Bill Withers

Bill Withers – Just As I Am (Sussex 1971)

Tracklist: Harlem, Ain't No Sunshine, Grandma's Hands, Sweet Wanomi, Everybody's Talkin, Do It Good, Hope She'll Be Happier, Let It Be, I'm Her Daddy, In My Heart, Moanin' and Groanin, Better Off Dead.

For his first album, Clarence Avant introduced Bill Withers to Booker T. Jones (one of the key elements of the Stax sound), who produced the recordings with help of Stephen Stills and fellow MGs. It remains a monumental album in the history of Soul music and contained hits like Ain’t No Sunshine, Grandma’s Hands and Just As I Am.
 

Bill Withers – Still Bill (Sussex 1972)

Tracklist: Lonely Town, Lonely Street, Let Me in Your Life, Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?, Use Me, "Lean on Me, Kissin' My Love, I Don't Know, Another Day to Run, I Don't Want You on My Mind, Take It All in and Check It All Out, Lonely Town, Lonely Street.

Bill's second album, together with the 103rd Rhythm Street band. Again, Bill hit the charts with Kissing My Love, Who is He, Lean On Me and Use Me. 

Bill Withers – Live at Carnegie Hall (Sussex 1973)

Tracklist: Use Me, Friend Of Mine, Ain't No Sunshine, Grandma's Hands, World Keeps Going Around, Let Me In Your Life, Better Off Dead, For My Friend, I Can't Write Left Handed, Lean On Me, Lonely Town Lonely Street, Hope She'll Be Happier, Let Us Love, Harlem - Cold Baloney.

Bill Withers Live At Carnegie Hall is released in 1973 and showcases his ability to captivate an audience with his soulfull sound, filled with melancholy and dark undercurrents.

Bill Withers – ‘Justments (Sussex 1974)

Tracklist: You, The Same Love That Made Me Laugh, Stories, Green Grass, Ruby Lee, Heartbreak Road, Can We Pretend, Liza, Make a Smile for Me, Railroad Man.

Bill's third and final studio album for Sussex, released in 1974 and again with the help of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, is somewhat more obscure. Unjustly out of print since ages, it doesn’t reach the high quality level of his first two albums. Nonetheless, it is very enjoyable and surely has its moments of beauty, although it didn’t generate any big hits.

Bill Withers – The Best of Bill Withers (Sussex 1975)
 

JJ Johnson – Man And Boy O.S.T. (Sussex 1971)

Tracklist: Theme From Man And Boy, Better Days, Slo-Mo, Emancipation Procrastination, Pull, Jubal, Pull, Mand And Boy (Main Title From Picture), Theme From Man And Boy, Better Days, Country Soul, Rosita, Trekkin' , Hard Times. Mister (Lee Christmas Theme), Man And Boy (End Title).

Soundtrack to a western by Bill Cosby, musically arranged by JJ Johnson and Quincy Jones. The tune Better Days sung by Bill.