The Best Of Donny Hathaway (1978)

The original US LP (Atco SD 38-107) was published in USA in 1978. There's a never heard before song called "You Were Meant For Me" written by William Peterkin. According to the liner notes, it was recorded in June 1978. You can hear it here.

This song was also issued on the cd, "A Donny Hathaway Collection" on April 2,1990 in the US & is on the french boxset. There's also a remix version of Someday We'll All Be Free.

A1. You Were Meant For Me
(William Peterkin)
Produced by Donny Hathaway
Supervision: Arif Mardin

A2. A Song For You
(Leon Russell)
Produced by Jerry Wexler & Arif Mardin

A3. You've Got A Friend (with Roberta Flack)
(Carole King)
Produced by Joel Dorn & Arif Mardin

A4. Someday We'll All Be Free (Single remix)
(Donny Hathaway & Edward Howard)
Produced by Arif Mardin

B1. Giving Up
(Van McCoy)
Produced by Jerry Wexler & Arif Mardin

B2. Where Is The Love (with Roberta Flack)
(Ralph MacDonald & William Salter)
Produced by Joel Dorn & Arif Mardin

B3. The Ghetto
(Donny Hathaway & Leroy Hutson)
Produced by Arif Mardin

B4. Valdez In The Country
(Donny Hathaway)
Produced by Arif Mardin

B5. This Christmas
(Nadine McKinnor & Donny Hathaway)
Produced by Donny Hathaway

All tracks previously released except
"You Were Meant For Me" & "Someday We'll All Be Free (Remix)
Remixed by Arif Mardin
All rhythm arrangements: Donny Hathaway

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.

Live at Ed Murphy's Supper Club (1964?)

It's probably from 1964 or 1965 when Donny was at the Howard University & when he was playing with the Ric Powell trio.

Thanks to JSMith for the info

Jerry BUTLER, You & Me (1970)

Click to enlarge

Donny has written Real Good Man with Glenn Watts & H. Washington. He arranged several tunes & co-produced the album with Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff. The original gatefold LP came on Mercury (Cat# : SR 61269).

I've made Up My Mind (1960s)

Click to enlarge

This B side was written by Donny Hathaway & Glenn Watts in the late 60s and sung by Josephine Taylor on Twinight records (#122). The A side was Is it worth a chance & written by Carl Wright.

You could find this song on Eccentric Soul, Twinight's Lunar Rotation, a great compilation made by the chicagoan Numero group (NMRO 13 ) available on CD or 4 LP boxset.

Atco promo photo (1970)

An old Atco promo photo from 1970 (?).

A mix of songs for you

A nice mixtape compiled by Paul D, a american DJ.

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

Concert ticket, NYC 1971

On May 21, 1971 Donny Hathaway, Leon Russell & Taj Mahal played at Fillmore East, NYC, USA.

Show was at 8pm. Ticket price at $5.50 !

"Someday We'll All Be Free" boxset on march 22

Click to enlarge

According to Rhino France, the box set is postponed to march 22.

Be patient. It's gonna be the reissue of the year ;-)

The Ghetto - French 12" (1979)

Click to enlarge

Side A : The Ghetto - studio version (Hathaway/Huston) 6:25

Side B : The Ghetto - live (Hathaway/Huston) 11:20

This hard to find 12" was only available in France in 1979 (I’m not 100% sure about the released date). It has an exclusive picture cover never seen elsewhere.

You cand find it between $30-$50 on Ebay.

Valdez In The Country,The Billy Fender Quintet

Click to enlarge

Billy Fender (former Franck Sinatra's guitar player) recorded "Valdez in the country" live in studio in 1978 with his quintette. A very nice cover incl. a sax solo & a Fender Rhodes one.

I did a a small transfer from my copy here

Donny's hard die fans can order this LP here.

Ebony Magazine, April 1979

Click to enlarge

In April 1979, Ebony Magazine paid a tribute to Donny Hathaway. It was the longest article (5 pages) ever published in USA.

Source : Ebony Magazine

Donny Hathaway (Album), unknown version (197?)

Click to enlarge

A later release of the second album of Donny Hathaway for Atco (#SD33-360).

I don't know where this LP was issued. The label is different from the original one.

If someone has some info on this LP, drop me an email contact.hathaway@gmail.com

Donny Hathaway (album), 1971

Click to enlarge

His second album was released on April 2, 1971 (US LP - Atco SD33-360).

The CD came in 1993 (Rhino, USA).

Side A

1. Giving Up
(Clyde Wilson)

2. A Song For You
(Leon Russell)

3. Little Girl
(Billy Preston)

4. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
(Bobby Scott & Bobby Russell)

Side B

1. Magnificent Sanctuary Band

(Dorsey Burnett)

2. She's my lady
(George Clinton)

3. I Believe In Music
(Mac Davis)

4. Take a love song**
(Donny Hathaway & Nadine McKinnor)

5. Put Your Hand In The Hand
(Gene McLellan)

Rhino CD Bonus Tracks

10. This Christmas***
(Donny Hathaway & Nadine McKinnor)

11. Be There***
(Donny Hathaway & Charles Ostiguy)

Produced by Jerry Wexler & Arif Mardin
**Produced by Donny Hathaway
***Produced by Donny Hathaway (for Don-Ric Enterprises)

Engineers: Murray Allen, Gene Paul, James Douglass, Ron Albert & Howie Albert
Remix: Arif Mardin
Original ATCO LP mastered by: Unknown
Rhino CD mastered by: Bill Inglot & Ken Perry

String, horn, and choral arrangements on "Giving Up", "Little Girl", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "Take A Love Song", "This Christmas", & "Be There" by Donny Hathaway

String, horn, and choral arrangements on "A Song For You", "Magnificent Sanctuary Band", "She Is My Lady", "I Believe In Music", & "Put Your Hand In The Hand" by Arif Mardin

Rhythm section:
Donny Hathaway - Lead vocals & keyboards
Cornell Dupree - Guitar
Chuck Rainey, Phil Upchurch**, & Steve Novosel** - Bass
Al Jackson, Jr., & Morris Jennings** - Drums

Tenor saxophone solo on "Giving Up" by King Curtis
Trumpet solo on "She Is My Lady" by Joe Newman
**Background vocals: I. Stone, S. White, & Lillian Tynes
Background vocals: Cissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell, Judy Clay, Deidre Tucfk, Sammy Turner, J.R. Bailey, Ronald Bright, Myrna Summers, & the Interdenominational Singers

Everyday's a fantasy by The Center Stage, US 7" 1971 (arranged by Donny Hathaway)

THE CENTER STAGE

Side A : Everyday's a fantasy (Rightout - R. McEastland) 2:58

Side B : Are you there 

This single was recorded in the early 70s for RCA Records cat. Number is 74-0527). Issued in 1971, it was reviewed in Billboard US magazine on Sept. 11th.

Both tracks were arranged by Donny Hathaway

Under The Covers by The Katz, US 7" (arranged by Donny Hathaway)

THE KATS (funky jazz from Chicago)

SIde A : Under The Covers

Side B: Wear Me Out

Written by C. Eaton II, produced by Eaton & Cooke, arranged by Donny Hathaway.

Label : E&C 1001

Free Soul, The Classic Of Donny Hathaway (2004)

Click on pictures to enlarge

Free Soul,  The Classic Of Donny Hathaway (East West, 2004)


AMCY-6089 (Japanese CD release only)

Toru Hashimoto selects 16 tracks from the Donny Hathaway catalogue for this CD; almost 80 minute of intense, heartfelt soul. First CD issue of the studio version of Little Ghetto Boy.

Live at Push Expo, Chicago (Sept 1972)

Click to enlarge

Donny Hathaway Played at the International amphitheatre in Chicago on wednesday September 27, 1972 during the Dr. Martin Luther king jr. awards night. This show was a part of Jesse Jackson's Push Expo concerts.

Source: Billboard, USA. (sept. 30, 1972)

Soul TV show on PBS (1970)

Click to enlarge

On May 14, 1970 Donny Hathaway played a 10 min amazing version of The Ghetto (incl. a conga solo by Earl DeRouen) on PBS during the Soul TV show.

The line-up was :

Fred White on drums

Philip Upchurch on guitar

Eark DeRouen on conga

Willy Weeks on bass

Vibrations show on PBS (1972)

Click to enlarge
On June 14, 1972 Donny Hathaway played at the Vibrations show broadcasted by PBS.
If someone has a copy of the show or knows which songs he played, let me know (contact.hathaway@gmail.com).

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.

Donny is still a teacher ?

Click to enlarge

"Would you believe Hathaway is still a teacher" by Bernard Comas.

This article was published in Soul newpaper (page12) on June 21, 1971.

This Christmas, 7" (Seaco Music)

Click to enlarge

Side A : This Christmas (Mono)

Side B : ?

This US single seems to be a later release by Seaco Music

# release is ATCO Records 7-9956.

If you have further info, drop me a email at contact.hathaway@gmail.com

Where Is The Love, portugese 7" (1972)

Click to enlarge

A very rare portugese 7" issued in 197? on Atlantic.

Cat# : N-S-28-129

Side A : Where Is The Love

Side B : You've Lost That Loving Feeling

Jealous Guy, unreleased studio version (1971)

Click to enlarge

You can now hear a 30s sample on Facebook.

Donny Hathaway recorded a studio version of Jealous Guy in 1971 but it was never issued.

Next month, the track will be available on the french boxset.

You can also order the box on www.fnac.com

The price is now 26.99€

How to order the french box on amazon.fr ?

This is a little tutorial for those who are not familiar with french language. Hope it will help you to order "Someday We'll All Be Free" box.

1. Click on the Amazon link

2. If you want to order more than 1 box, change the quantity (quantité) & enter the right number & click on "mettre à jour" (update) button.

Then, click on "passer la commande" (order)

3. if you already have ordered on Amazon (even if you live outside France) enter you email adress (entrez votre adresse email) & click on "vous êtes déjà client" (that means you are a returning customer). Then, enter your password & click on "continuer" (follow).

4. Choose an adress and click on the yellow button "envoyez à cette adresse" (send to this address)

5. You have to choose the shipping between fast airmail(éclair) or normal airmail (standard). It depends where you live but "Standard is ok. Then click on the yellow button "continuez" (follow)

6. You have to choose which credit card you wanna use then click on the yellow button "continuer"

7. You have to choose the billing adress then click on the yellow button "continuer".

8. Now you have to finalize your order. Check your adress & click on the yellow button called "validez votre commande". It's done !

If you have further questions send me an email to contact.hathaway@gmail.com.