"Still Bill" - Bill Withers (1972)
I don't know why "Still Bill" has been such a hard album for me to track down. I've probably only seen three or four copies loose...ever! And they were either beat-up or priced-up. As for Bill Wither's debut album, "Just As I Am"...well, I've never seen that one off the chain. Neither are obscure albums or anything. I just think people tend to hang on to'em. Around here, anyway. Both are must-own. And I know I could always grab one online, but I'm holding out for an in-person walk-by.
As for Withers' sophomore effort, there is no drop-off in quality. "Still Bill" is a great spin. Whether he's funkin' up a sweat or creating a cool curtain breeze...the grooves and vocals are there. Withers never sounds like he's singing from someone else's shoes. Nothing ever sounds forced. Just a warm, natural, honest delivery. And we respond.
Coincidentally (sorta)...Bill Withers came out of the small town of Slab Fork, WV. No kidding. Surprisingly, this was only 1 hour and 2 minutes away from Peterstown...another small town in WV. My dad and grandfolks chewed a lot of dirt back there and I spent a summer or two there, myself. Kind of cool, I think. One tiny red dot on a Google map to another.
"Still Bill" - Bill Withers (back)
Favorites include his two familiar hits..."Use Me" and "Lean On Me." Deeper tracks are the killer "I Don't Want You On My Mind." The walking and barking guitar arguing with Withers' laments make for a tasty biscuit. Perhaps the more familiar gem, "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?" can also be found here, as well, and reminds everyone of the chin-scratching, lip-twisting doubt we've all had to own.
This album has a fold-out cover with lyrics on the inside flaps. The vinyl is held via unipak. My copy is a Monarch pressing indicated by "(MR)" stamped in the run-outs. "Still Bill" is still ranked...landing at #333 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
"Still Bill" - Bill Withers (inside tri-fold)
Company record sleeve
Sussex label
Cat #
SXBS-7014
SIDE A DEADWAX
SXBS-7014-A-4 (MR in a circle) △16938 (3) STERLING
SIDE B DEADWAX
SXBS-7014-B-4 (MR in a circle) △16938-X (4)
"I Don't Want You On My Mind" - Bill Withers / "Still Bill" (1972)
TRACKS:
A1 "Lonely Town, Lonely Street" 3:43
A2 "Let Me in Your Life" 2:39
A3 "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?" 3:12
A4 "Use Me" 3:46
A5 "Lean on Me" 4:17
B1 "Kissing My Love" 3:49
B2 "I Don't Know" 3:05
B3 "Another Day To Run" 4:38
B4 "I Don't Want You On My Mind" 4:35
B5 "Take It All In And Check It All Out" 2:40
PERSONNEL:
Bill Withers - vocals, guitar, acoustic piano
Ray Jackson - acoustic piano, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, horn/string arrange
Benorce Blackmon - guitar
Melvin Dunlap - bass
James Gadson - drums, percussion
Good stuff.
Casey Chambers
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