Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall [Magenta]

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 Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Live at Carnegie Hall is Withers' only live album, recorded on October 6, 1972, but not released until April 21, 1973. The fact that Bill got to play his heartfelt and honest soul at one of the most prestigious venues for both classical and pop music speaks volumes: his first two records, Just As I Am and Still Bill, were really that influential. Withers here appears on stage with an ensemble of only the best session musicians the 1970s had to offer: Melvin Dunlap, Ray Jackson, James Gadson, Benorce Blackmon, and Bobbye Hall, at the time one of the few female session percussionists. They all had worked together on Still Bill and had the knack for expanding Bill's intimate songs to fit a hall of that size and stature. And as far as the recording goes, no corners were cut; it really feels like you're up there with them. The set features evergreens such as Ain't No Sunshine, Lean On Me, and Grandma's Hands, but also tunes that are only available as part of this live set, such as World Keeps Going Around and I Can't Write Left-Handed. Live At Carnegie Hall was recorded over 50 years ago on a rainy Friday evening, but it is still regarded as one of the best live performances in the history of soul.