LP Review: In Performance
Released: 1980
LP Charts: #68 R&B, #201 pop
After a seven-year hiatus, Donny Hathaway finally had a new album out in 1980. Unfortunately, it was released under sad circumstances. A year earlier, Hathaway jumped out a hotel window to his death. So In Performance was a posthumous release of songs he had recorded live between 1971 and 1973.
New album, not new material.
Given that these songs were recorded in the same time frame as his Live (B) album, I assume the band is the same. Sure sounds like it. A small combo of just Hathaway on piano with a drummer, bassist, conga player, and guitarist.
Overall, this is a fine album to listen to. The live version of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” is more invigorating than the studio version found on Everything Is Everything (C+). Probably the audience participation.
On the flip side, this rendition of “A Song For You” pales in comparison to the original studio recording from Donny Hathaway (B-). The audience is still revved up and Hathaway sings it well, but the strings that added depth to the original are sorely missing here. Still a good performance, though.
“I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know” suffers from a similar problem and presents a similar fate. This time around, the song is a good performance that’s not great because the horns and blues guitar from the studio recording are missing.
Okay, on to the “new” stuff. Songs that Hathaway had never released on a studio album.
First among the “new” is a previously unheard instrumental: “Nu-Po”. I’ve never heard a Hathaway instrumental I haven’t dug and this number is no exception. It’s the closest he’s come to pure jazz given the small combo he’s working with on the live set.
“We Need You Right Now” is a long and dull gospel number. Meanwhile, “Sack Full of Dreams” is a real touching song that finds a delicate tension between optimism and futility… as the title implies. Would love to have heard Hathaway do a studio version with a full band and orchestra, but I’m more than satisfied with this take.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Not a good or bad album, just a limited one. Really nice for fans to get a hand on, while general listeners would do fine to just cop “Nu-Po” and “Sack Full of Dreams” because they are the best songs and the actual never-before-heard tunes.
Song Scores
To Be Young, Gifted and Black: 6/10
A Song For You: 6.5/10
Nu-Po: 7/10
I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know: 6.5/10
We Need You Right Now: 5/10
Sack Full of Dreams: 7/10