Friday Flashback :: Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free"
On this penultimate Friday of February, Black History Month, I decided to go back, be historic and get inspirational, all at the same time.
Today's Flashback comes from one of the greatest R&B singers ever: Donny Hathaway. The dearly departed Mr. Hathaway was a true genius, and his beloved "Someday We'll All Be Free" seems an apt song for this month. Off of his absolutely classic 1973 release Extension of A Man, "Someday.." became an anthem of equality, and at the same time a soaring tribute to his own ability to arrange and compose a song. He and Edward Howard are credited as co-writers of the lyrics.
The album started with the ambitious opener, a six-minute orchestral piece titled "I Love the Lord; He Heard My Cry, Pts. 1-2," which transitioned smoothly into "Someday..." which is one of the most uplifting songs I've ever heard, and one of Hathaway's most beloved compositions. The song was released as the flipside to the single "Love, Love, Love", and is now considered probably the most important song of Donny's way-to-short career.
Not much else needs to be said about the song that you can't get from listening to it. It's just a supreme tragedy that Donny's depression deprived us all of his unquestioned gifts. He committed suicide in 1979, at the age of 33.
Rather that give you words, I'll let the lyrics of the song give you uplift. The Flashback for Friday, February 22, 2008: Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free."
Album: Extension of A Man
Released: 1973
Billboard peak: Didn't chart.
Play the Track: Someday We'll All Be Free (to download, Mac users, Control-click, and choose 'Save Link As...' Windows users right-click the link and choose 'Save Target As...').
Today's Flashback comes from one of the greatest R&B singers ever: Donny Hathaway. The dearly departed Mr. Hathaway was a true genius, and his beloved "Someday We'll All Be Free" seems an apt song for this month. Off of his absolutely classic 1973 release Extension of A Man, "Someday.." became an anthem of equality, and at the same time a soaring tribute to his own ability to arrange and compose a song. He and Edward Howard are credited as co-writers of the lyrics.
The album started with the ambitious opener, a six-minute orchestral piece titled "I Love the Lord; He Heard My Cry, Pts. 1-2," which transitioned smoothly into "Someday..." which is one of the most uplifting songs I've ever heard, and one of Hathaway's most beloved compositions. The song was released as the flipside to the single "Love, Love, Love", and is now considered probably the most important song of Donny's way-to-short career.
Not much else needs to be said about the song that you can't get from listening to it. It's just a supreme tragedy that Donny's depression deprived us all of his unquestioned gifts. He committed suicide in 1979, at the age of 33.
Rather that give you words, I'll let the lyrics of the song give you uplift. The Flashback for Friday, February 22, 2008: Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free."
Album: Extension of A ManReleased: 1973
Billboard peak: Didn't chart.
Play the Track: Someday We'll All Be Free (to download, Mac users, Control-click, and choose 'Save Link As...' Windows users right-click the link and choose 'Save Target As...').
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Donny Hathaway is one of the greatest. Giving Up, A Song For You, I Know Its You, The Ghetto, Young Gifted and Black, Sack Full of Dreams, Lord Help Me, You've Got a Friend, You Are My Heaven, Back Together Again, You Were Meant For Me, I Love You More Than You Ever Know, Litte Ghetto Boy, For All I Know, Closer I Get to You, Nu-Po, Magdelena, and of course the seasonal fav This Chrismas.
Yeah, I'm a fan. Every Album on vinyl and CD. Even the oft overlooked Come Back Charleston Blue soundtrack.
Donny was a bright light that was taken far, far too early.
His life is an example of what unchecked clinical depression can do: it saps one of the will to live, which is so sad.
He's missed to be sure, by his family, his fans, his Fraternity (my beloved Alpha Phi Alpha), and anyone that appreciates the beauty of music.
But thankfully, for us, he left us Lalah (his daughter), and her beauty and inherited talent, as well as his catalog of tremendous music.
For that we can be thankful...