The Song of the Day is:
Donny Hathaway – “Tryin’ Times”
From the album Everything is Everything (1970)
Tryin’ times, what the world is talkin’ about
You got confusion all over the land, yeah
You got mother against daughter, you got father against son
You know the whole thing is getting out of hand
Oh, then maybe folks wouldn’t have to suffer
If there was more love for your brother
But these are tryin’ times, yes, it is
Donny Hathaway – Leroy Hutson
Part 3 of our one-year-later Covid look back: “In these trying times” as we adjust to “the new normal” just remember that “we’re all in this together“. The words had lost all meaning. These mantras had been repeated on everything from television commercials to news reports to casual conversation. The streets were empty, people were furloughed and laid off, nobody knew if it was safe to eat take out or fast food. We were all on cleanliness overdrive…gotta disinfect those groceries! Households went into lockdown, and grandparents were left in exile for their own good, despite the sacrifices this caused. Cross-state travel was restricted, and international travel was practically outlawed. Entertainment changed, new movies were delayed (still, where you at, Black Widow?), sports ceased and talk shows became zoom chats. As new programming began to dry up, hastily assembled reunion shows tried to reassure the masses with familiar faces, but often fell flat. While major celebrities seemed to weather the storm just fine (Tom Hanks, Kanye West, Idris Elba) we had to say goodbye to some with preexisting health problems or less resources at their disposal (John Prine, Joe Diffie and Adam Schlesinger). Real everyday people were even more vulnerable, and the numbers would prove that minority groups were disproportionally affected. If Donny Hathaway were alive to see the pandemic, he would surely acknowledge that nothing changed from when he wrote this blues standard a half-century prior. Not only were inner city minority groups at greater risk for transmission, but their statistics showed that they didn’t receive enough effective care (and that’s not to mention the cop-related deaths and BLM protests that emerged as the summer months arrived). Donny Hathaway wrote tales of inner city life, and turned them into some of the most soulful songs ever heard. Hathaway’s “Tryin’ Times” predates his own recording career, having been recorded by his friend and frequent collaborator Roberta Flack on her superb debut album (Pops Staples also recorded it prior to Hathaway). He wrote “Tryin’ Times” with his Howard University roommate, and future Impressions lead singer, Leroy Hutson. Hathaway did include the the song on his ambitiously grand Everything is Everything, one of the most confident and expertly arranged debut albums ever. Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this album, though I will mention that it is barely featured on his most readily-available greatest hits package, so even if that collection is in your possession, there is at least one more essential purchase to be made. Part of Hathaway’s genius was that of an arranger, and I know that someday I will feature his incredible cover of Ray Charles’ “I Believe to My Soul” as a song of the day. You will hear two very different versions one this song between the acoustic jazz club-like Roberta Flack version (that features the upright bass playing of the legendary Ron Carter) and the more traditional R&B shuffle that Hathaway plays (both versions feature a bassline that reminds me of Pink Floyd’s “Money”). “Tryin’ Times” has remained one of Hathaway’s most famous compositions, if not recordings. Sadly though, Hathaway’s 1979 leaping suicide joins Sam Cooke’s and Marvin Gaye’s death as one of the most questioned and tragic demises of soul music. His mental health was not at a good place for the later part of his career, and it inexplicably lead to a tragic and gruesome death at age 33. His impact on popular music is profound, though he’s not equally popular to the masses. Soul music aficionados have rightfully sung his praises as a natural vocalist and premier arranger. He did great work, but with his immense talent, he really could have been legendary.
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