Album of the Day

A singer, songwriter, keyboardist and arranger, Donny Hathaway could do it all in the studio but LIVE AT THE BITTER END shows he could deliver the goods on stage as well. Excerpts of his October 1971 performance at the famed New York City club were included on his LIVE LP issued the following year, but the entire show didn't see release until decades after Donny's untimely death. While the nine songs include such Hathaway originals as “The Ghetto,” his talent as an interpreter is showcased on outstanding versions of then-new hits by Marvin Gaye (“What's Going On”), John Lennon (“Jealous Guy”) and Carole King (“You've Got A Friend”). A fine backing band including guitarist Cornell Dupree and bassist Willie Weeks can be heard on LIVE AT THE BITTER END, which was released digitally last month.