STUCK IN THE VINYL AGAIN - ROBERTA FLACK & DONNY HATHAWAY - ROBERTA FLACK & DONNY HATHAWAY

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Good morning record enthusiasts and welcome back to the Friday the 13th edition of Stuck In The Vinyl Again . Today we remember Chicago native, soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and arranger, Donny Hathaway, on this, the 44th anniversary of his death. He was born October 1, 1945 to Drusella Huntley, but was raised by his Grandmother, Martha Pitts, a professional gospel singer. He started singing with her in the choir, at age 3 and took up piano. In college he got a fine arts scholarship at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and that's where he met Roberta Flack. In 1967 he met and married Eulaulah Vann. The pair had two daughters, Eulaulah Donyll  and  Kenya Canc'Libra. Both of them are musicians. He would release four albums during his short career, including a duet records with Roberta Flack. Before a 2nd one could be completed, he committed suicide by leaping off a 15 story balcony, after becoming paranoid and delusional. He was only 33. 

To honor his memory, we spotlight the first of those duet albums. Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway was released May 6, 1972 on the Atlantic label and produced by Joel Dorn and  Arif Mardin. The LP peaked at #31 in the UK, #22 in Australia, #3 on the Billboard 200, and #2 on the Top Hip Hop/R&B Albums chart. Three singles were released from the 10 track album ; "You've Got A Friend" (#36 Adult Contemporary, #29 Hot 100, #* R&B), "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (#71 Hot 100, #30 R&B), and "Where Is the Love" (#55 Australia, #35 Canada, #29 UK, #7 Cash Box, #5 Hot 100, #1 Best Selling Soul Singles and Easy Listening) . 

"I (Who Have Nothing)" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Carlo Donida) - 5:00

"You've Got a Friend" (Carole King) - 3:24

"Baby I Love You" (Jimmy Holiday, Ronnie Shannon) - 3:24

"Be Real Black for Me" (Charles Mann, Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack) - 3:30

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (Barry Mann, Phil Spector, Cynthia Weil) - 6:36

Side Two

"For All We Know" (J. Fred Coots, Sam M. Lewis) - 3:38

"Where Is the Love" (Ralph MacDonald, William Salter) - 2:43

"When Love Has Grown" (Donny Hathaway, Eugene McDaniels) - 3:31

"Come Ye Disconsolate" (Thomas Moore, Samuel Webbe, Sr.) - 4:50

"Mood" (Roberta Flack) - 7:00

Roberta Flack – music arrangements, vocals (1-5, 7, 8, 9), electric piano (1), acoustic piano (5, 6, 10), organ (9)

Donny Hathaway – music arrangements, vocals (1-9), acoustic piano (1, 3, 4, 8, 9), electric piano (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10), horn and string arrangements (4, 8)

Eric Gale – guitar (1, 3-9)

David Spinozza – guitar (2)

Chuck Rainey – electric bass (1-9)

Bernard Purdie – drums (1, 3-9)

Billy Cobham – drums (2)

Ralph MacDonald – percussion (1-9)

Jack Jennings – vibraphone (7)

Joe Gentle – flute (2)

Hubert Laws – flute (8)

Joe Farrell – soprano saxophone (5)

Arif Mardin – string arrangements (1, 2, 5, 6, 7), woodwind arrangements (6, 7)

Production

Arif Mardin – producer, mixing

Joel Dorn – producer

Jimmy Douglass – recording engineer (1, 3-10), mixing

Lew Hahn – recording engineer (2)

Gene Paul – additional recording

Jeff Blue – album design, photography