Menagerie (album)

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

Menagerie
Studio album by
Bill Withers
ReleasedDecember 1977
Recorded1977 The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California
A&R Recording, New York City, New York
GenreSoul, R&B
Length38:30
LabelColumbia
ProducerBill Withers, Keni Burke, Clarence McDonald, Cliff Coulter
Bill Withers chronology
Naked & Warm
(1976)		 Menagerie
(1977)		 'Bout Love
(1979)

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
  1. "Lovely Day" (Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough) – 4:15
  2. "I Want to Spend the Night" (Withers) – 3:41
  3. "Lovely Night for Dancing" (Withers) – 5:51
  4. "Then You Smile at Me" (Withers, Clarence McDonald) – 4:54
  5. "She Wants To (Get On Down)" (Withers, Larry Nash) – 3:15
  6. "It Ain't Because of Me Baby" (Withers, Michael Jones) – 3:31
  7. "Tender Things" (Withers) – 5:02
  8. "Wintertime" (Cliff Coulter) – 3:17
  9. "Let Me Be the One You Need" (Withers, Scarborough) – 4:44

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
Chart (1978) Peak
position
Billboard Pop Albums[3] 39
Billboard Top Soul Albums[3] 16

Singles
Year Single Chart positions[4]
Billboard Hot 100 US
R&B		 US
A/C
1977 "Lovely Day" 30 6 25
1978 "Lovely Night for Dancing" — 75 —
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References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Bill Withers: Menagerie > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 29 August 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. "Bill Withers US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  4. "Bill Withers US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
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