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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The vocal strengths and unbrideled passion of a man..., November 4, 2002
...is what this album's subtitle should be. If Donny's final studio album was the 'Extension of a Man', then this album should be the parts that make up the man, namely his vocals an' unbrideled passion. It's simply called 'Donny Hathaway', an' the reason is because that's what it is. Nothing more, nothing less. It's a lush, lavish, an' poetic body of music that has more strength and endurance than almost anything that's come out in the past ten years or so. There's a yearnin' an' burnin' for love an' life that so many artists try to capture in the studio, but that so few have been able to. The great thing about Donny Hathaway, an' the thing that makes him my all-time favorite, is that the very SOUL that contemporary artists strive for comes to him so easily, an' so naturally. It was all a part of him, the man. An' here on his second album, which is, in my opinion, his first REALLY outstanding album, all his talent, ability, and all the power in his voice that was for the most part only hinted at on his first album, came flooding out of him. In all honesty, this album is worth buying for the first four tracks alone. As soon as you put this in an' press play you will be hooked, as a soulful church moan echoes through your speakers, an' 'Giving Up' begins. This opener is jus' one'a the most heart-wrenching songs I've ever heard in my life, an' Donny pours himself, heart, mind an' soul, all over the number. There's a haunting aura around it, as Donny describes the pain an' heartache of having to let go of your one true love, an' the misery that it leaves you with. This is WAAAYYY beyond blues, trust me. I needed a handkerchief for that song alone. What follows is a chance for redemption in 'A Song for You', a beautiful song where he sings of the mistakes an' missteps he made in a relationship, coming to terms with the loss, clearing his mind, an' realizing that nothing can ever, an' WILL ever break the bond he has with this girl ("I love you in a place where there's no space or time, I love you for my life, you're a friend of mine..."). From the first time I heard this song, I knew this would be a number I would constantly revisit an' play whenever that special lil' girl I once had came on my mind. Not only are Donny's vocals on this song powerful, but his piano playing is beautiful an' distinct, perfectly in synch with the highs an' lows of the melody. The next song 'Little Girl' is a somewhat-preachy number with Donny singing to a girl who left home without a word to anyone, urging her to come back. Is' got some killer keyboard work, an' Donny straight GOES OFF on that organ, fa'real, 'specially on the build-up at the end. This song keeps things rooted in wisdom some, but none like the following song 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', a popular standard that Donny completely turns around an' makes his own. As he sings the lyrics about reaching out to help your fellow man, an' the long, hard road that is ahead, I couldn't help but get chills at the spirit an' soul in his voice. Is' jus' one'a the most inspirational lyrical an' vocal performances I've ever heard in my entire life. The piano an' bells build to a crashing finish, before quietly fading out, along with all your tears, hopes an' dreams. Those first four numbers right there are the REAL reason to buy this album. Don't get me wrong, there are no BAD songs on this album, but the remainder is jus' not nearly as good. The only TRUE exception is 'She is My Lady', a beautiful love song dedicated to the righteous ways the right girl can affect your life. When he sings lyrics like "She came to me when I knew I'd lost the meaning, lifted the shadow from across my way" and "Sometimes when my burdens jus' seem too overbearing, the girl turns my tears with a single sigh" it's like he's taking the words right from my mouth an' putting them to poetry, then mustering up all his passion an' heart into singing them out to me. On 'Take a Love Song', a beautifully-written ballad, Donny sings in dreamy an' hypnotic tones, an' never once wavers from the initial mood. Then he takes you to straight church on 'Put Your Hand in the Hand'. This stuff is pure Gospel - sanctified rhythms, hand claps, piano, organ, verse modulations, and all. Donny's two Christmas songs 'Be There' an' the widely-known 'This Christmas' both appear as bonus tracks at the end of the album, and are essential for fans, as well as for holiday music lovers. Donny's music was something special, somethin' spiritual, somethin' that could cleanse your soul, an' make you glad to face a new day. It's for that very reason, he is my favorite singer, an' for that very reason I seek my comfort an' solace in his words an' music. I'm so sick of this man bein' overlooked in the hallowed walls of soul greats. If you don't have this, do yourself one'a the biggest favors you'll ever do, an' pick it up.
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~ Donny Hathaway
~ Roberta Flack
~ Donny Hathaway
~ Donny Hathaway
~ Donny Hathaway
by Donny Hathaway 
