The Essential Bill Withers

The Essential Bill Withers

by Bill Withers
The Essential Bill Withers

The Essential Bill Withers

by Bill Withers
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Overview

More generous than the 20-track The Very Best Of, Essential Bill Withers is a 34-track anthology that features all of Withers' notable singles, along with other highlights from the singer's albums for the Sussex and Columbia labels, from 1971's Just as I Am through 1985's Watching You Watching Me. This is a fine and extensive introduction to Withers' catalog, featuring "Ain't No Sunshine," "Lean on Me," "Use Me," "Lovely Day," and "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh." He also recorded scads of excellent deep album cuts that could not fit. In 2013, the lovingly packaged The Complete Sussex and Columbia Albums Collection -- released the previous year -- retailed for roughly three times the price of this set. Anyone with a serious interest in Withers' work should seriously consider that option, though it doesn't contain "Just the Two of Us," the big hit from Grover Washington, Jr.'s Winelight album. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date: 08/20/2013
Label: Columbia Records / Legacy / Sony Legacy
UPC: 0888837422024
Rank: 39861

Tracks

Disc 1

  1. Better Days (Theme from Man and Boy)
  2. Ain't No Sunshine
  3. Harlem
  4. Grandma's Hands
  5. Hope She'll Be Happier
  6. Better Off Dead
  7. Lonely Town, Lonely Street
  8. Let Me in Your Life
  9. Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?
  10. Use Me
  11. Friend of Mine
  12. I Can't Write Left-Handed
  13. Lean on Me
  14. Make a Smile for Me
  15. The Same Love That Made Me Laugh
  16. Heartbreak Road
  17. Railroad Man

Disc 2

  1. Family Table
  2. The Best You Can
  3. Hello Like Before
  4. I Wish You Well
  5. Don't You Want to Stay?
  6. I'll Be with You
  7. My Imagination
  8. Lovely Day
  9. I Want to Spend the Night
  10. Tender Things
  11. Let Me Be the One You Need
  12. Memories Are That Way
  13. Soul Shadows
  14. Just the Two of Us
  15. In the Name of Love
  16. We Could Be Sweet Lovers
  17. Something That Turns You On

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bill Withers   Primary Artist,Fender Rhodes,Featured Artist,Piano (Electric),Bass,DX-7,Drums,Flute,Guitar,Vocals,Strings
The Crusaders   Primary Artist
Grover Washington, Jr.   Primary Artist,Sax (Soprano)
J.J. Johnson   Primary Artist
Ralph McDonald   Primary Artist
Ralph MacDonald   Primary Artist,Congas,Percussion
Paul Smith   DX-7,Flute,Strings,Clavinet,Synthesizer Horn
Keith Seppanen   Linn Drum,Synthesizer
Booker T. Jones   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Joe Sample   Piano
Dennis Budimir   Guitar (Acoustic)
Jim Gilstrap   Vocals (Background)
Jim Keltner   Drums
Kate Markowitz   Vocals (Background)
Ray Jackson   Piano,Clavinet,Piano (Electric)
Melvin Dunlap   Bass
Clifford Coulter   Synthesizer,Moog Synthesizer
John Myles   Clavinet,Piano (Electric)
Dean Grant   Keyboards
Edie Lehmann   Vocals (Background)
Ullanda McCullough   Vocals (Background)
Ralph Rickert   Trumpet
Tom Babler   Vocals (Background)
Angie Johnson   Vocals (Background)
Larry Tolbert   Drums
John "J.R." Robinson   Drums
M.B. Gordy   Cymbals,Simmons Drums
Benorce Blackman   Guitar
Larry Nash   Harp Keyboards,Piano (Electric),Melodica
Clarence McDonald   Keyboards
James Gadson   Drums,Percussion
Dorothy Ashby   Harp
Russ Kunkel   Drums,Shaker,Cymbals
Don Freeman   DX-7,Bells,Drums (Steel),Piano (Electric)
Eric Gale   Guitar
Ernie Watts   Sax (Soprano)
Hilda Harris   Vocals (Background)
David T. Walker   Guitar (Electric)
Wah Wah Watson   Guitar (Electric)
Dean Parks   Guitar
Myrna Matthews   Vocals (Background)
Roland Bautista   Guitar
Louis Johnson   Bass
Phil Upchurch   Guitar
Jerry Knight   Bass
Randy Brecker   Soloist,Trumpet
Phil Perry   Vocals (Background)
Melvin Ragin   Guitar Effects
William Eaton   Oberheim Synthesizer,Conductor
Abraham Laboriel, Sr.   Bass
Caroline Willis   Vocals (Background)
Bryan Garofalo   Bass
George Johnson   Guitar (Electric)
Harvey Mason, Sr.   Drums
Marcus Miller   Bass
Dave Grusin   Keyboards
Yvonne Lewis   Vocals (Background)
Keni Burke   Bass
Bob Mann   Guitar
James Jamerson   Bass
Richard Tee   Piano,Fender Rhodes
Bobbye Hall   Percussion
Ray Parker, Jr.   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Al Jackson, Jr.   Drums
Wilton Felder   Saxophone
Stephen Stills   Guitar
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Steve Gadd   Drums
Stix Hooper   Drums
Geoffrey Leib   Piano,Keyboards
Charles McDonald   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Marcia Withers   Producer,Management
Denise Routt   Vocal Arrangement
Hal Sacs   Engineer
Tom Suefort   Engineer
Paul Smith   Producer
Keith Seppanen   Engineer
Booker T. Jones   Arranger,Producer
Frank Wolf   Engineer
Joe Sample   Producer
Ray Jackson   Composer,Producer,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements,Composer
Ralph MacDonald   Composer,Producer,Production Consultant
Melvin Dunlap   Composer,Producer
Clifford Coulter   Producer
John Myles   String Arrangements
Bobby Thomas   Engineer
Mark Larson   Art Direction
Lynell George   Liner Notes
Yusuf Rahman   Producer
John Collins   Composer
Benorce Blackmon   Composer
Larry Tolbert   Producer
Kwasi "Rocky" Dzidzornu   Producer
Don Hunstein   Photography
Ed Caraeff   Tray Photo,Cover Photo
Mike Cimicata   Project Director
Stanley McKenny   Composer
Phil Schier   Engineer
Benorce Blackman   Producer
Larry Nash   Rhythm Arrangements,Producer
Will Jennings   Composer
Clarence McDonald   Arranger,Producer
James Gadson   Producer
Dorothy Ashby   Producer
Ed Rak   Engineer
Erik Zobler   Engineer
Ed Cherney   Engineer
Don Freeman   Producer
Wade Marcus   Production Consultant
Leo Sacks   Producer
Joseph M. Palmaccio   Mastering
Jerry Knight   Producer
Phil Perry   Vocal Ad-Libs,Vocal Arrangement
Mark Wilder   Mastering
Richard Alderson   Engineer
Gary Ladinsky   Assistant
William Salter   Composer
Paul Riser   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Bob Hughes   Engineer
Bill Halverson   Engineer
Keni Burke   Producer
Bill Withers   Composer,Producer,Horn Arrangements,Effects
Kendall Brown   Engineer
J. Sample   Composer
Larry Carlton   Engineer
Larry Hirsch   Engineer
J.J. Johnson   Composer
Quincy Jones   Producer
Mick Guzauski   Engineer
Gerry Griffith   Production Consultant
Wilton Felder   Producer
William Eaton   Arranger,Producer
Skip Scarborough   Composer
Bill Lazerus   Engineer
Bill Eaton   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements,Production Consultant
Bob Merritt   Engineer
Tom Ruff   Mastering
Alex Brown   Vocal Ad-Libs,Vocal Arrangement
Stix Hooper   Producer
Grover Washington, Jr.   Producer
Geoffrey Leib   Producer
Daine Gonneau   Composer
Errol Crusher Bennett   Producer
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