 Bill Withers I've always more or less regarded Bill Withers as the "Lean On Me" guy, according him the same relative artistic stature of Johnny Nash ("I Can See Clearly Now") … that is, a solid, journeyman soul singer with one all-time classic under his belt. But the more I look into it, I'm baffled as to why Bill Withers isn't thought of as being on the same level as Al Green or Sam Cooke. The man is amazing. "Lean On Me," of course, is a fantastic song, but then there's "Ain't No Sunshine." That's another fantastic song, but then there's "Lovely Day." Wow, three fantastic songs, but then there's "Just the Two of Us." Wow, who knew the man had so many great hits to his credit? But then there's "Use Me," "Who is He? (And What is He to You?)," "Grandma's Hands" – all told, just as many never-get-tired-of-'em classics as the Reverend Al Green, no offense, Reverend. Here's my theory: Bill Withers never "found God." He rode the pop charts consistently for 15 years, without making a big splash as a personality. No tragedies, no scandals. In some ways, his popularity works against him, because he was most popular around the same time as, for example, John Denver. But I'd say anyone who had major hits throughout his career, and not even concentrated into a small span of a few years, deserves a bit more credibility than the second-tier ranking Withers generally receives. He wasn't tough, he was simple, a bit home-spun, and he was never aggressive. His brand of soul is very subtle, but very, very effective. Bill Withers is ripe for rediscovery, and while his big hits are routinely turned into smash cover versions (Club Nouveau, Will Smith, and whatever that group was that covered "Lovely Day" a few years back, with that video of hundreds of naked people sitting in a blue sky … did I dream that?), he never really gets his due. It's a shame, so I'll give him his due here, since this record guide is about as prestigious a place as a musician can find himself reviewed in. Withers only has a few CDs in print, and of those, Lean on Me – The Best of Bill Withers is by far the most comprehensive (though it does possess a fairly hideous cover that looks more like a circus poster than a soul CD). All the big hits are here, plus lesser known tracks that document his career through the mid-80s, and all of it is surprisingly strong. I've always seen Bill Withers as the ultimate "compilation artist," that is, an artist who is best enjoyed as one track on a compilation album, but hearing all his music together in one disc is a really eye-opening experience. The voice is emotionally deep, tonally creamy, honest, and direct. The songs range from folky blues to Southern-fried soul to "quiet storm" bedroom songs, sometimes all in the same song. Difficult to categorize, but really enjoyable. Toward the end of the disc, as it gets into the 80s songs, my interest tends to wander a bit, but the songs are still strong and, though they're kind of what you'd expect, they show a man still possessed of the same measure of talent that allowed him to kick off his career with the likes of "Ain't No Sunshine." These songs are a bit more easy-listening than the earlier ones, but they're as comfortable as a room full of pillows, which, by the way, I am constructing in my basement. I can't wait to be able to go down to the room full of pillows and just sink back listening to Faze-O, Donald Byrd, and mid-80s Bill Withers. This comp was more or less repackaged in the 2000s with a better cover and slightly different tracklist, not preferable because it omits "Kissing My Love" (covered live, incidentally, by Fiona Apple!). It would be nice to see Legacy do a nice 2-disc on Bill Withers, like the one they did with Charlie Rich a few years back. I'm taking on the crusade to get Bill Withers the credit he deserves for all the amazing music he's made … and here's to hoping we'll see a comeback before too long. The world needs Bill Withers, just as my home needs a room full of pillows. Hey, wait, that came off as far more backhanded than it should have!
Review by Dr. Faheed Fartz |