DONNY HATHAWAY-NEVER MY LOVE: THE ANTHOLOGY.

dereksmusicblog ♦ December 2, 2013 ♦ 2 Comments

DONNY HATHAWAY-NEVER MY LOVE: THE ANTHOLOGY.

Described by some as a musical genius, Donny Hathaway never got the opportunity to fulfil his potential. No. Tragedy intervened in Donny Hathaway’s life, when his career was cut shot in January 1979. Donny was just thirty-four. He’d released just a trio of solo albums between 1970 and 1973. His debut album was 1970s Everything Is Everything, followed by 1971s Donny Hathaway and 1973s Extension Of A Man. In between Donny Hathaway and Extension Of A Man, Donny contributed the soundtrack to Come Back Charleston Blue, his Live album and an album of duets with Roberta Flack. 

Entitled Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, it was released in 1972 and was certified gold. It featured the number one US R&B single Where Is The Love. Five years later, in 1978, the pair enjoyed another number one US R&B single with The Closer I Get To You. Just like Where Is The Love, it was certified gold. Both of these tracks, feature on the recently released Donny Hathaway box set Never My Love: The Anthology. It was released on Rhino and is best described as a celebration of Donny Hathaway’s career over four discs. Before I tell you about the music on Donny Hathaway-Never My Love: The Anthology, I’ll tell you about Donny Hathaway’s career.

Donny Edward Hathaway was born in October 1945, in Chicago. He was the son of Drusella Huntley, but was brought up by his grandmother Martha Pitts, a professional gospel singer. While many children are referred to as a musical prodigy, this was true of Donny. At the age of three, Donny joined his grandmother in her church choir. After graduating from Vashon High School, he headed to Howard University in Washington’ DC to study music on a fine arts scholarship. During his time at Howard, Donny formed a jazz trio. He was joined by drummer Ric Powell, and they played around the Washington area. In 1967 Donny received various offers to work within the music industry.

After leaving university, Donny’s first job within the music industry was as session musician, songwriter and producer. His first job was with Twilight Records in Chicago. Later he worked as an arranger, and was responsible for the arrangements on two of The Unifics singles Court of Love and The Beginning of My End. Donny went on to work with The Impressions, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Butler, The Staple Singers, Leroy Hutson and Curtis Mayfield. 

Working with Curtis lead to Donny becoming house producer at Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom Records. It was there, that Curtis started recording as one of the Mayfield Singers. In 1969, he recorded his first track under his own name. This was a duet with June Conquest entitled I Thank You Baby, with another duet by the pair Just Another Reason as the B-side.

Later in 1969, Donny signed to the Atco Records label. This came about after being spotted by King Curtis, a musician and producer at a music industry trade convention. This lead to Donny releasing his first successful single The Ghetto Part 1, which he cowrote with friend Leroy Hutson. Like Donny, Leroy Hutson would later go on to find success as a singer, songwriter and producer. The Ghetto reached number eighty-seven in the US Billboard 100 and twenty-three US R&B Charts.

Now signed to Atco, Donny Hathaway began work on his eponymous debut album Everything Is Everything. Released in July 1970 Everything Is Everything reached number eighty-seven in the US Billboard 100 and twenty-three US R&B Charts. Everything Is Everything was critically acclaimed. 

Having released such a well received album, the pressure was on Donny to record his second album. Recorded at the Atlantic Recording Studios in New York, during 1970 and 1971, were nine songs. With Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin and Donny producing the album, these nine songs were mostly cover versions of soul, gospel and pop music, which Donny gave his own unique twist. With an all-star band accompanying him, that included a rhythm section of Cornell Dupree and Chuck Rainey on bass, drummer Al Jackson Jr and guitarists Phil Upchurch and Cornell Dupree and the unique sound of tenor saxophonist King Curtis gracing the album, nine tracks were soon recorded. Adding backing vocalists were two of The Sweet Inspirations Cissy Houston and Myrna Smith. Once Donny Hathaway recorded, it was scheduled for release in April 1971.

April 1971 saw Donny’s second album Donny Hathaway released. With songs by Van McCoy, Leon Russell, Billy Preston and Mac Davis on the album, plus one song co-written by Donny with Nadine McKinnor, the album was well received by critics. On its release, it reached number six in the US R&B Charts and number eighty-nine in the US Billboard 200. Sales of Donny Hathaway surpassed Everything Is Everything, although it’s considered to be Donny’s finest album.

Having released what was his second critically acclaimed and commercially successful album, Donny would enter one of the busiest times of his tragically short career. In 1972, he released a trio of albums, two of which were huge commercial successes. Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway reached number three in the US Billboard 200 and number two in the US R&B Charts, while his Live album reached number fourteen in the US Billboard 200 and number four in the US R&B Charts. Both were certified gold, having sold over 500,000 copies. The only album from this trio that failed commercially, was the soundtrack album Come Back Charleston Blue, which reached just number 198 in the US Billboard 200. Little did anyone know it, but after this Donny would only release one further album, before his life ended in tragedy.

The final album of Donny’s career was Extension of A Man, released in June 1973. Recording of the album had taken place between 1971 and 1973, and featured some of the most memorable music of Donny’s career, including the brilliant and powerful Someday We’ll All Be Free. When the album was released, it didn’t sell as well as it’s predecessor Donny Hathaway, only reaching number sixty-nine in the US Billboard 200 and number eighteen in the US R&B Charts, After this, Donny would release no new albums, only a Greatest Hits album in 1978, which reached number fifty-one in the US R&B Charts. 

Sadly, tragedy struck for Donny and his family, when in January 1979 Donny became unwell during a recording session with Roberta Flack. They were recording what became Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway, which was certified gold upon its release in 1980. Having become paranoid and delusional, the recording sessions were stopped and Donny sent back to his hotel. Later he committed suicide, by jumping out of the fifteenth floor of his room at New York’s Essex House Hotel.

After his death, his wife Eulaulah thought that over time, Donny had gradually become less careful about taking his medication. Tragically, the problems with mental illness that caused him problems throughout his career resulted in him taking his life. That day, music lost one its most talented singers whose musical influence is still felt over thirty years after his tragic death. Donny Hathway could’ve and should’ve enjoyed a long and illustrious career. That wasn’t to be.

Instead, during Donny’s lifetime, he released just three studio albums, a live album, a soundtrack album and an album of duets with Roberta Flack. Some of the music on these albums, plus a whole host of unreleased tracks feature on Donny Hathaway-Never My Love: The Anthology, which is a four disc celebration of Donny Hathaway’s music.

DISC 1-FAVORITES.

Disc One is entitled  Favorites and features twenty-two tracks. This includes some of the best music Donny Hathaway ever recorded. One of these is The Ghetto – Part 1 and 2. It was Donny’s 1970 debut album Everything Is Everything. The Ghetto is a classic. With lyrics full of social comment, it’s a timeless classic. Other tracks from Everything Is Everything include Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything), a truly powerful, emotive opus. On the promo edit of Thank You Master (For My Soul), emotion and gratitude feature in Donny’s vocal, which has a spiritual quality. To Be Young, Gifted And Black is another track from Everything Is Everything. An oft-covered song, Donny follows in the footsteps of Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone and makes the lyrics come to life. 

Of the other tracks on Disc One, there’s tracks from Donny’s two other studio albums 1971s Donny Hathaway and 1973s Extension Of A Man. Only two tracks from Donny Hathaway, which was released in 1971 feature on Disc One. They’re Giving Up, penned by Van Mccoy and Magnificent Sanctuary Band which was written by Dorsey Burnette. The heartfelt, soul-baring Giving Up is the best of the two. No wonder. It features one of Donny’s best vocals. A year later, Donny released on of his overlooked albums.

Released in 1972, Come Back Charleston Blue is an often overlooked album. It was a soundtrack, that was written and conducted by Donny. He worked on the album with Quincy Jones. Two tracks from the soundtrack to Come Back Charleston Blue feature on Disc One. They’re the title-track and Little Ghetto Boy. Released in 1972, it’s an often overlooked album. These two tracks are two of the highlights of Come Back Charleston Blue. A year after Come Back Charleston Blue was released, Donny released his final studio album.

Extension Of A Man was Donny’s final solo album. Released in 1973, Donny penned five of the eleven tracks on Extension Of A Man. He cowrote Someday We’ll All Be Free with Edward Howard. It’s one of six tracks from Extension Of A Man on Disc One. The others are I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know, Valdez In The Country, I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know, Come Little Children, Love, Love, Love. Of these six songs are Someday We’ll All Be Free is the best. Donny’s vocal is full of hope, with an almost spiritual quality. Like a musical Moses in search of a promised land, Donny’s vocal is biblical in terms of quality.

SIDE TWO-UNRELEASED STUDIO RECORDINGS.

Most box sets boast unreleased tracks. All too often, it’s obvious why these tracks haven’t been released. Usually, they’re very much a mixed bunch. Not here. There’s more than a few hidden gems on Disc Two. Never My Love a piano lead track features a tender impassioned vocal. A Lot Of Soul sees the tempo increase, but Donny still deliver a vocal that’s truly heartfelt. The jazz-tinged Let’s Groove, sees Donny and his band swing. Memory Of Our Love is an understated, mid-tempo track where Donny sounds not unlike Stevie Wonder. As you listen to this track, it strikes you just how much potential Donny had. Even his unreleased tracks ooze quality. Brown Eyed Lady is a piano lead instrumental which has a wistful, melancholy sound. It’s a real find, and is a track I’ll never tire of hearing.

DISC THREE-LIVE AT THE BITTER END 1971.

Given Donny Hathaway’s career was cut tragically short, a whole generation never saw Donny Live. Going by the ten tracks on Disc Three, which are entitled Live At The Bitter End 1971, it must have looked like Donny Hathaway was going to become one of the giants of soul music. From the opening notes through his cover of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, Donny unleashes a variety of cover versions and original tracks. There’s covers of You’ve Got A Friend, John Lennon’s Jealous Guy and He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother. Then there’s songs that became synonymous with Donny Hathaway. This includes Little Ghetto Boy, Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything, I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know and The Ghetto, which closes Disc Three. These ten tracks are a tantalising taste of one of the giants of soul in his prime. So good are the ten tracks which have never been released before, that they almost make it worth buying the box set just for Disc Three. 

DISC FOUR.

Roberta Flack recorded two albums of duets with Donny. The first was Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, which was released in 1972. It was certified gold and featured the number one US R&B single Where Is The Love, which features on Disc Four. So does I (Who Have Nothing). So does the rest of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. During the ten tracks, Roberta and Donny are like ying and yang, encouraging each other to greater heights of emotion and soulfulness.Among the highlights are You’ve Got A Friend, Be Real Black For Me, Where Is The Love and When Love Has Grown.  Eight years after Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway was released, Roberta and Donny released another album of duets. Sadly, much had changed. 

By the time Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway was released, Donny had been dead nearly a year. On the release of Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway, it reached number twenty-five in the US Billboard 200 and number four in the US R&B Charts. This resulted in another gold disc. When The Closer I Get To You was released as a single, reaching number two in the US Billboard 200 and number one in the US R&B Charts. Just like Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway, it was certified gold. The Closer I Get To You was one of three tracks on Disc Four are from Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway. Along with You Are My Heaven and Back Together Again this trio of track close Donny Hathaway-Never My Love: The Anthology, a celebration of Donny Hathaway’s career.

Donny Hathaway-Never My Love: The Anthology is best described as a celebration of the career of Donny Hathaway. It’s a career that was cut tragically short. Who knows, maybe if circumstances were different, Donny would’ve enjoyed a long and successful career. Maybe critical acclaim and commercial success would’ve been familiar friends in Donny’s life. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. Having released just a trio of solo albums, Donny’s career was cut short. Granted he released a live album, a soundtrack album and an album of duets with Roberta Flack. These six albums represent the sum total of the music Donny released during his life. While that might not sound much, it’s much more than many artists achieve during their career.

While Donny achieved more in the way of critical acclaim and commercial success than many other artists, his music should’ve been more successful. After all, in Donny’s hands, songs came to life. He breathed, life, emotion, heartache, hurt and passion into lyrics. Sometimes, like on Someday We’ll All Be Free, Donny’s vocal takes on a spiritual quality. On this anthemic track he offered hope for a better future, and like a musical Moses, heading towards a promised land. He delivers a vocal that’s biblical in terms of quality. That’s just one of a whole host of musical highlights on Donny Hathaway-Never My Love: The Anthology, which was recently released by Rhino. 

Over four discs, we hear not just some of the best music Donny Hathaway recorded, during his ten year career. There’s also two discs of previously unreleased material. Whether it’s the disc featuring tracks that didn’t make it onto Donny’s three albums, or the live set, they’re compelling and captivating performances. You’re spellbound as you listen to Donny. That’s the case with all the music on Donny Hathaway-Never My Love: The Anthology.

During Donny Hathaway-Never My Love: The Anthology, Donny’s takes you on a musical journey. It’s best described as captivating, enthralling, mesmeric, soulful spiritual and uplifting. Donny’s fuses elements of soul, jazz, funk and gospel music. You’re transfixed, awaiting the next song with anticipation, listening to every subtlety and nuance. When one song ends, you await the next hungrily, especially, the previously unreleased tracks. You find yourself pressing repeat, listening again, just in case you missed anything the last time. Then there’s the tracks from Donny’s back-catalogue. They’re like old friends, who you’ve know all your life. These tracks are a tantalising taste of Donny Hathaway in his prime, when he looked like becoming one of the giants of soul. 

Tragically, that wasn’t to be. Fate intervened and robbed us of Donny Hathaway. He died aged thirty-four. That day in 1979, soul music lost one of its most talented sons. A poignant reminder of this is Donny Hathaway-Never My Love: The Anthology. Over four discs, Donny Hathaway-Never My Love: The Anthology is a celebration of Donny Hathaway’s musical career and is a reminder of a musical colossus who during the seventies, looked like he was on his way to becoming one of the biggest names in soul music. 

DONNY HATHAWAY-NEVER MY LOVE: THE ANTHOLOGY.