Bill Withers (Official Thread)

[cshadows2887]

Underappreciated soul/funk/R&B/singer-songwriter legend. "Lean on Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine" get the headlines, but I think "Use Me" is the jam. Anyone feel the Bill Withers love?

[And Hours Pass]

While I love that you started threads for both Albert King and Bill Withers, i find it a bit ridiculous to call Bill Withers "underappreciated." He's won 3 grammy's (been nominated for 9), has had 6 different albums break the top 100, and has been sampled and/or covered by: Michael Jackson, Will Smith, Bonnie Tyler, Aaron Neville, B.B. King, Fall Out Boy (to bring it back to an AP favorite), Freddie King, James Taylor, Jeff Beck... the list goes on.

I just find it a bit difficult to make the argument that he's underappreciated. He's probably one of the most covered artists in the history of music.

[IWasaCamera]

http://mog.com/images/users/0000/0001/2800/images/1174431665.jpeg

Before you wreck your old home, be certain of the new
Dadgummit
Who is he and what is he to you?

Awesome record.

[MonopolyMan]

I think Withers is easily one of the most unrecognized/unappreciated artists of all time...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3hBYTkI-sE&feature=PlayList&p=285D51E61BDCE182&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6

[xJesusFreakx]

I've always loved the song "Lean on Me" but never checked out anything else of his. Guess that should be remedied.

I really like dc Talk's "Lean on Me" cover from Free at Last, but then again, as my username proudly proclaims, I'm a bit of a dc Talk fanboy. Most people probably don't dig the idea of an early 90s Christian hip hop group covering a classic like this, lol.

zvDSwtr7Ihs

[And Hours Pass]

I think Withers is easily one of the most unrecognized/unappreciated artists of all time...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3hBYTkI-sE&feature=PlayList&p=285D51E61BDCE182&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6
Can you elaborate a bit on why you think he's underappreciated? If you refer to my post above, I really feel as though he's quite appreciated by the music community.

[FeynmanWannabe]

Good stuff.

[MonopolyMan]

Can you elaborate a bit on why you think he's underappreciated? If you refer to my post above, I really feel as though he's quite appreciated by the music community.

i agree. in the music industry he is and will always be greatly recognized. I was only referring to the younger generation now, and just the influence he has on music in general these days....i think there are way too many people who aren't even familiar with his name, let alone the hits he produced...i love Bill Withers, and too be honest I was pretty bummed I had never heard of this "Bill Withers" guy until about a year ago...so many other artists from his time get much more radio play and exposure today than he ever will. Long live Bill!

[IWasaCamera]

Among the younger generation, sure. But then again, most artists from that era who aren't universally and ubiquitously praised suffer from the same predicament. Withers is hardly overlooked or underappreciated when stacked up alongside other soul singers of the period.

[cshadows2887]

I'd clarify that his underappreciation is mainly in the current generation. Artists like Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye enjoy retro-success but other than hearing two of his singles once in a blue moon on classic rock radio, you really don't hear about Bill. Anyone who released an album as good as Still Bill deserves a much higher profile.

[And Hours Pass]

i agree. in the music industry he is and will always be greatly recognized. I was only referring to the younger generation now, and just the influence he has on music in general these days....i think there are way too many people who aren't even familiar with his name, let alone the hits he produced...i love Bill Withers, and too be honest I was pretty bummed I had never heard of this "Bill Withers" guy until about a year ago...so many other artists from his time get much more radio play and exposure today than he ever will. Long live Bill!

I see your point and while I would normally respond to it in my own words, it is pretty much summed up below:

Among the younger generation, sure. But then again, most artists from that era who aren't universally and ubiquitously praised suffer from the same predicament. Withers is hardly overlooked or underappreciated when stacked up alongside other soul singers of the period.

[cshadows2887]

I see your point and while I would normally respond to it in my own words, it is pretty much summed up below:

My last bid at arguing that Bill Withers needs more love:

I had to created the only thread on him.

[And Hours Pass]

My last bid at arguing that Bill Withers needs more love:

I had to created the only thread on him.
Threads don't exist for: The Four Tops, Tower of Power, Roberta Flack, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, David Ruffin, The Drifters, The Del Vikings, The Commodores...

Do you plan to make arguments that they're all underrated too? I'm not disagreeing with the Bill Withers love. I'm all about it. I'm only disagreeing with your idea of him being underrated. The fact that somebody doesn't have a thread on AP means nothing. Bill Evans is one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time - no thread. Tower of Power were a staple of the funk movement - no thread. Again, love where your head is at with the Withers/King threads, just saying I don't agree with the underrated part.

[cshadows2887]

Threads don't exist for: The Four Tops, Tower of Power, Roberta Flack, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, David Ruffin, The Drifters, The Del Vikings, The Commodores...

Do you plan to make arguments that they're all underrated too? I'm not disagreeing with the Bill Withers love. I'm all about it. I'm only disagreeing with your idea of him being underrated. The fact that somebody doesn't have a thread on AP means nothing. Bill Evans is one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time - no thread. Tower of Power were a staple of the funk movement - no thread. Again, love where your head is at with the Withers/King threads, just saying I don't agree with the underrated part.

Why are we arguing about this instead of making those threads?

[And Hours Pass]

Why are we arguing about this instead of making those threads?
Hahahaha, amen sir. Well done. I think we may be in the minority of folks who dig all of this music. Either way, nice to find a kindred music spirit.

[cshadows2887]

Hahahaha, amen sir. Well done. I think we may be in the minority of folks who dig all of this music. Either way, nice to find a kindred music spirit.

That's why I make/bump these threads. Hoping someone looking for something new will go "who the hell is that?"

[mattplayscheap]

hm i was just talking about him! i love him and LUTHER VANDROSS!!!!

[IWasaCamera]

I'd definitely be down with a Bill Evans thread.

[cshadows2887]

I'd definitely be down with a Bill Evans thread.

I'm not knowledagable about him at all. Would you do us all the honor of creating one?

[IWasaCamera]

Sure, I'll put something together. Jazz threads rarely take off though.

[xJesusFreakx]

I'll probably post in said thread.

[cshadows2887]

Sure, I'll put something together. Jazz threads rarely take off though.

If somebody gives me an idea where to start or embeds some youtube vids I'll definitely be checking it out, posting my thoughts.

[El_Jeffe]

Big fan also, but to add to the current topic - I can understand the term "underappreciated" being thrown in here. Or perhaps "under-recognised" is more accurate in modern times. You guys are all right in the sense that he has recorded some great albums & some classic staple songs, but these songs have been covered to death. Most people are more familiar with covers of all his classic singles & wouldn't have the slightest clue where the original came from, many thinking the cover they're hearing is the original.

[cshadows2887]

^Raises hand.

All I knew of "Lean on Me" until I was probably 18 was that awful 90's cover.

[Chainedcircuit]

How do you give a duck some soul??? Put him in the microwave until his Bill Withers!!! Love that one....joking aside I think ain't no sunshine is one of the best songs ever recorded.

[cshadows2887]

It's not as good as his first few, but I don't think Bout Love gets half enough credit.

[cshadows2887]

How freakin' good is "Use Me"?