The Song Lives On
The Song Lives On is a collaborative studio album by former Jazz Crusaders member Joe Sample and R&B singer Lalah Hathaway. It was released by GRP Records on April 20, 1999 in the United States.
| The Song Lives On | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 20, 1999 | |||
| Length | 56:35 | |||
| Label | GRP | |||
| Producer |
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| Lalah Hathaway chronology | ||||
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| Joe Sample chronology | ||||
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Background
In 1998, Lalah Hathaway and Joe Sample began working on their collaborative album. Hathaway sang most of the lead vocals on such songs as lead single "When Your Life Was Low" and a cover of The Crusaders' hit "Street Life," while Sample supplied the instruments like piano. The second single was the covered song "Fever".
Critical response
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
The album received a favorable review from AllMusic editor Jonathan Widran. He stated that "the daughter of the popular late R&B singer Donny, husky voiced Lalah Hathaway is the perfect foil for Joe Sample's compelling notion that The Song Lives On. Finding a happy medium between the graceful straight-ahead jazz trio vibe of his Invitation album and the plucky pop energy of Spellbound, Sample provides Hathaway on seven of the 11 tunes with a showcase for her sultry approach."[1]
Commercial performance
The Song Lives On peaked at number two on the US Billboard Top Jazz Albums.[2] In response to the album's commercial success, Hathaway and Sample were honored with Billboard/BET On Jazz Award for "Mainstream Jazz Album."[3]
Track listing
All tracks produced by Joe Sample and Bill Schnee.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Song Lives On" | Sample | 5:09 |
| 2. | "Fever" | Cooley, Davenport | 5:40 |
| 3. | "Come Along with Me" | Gimbel, Sample | 5:12 |
| 4. | "Living in Blue" | Sample | 4:45 |
| 5. | "Street Life" | Jennings, Sample | 5:49 |
| 6. | "When Your Life Was Low" | Jennings, Sample | 5:43 |
| 7. | "One Day I'll Fly Away" | Jennings, Sample | 5:40 |
| 8. | "When the World Turns Blue" | Jennings, Sample | 4:29 |
| 9. | "For All We Know" | Coots, Lewis | 5:13 |
| 10. | "Bitter Sweet" | Sample | 3:58 |
| 11. | "A Long Way from Home" | Sample | 4:57 |
| Total length: | 56:35 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" | 4:57 |
| Total length: | 61:32 | |
Personnel
- Lalah Hathaway – vocals, vocal arrangement
- Joe Sample – acoustic piano, Rhodes piano, instrumental arrangements
- David Delhomme – synthesizers (1, 3-9), organ (11)
- Michael Thompson – electric guitars (1-7)
- Jay Anderson – bass
- Walfredo Reyes Jr. – drums
- Lenny Castro – percussion (1-8, 10)
- Kirk Whalum – saxophone (1, 2, 6, 7)
Production
- Joe Sample – producer
- Bill Schnee – producer, recording, mixing
- Koji Egawa – mix assistant
- Alan Sanderson – recording assistant
- Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
- John Cabalka – art direction
- Steven Silverstein – photography
- Patrick Rains – management for Joe Sample
- Raymond A. Shields II – management for Lalah Hathaway
Charts
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[4] | 196 |
| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[2] | 2 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] | 53 |
References
- Allmusic review
- "Lalah Hathaway Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- Billboard/BET On Jazz Honor Kenny G, Krall. Billboard. Retrieved: June 28, 2009.
- "Lalah Hathaway Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- "Lalah Hathaway Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2023.