Michael Ochs Archives
It’s always tough reflecting on the music legends we’ve lost, especially those whose departures were far from peaceful. Sadly, 1970s R&B icon Donny Hathaway was one of them.
With an unparalleled voice, Hathaway burst onto the scene with four incredible albums, ushering in a new decade for rhythm & blues. This was a time that saw the official introduction of an R&B category at the GRAMMYs and the solo debuts of icons like Curtis Mayfield, Minnie Riperton, Parliament, and Funkadelic—before they merged into Parliament-Funkadelic! Like Mayfield and Riperton, we lost Donny way too soon, a casualty of a strenuous inner battle with depression stemming from mental illness. He tragically took his own life on January 13, 1979, after a six-year wait for a follow-up to his fourth and final LP, Extension of a Man.
Today, October 1st, would have marked his 80th birthday, a milestone celebrated by his superstar daughter, Lalah Hathaway, on social media.
From his fan-favorite collaboration with Roberta Flack to his only Gold-certified live album, Donny Hathaway packed a lifetime of amazing work into a short period. But his catalog still holds gems deserving of the spotlight. As music fans celebrate the life of this soul legend, we want to show how much Donny Pitts will forever be missed by highlighting some of his best deep cuts. Given the brevity of Hathaway’s career, the selection might be limited, but we sonically enjoyed the process of discovery.
We revisited his debut, Everything Is Everything, his self-titled sophomore album, the Gold-certified Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, and the aforementioned Extension of a Man to curate a selection we think you’ll love. In addition to compilation CDs, posthumously-released live albums, and his contribution to the 1972 film soundtrack for Come Back, Charleston Blue, this set of songs will definitely satisfy your Donny cravings.
We still miss you, king.
Keep scrolling for our standout deep cuts from the late R&B legend Donny Hathaway on his heavenly 80th birthday in this edition of “B-Side Bangers”:
- “I Thank You Baby” (with Marlene Teasley aka June Conquest) [1969]
Album: I Thank You Baby [CD-Single] - “Je Vous Aime (I Love You)” [1970]
Album: Everything Is Everything - “Take A Love Song” (1971)
Album: Donny Hathaway - “Hey Girl” (1972)
Album: Live - “Come Back Charleston Blue” (with Margie Joseph) [1972]
Album: Come Back, Charleston Blue: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - “Be Real Black For Me” (with Roberta Flack) [1972]
Album: Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway - “I Know It’s You” (1973)
Album: Extension of a Man - “Nu-Po” (Recorded in 1973 at Newport Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall; Released in 1980)
Album: In Performance - “Superwoman” (Stevie Wonder cover at University Of California, 1972; Released in 2004)
Album: These Songs for You, Live! - “Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)” [Recorded in 1971; Released in 2014]
Album: Live at the Bitter End, 1971
