Lalah Hathaway (Baby Don't Cry)(1989)
I remember finding this gem, years ago.
I ...LOVE LOVE LOVE ... this version of Lalah's song.
From the notes on this account about Lalah Hathaway:
From the summer of 1989 comes the classic from US artist Lalah Hathaway - BABY DONT CRY. Oh my god!!! What a record this is!!! This is taken from the white label (a prized possession in my record box) of 89' the full release coming the following year along with her debut album 'Lalah Hathaway'.
The daughter of the great Donny Hathaway, Lalah made a good impression with her debut album in 1990. She not only displayed poise, confidence, and good technique, but was also versatile enough to do more than just light urban contemporary ballads. Her stage shows included jazz, pre-rock pop, and even gospel, and Hathaway later appeared on Black Entertainment Television doing jazz and fusion.
Lalah attended Chicago's Performing Arts High School then graduated to the famed Berklee School of Music in Boston. She was soon snatched up by Virgin Records and, upon strong urging from the record company, relocated to Los Angeles following the release of her eponymous debut album (with producers including Andre`Fischer, Angela Winbush and Chuckii Booker). Four singles were released, "Baby Dont Cry", her #3 R&B charting summer smash "Heaven Knows," plus Quiet Storm covers of Brenda Russell's "It's Somethin'" and Gary Taylor's "I'm Coming Back." Lalah's sophomore album, A Moment, followed four years later in 1994. Though fewer people heard it, the now out-of-print collector's item featured the single "Let Me Love You" and five songs that Lalah wrote, including the fan favorite "So They Say".
Throughout her career, Lalah has worked alongside some of the finest artists of her time. In 1992, she recorded a single with the late, great saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. titled "Love Like This" (from his album, No Exit). In 1999, she recorded a critically acclaimed album for Verve Records with jazz pianist Joe Sample, The Song Lives On, highlighted by what is now her signature song, "When Your Life Was Low." Her credits also include collaborations with Marcus Miller, Me Shell NdegéOcello, Art Porter, David Sanborn, Mary J. Blige, Take 6, Gerald Albright, The Winans, Pete Escovedo, Wayman Tisdale and Hiram Bullock. She has performed live with Dizzy Gillespie and Stevie Wonder, and opened shows for Maze and Herbie Hancock.
After a lengthy stint away from the spotlight, Hathaway returned later with Outrun The Sky in 2004. Her first album in a decade. And then in early 2007, Lalah signed with Stax Records. Her Stax debut is set for a mid-2008 release. In the meantime, she is touring the company with Rahsaan Patterson and Angie Stone.