The Best of Bill Withers: Lean on Me

by Bill Withers

Overview

Collectors note: This is not the same as the very similarly titled Lean on Me: The Best of Bill Withers, a 1994 best-of that also came out on Sony (catalog #5294). Each disc has 18 tracks and includes his biggest and best hits, yet only 13 of the songs are found on both CDs, and the 2000 compilation has a new set of liner notes by David Ritz. This is still too light on his earliest Sussex material, which is his best work and is represented by just seven of the tunes. It's also messily sequenced, with six less impressive and poppier mid-1970s Columbia outings leading off the program before you get to the early '70s goodies, including "Ain't No Sunshine," "Lean on Me," and "Use Me." Still, this would have to get the nod over the 1994 best-of just for the inclusion of one of those Sussex tunes alone, the uplifting and earthily bluesy 1971 cut "Harlem." ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	05/30/2000
Label:	Legacy / Sony Music Distribution
UPC:	0074646385227
Rank:	4191

Tracks

1. Lovely Day
2. I Want to Spend the Night
3. Let Me Be the One You Need
4. Hello Like Before
5. Tender Things
6. I Wish You Well
7. Ain't No Sunshine
8. Grandma's Hands
9. The Same Love That Made Me Laugh
10. Lean on Me
11. Harlem
12. Use Me
13. Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?
14. You Just Can't Smile It Away
15. Just the Two of Us
16. Steppin' Right Along
17. You Try to Find a Love
18. My Imagination

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bill Withers   Primary Artist,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Clavinet
Grover Washington, Jr.   Primary Artist,Saxophone
Clarence McDonald   Keyboards
James Gadson   Drums
Dorothy Ashby   Harp
Russ Kunkel   Drums,Congas,Percussion
Donald "Duck" Dunn   Bass
Don Freeman   DX-7,Voices,Strings,Vibraphone
Eric Gale   Guitar
Ernie Watts   Soloist,Sax (Soprano)
David T. Walker   Guitar (Electric)
Louis Johnson   Bass
Jerry Knight   Bass
Melvin Ragin   Guitar (Electric)
Al Jackson, Jr.   Drums
Harvey Mason, Sr.   Drums
Marcus Miller   Bass
Keni Burke   Bass
Booker T. Jones   Percussion
Chris Ethridge   Bass
Stephen Stills   Guitar
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Dennis Budimir   Guitar (Acoustic)
Robbie Buchanan   Synthesizer Strings
Jim Keltner   Drums
Kate Markowitz   Vocals (Background)
Ralph MacDonald   Congas,Percussion
Melvin Dunlap   Bass
Raymond Jackson   Piano,Clarinet,Piano (Electric)
Edie Lehmann   Vocals (Background)
M.B. Gordy   Hi Hat,Tom-Tom,Tambourine,Simmons Drums
Steve Gadd   Drums
Bill Eaton   Conductor
Larry Nash   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Larry Nash   Rhythm Arrangements,Producer
Clarence McDonald   Arranger,Producer
James Gadson   Producer
Dorothy Ashby   Producer
Ed Cherney   Engineer
David Nathan   Liner Notes
Denny Diante   Producer
Leo Sacks   Compilation Producer
Joseph M. Palmaccio   Mastering
Phil (Boogie) Schier   Engineer
Richard Alderson   Engineer
Michel Colombier   Composer,Producer
Mick Guzauski   Engineer
William Salter   Composer
John Snyder   Compilation Producer
Paul Riser   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Bill Halverson   Engineer
Keni Burke   Producer
Keith Seppanen   Engineer
Booker T. Jones   Arranger,Producer
Vic Anesini   Digital Mastering
Skip Scarborough   Composer
Steven Berkowitz   A&R
David Ritz   Liner Notes
Ralph MacDonald   Composer,Producer
Melvin Dunlap   Composer,Producer
Grover Washington, Jr.   Producer
Patti Matheny   A&R
Howard Fritzson   Art Direction
John Myles   String Arrangements
Raymond Jackson   Producer,String Arrangements
Adam Block   Project Director
John Collins   Composer
Tony Sellari   Art Direction
Joy Gilbert Manfried   Project Director
Michael Ochs   Photography
Bill Lazerus   Engineer
Bill Eaton   Arranger
Bob Merritt   Engineer
Bill Withers   Composer,Producer,Compilation Producer