Menagerie

Trading the stripped-down, acoustic grit of his early recordings for sleek, heavily orchestrated studio polish, Bill Withers embraces the ascendant disco and funk trends of the late decade. The record features the massive, buoyant hit 'Lovely Day', anchored by an iconic, relentlessly infectious bassline and Withers' legendary sustained vocal note. Despite the glossy production, the album remains grounded by his exceptionally warm, conversational baritone.