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Thread started 02/09/07 10:16am

rushing07

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Bill Withers' Career Interview




Bill Withers' career as a pop singer in the 1970s was short lived, but his songs, like "Just the Two of Us," are still heard today. Withers talks to Tony Cox about his music, his career, and what happened that soured him on the recording industry.


http://www.npr.org/templa...Id=7236327

He was a great singer and songwriter. He had a unique vocie, too. Unfortunately, his career didn't last.
What are your favorites from Withers?
Here are mine:

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone - one of many songs of his that entered the canon;

Grandma's hands - beautiful song, a very touching soul/blues

Lean on Me - a classic ballad

Use me

Hello Like Before


Lovely Day - I hate the covers, but original is simply amazing. There's something about Bill's voice that saves the song from being a cliché.

And of course,

Just the Two of Us - wow; Will Smith buthered the song mad

Listen to the interview and give it up for the guy.
[Edited 2/9/07 12:14pm]
I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the dirt.
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Reply #1 posted 02/09/07 10:34am

cubic61052

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Great minds think alike....I just listened to this yesterday and thought what a great thread it would be....thanks for the posting!

Awesome and insightful interview....

There are so many wonderful interviews on www.npr.org....

cool
"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive."
Dalai Lama
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Reply #2 posted 02/09/07 10:38pm

paligap

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...
Man, Somebody HAS to reissue this album on CD!!!!!

Bill Withers - 'Justments (1974)



Tracks like, "Can we Pretend, Heartbreak Road, Same Love That Made Me Laugh, Make A Smile For Me...


...
" I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout
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Reply #3 posted 02/10/07 1:30am

funkpill

Interesting interview hmmm


biggrin Thanks 4 sharing...
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Reply #4 posted 02/10/07 4:20pm

rushing07

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paligap said:

...
Man, Somebody HAS to reissue this album on CD!!!!!

Bill Withers - 'Justments (1974)



Tracks like, "Can we Pretend, Heartbreak Road, Same Love That Made Me Laugh, Make A Smile For Me...


...


PLEASE, GOD pray
I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the dirt.
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Reply #5 posted 02/10/07 5:22pm

Najee

Bill Withers' last album was 1985's "Watching You, Watching Me," which was his first album in seven years. He had a warm, rich voice and quite a few memorable songs (which were uplifitng and folksy) that have been mentioned ad nauseum. I used to be so impressed with his ability to stretch out that long note near the end of "Lovely Day" (the wake-up song for my alarm) and how he repeatedly said "I Know" in the bridge for "Ain't No Sunshine."

Withers had a reputation of being temperamental, fairly negative and somewhat difficult with whom to work, to which he alluded in his hiatus between 1978's "'Bout Love" and "Watching You, Watching Me." Even if true, it doesn't diminish from the great songs he made.

[Edited 2/10/07 17:47pm]
THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS!
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Reply #6 posted 02/10/07 5:54pm

Najee

Here is another interview with Bill Withers, which was Sept. 2005:

http://www.puremusic.com/withers1.html
THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS!
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