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.
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
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."
Commercial performance The Song Lives On peaked at number two on the US Billboard Top Jazz Albums. In response to the album's commercial success, Hathaway and Sample were honored with Billboard/BET On Jazz Award for "Mainstream Jazz Album."Billboard/BET On Jazz Honor Kenny G, Krall. Billboard. Retrieved: June 28, 2009.
Track listing All tracks produced by Joe Sample and Bill Schnee.
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 performance for The Song Lives On Chart (1999) Peak position
References