Ain't No Sunshine
April 3, 2020 8:49 AM Subscribe
Bill Withers, the soul legend who penned timeless songs like “Lean on Me,” “Lovely Day” and “Ain’t No Sunshine,” has died from heart complications according to a statement from his family. He was 81.
Withers was a latecomer to the music industry, not quitting his day job even after recording his first album. He released eight studio albums before leaving the music business in 1985, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 30 years later.
Withers was a latecomer to the music industry, not quitting his day job even after recording his first album. He released eight studio albums before leaving the music business in 1985, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 30 years later.
When the day that lies ahead of me
Seems impossible to face...
Then I look at you
And the world's all right with me
Just one look at you
And I know it's gonna be
A lovely day
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posted by praemunire at 8:58 AM on April 3, 2020 [16 favorites]
Seems impossible to face...
Then I look at you
And the world's all right with me
Just one look at you
And I know it's gonna be
A lovely day
.
posted by praemunire at 8:58 AM on April 3, 2020 [16 favorites]
If I get to heaven, I'll look for Bill
posted by Freelance Demiurge at 8:59 AM on April 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Freelance Demiurge at 8:59 AM on April 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by Anonymous Function at 9:05 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by Anonymous Function at 9:05 AM on April 3, 2020
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posted by Hairy Lobster at 9:10 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by Hairy Lobster at 9:10 AM on April 3, 2020
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posted by The Devil's Grandmother at 9:10 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by The Devil's Grandmother at 9:10 AM on April 3, 2020
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I remember reading that Booker T. Jones put a mic on the milk crate that he would tap his foot on when recording "Ain't No Sunshine" and that Bill Withers thought he was being made fun of, that it was all an elaborate joke making fun of a factory worker who thought he could write songs. Glad he stuck it out.
posted by sleeping bear at 9:16 AM on April 3, 2020 [10 favorites]
I remember reading that Booker T. Jones put a mic on the milk crate that he would tap his foot on when recording "Ain't No Sunshine" and that Bill Withers thought he was being made fun of, that it was all an elaborate joke making fun of a factory worker who thought he could write songs. Glad he stuck it out.
posted by sleeping bear at 9:16 AM on April 3, 2020 [10 favorites]
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posted by Halloween Jack at 9:17 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:17 AM on April 3, 2020
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posted by pianoblack at 9:19 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by pianoblack at 9:19 AM on April 3, 2020
How do you turn a duck into a soul singer?
Leave it in the sun until its bill withers.
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posted by Faint of Butt at 9:22 AM on April 3, 2020 [23 favorites]
Leave it in the sun until its bill withers.
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posted by Faint of Butt at 9:22 AM on April 3, 2020 [23 favorites]
Several years ago, I saw a good documentary about his life— Still Bill. He seemed like a very centered person. Didn't go professional in music until he was 30. Then when he was done with it, he was just done with it. He had a nice family, and came across as a generally decent soul.
posted by SoberHighland at 9:26 AM on April 3, 2020 [15 favorites]
posted by SoberHighland at 9:26 AM on April 3, 2020 [15 favorites]
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posted by Ms. Moonlight at 9:33 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 9:33 AM on April 3, 2020
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posted by Bob Regular at 9:45 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by Bob Regular at 9:45 AM on April 3, 2020
Is it weird that I felt much better about Bill Withers' death once I saw it wasn't COVID-related? Still sad he passed but at least it was normal 81 year old person stuff and not this damned pandemic. He got to be Bill Withers on his own terms all the way to the end.
Still Bill.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:53 AM on April 3, 2020 [23 favorites]
Still Bill.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:53 AM on April 3, 2020 [23 favorites]
Ain’t no sunshine.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:02 AM on April 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:02 AM on April 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by vibrotronica at 10:04 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by vibrotronica at 10:04 AM on April 3, 2020
A music journalist (and ex-bandmate of mine) posted the article on his website with the single comment OH COME ON.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:09 AM on April 3, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:09 AM on April 3, 2020 [6 favorites]
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
From an appropriate distance, we are now all leaning on our brothers & sisters
posted by chavenet at 10:29 AM on April 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
From an appropriate distance, we are now all leaning on our brothers & sisters
posted by chavenet at 10:29 AM on April 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
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posted by Windopaene at 10:33 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by Windopaene at 10:33 AM on April 3, 2020
This mashup of Withers and Pantera is fun, but the pinned comment below is sweet and has a few nice words about Bill from Phil's ex.
posted by maxwelton at 10:35 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by maxwelton at 10:35 AM on April 3, 2020
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This has been my Instant Party hit for years.
posted by thivaia at 10:39 AM on April 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
This has been my Instant Party hit for years.
posted by thivaia at 10:39 AM on April 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
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posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:46 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:46 AM on April 3, 2020
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posted by bonobothegreat at 10:53 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by bonobothegreat at 10:53 AM on April 3, 2020
Anna Sale (a fellow West Virginian) interviews Bill Withers: "The best advice anybody ever gave me was very simple: go make something out of yourself. So we do the best we can with that. But the whole goal of this is to try to make yourself interesting because nobody comes here to hide."
posted by Cash4Lead at 10:55 AM on April 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Cash4Lead at 10:55 AM on April 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
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Such classic tracks.
Lean on me... Man, my first exposure to that was Club Nouveau in the 80s. Thank god I found the real version otherwise I'd probably just think it was just a pure cheesy song (a fun jam, no doubt).
posted by symbioid at 11:04 AM on April 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
Such classic tracks.
Lean on me... Man, my first exposure to that was Club Nouveau in the 80s. Thank god I found the real version otherwise I'd probably just think it was just a pure cheesy song (a fun jam, no doubt).
posted by symbioid at 11:04 AM on April 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
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posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 11:04 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 11:04 AM on April 3, 2020
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posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:37 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:37 AM on April 3, 2020
Bill Withers punks the USC football team. They then sing to him.
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posted by AugustWest at 12:08 PM on April 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
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posted by AugustWest at 12:08 PM on April 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
. One of my very favorites. I know almost all his tunes by heart. What a great artist.
posted by mono blanco at 12:09 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by mono blanco at 12:09 PM on April 3, 2020
When I was a kid we had music class in grade school, which was pretty much singing along with popular songs. We sometimes sang Drift Away, and I would read those lyrics and wonder who wrote them, and if I could meet him someday because I thought we could be friends.
A sad day but leaving behind inspiring music seems like a pretty good way to have spent the time.
posted by lon_star at 12:20 PM on April 3, 2020
A sad day but leaving behind inspiring music seems like a pretty good way to have spent the time.
posted by lon_star at 12:20 PM on April 3, 2020
It turns out the first song I heard by Bill Withers is one he wrote for Gladys Knight & The Pips! How it hasn't been covered yet by a billion singers, I don't know.
Amazing.
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posted by droplet at 12:36 PM on April 3, 2020
Amazing.
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posted by droplet at 12:36 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by one teak forest at 12:49 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by one teak forest at 12:49 PM on April 3, 2020
I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know...
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posted by oneswellfoop at 1:05 PM on April 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
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posted by oneswellfoop at 1:05 PM on April 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
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posted by mcdoublewide at 1:08 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by mcdoublewide at 1:08 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by nightrecordings at 1:26 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by nightrecordings at 1:26 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by judgement day at 1:47 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by judgement day at 1:47 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by 20 year lurk at 2:01 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by 20 year lurk at 2:01 PM on April 3, 2020
Here's a nice cover of "Ain't no Sunshine..." from the Voice France.
Bill was a pretty great songwriter and performer.
posted by maxwelton at 2:03 PM on April 3, 2020
Bill was a pretty great songwriter and performer.
posted by maxwelton at 2:03 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by cabin fever at 2:42 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by cabin fever at 2:42 PM on April 3, 2020
A great writer, hugely talented, a great performer. He has left so much beauty here for us. I'm sad he's gone, incredibly grateful that he was here.
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posted by dancestoblue at 2:56 PM on April 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
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posted by dancestoblue at 2:56 PM on April 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
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posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 4:13 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 4:13 PM on April 3, 2020
I love this bit about all of those "I knows" in Ain't No Sunshine
For the song's third verse, Withers had intended to write more lyrics instead of repeating the phrase "I know" 26 times, but then followed the advice of the other musicians to leave it that way: "I was this factory worker puttering around," Withers said. "So when they said to leave it like that, I left it."[4]
Good man. Good life. I recall as a kid seeing him on American Bandstand. Ain't No Sunshine would've been the hit at the time as I remember watching him sing all of those "I knows".
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posted by philip-random at 4:15 PM on April 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
For the song's third verse, Withers had intended to write more lyrics instead of repeating the phrase "I know" 26 times, but then followed the advice of the other musicians to leave it that way: "I was this factory worker puttering around," Withers said. "So when they said to leave it like that, I left it."[4]
Good man. Good life. I recall as a kid seeing him on American Bandstand. Ain't No Sunshine would've been the hit at the time as I remember watching him sing all of those "I knows".
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posted by philip-random at 4:15 PM on April 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
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posted by Lawn Beaver at 4:36 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by Lawn Beaver at 4:36 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by dogstoevski at 4:55 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by dogstoevski at 4:55 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by Ignorantsavage at 5:13 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by Ignorantsavage at 5:13 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by The Great Big Mulp at 5:17 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 5:17 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by daybeforetheday at 5:24 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by daybeforetheday at 5:24 PM on April 3, 2020
°
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 5:47 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 5:47 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by LobsterMitten at 6:34 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:34 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by limeonaire at 6:46 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by limeonaire at 6:46 PM on April 3, 2020
A nice, long, life, filled with success starting at age 32, many years of managing and controlling his own career, with lots of fame, money and recognition while he was able to enjoy it, and if that's not enough, a happy ending outside the music business, which bored and disgusted him enough to quit.
It's unusual, but I'm feeling a lot more poignant joy than outright sadness at this particular musical genius's death.
That second Rolling Stone link from 2015 is full of great stories that will leave you feeling all right.
Withers was one of the best and most distinctive soul voices, and I'd argue he's still mostly underrated despite the few massive hits. If folks don't know it, the entire 1972 "Still Bill" album is wonderful early 70s music. It includes "Use Me" and "Lean On Me," sure, but also funky midtempo gems like "Lonely Town, Lonely Street," the steamy jealousy-fueled "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)" and the just amazingly sweet and groovy "Kissing My Love," along with slow-burning beauties like "I Don't Want You On My Mind." It's one of the great soul albums of the 70s, and his is one of my favorite singing voices of the era.
For extra pleasure, his 1973 Live At Carnegie Hall double LP is a lot of fun, including an eight-and-a-half-minute version of "Use Me" with audience participation.
Such a giving, wonderful talent. I feel lucky to have been around for it.
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posted by mediareport at 6:50 PM on April 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
It's unusual, but I'm feeling a lot more poignant joy than outright sadness at this particular musical genius's death.
That second Rolling Stone link from 2015 is full of great stories that will leave you feeling all right.
Withers was one of the best and most distinctive soul voices, and I'd argue he's still mostly underrated despite the few massive hits. If folks don't know it, the entire 1972 "Still Bill" album is wonderful early 70s music. It includes "Use Me" and "Lean On Me," sure, but also funky midtempo gems like "Lonely Town, Lonely Street," the steamy jealousy-fueled "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)" and the just amazingly sweet and groovy "Kissing My Love," along with slow-burning beauties like "I Don't Want You On My Mind." It's one of the great soul albums of the 70s, and his is one of my favorite singing voices of the era.
For extra pleasure, his 1973 Live At Carnegie Hall double LP is a lot of fun, including an eight-and-a-half-minute version of "Use Me" with audience participation.
Such a giving, wonderful talent. I feel lucky to have been around for it.
.
posted by mediareport at 6:50 PM on April 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
Bill Withers punks the USC football team.
This is hilarious! He really sells the fungus thing.
posted by mediareport at 7:05 PM on April 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
This is hilarious! He really sells the fungus thing.
posted by mediareport at 7:05 PM on April 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
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posted by lazaruslong at 9:11 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by lazaruslong at 9:11 PM on April 3, 2020
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posted by Lesser Spotted Potoroo at 10:35 PM on April 3, 2020
posted by Lesser Spotted Potoroo at 10:35 PM on April 3, 2020
Several years ago, I saw a good documentary about his life— Still Bill.
Still Bill - so worth watching.
. (truly)
posted by progosk at 11:55 PM on April 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Still Bill - so worth watching.
. (truly)
posted by progosk at 11:55 PM on April 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
This was the one that finally caused me to explode into tears after a long and difficult two weeks. The first bars of "Lean on Me" were what did it.
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posted by Acey at 1:25 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by Acey at 1:25 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by oneironaut at 6:27 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by oneironaut at 6:27 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
One of a kind talent. Use Me has been on heavy rotation chez Tants for a while.
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posted by Sheydem-tants at 9:37 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by Sheydem-tants at 9:37 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
Yesterday I opened wide all my windows to share Live at Carnegie Hall with the neighborhood. Yes, there was dual purposes of a quarantine deep-house clean window washing, but sharing Bill's incredible songs with the (mostly dog walking) neighbors seemed appropriate.
I've got the vinyl, but I haven't listened to that album in so long. Simple, simple songs. But direct, and powerful.
I never before read the Bruce Springsteen --- Bill Withers comp given by Questlove from the obit. On point.
His universality: 15 years ago, I was working in Mexico. Ain't No Sunshine, for whatever reason, was my earworm for a given Monday morning. In the office, a colleague is making copies, humming. He is a generation older than I. "Hey, F, are you humming...?" Yep. Bill Withers.
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posted by Theophrastus Johnson at 11:00 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
I've got the vinyl, but I haven't listened to that album in so long. Simple, simple songs. But direct, and powerful.
I never before read the Bruce Springsteen --- Bill Withers comp given by Questlove from the obit. On point.
His universality: 15 years ago, I was working in Mexico. Ain't No Sunshine, for whatever reason, was my earworm for a given Monday morning. In the office, a colleague is making copies, humming. He is a generation older than I. "Hey, F, are you humming...?" Yep. Bill Withers.
.
posted by Theophrastus Johnson at 11:00 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by get off of my cloud at 8:02 AM on April 6, 2020
posted by get off of my cloud at 8:02 AM on April 6, 2020
Amazing finger-style guitar cover of Lean on Me
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:10 AM on April 11, 2020
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:10 AM on April 11, 2020
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