Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway ~ Where Is The Love 1972 Soul Purrfection Version

Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway got their first R&B #1 with a song that was written for the 5th Dimension. Their first single was together was "You've Got A Friend" but by poor timing, James Taylor released his version the same day and he crushed them, all the way to #1.

Flack and Hathaway were well known to radio fans for their chemistry ridden vocal performances, they knew how to sing to each other and not be in a contest. They then decided to record an album of duets and were looking for one more song when "Where Is The Love" was brought to them by the writers.

The song came about during a contentious debate as to whether the 5th Dimension was a white group or a black group. The writers felt that they could write for both, get a hit and maintain their R&B base and wrote "Where Is The Love" but never got the chance to take it to them.

Once they got into the studio and had the music tracks laid down, the two were brought into the studio to work their vocal magic for producer Arif Marden, who would later go on to propel the Bee Gees 70's comeback.

Flack was telling Dick Clark that "I don't think since Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye had there been two people who were more suited for each other musically. While Donny and I went into the studio, we had not spent hours deciding what we were going to do, what we were going to sing. What we did come up with the keys because our voices were very similar in terms of register and range. Donny had a wonderful tenor voice, but he could also sing some notes that were otherworldly and very high and I had this ability particularly then to those wonderful sounding low notes as well as the natural high ones."

[vynaia]

Such a song about love. Anyone can get the groove of this song; especially if you are in love and the other person isn't as much enamored of you as you wish they were. We've all been there. We know what that feels like. I can get the vibe of this song totally. May we all find the love who will stay with us forever.💔❤‍🩹💢💥

[robbie]

This song is perfection!!! The music, the voices, the SOUL!! Listen to the violins in the background! Chills!!! And better than ANY lovesong in the whole 2xxx's

[bryanpotter]

Where's the love Roberta flack and donny Hathaway love that song 🎵rest in paradise donny Hathaway

[Jonalisa]

This song breaks my heart every time. It was the first time I’d ever seen my daddy cry. It was on the radio over and over driving to and from his mothers funeral. Longest saddest car ride of our lives. 😢

[PerryNight-gcfp]

I was 9 years old in 1972 and I still love this song September 2024.

[michaeldomino]

One of my favorite songs of '72 always cried out for a cool opening and here it is.

[MrEedelgad]

The first time I heard this melody I was 14 years old, and today at 65 I enjoy it like the first time. Without a doubt one of the best duos.
🇨🇷

[andytaylor]

Great music from the days of big afros! I still have the lp. Roberta and Donny were magic together. Arif Marden was a wonderful producer! Thank you.

[martyemmons]

This is the perfect song to extend!
Finally, 2024 will be a wonderful year because I can listen to a 6:55 minutes of "Where Is The Love" by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack!
There are very few songs that are perfect for extending nearly 3x its original length, this certainly qualifies.

[c.draper]

They just don’t make songs like this anymore. Such a beautiful rendition ❤

[SunnyIlha]

Outrageously amazingly sung.

It's totally unreal off the chart wildly stunning vocals.

[TheLizardKing]

DJDiscoCat is "Where it's At"!!! I LOVE this remix!!

[ladykatie]

The line, “Oh how I wish I’d never met you” always got to me because that is what my boyfriend said to me when he had to go back to Germany. He was an exchange student and we dated the whole time he was here. My first love and I was crushed to see him go.

[WendyBryant-ki]

Nothing compares to this music. So smooth.

[thedarkstranger]

When friends and family come by the house to celebrate life, we just go to your channel, go to videos and let the music play. TRUE MUSIC. Nothing derogatory about women, no songs about murder, selling illegal recreational substances. You may not know it but you've created a soundtrack for the generation I'm part of.

[artkincell]

Okay. I want to know how and why you are reading my mind. Just this past Monday, April 18, 2022 I played this song on a loop all afternoon. I had forgotten what a sweet song it is.

Thank you for the great Soul Purrfection Version.

[deensf]

'72 was a noticeable turning point for music culturally as it revealed in greater clarity the quality in and of production movement in Soul and R&B that brought about the acknowledged arrival of Philly Soul the rest of the country fell way behind on since the mid to late 60s as it developed charted hits. The sounds and method created tables up front where seated amongst other honorables that had led the way such as Motown and Stax, TSOP could savor the shorter jaunts to the stage as they collected trophies and accolades due. Let's not forget the artists whose admiration led them to release music and/or have careers as result, most notably Hall and Oates. The genre and artists have been well thought out for DJDiscoCat's selections and we get to hear some of better known influences and influenced. DJDiscoCat, continued success and respect. Thank you for sharing your mixes, your skills and your joy.

[stephencabrera]

Jumped out a window in nyc music community was devastated, he suffered from severe depression, no drugs back then that worked, what a voice….. he is missed RIP

[TheBeagle]

Oh Donnie Hathaway, Yass, who also gave us, the theme from the TV show Maude and so many others. This duet and Love Has finally come at last, which he did with Ms. Patti LaBelle, OMG! The is legendary artist is missed beyond description. Amazing work you did with this as with so many others, once again, Kudos Mr. DJ, this being a nice spring New England day, this is the perfect song weither your in love with someone or not. 😁

[komalkumar]

The Best Song & Quality Friend 👍👍👍🌹🌹🌹