Bill Withers Still Bill CD

Not only does STILL BILL capture Bill Withers's excellent playing and singing and his seemingly effortless synthesis of soul, folk, gospel, and funk, it is packed front to back with some of the best songs he ever wrote (and there were a good many of them). His most popular and best-known tune is here, the stirring, hymn-like "Lean On Me" (it was a #1 hit for Withers at the time, and has been further popularized in several cover versions). Also here is "Use Me," another hit, which boasts a twist on traditional love songs with a gutsy, syncopated rhythmic drive that is nearly irresistible.

Yet everything else on the album holds up to the strength of these singles. The slinky, suspicious "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)," the smooth, lover man soul of "Let Me In Your Life," the jazzy, hi-hat driven funk of "Another Day To Run" all go down perfectly. This is due mostly to Withers's subtle, organic sound and warm, soulful voice-- the album is so pleasurable to listen to it is easy to overlook the superior quality of the songs and the complex, layered arrangements. STILL BILL is one of those records that always sounds good: played loudly or quietly, day and night, summer and winter. It is endlessly playable, and one of the unjustly overlooked singer/songwriter albums of the '70s or any era.

Bill Withers came into his own on his third album, Still Bill. Released in 1972, the record is a remarkable summation of a number of contemporary styles: the smooth soul coming out of Philly, smoky, late-night funk via Bobby Womack, bluesy Southern soul, and '70s singer/songwriterism. It's rich, subtly layered music, but its best attribute is that it comes on easy, never sounding labored or overworked. In fact, it takes several spins of the album to realize just how versatile Withers is on Still Bill, to hear how he makes intricate, funky rhythms sound as effortless and simple as the album's best-known song, the gospel-tinged inspirational anthem "Lean on Me." That's the genius behind Withers' music: it's warm and easily accessible, but it has a depth and complexity that reveals itself over numerous plays -- and, given the sound and feel of the music, from the lush arrangements to his comforting voice, it's easy to want to play this again and again. Then there's the quality of the songwriting, which is as assured on the grooving "Lonely Town, Lonely Street" as it is on the suspicious, paranoid "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?" or "Use Me," where he happily submits to being used by his object of affection. This high level of songwriting is sustained throughout the record, making this the greatest testament to his considerable gifts. [The 2003 reissue contains two bonus tracks from his Live at Carnegie Hall album.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

+ 3 Bonus Tracks.

Liner Note Author: Bill Withers.

Recording information: Carnegie Hall, New York, NY (10/06/1972); The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA (10/06/1972).

Personnel: Bill Withers (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, piano); Bill Withers; Benorce Blackmon, Benorce Blackmon (guitar); Raymond Jackson , Ray Jackson (clarinet, piano, electric piano); Melvin Dunlap (bass instrument); Bobbye Hall, Bobbye Porter (percussion); James Gadson (drums, percussion).

Audio Remixer: Phil (Boogie) Schier.

Rolling Stone (p.80) - 5 stars out of 5 - "[D]eep, lived-in music that brought the best of Seventies soul together with the intimate power of that era's singer-songwriter movement."
Uncut (2/03, p.92) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Bill Withers remains one of the finest R&B songwriters ever. 1972's STILL BILL is perhaps his finest album..."
Mojo (Publisher) (8/03, p.114) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...It's good to hear [these songs] together again as nature intended..."