Menagerie
Studio album by
Bill Withers
ReleasedOctober 29, 1977
Recorded1977
StudioThe Record Plant, Los Angeles, California
A&R Recording, New York City, New York
GenreSoul, R&B
Length38:26
LabelColumbia
ProducerBill Withers, Keni Burke, Clarence McDonald, Cliff Coulter
Bill Withers chronology
Naked & Warm
(1976)		 Menagerie
(1977)		 'Bout Love
(1979)

Menagerie is the sixth studio album by American R&B singer Bill Withers, released on October 29, 1977 through the Columbia label.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
Christgau's Record GuideC+[2]

Menagerie is overall more uptempo and less introspective in feel than Withers' previous albums. None of the songs tackle intensely personal emotions of the kind which lent a dark edge to earlier Withers tracks such as "Use Me", "Better Off Dead" or "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)". The arrangements are also generally upbeat and breezy, with "I Want to Spend the Night" and "Tender Things" having a distinct Latin feel, and "Lovely Night for Dancing" and "She Wants To (Get On Down)" showing disco influences. The lead single "Lovely Day" has gone on to become one of Withers' signature songs, particularly in the UK, where it was a top 10 hit both on its original release and again in a remixed version in 1988.

Menagerie peaked at #16 on the R&B chart and #39 on the Billboard 200. It was Withers' biggest-selling album in the UK, where it reached #27.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Lovely Day"
4:15
2."I Want to Spend the Night"Withers3:41
3."Lovely Night for Dancing"Withers5:51
4."Then You Smile at Me"
4:54
5."She Wants To (Get On Down)"
  • Withers
  • Larry Nash
3:15
6."It Ain't Because of Me Baby"
3:31
7."Tender Things"Withers5:02
8."Wintertime"Cliff Coulter3:17
9."Let Me Be the One You Need"
  • Withers
  • Scarborough
4:44
Reissue Bonus Tracks[3][4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Rosie"Withers4:11
11."Lovely Night for Dancing" (Single Version)Withers4:25
12."Let Me Be the One You Need" (Instrumental Version)
  • Scarborough
  • Withers
4:39

Personnel

  • Bill Withers – lead vocals (1-9), backing vocals (1-4, 6-9), guitar (2), keyboards (3)
  • Ray Parker Jr. – guitar (1, 4-7)
  • Clarence McDonald – keyboards (1, 4, 6, 7, 9), string arrangements (1, 6, 8), horn arrangements (6, 8), arrangements (7)
  • Dean Gant – keyboards (2)
  • Clifford Coulter – keyboards (5, 8), synthesizer solo (8)
  • Mike Jones – synthesizers (6)
  • Jerry Knight – bass (1, 4, 6)
  • Keni Burke – bass (2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9)
  • Russ Kunkel – drums (1, 2, 7, 8, 9), shaker (1)
  • Alvin Taylor – drums (3-6)
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion (1-4, 6-9)
  • Paul Riser – horn arrangements (2-4, 9) string arrangements (2-5, 9)
  • Charles Veal – concertmaster (1-4, 6-9)
  • Pat Hodges – backing vocals (5)
  • Denita James – backing vocals (5)
  • Jessica Smith – backing vocals (5)

Production

  • Bill Withers – producer (1-9)
  • Clarence McDonald – producer (1, 4, 6, 7, 9)
  • Keni Burke – producer (2, 3, 5)
  • Clifford Coulter – producer (8)
  • Bob Merritt – engineer
  • Phil Jantaas – assistant engineer
  • Roger Carpenter – design
  • Lou Beach – illustration
  • Elliot Gilbert – photography

Charts

Singles

Year Single Chart positions[8]
Billboard Hot 100 US
R&B		 US
A/C
1977 "Lovely Day" 30 6 25
1978 "Lovely Night for Dancing" — 75 —

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Bill Withers: Menagerie > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ Menagerie at AllMusic. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Menagerie". Bill Withers. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Bill Withers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Bill Withers Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Bill Withers US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
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