Lalah Hathaway, one of contemporary R&B's most prized artists and in-demand vocalists will releaseher sixth solo album and second for Stax Records, Where It All Begins on October 18th, 2011. The versatile, critically acclaimed musician, songwriter, vocalist and producer found creative regeneration and newfound energy making this record, an artistic re-birth she's eager to share with anyone willing to listen.

This album contains several up-tempo gems that are sure to heat up urban radio stations and nightclubs. For example, check out "If You Want To," the album's thumping, synth-driven first single, penned by Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson, Jonathan Richmond, and Terrence Lilly and the effervescent "My Everything," which Lalah co-wrote with Jonathan Richmond. The slinky groove of Lee Hutson, Jr.'s "Small of My Back" is also undeniable.

Where It All Begins comes on the heels of Hathaway's most successful album to date, 2008's Self Portrait, her first record for legendary soul label Stax Records. The album reached the top ten on the Top R&B Albums chart and included the Grammy® nominated (Best Female R&B Vocal) song "That Was Then."

Hathaway recruited other esteemed kindred spirits to either co-write or contribute tailor-made tunes. The list includes Ernest Green, Lewis Williams, Errol Cooney, James Day, James Fauntleroy, Mike City, Dave Young, Bryan Sledge,Eddie Serrano, Rich King, Andre Harris and Vidal Davis. Recruiting such top-tier songwriters - some of who have penned hits for Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, Bilal, Babyface, Musiq Soulchild, and host of others, demonstrates Hathaway's long-held status in contemporary R&B.

Hard-core fans will certainly be delighted with the newly arranged and recorded "I'm Coming Back," a Quiet-Storm jewel, written by Gary Taylor, which appeared on her 1990 eponymous debut. It's a song that's remained a highlight of her live shows for two decades. "No matter, where I go - churches, festivals, Japan, South Africa - people love that song," Hathaway says, "This version has a different arrangement, because it's morphed over the years. I decided to rerecord it. We added vocalist Rachelle Ferrell at the end, which is really sublime."

When it comes to honoring her predecessors, perhaps there's no other greater example on Where It All Begins than with her spellbinding take on "You Were Meant For Me," a chestnut that her late father - the incomparable Donny Hathaway recorded.

Indeed, Hathaway intoxicates as a storyteller. Even though her voice brims with magnetism, she never overpowers it to point of drowning out the lyrics. As with previous albums, Where It All Begins comes loaded with enduring songs that sound personal yet easily relatable, touching upon affairs of the heart as well as the everyday joys of life.

Critically acclaimed vocalist and song stylist Lalah Hathaway continues the musical legacy with her Stax Records debut "Self Portrait," a contemporary urban soul collection that takes you on a journey through joy and sadness and everything in between. Features the new single "Let Go." The daughter of soul legend Donny Hathaway, Lalah is well respected in both Jazz and R&B. This album is an introspective journey into the contemporary adult R&B world. Self Portrait will truly satisfy Lalah's core fans and is so refreshing that it will guarantee new fans will become Lalah fans.

"When Your Life Was Low," one of this album's four writing collaborations between former Crusaders keyboardist Joe Sample and pop's hack-for-hire Will Jennings, is typical of this CD's low aim and artistic laziness. The vague expression of friendship in "Life," voiced listlessly by the technically adept but boring Lalah Hathaway, is perfect for the office-ready smooth-jazz radio format and little else. Hathaway's appearances on 7 of The Song Lives On's 11 cuts are a blessing only in that they break up the monotony of Sample's in-one-ear-and-out-the-other noodlings; her extremely unnecessary version of "Fever" and a dull-edged remake of the Crusaders/Randy Crawford classic "Street Life" are résumé fodder and little else. --Rickey Wright

"When Your Life Was Low," one of this album's four writing collaborations between former Crusaders keyboardist Joe Sample and pop's hack-for-hire Will Jennings, is typical of this CD's low aim and artistic laziness. The vague expression of friendship in "Life," voiced listlessly by the technically adept but boring Lalah Hathaway, is perfect for the office-ready smooth-jazz radio format and little else. Hathaway's appearances on 7 of The Song Lives On's 11 cuts are a blessing only in that they break up the monotony of Sample's in-one-ear-and-out-the-other noodlings; her extremely unnecessary version of "Fever" and a dull-edged remake of the Crusaders/Randy Crawford classic "Street Life" are résumé fodder and little else. --Rickey Wright