'Bout Love is the seventh studio album by the American musician Bill Withers, released in 1979 on the Columbia label.[1] Withers collaborated with Paul Smith, who co-wrote all the tracks but "Memories Are That Way" with Withers.
| 'Bout Love | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 12 March 1979 | |||
| Recorded | August–December 1978 | |||
| Studio | Record Plant (Los Angeles, California) and A&R Recording (New York City, New York). | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 39:03 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Paul Smith | |||
| Bill Withers chronology | ||||
| ||||
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C[3] |
| The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul | [1] |
'Bout Love features Withers' usual mellowness and introspective lyrics, however its lead single, "Don't It Make It Better" is up-tempo, and its follow-up single, "You Got the Stuff" is a funk song. "Don't It Make It Better" peaked at No. 30 on Billboard R&B Singles, but "You Got the Stuff" reached only No. 85 on the chart.[4]
'Bout Love peaked at #50 on the R&B chart and No. 134 on the Billboard 200.
Track listing
edit- "All Because Of You" (Bill Withers, Paul Smith) – 3:50
- "Dedicated To You My Love" (Withers, Smith) – 4:47
- "Don't It Make It Better" (Withers, Smith) – 4:12
- "You Got The Stuff" (Withers, Smith, Keith Hatchell) – 7:14
- "Look To Each Other For Love" (Withers, Smith) – 4:23
- "Love" (Withers, Smith) – 4:57
- "Love Is" (Withers, Smith) – 4:21
- "Memories Are That Way" (Withers) – 5:06
Personnel
edit- Bill Withers – vocals, acoustic guitar (1), bass (1), whistle (2), guitar (3, 4, 7, 8), horn and string arrangements (3), acoustic piano (4), drums (8)
- Wah Wah Watson – electric guitar (1)
- Paul Smith – keyboards (1–7), synthesizer (1–4)
- Geoffrey Leib – keyboards (8)
- Clifford Coulter – synthesizer (8)
- Keni Burke – additional bass lIcks (1, 2), bass (3, 6, 7)
- Bryan Garofalo – bass (2, 5, 8)
- Jerry Knight – bass (3)
- Keith Hatchell – bass (4)
- Russ Kunkel – drums (1, 2, 3, 5–8), additional cymbal (8)
- Harvey Mason – drums (4)
- Ralph MacDonald – percussion (1, 5–8)
- Buddy Collette – flute solo (2)
- Bill Eaton – horn and string arrangements (1, 8), additional string arrangements (5, 6)
- Jeff Ervin – additional horn arrangements (1, 3)
- Jean Hintermann – additional horn arrangements (1, 3)
- Wade Marcus – horn arrangements (4–7), string arrangements (5, 6, 7)
Production
edit- Paul Smith – producer
- Bill Eaton – production consultant
- Gerry Griffith – production consultant
- Ralph MacDonald – production consultant
- Wade Marcus – production consultant
- Bob Merritt – recording, mixing
- Phil Jantaas – assistant engineer
- Ollie Cotton – assistant engineer
- Ed Rakowicz – assistant engineer
- Andy Engel – design
- Fred Anderson – photography
Charts
edit| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Pop Albums[5] | 134 |
| Billboard Top Soul Albums[5] | 50 |
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Chart positions[6] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B | ||||
| 1979 | "Don't It Make It Better " | 30 | ||
| "You Got The Stuff " | 85 | |||
References
edit- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 366.
- ^ Hogan, Ed. Bill Withers: 'Bout Love – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ ""'Bout Love" Charts & Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
- ^ a b "Bill Withers US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ "Bill Withers US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.