Still Bill is the second recorded album by American singer, songwriter, and producer Bill Withers. It was released in 1972 by Sussex Records. Withers recorded and produced the album with musicians from the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. The music on the album includes soul, funk, and blues styles. The lyrics discuss themes such as human nature, emotions, and relationships from the viewpoint of a middle-class man. The album includes some of Withers' most popular songs, such as the hit singles "Lean on Me" and "Use Me." At the time of its release, Still Bill was both a commercial and critical success. Music journalists later considered it a highlight of Withers' career and a classic example of 1970s R&B music.

Reception

Still Bill received positive reviews from critics. In 1972, Vince Aletti of Rolling Stone called it an improvement over Withers' first album, Just as I Am, because of the singer's production, which helped even the less strong songs. Aletti said, "On the whole, it's a stronger, calmer, and more confident album… Nothing is wasted, everything works with clear and strong ideas." Billboard praised Still Bill as proof that Withers deserved the attention he received after his debut and live shows, noting "plenty of sunshine" in the music and highlighting songs like "Lean on Me," "Who is He (And What Is He to You)," "Kissing My Love," and "Lonely Town, Lonely Street." Robert Christgau of Creem gave the album a B-plus, saying Withers created a believable image as a new type of soul singer, avoiding the weaknesses of other artists like Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, and Curtis Mayfield. He added that the album had strong rhythm and that the music was honest, caring, and strong. However, he noted the album lacked some excitement.

Commercially, Still Bill produced two hit songs: "Lean on Me" (number one on Billboard's pop and R&B charts in mid-1972) and "Use Me" (number two on the same charts later that year). On September 7, 1972, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), meaning it sold at least 500,000 copies.

Later reviews also praised Still Bill. In 1981, Christgau wrote in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies that Withers was "plenty raunchy" and could rock strongly. He noted that the self-produced album had simple arrangements and that Ray Jackson's work on "Use Me" was one of the best songs about sex in music. In 2003, Andy Hermann of PopMatters called the album "essential listening" for fans of 1970s funk and R&B. He credited session musicians from the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band for helping Withers create a unique style of bluesy funk. In 2005, David Wild of Rolling Stone said the album was "finer and funkier" than Just as I Am and "still a stone-soul masterpiece." Derek Miller of Stylus Magazine called it "a stone-cold, gold-plated soul classic" and compared it to other great albums from the same time, like Isaac Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul (1969), Curtis Mayfield's Roots (1971), Stevie Wonder's Talking Book (1972), and Al Green's Call Me (1973). Miller said Still Bill showed Withers' musical creativity by blending soul, blues, and "muscular funk" into a sound that balanced strong rhythms and softer moments.

In 2007, Still Bill was included in The Guardian's list of "1,000 albums to hear before you die," with an essay noting that the album contains two of Withers' most famous songs, "Lean on Me" and "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?" and praised the blend of calm, funky music. In 2008, Tom Moon included the album in 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, calling it one of the most eloquent rhythm and blues records. He said the album tells mature, realistic stories and that Withers keeps a calm, relaxed mood, making everything sound like a peaceful summer evening. In 2020, Still Bill ranked number 333 on Rolling Stone's revised list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time."

Track listing

All tracks were composed by Bill Withers, except where noted. Side one and Side two were combined into tracks 1 through 10 on CD reissues.

Personnel

• Bill Withers – performed vocals, played guitar, and played acoustic piano on track 5, and acoustic guitar on tracks 11 and 12
• Ray Jackson – played acoustic piano, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, and arranged horns and strings
• Benorce Blackmon – played guitar
• Melvin Dunlap – played bass guitar
• James Gadson – played drums and percussion
• Bobbye Hall – played percussion on tracks 11 and 12

• Bill Withers – produced tracks 1 through 12
• Ray Jackson – produced tracks 1 through 12
• Benorce Blackmon – produced tracks 1 through 10
• Melvin Dunlap – produced tracks 1 through 10
• James Gadson – produced tracks 1 through 10
• Bob Hughes – engineered the recordings
• Phil Schier – engineered and remixed the recordings
• Michael Mendel – directed art design
• Maurer Productions – directed art design
• Milton Sincoff – designed packaging
• Hal Wilson – took photographs

• Leo Sacks – produced the project
• Steve Berkowitz – handled A&R
• Darren Salmieri – coordinated A&R
• Joseph M. Palmaccio – mastered the recordings
• Lisa Buckler – managed product development
• Maurice Joshua – managed product development
• Triana D'Orazio – managed packaging
• Howard Fritzon – directed art design
• Tim Morse – designed the project
• Harry Goodwin – took photographs
• Bob Gruen – took photographs
• Michael Ochs Archive – provided photographs
• SMP/Globe Photos – provided photographs
• Bill Withers – wrote the liner notes

• Recorded at The Record Plant in Los Angeles, California.
• Bonus Tracks recorded live at Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York.
• 2003 reissue mastered at Sony Music Studios in New York City, New York.