LALAH HATHAWAY |

Personnel: Lalah Hathaway (vocals); Craig T. Cooper (various instruments); Donald Griffin, Michael Thompson, Dean Parks (guitar); Marc Russo (saxophone); Andre Fischer (keyboards, synthesizer, drums, percussion, programming); Gary Taylor (keyboards, programming); Russell Ferrante, Monty Seward, Randy Kerber (keyboards); Larry Steelman, Marc Hugenberger, Larry Williams (synthesizer); Derek Bramble (bass, programming); Neil Stubenhaus (bass); Will Kennedy, Jeff Porcaro (drums); Deborah T. Cooper (background vocals); Jean McClain (background vocals).
The "Gowin On" Clappers: Maria A. Manning, Cat Miller, Antoinette Brown, Kelvin McKisie, Gerald Farwell, Robbie Casey, Jai Diamond, Bullet Harris, Denise Stewart, Kirtland, Phaenicia Grant, Wendi Williams, Josina Elder, Shiro Stokes.
Producers: Andre Fischer, Derek Bramble, Angela L. Winbush, Craig T. Cooper, Chuckii Booker, Gary Taylor.
Engineers include: Al Schmitt, Jeff Balding, Mitch Gibson.
Personnel: Lalah Hathaway (vocals, background vocals); Jean McClain (vocals, background vocals); Dean Parks, Donald Griffin, Michael Hart Thompson , Michael Thompson (guitar); Jeff Lorber (strings, flute, synthesizer, programming); Wendi Williams (clarinet); Marc Russo, Sam Riney (saxophone); Andr? Fischer (keyboards, synthesizer, drums, percussion, drum programming); Angela Winbush (keyboards, synthesizer, programming, drum programming, background vocals); Gary Taylor (keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Derek Bramble (keyboards, programming, drum programming); Monty Seward, Russell Ferrante, Randy Kerber (keyboards); Larry Steelman, Marc Hugenberger, Larry Williams (synthesizer); Jeff Porcaro, Will Kennedy , William Kennedy (drums); Antoinette Brown (clappers); Luis Conte (percussion); Deborah Cooper, Jerry "Boogie" McCain (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Craig Burbidge; Craig T. Cooper; Jeff Lorenzen; Jeff Balding; Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff; Al Schmitt; Robert Biles.
Recording information: Aire La Studios, Glendale, CA; Craigland Studios, L.A., CA; Devonshire Studios, N. Hollywood, CA; Devonshire Studios, North Holly; Lion Share Studios, L.A., CA; Lion Share Studios, Los Angeles, CA; M'Bila Studios; Ocean Way Studios; Pacifique Recording, L.A., CA; Playhouse Studio, L.A., CA; Playhouse Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Silverlake Studios, L.A., CA; Summa Music Group Studio; Westlake studios.
Ensemble: 4-Reel.
Photographers: David Roth; Jean-Paul Mann.
Arrangers: Chuckii Booker; Craig T. Cooper; Gary Taylor; Jerry Hey; Andr? Fischer; Angela Winbush.
When Lalah Hathaway's self-titled debut album came out in 1990, there was reason to believe that she might evolve into one of the top female R&B singers of the 1990s. Donny Hathaway's daughter certainly had a lot going for her -- not only a big vocal range, but also plenty of charisma, passion, and charm to go with it. The material on this CD ranges from excellent to routine, depending on who's writing and/or producing a particular song. Hathaway doesn't always have fantastic material to work with, but when she does, the results are quite memorable. The producers/songwriters who really do Hathaway justice include Angela Winbush on "Baby, Don't Cry" and "I Gotta Move On," and Andre Fisher on "Smile" and "Somethin'." While those selections come across as personal, Hathaway slips into a routine, less-than-memorable urban contemporary grind thanks to Chuckii Booker on "Sentimental," and Craig T. Cooper on "Obvious" and "U-Godit Gowin On." Again, not everything on the album is a gem. But when Hathaway had strong material to work with, it was clear that she had a lot of potential. ~ Alex Henderson

• Genre: R&B
• Released: 1998-10-20
• Format: CD