I’ve been on a serious Donny Hathaway kick lately. I knew who he was, of course, that he died young under mysterious and tragic circumstances, but I only knew his musical standards: A Song For You, I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know. This joint, Giving Up, is just as special. It’s like a balm for the spirit. The voice is stunning, the vibrato intense and rare, but the thing about every one of Donny’s songs that I’ve heard is they fairly drip with passion. It’s like he had to push every word through a train wreck to give it you. It’s beautiful, and undeniably truthful. Take Little Ghetto Boy or the more spiritual Lord Help Me. The lessons are strong, for the willing, but the music makes them go down smooth.
A Life Not Grey 