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Extension of a Man

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Extension of a Man

| type = studio

| artist = Donny Hathaway

| cover = Extension.of.a.man.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|1973|6|18}}

| recorded = {{Start date|1971|10|11}} – {{End date|1972|11|26}}

| venue =

| studio = {{hlist|A & R (New York City)|Bell Sound (New York City)|Regent Sound|Atlantic (New York City)|Universal (Chicago)}}

| genre = Progressive soul, R&B

| length = 47:33

| label = Atco
7029

| producer = Arif Mardin

| prev_title = Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

| prev_year = 1972

| next_title = In Performance

| next_year = 1980

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Extension of a Man

| type = Studio

| single1 = Love, Love, Love

| single1date = 1973

| single2 = Come Little Children

| single2date = 1974

}}

}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r66887|last=Bush|first=John}}

| rev2=MusicHound

| rev2Score={{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite book|editor-last1=Graff|editor-first1=Gary|editor-last2=Freedom du Lac|editor-first2=Josh|editor-last3=McFarlin|editor-first3=Jim|title=MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide|url=https://archive.org/details/musichoundrbesse00graf/page/250/|date=1998|publisher=Visible Ink Press|page=250|url-access=registration|isbn=1-57859-026-4|via=Internet Archive}}

| rev3=Rolling Stone

| rev3Score= (favorable){{cite magazine|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=August 30, 1973|issue=142|title=Records: Donny Hathaway – Extension of a Man|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/extensions-of-a-man-202572/|magazine=Rolling Stone|page=88|publisher=Straight Arrow Publishers|access-date=February 13, 2024}}

| noprose=yes

}}

Extension of a Man is the final studio album released by the R&B/soul singer Donny Hathaway on Atco Records in 1973.

The release was his last solo studio album. It is noted for including a young Stanley Clarke of Return to Forever on a couple of tracks, as well as drummer Fred White, brother to Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White, who worked with Hathaway in Chicago in the early days. White also played with Hathaway on concert dates and is featured on Hathaway's live performance recordings.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Donny Hathaway; except where indicated

  1. "I Love the Lord; He Heard My Cry (Parts I & II)" - 5:32
  2. "Someday We'll All Be Free" (Hathaway, Edward Howard) - 4:14
  3. "Flying Easy" - 3:13
  4. "Valdez in the Country" - 3:33
  5. "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" (Al Kooper) - 5:23
  6. "Come Little Children" - 4:35
  7. "Love, Love, Love" (J.R. Bailey, Ken Williams) - 3:25
  8. "The Slums" - 5:11
  9. "Magdalena" (Danny O'Keefe) - 3:08
  10. "I Know It's You" (Leon Ware) - 5:13
  11. "Lord Help Me" (Joe Greene, Billy Preston) - 4:06

"Lord Help Me" was originally only released as a B-side to the single "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know". It did not feature on Extension of a Man until the 1993 Compact Disc re-release. The song features Billy Preston. Also, it is the only track produced by Jerry Wexler, with fellow Atlantic producer, Arif Mardin taking over production duties.

The opening instrumental track pays homage to the melody of "Here Comes De Honey Man" from The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess.

Personnel

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Donny Hathaway}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1973 albums

Category:Donny Hathaway albums

Category:Albums produced by Arif Mardin

Category:Atco Records albums