Learning from Mr. Hathaway

Okay, so maybe you think that nobody could come close to matching the sexy stylings of Amy Winehouse when it comes to singing her signature tune, “Rehab.” Lots of great R&B singers could put it across with a similar roughed-up rawness to good effect, but Amy does have a lot of dirty, growly, swaggering style for a tiny, not-yet-25-year-old Englishwoman.

Winehouse’s backup musicians and the song’s production (by Mark Ronson) are perfect, so reminiscent of slick 1960s R&B. The self-destructive, fan-assaulting, tattoo-mad, matted-haired mess of a young soul singer does a fine job on the tune, I’ll agree. But there’s another surprising young singer from the UK with a roughed-up, blues-battered voice so steeped in sixties soul that to hear him cover her hit, you’d never guess he’s a 21-year-old kid from Paisley, Scotland. Paolo Nutini’s live version of “Rehab” doesn’t have the fantastic horn section or precise production of Amy’s studio original, of course, but his voice was just made for songs like this. (His catchy, charming hit “New Shoes” is sweet ear candy of another sort.) His You Tube video for “Rehab” includes a slideshow of images of the gorgeous Mr. Nutini, and yes, it is hard to imagine a prettier young man walking the planet today, but I swear to you, that’s not the reason why I enjoy this cover so much. (No, really, it’s not.)

When Amy and Paolo sing “there’s nothing you can teach me that I can’t learn from Mr. Hathaway,” they are, of course, referring to soul singer Donny Hathaway, who’s best known for his 1970s duets with Roberta Flack, particularly “Where is the Love?” and “The Closer I Get to You.” He also recorded my favorite pop Christmas tune ever, “This Christmas.” (If I don’t play it repeatedly during each Christmas season I get peevish and blue.) Mr. Hathaway is underappreciated nowadays, partly because he left us so early; he was only 34 when he committed suicide in 1979.

Hathaway’s style was quite influential among great soul and R&B singers. His warm, expressive, beautiful style and technical skill remind me a bit of Stevie Wonder in his glorious classic period, though Stevie often emphasized a brighter, bolder, higher-energy style while Hathaway was known for a more melancholic sound. When Donny Hathaway’s voice breaks, so does my heart. If you’re not familiar with Mr. Hathaway, please give him a listen.