Album of the Day

Though Donny Hathaway had a reputation as a gifted songwriter, his eponymous second album focuses on his talent as an interpreter. The 1971 Atco collection does include one original (“Take a Love Song”) but beyond that plays like a particularly soulful survey of Top 40 radio of the day, with covers of recent hits by Mac Davis (“I Believe in Music”), The Hollies (“He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother”) and Ocean (“Put Your Hand in the Hand”) among others. Hathaway's gospel roots are reflected in the impassioned vocals and outstanding keyboard work here, and producers Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin and a host of session aces elevate these tracks even further. Any fan of 1970s R&B would do well to listen to DONNY HATHAWAY.