Tag Archives: Lovely Day

Bill Withers: Menagerie

In December 1977, “Columbia” label released “Menagerie”, the sixth Bill Withers studio album. It was recorded in 1977, at “The Record Plant” in Los Angeles, “A&R Recording” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Withers, Keni Burke, Clarence McDonald and Clifford Coulter.

Personnel:

  • Bill Withers – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Ray Parker Jr. – guitar
  • Clarence McDonald – keyboards, string arrangements, horn arrangements, arrangements
  • Dean Gant – keyboards
  • Clifford Coulter – keyboards, synthesizer solo
  • Mike Jones – synthesizers
  • Jerry Knight – bass
  • Keni Burke – bass
  • Russ Kunkel – drums, shaker
  • Alvin Taylor – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Paul Riser – horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Charles Veal – concertmaster
  • Pat Hodges – backing vocals
  • Denita James – backing vocals
  • Jessica Smith – backing vocals
  • Phil Jantaas – assistant engineer
  • Roger Carpenter – design
  • Lou Beach – illustration
  • Elliot Gilbert – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Bill Withers, except where noted.

  1. Lovely Day – Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough
  2. I Want to Spend the Night
  3. Lovely Night for Dancing
  4. Then You Smile at Me – Bill Withers, Clarence McDonald
  5. She Wants To (Get on Down) – Bill Withers, Larry Nash
  6. It Ain’t because of Me Baby – Bill Withers, Michael Jones
  7. Tender Things
  8. Wintertime – Cliff Coulter
  9. Let Me Be the One You Need – Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough

Bill Withers

On March 30, 2020, William Harrison Withers Jr. aka Bill Withers died aged 81. He was singer-songwriter and musician (guitar, keyboards), active from 1970 until 1985. He composed and recorded several major hits, including “Ain’t No Sunshine” (1971), “Grandma’s Hands” (1971), “Use Me” (1972), “Lean on Me” (1972), “Lovely Day” (1977), and “Just the Two of Us” (1980). Withers won three “Grammy Awards” (1971, 1981, 1987), “ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage” award (2006), was inducted into “West Virginia Music Hall of Fame” (2007), was inducted into “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame(2015), and received honorary degree from West Virginia University.

alt-J: This Is All Yours

On September 22, 2014, “Infectious” label released “This Is All Yours”, the second alt-J studio album. It was recorded in 2014, at “Iguana Studio” in London, and was produced by Charlie Andrew.

Personnel:

  • Joe Newman – lead vocal, guitar, bass
  • Gus Unger-Hamilton – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Thom Green – drums
  • Kirsty Mangan – strings
  • Tim Rundle – penny whistle, recorder
  • Brett Cox – engineer
  • Dick Beetham – mastering
  • RCA – mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, and Thom Sonny Green, except where noted.

  1. Intro
  2. Arrival in Nara
  3. Nara
  4. Every Other Freckle
  5. Left Hand Free
  6. ❦ (Garden of England)
  7. Choice Kingdom
  8. Hunger of the Pine
  9. Warm Foothills
  10. The Gospel of John Hurt
  11. Pusher
  12. Bloodflood Pt. II
  13. Leaving Nara / hidden track Lovely Day – Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough