentions of a Man") and one live album (which features amazing covers of "What's Goin' On" and John Lennon's "Jealous Guy") before committing suicide in 1978. What really blew me away was that I'd never heard of this guy before! For all those who haven't heard Mr. Hathaway, I recommend him highly.

Edited December 1, 2004 by Alexander

[Jim Alfredson]

There's actually another live album which is kind of hard to find. Can't recall the name of it right now, but it's great. It's a damn shame that he didn't record more. I too was blown away by his musicianship and specifically his voice when I first discovered him about 5 years ago.

[Rooster_Ties]

Don't know a thing about Donny Hathaway, but there appear to be two live albums listed in the AMG. (I think they're different albums, but I haven't looked very closely at the details.)

Edited December 1, 2004 by Rooster_Ties

[Joe G]

Everyone should have those live albums, at least!

[Harold_Z]

I think the lp is called "Donny Hathaway Live" and it was recorded at the Bitter End. Willie Weeks on Bass and Cornell Dupree on guitar. I have to dig the lp up - it is good as are all the Donny Hathaway lps. Everything Is Everything is a gas!

[Noj]

I definitely dig Donny, I have Everything Is Everything.

I hear he committed suicide.

[JSngry]

Get it.

NOW.

[Jim Alfredson]

Donny was a deep cat. I actually have a hard time listening to his music anymore because I think about his suicide. It's just a damn shame.

Extensions of a Man is a great record.

[Joe]

Not a bad "jazz arranger", either, IIRC. Didn't he do some work for Cadet in the late 1960's?

[mikeweil]

Donny Hathaway Live Atco 33-386 (released 1972)

Donny Hathaway In Performance Atlantic SD 19278 (released 1980)

The first was recorded half at the Troubadour in LA & at the Bitter End in New York (except for a bass solo from a Troubador gig edited in), the second had one more track from the Bitter End, one from Carnegie Hall, and four from the Troubadour. I never regretted keeping my LP copies.

"To be young, gifted and black" from the 2nd LP is fantastic!!! Both are equally fine albums and indispensable, IMHO.

Both seem to be available. Pics posted below.

Seeems I have to get me the new live CD and the studio albums ...

Edited December 2, 2004 by mikeweil

[mikeweil]

I hear he committed suicide.

Seems to be mysterious:

Donny Hathaway was one of the brightest new voices in soul music at the dawn of the ‘70s, possessed of a smooth, gospel-inflected romantic croon that was also at home on fiery protest material. Hathaway achieved his greatest commercial success as Roberta Flack's duet partner of choice, but sadly he's equally remembered for the tragic circumstances of his death -- an apparent suicide at age 33. Donny Hathaway was born October 1, 1945 in Chicago, but moved to St. Louis when he was very young, and began singing in church with his grandmother at the scant age of three. He began playing piano at a young age, and by high school, he was impressive enough to win a full-ride fine arts scholarship to Howard University to study music in 1964. While in college, he performed with a cocktail jazz outfit called the Ric Powell Trio, and wound up leaving school after three years to pursue job opportunities he was already being offered in the record industry.

Hathaway first worked behind the scenes as a producer, arranger, songwriter, and session pianist/keyboardist. He supported the likes of Aretha Franklin, Jerry Butler, and the Staple Singers, among many others, and joined the Mayfield Singers, a studio backing group that supported Curtis Mayfield's Impressions. Hathaway soon became a house producer at Mayfield's Curtom label, and in 1969 cut his first single, a duet with June Conquest called "I Thank You Baby." From there he signed with Atco as a solo artist, and released his debut single, the inner-city lament "The Ghetto, Pt. 1," toward the end of the year. While it failed to reach the Top 20 on the RB charts, "The Ghetto" still ranks as a classic soul message track, and has been sampled by numerous hip-hop artists. "The Ghetto" set the stage for Hathaway's acclaimed debut LP, Everything Is Everything, which was released in early 1970. In 1971, he released his eponymous second album and recorded a duet with former Howard classmate Roberta Flack, covering James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend." It was a significant hit, reaching the Top Ten on the RB charts, and sparked a full album of duets, Roberta Flack Donny Hathaway, which was released in 1972. The soft, romantic ballad "Where Is the Love?" topped the RB charts, went Top Five on the pop side, and won a Grammy, and the accompanying album went gold.

Also in 1972, Hathaway branched out into soundtrack work, recording the theme song for the TV series Maude and scoring the film Come Back Charleston Blue. However, in the midst of his blossoming success, he was also battling severe bouts of depression, which occasionally required him to be hospitalized. His mood swings also affected his partnership with Flack, which began to crumble in 1973. Hathaway released one more album that year, the ambitious Extension of a Man, and then retreated from the spotlight; over the next few years, he performed only in small clubs. In 1977, Hathaway patched things up with Flack and temporarily left the hospital to record another duet, "The Closer I Get to You," for her Blue Lights in the Basement album. The song was a smash, becoming the pair's second RB number one in 1978, and also climbing to number two on the pop charts. Sessions for a second album of duets were underway when, on January 13, 1979, Hathaway was found dead on the sidewalk below the 15th-floor window of his room in New York's Essex House. The glass had been neatly removed from the window, and there were no signs of struggle, leading investigators to rule Hathaway's death a suicide; his friends were mystified, considering that his career had just started to pick up again, and Flack was devastated. Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway was released in 1980, and both of the completed duets -- "Back Together Again" and "You Are My Heaven" -- became posthumous hits. In 1990, Hathaway's daughter Lalah launched a solo career.

- Steve Huey, All Music Guide

[Jim Dye]

It's funny how this board works sometimes. I was at the store the other day and was considering this:

I almost picked it up. It appears to be a 3rd live album that went unreleased until recently. I guess I know where I'm headed after work.

[Joe G]

Let us know what you think of it!

[mikeweil]

Regarding his suicide, one last time: It seems he suffered from severe depressions. Here's a telling quote from Soulful Detroit Forum:

Also, the photo you were referring to regarding what book was on Donny's Fender Rhodes - it was a book called "Suicide".

These live albums are of special importance to me: The way the audience goes along with him, just like in a church, still sends chills down my spine. You won't get something like this from a white audience - very deep, very black music. His live album was the first music making me feel this. Thanks, Donny!

Edited December 2, 2004 by mikeweil

[mikeweil]

[mikeweil]

I almost picked it up. It appears to be a 3rd live album that went unreleased until recently.

Well, only half of it:

Atlantic/Rhino's breathtaking compilation These Songs for You, Live! combines roughly half of those LPs and bolsters the program with six unreleased tracks (only some from the same concerts) and an interview.

(from AMG)

[Jim Alfredson]

I finally picked this up. The six unreleased tracks are great, but why didn't they just include all the live stuff on one disc (or two discs)? Also, I'm willing to wager that Donny was a master a building a set; they should release the full concerts, with the songs in order as they were performed.

But regardless, the six unreleased tracks make this one well worth it.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I'm an O V Wright man myself. Haven't really got into Donny Hathaway. (Yet.) But I have a couple of things he did with Roberta.

MG

[jazzbo]

"Willie Weeks y'all! WILLIE WEEKS!"

[Joe G]

I finally picked this up. The six unreleased tracks are great, but why didn't they just include all the live stuff on one disc (or two discs)? Also, I'm willing to wager that Donny was a master a building a set; they should release the full concerts, with the songs in order as they were performed.

But regardless, the six unreleased tracks make this one well worth it.

Bring it along tonight!

[felser]

I finally picked this up. The six unreleased tracks are great, but why didn't they just include all the live stuff on one disc (or two discs)? Also, I'm willing to wager that Donny was a master a building a set; they should release the full concerts, with the songs in order as they were performed.

But regardless, the six unreleased tracks make this one well worth it.

I've been a Donny Hathaway guy since 1970 or 71, when I heard "The Ghetto". My understanding is that the compilers of 'These Songs For You, Live!' wanted to put everything from the first two live albums plus the unreleased tracks on a 2-CD set, but that the company would only let them do one CD. They didn't leave out anything glaring, given that choices had to be made, but there are enough missing tracks that you'll want the other two live CD's also. 'These Songs For You Live' is probably the best place to start on Hathaway. You get his incredible "What's Going On" (I'd take it over Marvin's if forced to choose only one version), a live version of the beautiful "Someday We'll All Be Free" (covered memorably by Alicia Keys in the concert right after 9/11), a great live version of "The Ghetto", and almost another hour of music on top of that. 'Extensions of a Man', as touted by Mr. Sangrey, has some amazing moments, such as his cover of "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" and the studio version of "Someday We'll All Be Free", though I find the album somewhat inconsistent. But it is truly transcendant in spots, and belongs in all of our music collections, as does every CD this unique artist released, which only amount to three live CD's and three studio CD's.

[jazzbo]

Amen brother!

He's one of my favorite philosopher's too. "Everything is everything. . . "!

[ValerieB]

I finally picked this up. The six unreleased tracks are great, but why didn't they just include all the live stuff on one disc (or two discs)? Also, I'm willing to wager that Donny was a master a building a set; they should release the full concerts, with the songs in order as they were performed.

But regardless, the six unreleased tracks make this one well worth it.

I've been a Donny Hathaway guy since 1970 or 71, when I heard "The Ghetto". My understanding is that the compilers of 'These Songs For You, Live!' wanted to put everything from the first two live albums plus the unreleased tracks on a 2-CD set, but that the company would only let them do one CD. They didn't leave out anything glaring, given that choices had to be made, but there are enough missing tracks that you'll want the other two live CD's also. 'These Songs For You Live' is probably the best place to start on Hathaway. You get his incredible "What's Going On" (I'd take it over Marvin's if forced to choose only one version), a live version of the beautiful "Someday We'll All Be Free" (covered memorably by Alicia Keys in the concert right after 9/11), a great live version of "The Ghetto", and almost another hour of music on top of that. 'Extensions of a Man', as touted by Mr. Sangrey, has some amazing moments, such as his cover of "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" and the studio version of "Someday We'll All Be Free", though I find the album somewhat inconsistent. But it is truly transcendant in spots, and belongs in all of our music collections, as does every CD this unique artist released, which only amount to three live CD's and three studio CD's.

i've also been a fan of Donny's since the early '70s and i got to hear him perform at a UCLA concert with Roberta. there was only one Donny!! he still gives me goose-bumps!

[jazzbo]

I never got to hear him perform, but I've been a fan since then as well.

(We're showing our age!)

I've worn out more than two copies of "Donny Hathaway Live." That sucker just was a party in a paper sleeve!

[ValerieB]

(We're showing our age!)

well, you may be but i certainly ain't!!