These Songs For You Live

2 LPs on 1 CD: DONNY HATHAWAY (1972)/IN PERFORMANCE (1980)
Personnel: Donny Hathaway (vocals, piano, electric keyboard); Cornell Dupree, Phil Upchurch, Mike Howard (guitar); Richard Tee (organ); Willie Weeks (bass instrument); Fred White (drums); Earl DeRouen (congas).
Producers: Arif Mardin; Jerry WexlerCompilation Producers: David Nathan; David Nathan; Barry Benson.
Recording information: Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY (1971 - 1973); The Bitter End, New York, New York (1971 - 1973); The Troubador, Hollywood, California (1971 - 1973); University Of California, LOs Angeles, California (1971 - 1973).
This disc culls cuts from two long-out-of-print live albums by Donny Hathaway (LIVE and IN PERFORMANCE), spotlighting concerts from 1971 and '73, and spices up the pot with a wealth of previously unreleased live material of similar vintage. We get to hear this R&B giant in full flight as he reinvents other people's tunes and lays down smoking versions of his own compositions, backed by a highly sympathetic band that includes heavyweight jazz guitarist Phil Upchurch and Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White.
Hathaway's own soul-jazz instrumental "Valdez in the Country" displays the singer/songwriter's impressive keyboard skills, and "Someday We'll All Be Free" highlights his strong gospel influence. The level of soulful emotion and musical invention Hathaway brings to his intense readings of everything from the Beatles' "Yesterday" to Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" is as indicative of his one-of-a-kind gift as his considerable songwriting abilities are. The closer is another bonus interview segment where Hathaway talks about studying Stravinsky's orchestrations and taking composition lessons from jazz legend Yusef Lateef, showing the depth of his own musical vision.
This disc culls cuts from two long-out-of-print live albums by Donny Hathaway (LIVE and IN PERFORMANCE), spotlighting concerts from 1971 and '73, and spices up the pot with a wealth of previously unreleased live material of similar vintage. We get to hear this R&B giant in full flight as he reinvents other people's tunes and lays down smoking versions of his own compositions, backed by a highly sympathetic band that includes heavyweight jazz guitarist Phil Upchurch and Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White.
Hathaway's own soul-jazz instrumental "Valdez in the Country" displays the singer/songwriter's impressive keyboard skills, and "Someday We'll All Be Free" highlights his strong gospel influence. The level of soulful emotion and musical invention Hathaway brings to his intense readings of everything from the Beatles' "Yesterday" to Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" is as indicative of his one-of-a-kind gift as his considerable songwriting abilities are. The closer is another bonus interview segment where Hathaway talks about studying Stravinsky's orchestrations and taking composition lessons from jazz legend Yusef Lateef, showing the depth of his own musical vision.