Carlas Thomas, live at The Bohemians cavern feat. Donny Hathaway (1967)

Click to enlarge

On May 25th 1967, Carla Thomas recorded a live album at the prestigious Washington D.C. nightspot the Bohemian Caverns. It features a set list containing both her then-smash hit "B-A-B-Y" and sophisticated jazz and American Songbook standards, such as Irving Berlin's "It's a Lovely Day Today," as well as an all-star band led by Donny Hathaway, plus the additional bonus of three songs performed with Thomas's father, the veteran R&B performer Rufus Thomas. In 2007, Stax released this unreleased show on CD for the first time in USA.  Tracklist :  1. Introduction by Al Bell  2. You're Gonna Here From Me  3. Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah / A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening / It's a Lovely Day Today / On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)  4. Mas que Nada  5. Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)  6. Evenin'  7. Lot of Livin' to Do, A  8. B-a-B-Y  9. Many, Many Thanks  10. Never Be True  11. Rufus Dialogue #1  12. Fine and Mellow  13. Did You Ever Love a Woman  14. Rufus Dialogue #2  15. Dog, The  Le 25 mai 1967, Carla Thomas (fille du célèbre chanteur de R&B Rufus Thomas) enregistre pour le label Stax ce superbe album live avec un groupe emmené par Donny Hathaway. Ce remarquable album enregistré en public n'est paru qu'en 2007 en CD, après 40 ans de purgatoire !

Instant groove, King Curtis (1958/1969)

King Curtis was a great saxophonist who played with Nat Adderley, Aretha Franklin, Wynton Kelly, Sam Cooke and lionel Hampton among others. He was also the man who saw Donny Hathaway at a record fair & convinced his label, Atlantic, to sign the young guy.This album is a compilation of tunes recorded between 1958 & 1969. Donny Hathaway played the piano on several tracks.

Track listing

1. Instant Groove 2. Hey Joe 3. Foot Pattin' 4. Wichita Lineman 5. Games People Play 6. Sing a Simple Song 7. The Weight 8. La Jeanne 9. Little Green Apples 10. Somewhere 11. Hold Me Tight 12. Hey Jude

Little Milton, If Walls Could Talk (1970)

Click to enlarge

This song (written by Bobby Miller) was issued on Little Milton's album If Walls Could Talk US LP. It was published on Chess records (#Ch-9289) in 1970 & on CD in the 90s. The album reached #23 in the US R&B charts. Donny played the piano on the tittle track.

The sleeve notes also say : From further sessions in April and May 1970 came singles issued as Little Milton Campbell arranged by Donny Hathaway.

For those who want to know more on Little Milton who passed away in 2005, check his site : http://www.littlemilton.com/.

Thanks you to Roger for his help.

Jean-Yves Mougin, a Soul Music painter

Click to enlarge

Jean-Yves Mougin is a swiss painter & is been a soul music lover since the 60s. He's a big fan of Ray Charles & Donny Hathaway. A few years ago, he made a painting of Donny Hathaway.

You can see his work HERE.

One of his paintings was used for the cover of a "lost" Sam Moore's album called Plenty good lovin'.

This LP was originally recorded in 1970-1971 for Atlantic but never came out at that time.

This amazing album was published in 2001 on swing Café label. Donny played the piano on several tracks. Others musicians are King Curtis, Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, Cornell Dupree or Aretha Franklin (piano, backing vocals) !

Girls Are Out To Get You By Curtis Mayfield (1967)

Click to enlarge

This song written by Curtis Mayfield was published on a 7" in 1967 on Mayfield records (#7714) & distributed by Calla Records. The Fascinations was a girls band feat. Martha Reeves, active in the mid-60s on Curtis Mayfield's first label. Donny Hathaway plays the piano but was never credited. Probably the first time he appeared on a record but I'm not sure.

Side A: Girls Are Out To You (Curtis Mayfield) 1:58

SideB: You'll Be Sorry (Curtis Mayfield & Guy Draper) 2:37

Produced by Curtis Mayfield.

Darkness, Darkness by Phil Upchurch (Jap CD, 2001)

Click to enlarge

This japanese CD came in June 2001.

Donny Hathaway plays the electric piano on Cold Sweat & Sausalito Blues.

If you want to know more, check the post about the original US LP.

Court Of Love by The Unifics (1968)

Click to enlarge

This single came in september 1968 on Kapp Records in USA (#K-935)

A: Court Of Love (Guy Draper) 2:45

B: Which One Should I Choose (Donny Hathaway - Guy Draper - Al Johnson) 2:12

According to Basie Saunders, musicians were :

- Donny Hathaway, piano

- Basie Saunders, bass

- Eric Gale, guitar

- Wah Wah Watson, guitar

- Jérôme "Bigfoot" Brailey, drums

As it was often the case in those days, they never got credits.

Donny Hathaway arranged both songs, taken from the album "Sittin' In at the court of love" (1967).

The Unifics was a vocal group of 4 members, formed at Howard University in Washington DC where Donny studied music.

Darkness, Darkness by Phil Upchurch (1972)

Click to enlarge

Donny Hathaway plays the electric piano on Cold Sweat & Sausalito Blues. The original US double LP came in 1972 on Blue Thumb (#BTS 6005). A gatefold SHM-CD version will be available in Japan on mini LP paper sleeve on april 2, 2010.

A1 Darkness, Darkness 9:35

A2 Fire And Rain 7:35

B1 What We Call The Blues 6:35

B2 Cold Sweat 6:35

B3 Please Send Me Someone To Love 5:07

C1 Inner City Blues 6:42

C2 You've Got A Friend 8:39

D1 Love And Peace 5:24

D2 Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 6:36

D3 Sausalito Blues 4:05

Bass - Chuck Rainey

Bass [Electric] - Phil Upchurch (tracks: D3)

Congas, Tambourine - Bobbi Porterhall

Drums - Don Simmons* (tracks: B2) , Harvey Mason

Electric Piano - Donny Hathaway (tracks: B2, D3)

Engineer - Bruce Botnick , Fred Breitberg (tracks: B1, D3)

Guitar [Lead] - Phil Upchurch

Guitar [Rhythm] - Arthur Adams

Mastered By - Bob MacLeod

Organ - Ben Sidran (tracks: D1)

Piano - Joe Sample

Producer - Phil Upchurch , Tommy LiPuma

Remix - Al Schmidt*

The tracks were Recorded at Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles.

"Sausalito Blues" and "What We Call The Blues" recorded at Universal Studios, Chicago.

Mastered at Bob MacLeod's Artisan Sound.

Woody Herman, Heavy Exposure (1969) - Donny Hathaway plays the organ

Click to enlarge

Donny Hathaway plays the organ on this album recorded at Ter Mar studios in Chicago on september 2/3, 1969. Produced by Richard Evans for Cadet records, this LP contains the first version of Flying Easy before it was released on Extension of a Man four years later.

This record is not available on CD. However, you can easily find the original LP (Cadet LPS-835 Stereo) in mint condition on Ebay for around $10 (7€).

Side 1

Flying easy

I cant get next to you

Aquarius

Memphis underground

High school hero

Lancaster gate

Side 2

The hut

My cherie amour

It’s your thing

Catch that bird

Sex machine

Luxury You Can Afford by Joe Cocker (1978)

Click to enlarge

In 1978, Donny Hathaway recorded some songs with Joe Cocker for his album "Luxury You Can Afford" (Asylum). He's credited as a Keyboard player. I don't know if he played on all tracks.

This LP is the original US promo picture disc.