The day has finally come! After teasing us with news of their impending arrival, Lalah Hathaway finally gives us our first taste of her upcoming LIVE! album with not one but two singles. While both are amazing, we find ourselves stuck on her take on Anita Baker's quiet storm classic "Angel."
While the original is as near to perfection as one can get, Lalah's live cover is no slouch, either. Deciding not to reinvent the wheel, Lalah doesn't change the song's piano-driven arrangement a lick, luring the audience in with the familiar, soothing melody (so much so that they can be heard singing along throughout the track). The one new addition, of course, are Lalah's sultry vocals. The beauty in hearing a treasured vocalist take on a well-known song by another legend is being able to hear the different ways each interprets the song to suit their needs. Rather than match Anita's pitch, Lalah sings her version in a lower register, adding a sultry, intimate depth that warms the track even more.
"Angel" and Lalah's cover of her father Donny Hathaway's "Little Ghetto Boy" are both available for purchase at iTunes and Amazon today. Lalah Hathaway LIVE! will arrive at retailers on October 30th. Before you rush over to pick them up, stream "Angel" right here.
