Donny Hathaway’s debut album, “Everything Is Everything,” is undoubtedly one of the most important works in soul and R&B music. Released in 1970, the album showcased his exceptional talent as a singer, songwriter, and pianist, and quickly climbed the US Billboard charts. Hathaway, who had already made a name for himself early on as a gospel singer under the name Donny Pitts, worked for Curtis Mayfield’s label, Curtom Records, before signing with Atlantic Records, where he was active as a songwriter, producer, arranger, composer, conductor, and session musician.
“Everything Is Everything” was produced by Hathaway and Ric Powell, who also played drums and percussion on the album. With Leroy Hutson, the lead singer of The Impressions, he wrote the hit “The Ghetto”—one of the album’s many highlights, which also includes cover versions of songs by Ray Charles (“I Believe To My Soul”) and Nina Simone (“To Be Young, Gifted And Black”).
Finally, this timeless classic is being reissued in a deluxe format by Analogue Productions to celebrate Atlantic Records’ 75th anniversary! The double LP is cut at 45 rpm and pressed on 180-gram vinyl by Quality Record Pressings—naturally, it comes in an elaborate gatefold sleeve by Stoughton Printing.
