Just As I Am

Withers, Bill

$39.99

Limited edition of 7500 numbered copies on translucent yellow coloured 180-gram audiophile vinyl. Bill Withers was a modest, gentle, and yet towering musical figure responsible for some of the most important, universally known soul hits ever written. It's no wonder that "Just the Two of Us" and "Ain't No Sunshine" won him two Grammy awards and undoubtedly played a huge role in getting him inducted into both the Songwriters and Rock and Roll hall of fame. Just As I Am is Withers' debut album and is by all measures a brilliant first outing. The record features twelve tunes of which most are Bill's own compositions, each song a reflection of his unique introspective, folky take on soul music. By far the most famous song on the album is the smash hit "Ain't No Sunshine", originally released as a B-side to the tune & "Harlem" in 1971. It turned Withers into a worldwide soul icon, so much so that the song won him a Grammy for Best R&B Song in 1972. Considering the other single on the album is "Grandma's Hands", it's not hard to understand why it's ranked #304 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. This edition includes a booklet featuring a reflective essay on Bill Withers written by writer, poet and civil rights activist Kevin Powell.