Never My Love: The Anthology

This 58-track summary of Donny Hathaway’s career comes close to being the definitive word on this underrated genius, whose solo career is just one part of his story. Hathaway’s work with Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions, Jerry Butler, and Willie Nelson is just as notable, if not as easily collected. However, in terms of Hathaway the solo artist and live performer, Never My Love features the single mixes of his early hits such as “The Ghetto” (here in two parts), “Thank You Master (For My Soul),” Van McCoy’s “Giving Up,” and Leon Russell’s “A Song for You,” plus two early singles with June Conquest (“I Thank You Baby,” “Just Another Reason”). Starting with “Never My Love”—a song that became a hit for The Association—the collection serves up previously unreleased studio recordings from the late '60s through the mid-'70s. The previously unreleased material shifts to live recordings made in 1971 at the Bitter End in New York City, including covers of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” and John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy.” The final batch feature Hathaway’s work with Roberta Flack, including the hit “The Closer I Get to You.”