Menagerie

by Bill Withers

Menagerie cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 29 October 1977
  • Label: Columbia
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 38:43
  • Community rating: 3.63/5 from 3 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

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.

Genres

Descriptors: soulful, velvety, groove-laden, melodic, ballad

Tracklist

  1. Lovely Day (4:17)
  2. I Want to Spend the Night (3:43)
  3. Lovely Night for Dancing (5:53)
  4. Then You Smile at Me (4:55)
  5. She Wants To (Get on Down) (3:15)
  6. It Ain't Because of Me Baby (3:32)
  7. Tender Things (5:02)
  8. Wintertime (3:18)
  9. Let Me Be the One You Need (4:45)

Credits

  • Lou Beach - illustration
  • Jerry Knight - bass
  • Russ Kunkel - drums, shaker
  • Ray Parker Jr. - guitar
  • Ralph MacDonald - percussion
  • Skip Scarborough - written-by
  • Paul Riser - arranged by [strings- and horn]
  • Dean Gant - keyboards
  • Bill Withers - Primary Artist, Producer, Written-By, Guitar, Keyboards
  • Clarence McDonald - Arranged By, Keyboards, Producer, Written-By, Arranged By [Strings- And Horn]
  • Charles Veal Jr. - Concertmaster
  • Keni Burke - Bass, Producer
  • Alvin Taylor - Drums
  • Hodges, James And Smith - Backing Vocals
  • Clifford Coulter - Keyboards, Synthesizer, Soloist, Producer, Written-By
  • Larry Nash - Written-By
  • Michael Jones - Synthesizer, Written-By

More from Bill Withers: full discography