stonefish9's Full Review: Still Bill [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster] by Bill Withe...
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Bill Withers hit his stride in 1971 with his debut LP Just As I Am with his memorable tunes which drew from folk, soul, and blues, and had hits with "Grandma's Hands" and "Ain't No Sunshine". Well, he did something that seems to plague artists when they have a first album that's a hit: avoid the sophomore slump artistically and commercially, which is what he did with his second album I'll be discussing here.
Originally released by Sussex Records in 1972, Still Bill is a great album filled with songs of love, pain, and thoughtfulness like his debut. For this album, he's joined here by members of Charles Wright's Watts 103rd Street Band: drummer James Gadson, guitarist Benorce Blackmon, bassist Melvin Dunlap, and keyboardist Ray Jackson (who handled the horn and string arrangements). The result is more of straightforward funk groove, but the blues, soul, and folk influences are still there. Bill and Ray also produced the LP, since Booker T. Jones (who produced Just As I Am) was too busy doing other projects to work with Bill. Now time to discuss the music.
Side one starts off with "Lonely Town, Lonely Street". This is a song about loneliness and shyness when you live in a city. As Bill sings, "You might be a sweet-toned high-class talker/You might be a stone expert at kissing/But it don't too much good to be talking/Brother when there ain't nobody listening/And if you are a shy and not a talker/and don't impress the people you meet/you might as well be a lonely walker/in a lonely town on a lonely street", it seems to say that someone is pretty lousy at connecting with people. Music-wise, this is a swinging funk track with Bill's jangly acoustic work, while Benorce's electric rhythm work offsets it. There's also some glowing strings in this song that don't smother it either.
Next, we have the track "Let Me In Your Life". This is a song about pleading with someone to let them love the significant other, who had been hurt in a previous relationship. This is another solemn ballad featuring just acoustic guitars and electric piano with lush strings.
Next, we have the track "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)?". This is a track about a guy confronting his girlfriend about her alleged other man who they saw earlier. I like this track, because it's hard hitting funk with chunky wah-wah guitar from Benorce, thumping clavinet from Ray, and haunting strings that give the song drama.
Next, we have the song "Use Me". This of course, is a man who's in love with a woman but he is blind to way she treats him. I like how the song incorporates a reggae-like backbeat with both the clavinet and acoustic guitar driving the rhythm. This was also a big hit for Bill, hitting #2 on both the pop and R&B charts in 1972. I've heard many a cover version of this song, but none of them have done it justice.
Closing out side one is the track "Lean On Me", his paean to brotherly love and being a helping to those in need. That song is timeless because of it's message, but because of it's simplicity. You hear a few major gospel chords, and Bill plays piano on this track too. It's not funky, but it's soulful with its strings. No wonder it hit #1 on both the pop and R&B charts in 1972. Now I heard cover versions of this song such as the Club Noveau version (which sucks the Big One) and by the Winans (which do it justice), but I still like original.
Opening side two is the track, "Kissing My Love". This is a track about the feeling you get when you smooch your significant other. As Bill sings, "When I'm Kissing My Love//I can hear a thump in my head/When I'm kissing my love/I close my eyes and see a pretty city with a million flower beds", it brings a sensation that you get with your significant other. Music-wise, this is another great funk with strings, but Benorce does some great wah-wah guitar on here reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix.
Next, we have a track called "I Don't Know". Again, it's a love song dealing with why someone doesn't know why love their significant other. Musically, this is a more jazz-oriented song, with Benorce providing a solo that's quite reminiscent of Grant Green or Charlie Byrd.
Next, we have the track "Another Day To Run". This song is about how people shouldn't run from their problems, but rather confront the problem and solve it. Musically, this is more upbeat funk with Bill doing more preachy lyrics about getting your mind together. Next, he talks about a dope fiend who OD'd and why he did have to get high. I like how it started out with straight funk, and then it went to a gospel-style rave up towards the end of the song. The horns really groove here too.
Next is the track, "I Don't Want You On My Mind". This is about someone who's trying to forget an ex-flame. Musically, Bill and the band head over into blues territory. Here, Benorce does his best BB King style solo, but without the singing vibrato BB is known for. Bill also proves he's a good blues shouter on here as well, but not by trying to ape guys like Bobby "Blue" Bland or Ray Charles.
Closing out side two is the track "Take It All In And Check It All Out". This a track about checking situations out before you involve yourself in them. It's a nice simple song with a strong funk groove with rhythmic clavinet, and chucky wah-wah guitar that closes out the album on a high note!
I also have the CD version of this as well, and the sound quality is good, but it doesn't have the printed lyrics or the liner notes Bill wrote in between the songs like the original vinyl version had. Also, there are live versions of "Lonely Town, Lonely Street" and "Let Me In Your Life" that are on the "Live At Carnegie Hall" album that don't need to be on here. I'll review those when I do the live album later on.
Still Bill is a very good album by Bill, and he showed a tender, romantic side of him without getting sappy or cheesy on this album.
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