Donny is the GOAT. Nobody...I mean, NOBODY could sing like this man. Stevie Wonder said after the "Songbook" album he changed his voice to sound like Donny. Luther said Donny's vocal range & changes were unattainable. THANK YOU PDBASS FOR THIS REVIEW!!! Please more Donny!!
Sleep tight Uncle Donny. Your mu8sic packed with encouragement and love still brings us hope in our hearts and minds. Long live uncle Donny. Love you all.
@@redbrave Respectfully, I dont' think Donny was going for a "Stevie" sound, if anything it would be the other way around, though I'm sure DH had nothing but ultimate respect for SW the musician; DH the singer simply was in his own class.
You did a great job of deconstructing this song. I was in Leesburg, VA on Sunday morning January 14, 1979 when I turned on the radio and a local station in the DC area -- I think it was WPGC -- announced that Donny Hathaway had died the night before. The deejay played "Someday We'll All Be Free" and I remember how sad but moved I felt when I heard it, with its intricate chord changes. And you're absolutely right -- "Someday We'll All Be Free" was Donny's masterpiece. It's just a shame it got buried on a B-side at the time it was first released.
I remember hearing that song being played on my parents clock radio as a child and it stopped me in my tracks. I rediscovered it yesterday and it blew me away and moved me to nostalgic tears.
Man, I have to dig through my vinyl and listen to this album. You mentioned one of Hathaway's influences was Debussy, which was pianist Bill Evans also. Evans introduced Modalism used by Debussy and Ravel to jazz on Miles Davis's immortal album "Kind of Blue." On Hathaway's "Live" album he gives the highest praise to Willie Weeks. The song "Everything is Everything," before Week's solo he proclaims, " The Baddest Bass Player in the Country." Man, PD, we jammed hard on this album in 72 and 73. Thanks for bringing light to an obscure but significant piece of music.
My brotha my brotha! You've done Donny Hathaway a great service paying homage to him on this song that we all aa Black folks love so very much. I used to be the backup Bassist for a DC Go-Go Band named Rare Essence back during 1982-'83. We had a great vocalist Mike Muse who put a very tasty sound to that song as well as This Christmas. The late Drummer Quentin Davidson AKA Footz & the band's Bassist Michael Neal AKA Funky Ned (a bassist you really want to check out) these two held down the pocket on those as well as every other track the band has ever played as if they were trained by the late great James Brown himself. Ned is still my best friend in the world today. He inspired. not only me, but MéShelle N'degeÓcello as well. Any way thanx for another great podcast. And you & your family have a very Merry & Blessed Christmas Holiday Season. -BiG Pluck
When ever I play this song loud at work , folks come out and just stand quietly until the end! Almost as if they’re showing their reverence to the totality of words, music,feeling, love and hope. Thank you for for this wonderful breakdown!
This song still brings me to my knees in tears.. I always hear every memory I had with my parents in the car trying to keep hope alive while my mother, as joyful and beautiful as she was singing her heart out, had cancer, and the heart crushing,palpable, completely relatable pain Donny felt in his life 💗
.......... thanks for the great tribute to Donny Hathaway.........he was beyond great.......his influence on music can still be heard in the new artist music today........he was the King of neo soul before it was called neo soul....
I swear I had a feeling that it must have been "Someday We'll All Be Free" that was featured in this video before I even clicked. This is the song that got me truly hooked on his music and soulfulness. What a legend. Many thanks for creating and sharing this video for us to see.
@PDBass - I saw an interview with a singer who knew Mr. Hathaway. He said Donnie could hear a song and play it back to you... backwards. He said he also saw Donnie composed for a full orchestra with only pen, paper, and his ears at his disposal. Genius indeed. This is ur best vlog yet. Thank you. God bless you.
First time on your channel. Wonderful commentary on this great song. I’m not a musician. My musical tastes are all over the place. I’m a 65 year old white kid from a small Northern California city. In 1972 my mother bought me Donny Hathaway Live after reading a review. I bought this album a couple of years later. In my humble opinion, Donny Hathaway was the greatest musician of the 20th century, bar none. I can listen to him any time of day or night, for a little over 50 years now, and continually be amazed and moved. Thank you for sharing this song!
Love "Extension of a Man" so much. I was mildly surprised to learn that "Flying Easy" was written as a commercial jingle, but he still put somethin on that too. And his rendition of "I Know It's You" (Leon Ware) always leaves me shaking my head--in wonder, in amazement, in remembrance. A superlative talent was he. Thank u for this review.
Extensions of a man, donny hathaway live, what's going on, innervisions, songs in the key of life, that's the way of the world were some of the greatest musical statements ever made! The composers of these gems were on the same musical frequency in their pursuit of musical and artistic excellence!
Someday We’ll All Be Free & A Song for You will forever be 2 of favorite songs, lyrics, melodies, chord changes, vocals, moods, recordings, productions, mixes, and emotions. They’re are the standard by which I internally judge my own music.
One of my all-time favorites! I literally grew up on this record and I still play my dad's original vinyl record regularly! One thing you didn't mention, the lead-up to this song by "I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry" and its orchestral arrangement really elevates this song even higher than it already is! You can almost say that "from the highest blues, to the lowest symphony" is contained within this album! I would play this song regularly at a monthly event called the Jazz Vinyl Club at a local wine bar here. It always moved people!
Wow - what an informative analysis - hope your students know how lucky they are! While Someday is brilliant, A Song For You may perhaps be his most powerful recording - there's no one south of heaven with a more divine voice! Also love his popular colaborations with Roberta Flack. Beautiful that his daughters continue in his musical legacy. Conscientious of you to insert the hotline number at the end.
I can really understand what you mean. Fortunately, I was exposed to him by a close family friend, and former SNL musical director Katresse Barnes. She transitioned a few years ago, but I remember walking through the house, and hearing her listen, aa well as play his music on the piano. Her brother, Jerry Barnes, is currently bassist for Nile Rodgers, of CHIC. Katresse was simply a child prodigy, in my opinion. You can find her work online with Roberta Flack, Chaka Kahn, Sting, and so many others. Be blessed, my fellow musical friend.✨🦁💎🦁✨
Every musical analysis you do on your channel is full of love and deep respect for the subject. You consistently offer succinct, yet deep investigations of your topic of choice, a sort of pithy, 360° snapshot, full of useful information and insights that almost always give us a peek at the broader context in which the music was conceived, created, and performed. Thank you for yet another gem!🙏🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽🤗
Thank You for that great segment on Donny Hathaway!! I remember being in a band back in 75 trying to learn Love, Love, Love from the same album. Our keyboard player (and the rest of us) we're going crazy trying to figure out all those unbelievable changes that were going on!!!
I can’t listen to Donny. I just often starts to cry. Seriously, he touches my soul like no other. Listening to his music makes me reminisce and I get all emotional, thinking of the people I’ve lost and people I rarely see anymore. Family, break ups, marriage, having kids… Life.
Thank you! My mother was my best friend and mentor. Donny inspired me to know that love from the heart is powerful. In 1979, we lost some beautiful artists and my mother.
The way you broke this song down brings me to tears. I have been dealing with depression in a mighty way and this is also my favorite Donny song but never made the connection of depression and overcoming it through the expression of hope in art. Thank you so much brother, God did a great thing in the inspired vision of these greats which in the process allowed for such a time as this in delivering this appointed message to me and so many others through you. God Bless You God Keep You and Thank You Again. - Desmond Murrell
Agreed 100%! Donny's spirit and genius created a works that have stood the test of time. Personally I experience the same emotion now as I did over 50 years ago; elevated and empowered! That's Art!
What a beautiful analysis. It's always wonderful to hear professional musicians talk about music. This is one of my favorite songs---and artists---of all time; and now I can appreciate even more just how exquisite the instrumentation is. Hathaway = musical genius. Thanks for a great video.
Amen! Tell me something I don’t know? This is the song when it comes to Donny Hathaway. You did a great job on this one Paul and I’m really happy you chose it. It’s one I’ve played ever since I was young and sang, because it is so spiritual and full of hope! as you pointed out. the message really reaches right into the heart. This song will always be special to me and I’m so glad you shared this with others. Donny Hathaway was a genius! Great arranger, great pianist absolutely incredible vocalist! Willie Weeks - watch out! You knock this one out of the park Paul! My favorite so far. Keep it going!
What?!? Never a hit or charted. That is unbelievable. Such a great song. It could have been a hit a capella or instrumental. I'm glad they chose to put it together for us. Thank you for the info in this video.
This song already brought tears to my eyes but to know that part about Ed Howard writing the lyrics for Donny, that took me to a new level. Thank you for this very inspirational, educational and impactful video.
"Someday We'll All Be Free" Donny Hathaway - You just made my Christmas with this Bro! Thanks for putting in the time to break this down for us. WOW!!!
"Whatever you feed, will grow" Aside from the subject of this video, I just want you to know that those words have impacted my life on a level that few others have. I am not a tattoo guy, but those words get really close to being worthy enough to be carved into my body for life. 48 years into my journey, I feel like I finally have some kind of true mantra I can get behind. It's something I have shared, and will continue to share with people I care about. I just want to take a moment to publicly acknowledge you for this, and thank you from my heart, man. Cheers.
Yes, great music never dies! I enjoyed this homage to Donny. I don’t think he’s celebrated enough ❤ so, I get really excited when I see someone celebrating his art.
Hathaway keeps me whole as a person. I was six years old when I first heard him, not knowing he had less than 1 year to live. Through the subsequent years, I fell in love with him (and Roberta!) more and more. Just pure, epic, soulfulness. I'm so happy we have Lalah's deep voice to remind us of her very loved, very missed, very cherished father.
I appreciate this special tribute to Donny Hathaway's music, and this tune in particular, he was a truly gifted musician and vocalist. As a youngster I was always attracted to his album covers and when he dropped "The Ghetto" and "Giving Up", I could relate to the darkness that was part of his style but he could write uplifting tunes also. His instrumentals were just as strong as his vocal tunes ! Donny could do it all! RIP Donny Hathaway .
Thank you for remembering Donny Hathaway. I can remember the day, the hour and even the minute when I put the album on the turn table and trembled. Donny was more than music he was apart of your spiritual anatomy. Extensions of Man is an album that was so far ahead of it's time that the music did not understand it and to this day it still doesn't understand it. The album just like the man can never be forgotten. Thanks PD.
Thank you for your amazing analysis of this song. I recently lost a client (I’m a therapist) to suicide, and this song has been a comfort for me. But, I have a deeper appreciation for the composition after watching your video. I’m now a subscriber to your channel.
When I was in my late 20's I was a huge Stevie Wonder fan (and am still), but i was working with an older guy at the time who told me about Donny Hathaway and how his stuff measured up to that of Stevie in the 70's. I didn't really take it seriously at the time cuz I only knew DH from his duet with Roberta Flack, but lately I've been going down the rabbit hole. What a talent! His phrasing, interpretation, instrumentally and vocally, arrangement wise, everything. Thanks for this great breakdown!
Your channel is dope! Donny s music is really great. His voice is so smooth, his low register sounds so sweet. I can hear him listening to his daughter Lalah who has the same beautiful lows in her voice. A donny s song that I really like as a bassist is "je vous aime beaucoup". Great bassline in 12/8 feel. Thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge about music. Always want to play music after watching your videos so it s a good thing!
Truly one of the greatest ever! Between Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Donny I could be set for life if I just had their catalog of works stranded as a hermit on the proverbial "Dessert Island ".
@namakudamono Omg! Curtis! Heck yeah! How could I have not mentioned him. Yeah..He is a huge influence on my own guitar playing as he was to many ,many others including Jimi, Cornell Dupree and Bobby Womack. I love Curtis Mayfields music and all the ones he's influenced too. Bill Withers , Sam Cooke and Bobby Womack are others whom I forgot .. Beautiful voices and vastly talented songwriters.
F sharp major is a beautiful key. I love it. Your video's always influence me to look into these folks and their music either for the first time or in more depth. Thank you, Sir.
Thank you so much for this video. As bass players it's important to go beyond our Instrument. Yes, this is still a bass channel, and a very special one.
@@jonsmith848 I'm sure I'd heard the name and heard the hits in passing. But, I never dug in. He was before my time, and while I listen to lots of old stuff, Hathaway just never bubbled into my awareness. There's plenty of great music you've never dug into, as well, I'm sure. Most of us will never hear most of the best music, but I'm gonna try anyway.🤷♂
Thank you for reminding me of this great song, and paying such great respect to DH and the song. He would’ve been blown away with your detailed review and explanation. I was!
Another great analysis! Really is one of Donny's greatest. I always felt as though you can feel his yearning desire to "be free" and that he was even singing the lyrics to make *himself* believe this. The song lives on because his sentiment aligns with the human experience and expressed in a way we all can relate to without even trying to identify relatability. As musicians we can learn so much from him so I'm ecstatic that you analyzed this one!
I have to admit that even as a pretty big soul music fan, I know very little about Donny Hathaway. Until recently I’d only ever heard This Christmas, even though I knew he had a much bigger body of work. This was a moving breakdown and commentary, especially given the tragedy he went trough. I’m definitely going to be adding some of his music to my collection.
His live stuff is outstanding, but his 3 studio albums are all superb. My favorite is the aforementioned "Extension of A Man" album, which is very eclectic musically, but so musically dense. "Lord Help Me" is a bonus track on that album, and it is for me a top 5 favorite Donny song ever. The bookend songs of that album are devastatingly moving and incredible...Happy digging! 🙏🏽😊
Me again.👀 after a life of absorbing black classic/spiritual musics, fr. 50’s jazz, 🤷🏿♂️N’orleans traditions👨🏾🏭, Memphis soul,☝️ Chicago blues👈🏽, 🇯🇲caribe reggae/ska/rock steady/ 🇬🇾lovers rock, and the mother root.. 💥gospel.. as a white guy from the Gibson clan, I’ve always heard certain offerings as godly, as there is no other explanation of the creation of heavenly sounds. Got me..!🇲🇱
Thank you for this analysis. Hearing terms like "hemeola", warms my heart with nostalgia. As much as I appreciate Debussy, I had no way of connecting him as a possible influence to Donny Hathaway, prior to this video. Thank you for the share 😊🔥
Man that was one of the best analysis of as song and artist I've ever had the privledge to behold; Donnie stands in my heart and mind as THE Best to ever do it! I silently greived for years over the loss, but my allegiance never waivered; thank you for disecting the chord progressions as well as the history. Great work brother, stay true to the art!! Peace and Blessings!!
Thank you so much ! I just heard this song for the first time and actually started to break down. I had no clues about his struggles with depression and mental Illness or even the passing of Mr Donny. This is as great as it gets
I'm always amazed at the forgotten treasures you keep digging up and sharing, treasures that it's heart breaking these keep slipping into obscurity with each passing year were it not for people like you introducing new audiences to it. I was an extreme late-comer to Donny Hathaway, only having discovered his brilliant work by way of Lala Hathaway's unbelievable performance with Snarky Puppy ("Something"). Donny's work is inspiring, and even though his story doesn't go as we would have hoped, from his challenges some lovely music grew.
Donny was/is a master of his craft. Also on that album is Love, Love,Love. And you said Stevie, he wrote "Your are my heaven" and on one of Donnys live album he sung Stevie's Super Women. You've touched many of the truly greats how bout a little Bootsy either solo or w/James. And Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man another classic that needs to be examined
You are truly a blessing to bring forth the source of such great music and there origins.
Thank you, Mr. Jemmott!! I’m standing on YOUR shoulders! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
AMEN,JERRY-BLESS YOU BOTH....
He's my favorite of all time and it's not even close
Agreed!
Donny is the GOAT. Nobody...I mean, NOBODY could sing like this man. Stevie Wonder said after the "Songbook" album he changed his voice to sound like Donny. Luther said Donny's vocal range & changes were unattainable. THANK YOU PDBASS FOR THIS REVIEW!!! Please more Donny!!
Donny is my all-time favorite male singer
Sleep tight Uncle Donny. Your mu8sic packed with encouragement and love still brings us hope in our hearts and minds. Long live uncle Donny. Love you all.
I totally hear Stevie in this track! And it sounds like SW liked the F Sharp too.
Phillipe whynne and Luther vandross is there.
@@redbrave Respectfully, I dont' think Donny was going for a "Stevie" sound, if anything it would be the other way around, though I'm sure DH had nothing but ultimate respect for SW the musician; DH the singer simply was in his own class.
I met Donny, Earth Wind & Fire , walked in the Club ,we talked briefly ,A True Genius that had A very tradgic end ,RIP Sir !
Donny Hathaway's rendition of For All We Know is also musical perfection. Simply beautiful.
You did a great job of deconstructing this song. I was in Leesburg, VA on Sunday morning January 14, 1979 when I turned on the radio and a local station in the DC area -- I think it was WPGC -- announced that Donny Hathaway had died the night before. The deejay played "Someday We'll All Be Free" and I remember how sad but moved I felt when I heard it, with its intricate chord changes. And you're absolutely right -- "Someday We'll All Be Free" was Donny's masterpiece. It's just a shame it got buried on a B-side at the time it was first released.
I literally put this song on when I need to cry
I remember hearing that song being played on my parents clock radio as a child and it stopped me in my tracks. I rediscovered it yesterday and it blew me away and moved me to nostalgic tears.
Man, I have to dig through my vinyl and listen to this album. You mentioned one of Hathaway's influences was Debussy, which was pianist Bill Evans also. Evans introduced Modalism used by Debussy and Ravel to jazz on Miles Davis's immortal album "Kind of Blue." On Hathaway's "Live" album he gives the highest praise to Willie Weeks. The song "Everything is Everything," before Week's solo he proclaims, " The Baddest Bass Player in the Country." Man, PD, we jammed hard on this album in 72 and 73. Thanks for bringing light to an obscure but significant piece of music.
My brotha my brotha! You've done Donny Hathaway a great service paying homage to him on this song that we all aa Black folks love so very much. I used to be the backup Bassist for a DC Go-Go Band named Rare Essence back during 1982-'83. We had a great vocalist Mike Muse who put a very tasty sound to that song as well as This Christmas. The late Drummer Quentin Davidson AKA Footz & the band's Bassist Michael Neal AKA Funky Ned (a bassist you really want to check out) these two held down the pocket on those as well as every other track the band has ever played as if they were trained by the late great James Brown himself. Ned is still my best friend in the world today. He inspired. not only me, but MéShelle N'degeÓcello as well.
Any way thanx for another great podcast. And you & your family have a very Merry & Blessed Christmas Holiday Season.
-BiG Pluck
When ever I play this song loud at work , folks come out and just stand quietly until the end! Almost as if they’re showing their reverence to the totality of words, music,feeling, love and hope. Thank you for for this wonderful breakdown!
This song still brings me to my knees in tears.. I always hear every memory I had with my parents in the car trying to keep hope alive while my mother, as joyful and beautiful as she was singing her heart out, had cancer, and the heart crushing,palpable, completely relatable pain Donny felt in his life 💗
Great breakdown!
Donny H. wasn't just a great singer...he was a BEYOND, OFF the charts singer.
🙏👍🙏👍
.......... thanks for the great tribute to Donny Hathaway.........he was beyond great.......his influence on music can still be heard in the new artist music today........he was the King of neo soul before it was called neo soul....
I swear I had a feeling that it must have been "Someday We'll All Be Free" that was featured in this video before I even clicked. This is the song that got me truly hooked on his music and soulfulness. What a legend. Many thanks for creating and sharing this video for us to see.
Your commentary is impeccable. Donny’s voice was like no other
What a terrific analysis. Thank you for this!
@PDBass - I saw an interview with a singer who knew Mr. Hathaway. He said Donnie could hear a song and play it back to you... backwards. He said he also saw Donnie composed for a full orchestra with only pen, paper, and his ears at his disposal. Genius indeed. This is ur best vlog yet. Thank you. God bless you.
This was always my favorite song by Donny Hathaway
First time on your channel. Wonderful commentary on this great song. I’m not a musician. My musical tastes are all over the place. I’m a 65 year old white kid from a small Northern California city. In 1972 my mother bought me Donny Hathaway Live after reading a review. I bought this album a couple of years later. In my humble opinion, Donny Hathaway was the greatest musician of the 20th century, bar none. I can listen to him any time of day or night, for a little over 50 years now, and continually be amazed and moved. Thank you for sharing this song!
Only. A. Black. Man. Can. Sing. Like. Donnie. Hathaway!!!
Love "Extension of a Man" so much. I was mildly surprised to learn that "Flying Easy" was written as a commercial jingle, but he still put somethin on that too. And his rendition of "I Know It's You" (Leon Ware) always leaves me shaking my head--in wonder, in amazement, in remembrance. A superlative talent was he. Thank u for this review.
Extensions of a man, donny hathaway live, what's going on, innervisions, songs in the key of life, that's the way of the world were some of the greatest musical statements ever made! The composers of these gems were on the same musical frequency in their pursuit of musical and artistic excellence!
So true 🙌🏾
Someday We’ll All Be Free & A Song for You will forever be 2 of favorite songs, lyrics, melodies, chord changes, vocals, moods, recordings, productions, mixes, and emotions. They’re are the standard by which I internally judge my own music.
One of my all-time favorites! I literally grew up on this record and I still play my dad's original vinyl record regularly! One thing you didn't mention, the lead-up to this song by "I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry" and its orchestral arrangement really elevates this song even higher than it already is! You can almost say that "from the highest blues, to the lowest symphony" is contained within this album! I would play this song regularly at a monthly event called the Jazz Vinyl Club at a local wine bar here. It always moved people!
Right?
Wow - what an informative analysis - hope your students know how lucky they are!
While Someday is brilliant, A Song For You may perhaps be his most powerful recording - there's no one south of heaven with a more divine voice!
Also love his popular colaborations with Roberta Flack.
Beautiful that his daughters continue in his musical legacy.
Conscientious of you to insert the hotline number at the end.
F sharp is a Gospel key!!! He had delay on that Rhodes too! I adore this song and love performing it!!
This song brings me to tears... A true genius. One of my very favorites. I used to study this album for hours on end. Amazing...
I can really understand what you mean. Fortunately, I was exposed to him by a close family friend, and former SNL musical director Katresse Barnes. She transitioned a few years ago, but I remember walking through the house, and hearing her listen, aa well as play his music on the piano. Her brother, Jerry Barnes, is currently bassist for Nile Rodgers, of CHIC. Katresse was simply a child prodigy, in my opinion. You can find her work online with Roberta Flack, Chaka Kahn, Sting, and so many others. Be blessed, my fellow musical friend.✨🦁💎🦁✨
"This song brings me to tears..." me too brother, me too.
One of the closest tunes to my heart, thank you for showing a young bassist like myself the history of this instrument, family tree.
This is one of those songs (very few) that I can’t listen to in public because I can’t help crying uncontrollably when I hear it.
Every musical analysis you do on your channel is full of love and deep respect for the subject. You consistently offer succinct, yet deep investigations of your topic of choice, a sort of pithy, 360° snapshot, full of useful information and insights that almost always give us a peek at the broader context in which the music was conceived, created, and performed.
Thank you for yet another gem!🙏🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽🤗
Amen.
Beautifully stated. 💕💎🌹🌠
Outstanding analysis. Thank you🎶🎶🎶🙏🏽 🙏🏽🙏🏽
Wow what a wonderful comment. I agree.
Wow, so beautifully and eloquently stated!
Thank You for that great segment on Donny Hathaway!! I remember being in a band back in 75 trying to learn Love, Love, Love from the same album. Our keyboard player (and the rest of us) we're going crazy trying to figure out all those unbelievable changes that were going on!!!
I can’t listen to Donny. I just often starts to cry. Seriously, he touches my soul like no other. Listening to his music makes me reminisce and I get all emotional, thinking of the people I’ve lost and people I rarely see anymore. Family, break ups, marriage, having kids… Life.
This made my day. I still listen to his live album 🔥
Incomparable. Just.... Incomparable ✨️✨️✨️
My favorite male vocalist of all time
Thank you! My mother was my best friend and mentor. Donny inspired me to know that love from the heart is powerful. In 1979, we lost some beautiful artists and my mother.
That song was magnificent. Also loved Valdez In The Country. 🔥
Beautifully done. Donnie Hathaway, one of the greatest voices of all time; he is truly missed.
The way you broke this song down brings me to tears. I have been dealing with depression in a mighty way and this is also my favorite Donny song but never made the connection of depression and overcoming it through the expression of hope in art. Thank you so much brother, God did a great thing in the inspired vision of these greats which in the process allowed for such a time as this in delivering this appointed message to me and so many others through you. God Bless You God Keep You and Thank You Again. - Desmond Murrell
Agreed 100%! Donny's spirit and genius created a works that have stood the test of time. Personally I experience the same emotion now as I did over 50 years ago; elevated and empowered! That's Art!
I dig your analysis, it made me understand even more what kind of genius this man was.
Much love.
What a beautiful analysis. It's always wonderful to hear professional musicians talk about music. This is one of my favorite songs---and artists---of all time; and now I can appreciate even more just how exquisite the instrumentation is. Hathaway = musical genius. Thanks for a great video.
True joy listening to one of my favorite musicians on planet earth!!!
Amen! Tell me something I don’t know? This is the song when it comes to Donny Hathaway. You did a great job on this one Paul and I’m really happy you chose it. It’s one I’ve played ever since I was young and sang, because it is so spiritual and full of hope! as you pointed out. the message really reaches right into the heart. This song will always be special to me and I’m so glad you shared this with others. Donny Hathaway was a genius! Great arranger, great pianist absolutely incredible vocalist! Willie Weeks - watch out! You knock this one out of the park Paul! My favorite so far. Keep it going!
I wasn't sure we were gonna agree. But when you said the title it was a sigh of release. Perfect song in every way.
What?!? Never a hit or charted. That is unbelievable. Such a great song. It could have been a hit a capella or instrumental. I'm glad they chose to put it together for us. Thank you for the info in this video.
This song already brought tears to my eyes but to know that part about Ed Howard writing the lyrics for Donny, that took me to a new level. Thank you for this very inspirational, educational and impactful video.
"Someday We'll All Be Free" Donny Hathaway - You just made my Christmas with this Bro! Thanks for putting in the time to break this down for us. WOW!!!
The absolute best to ever do it. Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye changed up their styles after Donny founded his style.
🌼☀️👑☀️🌼
One of my favorite compositions ever
"Whatever you feed, will grow"
Aside from the subject of this video, I just want you to know that those words have impacted my life on a level that few others have. I am not a tattoo guy, but those words get really close to being worthy enough to be carved into my body for life. 48 years into my journey, I feel like I finally have some kind of true mantra I can get behind. It's something I have shared, and will continue to share with people I care about.
I just want to take a moment to publicly acknowledge you for this, and thank you from my heart, man. Cheers.
The beauty of this song brings me to happy tears. I feel it so profoundly everytime I listen to it.
Love…Love…Love…Donny Hathaway!
Yes, great music never dies! I enjoyed this homage to Donny. I don’t think he’s celebrated enough ❤ so, I get really excited when I see someone celebrating his art.
Hathaway keeps me whole as a person. I was six years old when I first heard him, not knowing he had less than 1 year to live. Through the subsequent years, I fell in love with him (and Roberta!) more and more. Just pure, epic, soulfulness. I'm so happy we have Lalah's deep voice to remind us of her very loved, very missed, very cherished father.
I appreciate this special tribute to Donny Hathaway's music, and this tune in particular, he was a truly gifted musician and vocalist. As a youngster I was always attracted to his album covers and when he dropped "The Ghetto" and "Giving Up", I could relate to the darkness that was part of his style but he could write uplifting tunes also. His instrumentals were just as strong as his vocal tunes ! Donny could do it all! RIP Donny Hathaway .
Thank you for remembering Donny Hathaway. I can remember the day, the hour and even the minute when I put the album on the turn table and trembled. Donny was more than music he was apart of your spiritual anatomy. Extensions of Man is an album that was so far ahead of it's time that the music did not understand it and to this day it still doesn't understand it. The album just like the man can never be forgotten. Thanks PD.
Thank you for your amazing analysis of this song. I recently lost a client (I’m a therapist) to suicide, and this song has been a comfort for me. But, I have a deeper appreciation for the composition after watching your video. I’m now a subscriber to your channel.
When I was in my late 20's I was a huge Stevie Wonder fan (and am still), but i was working with an older guy at the time who told me about Donny Hathaway and how his stuff measured up to that of Stevie in the 70's. I didn't really take it seriously at the time cuz I only knew DH from his duet with Roberta Flack, but lately I've been going down the rabbit hole. What a talent! His phrasing, interpretation, instrumentally and vocally, arrangement wise, everything. Thanks for this great breakdown!
Wonderful commentary on this glorious musician. Thank you.
Your channel is dope!
Donny s music is really great.
His voice is so smooth, his low register sounds so sweet. I can hear him listening to his daughter Lalah who has the same beautiful lows in her voice. A donny s song that I really like as a bassist is "je vous aime beaucoup". Great bassline in 12/8 feel.
Thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge about music.
Always want to play music after watching your videos so it s a good thing!
Truly one of the greatest ever! Between Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Donny I could be set for life if I just had their catalog of works stranded as a hermit on the proverbial "Dessert Island ".
I guess I‘d take chocolate mousse if I were stranded on a dessert island.
Don't forget Curtis.
@namakudamono Omg! Curtis! Heck yeah! How could I have not mentioned him. Yeah..He is a huge influence on my own guitar playing as he was to many ,many others including Jimi, Cornell Dupree and Bobby Womack. I love Curtis Mayfields music and all the ones he's influenced too. Bill Withers , Sam Cooke and Bobby Womack are others whom I forgot .. Beautiful voices and vastly talented songwriters.
@mv11000 Lol! That would be tougher to get than an album collection, turntable, speakers and electricity. 😆
Я очень люблю Донни Хэтуэй. Он у меня на первом месте
Man thank you so very much for this analysis, I have to replay it many times because it is so rich in goodness. Love you man!
You right , i always love that song the most , someday we be free
I wondered what Stevie would say . Thank you for the clarification! Donny was the man.
F sharp major is a beautiful key. I love it. Your video's always influence me to look into these folks and their music either for the first time or in more depth. Thank you, Sir.
Thanks. My older brother turned him on to me around 74. Still one of the best. I just passed this on to 6 friends just now!
Thank you so much for this video. As bass players it's important to go beyond our Instrument. Yes, this is still a bass channel, and a very special one.
My favorite vocalist ever.
Absolutely The best song on planet, thanks man
I love how you played Wilton Felder's version of this song in your outro. Brilliant.
Right. I was like, I know that tenor sound.
This is such a jam, I can't believe I've never listened to Donny Hathaway. Thanks for bringing him to my attention.
The Hathaway rabbit hole you must now enter. 😆
I guarantee "This Christmas" is about to be your Fav Christmas song, at least for this year!
How is that possible?
@@jonsmith848 I'm sure I'd heard the name and heard the hits in passing. But, I never dug in. He was before my time, and while I listen to lots of old stuff, Hathaway just never bubbled into my awareness. There's plenty of great music you've never dug into, as well, I'm sure. Most of us will never hear most of the best music, but I'm gonna try anyway.🤷♂
youtube his second album. a lot of great songs on that one. "she is my lady" is one of those great recordings.
Was Blessed to see Donny Hathaway twice. Very small bar in Chicago..the 70's.
I feel like a young girl in music class for the first time with a great educator I admire. Just poured so much inspiration in my heart.
Thank you for reminding me of this great song, and paying such great respect to DH and the song. He would’ve been blown away with your detailed review and explanation. I was!
Could it be... The most beautiful song in the World ? Thank you, those chords are History !
Thanks for showing his contributions to the 🌎 I agree truely one of the greatest vocalist in our time....
Another great analysis! Really is one of Donny's greatest. I always felt as though you can feel his yearning desire to "be free" and that he was even singing the lyrics to make *himself* believe this. The song lives on because his sentiment aligns with the human experience and expressed in a way we all can relate to without even trying to identify relatability. As musicians we can learn so much from him so I'm ecstatic that you analyzed this one!
I have to admit that even as a pretty big soul music fan, I know very little about Donny Hathaway. Until recently I’d only ever heard This Christmas, even though I knew he had a much bigger body of work. This was a moving breakdown and commentary, especially given the tragedy he went trough. I’m definitely going to be adding some of his music to my collection.
Listen to a live version he does of Lennons, 'Jealous Guy'. It'll blow your mind.
His live stuff is outstanding, but his 3 studio albums are all superb. My favorite is the aforementioned "Extension of A Man" album, which is very eclectic musically, but so musically dense. "Lord Help Me" is a bonus track on that album, and it is for me a top 5 favorite Donny song ever. The bookend songs of that album are devastatingly moving and incredible...Happy digging! 🙏🏽😊
I cried as I watched this video. I knew instinctively this was some of my favorite music of all time. But you put it into words so well. Thank you.
You're opening proves a point that's been argued before. Stevie received a great deal of musical influence from Donny Hathaway.
Beautiful song. Donnie is a legend. His voice, range, lyrics, the soul of the man…….unparalleled. Thanks Paul.
One of my favorite records, period. He should have been as big as Stevie Wonder! Thanks for this
Me again.👀 after a life of absorbing black classic/spiritual musics, fr. 50’s jazz, 🤷🏿♂️N’orleans traditions👨🏾🏭, Memphis soul,☝️ Chicago blues👈🏽, 🇯🇲caribe reggae/ska/rock steady/ 🇬🇾lovers rock, and the mother root.. 💥gospel.. as a white guy from the Gibson clan, I’ve always heard certain offerings as godly, as there is no other explanation of the creation of heavenly sounds. Got me..!🇲🇱
Thank you for this analysis.
Hearing terms like "hemeola", warms my heart with nostalgia. As much as I appreciate Debussy, I had no way of connecting him as a possible influence to Donny Hathaway, prior to this video.
Thank you for the share 😊🔥
From a White as snow guy from Brasil...thank you so much for introducing me to this album. I knew him, but no this fantastic album. Thank you, bra
man I use to love when he and Roberta Flack would corroborate especially on that " back together again "!! Classic r&b!
Hope, what a powerful word and encompasses so so much more.
This is a brilliant, enlightened, and thorough analysis! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🔥🔥🔥
Man that was one of the best analysis of as song and artist I've ever had the privledge to behold; Donnie stands in my heart and mind as THE Best to ever do it! I silently greived for years over the loss, but my allegiance never waivered; thank you for disecting the chord progressions as well as the history. Great work brother, stay true to the art!! Peace and Blessings!!
His musical integrity and intensity ... hands up i surrender ...
That is in my top five all time favorite songs. This man was ahead of his time.
Thanks so much for the history of this song. Don't forget George Benson's version with Marcus Miller.. So amazing scat solo... À bientôt.
Thank you so much ! I just heard this song for the first time and actually started to break down. I had no clues about his struggles with depression and mental Illness or even the passing of Mr Donny. This is as great as it gets
Mr Hathaway was such a musical genius that some of us will never forget....well..... Let All of Us here..Keep spending his greatness...💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
I found this video not only informative but enjoyable and I could feel the hope! Thanks for sharing Donny Hathaway!!
I love the way you analyzed this. Makes me appreciate it all the more.
Great analysis. Donny was advanced in his ideas. He always sounded interesting to meas a 15yr old back then.
I'm always amazed at the forgotten treasures you keep digging up and sharing, treasures that it's heart breaking these keep slipping into obscurity with each passing year were it not for people like you introducing new audiences to it.
I was an extreme late-comer to Donny Hathaway, only having discovered his brilliant work by way of Lala Hathaway's unbelievable performance with Snarky Puppy ("Something"). Donny's work is inspiring, and even though his story doesn't go as we would have hoped, from his challenges some lovely music grew.
I feel like I was in music class in college, also music history class, Thank you and keep up with the good work 👏
Donny was/is a master of his craft. Also on that album is Love, Love,Love. And you said Stevie, he wrote "Your are my heaven" and on one of Donnys live album he sung Stevie's Super Women. You've touched many of the truly greats how bout a little Bootsy either solo or w/James. And Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man another classic that needs to be examined