'Bout Love

For the Plasticines album, see About Love (album).

'Bout Love
Studio album by
Bill Withers
Released12 March 1979
RecordedAugust–December 1978
StudioRecord Plant (Los Angeles, California) and A&R Recording (New York City, New York).
GenreSoul
Length39:03
LabelColumbia
ProducerPaul Smith
Bill Withers chronology
Menagerie
(1977) 		'Bout Love
(1979) 		Bill Withers' Greatest Hits
(1981)

'Bout Love is the seventh studio album by the American musician Bill Withers, released in 1979 on the Columbia label.[1] Withers collaborated with Paul Smith, who co-wrote all the tracks but "Memories Are That Way" with Withers.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideC[3]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul[1]

'Bout Love features Withers' usual mellowness and introspective lyrics, however its lead single, "Don't It Make It Better" is up-tempo, and its follow-up single, "You Got the Stuff" is a funk song. "Don't It Make It Better" peaked at No. 30 on Billboard R&B Singles, but "You Got the Stuff" reached only No. 85 on the chart.[4]

'Bout Love peaked at #50 on the R&B chart and No. 134 on the Billboard 200.

Track listing

  1. "All Because Of You" (Bill Withers, Paul Smith) – 3:50
  2. "Dedicated To You My Love" (Withers, Smith) – 4:47
  3. "Don't It Make It Better" (Withers, Smith) – 4:12
  4. "You Got The Stuff" (Withers, Smith, Keith Hatchell) – 7:14
  5. "Look To Each Other For Love" (Withers, Smith) – 4:23
  6. "Love" (Withers, Smith) – 4:57
  7. "Love Is" (Withers, Smith) – 4:21
  8. "Memories Are That Way" (Withers) – 5:06

Personnel

  • Bill Withers – vocals, acoustic guitar (1), bass (1), whistle (2), guitar (3, 4, 7, 8), horn and string arrangements (3), acoustic piano (4), drums (8)
  • Wah Wah Watson – electric guitar (1)
  • Paul Smith – keyboards (1–7), synthesizer (1–4)
  • Geoffrey Leib – keyboards (8)
  • Clifford Coulter – synthesizer (8)
  • Keni Burke – additional bass lIcks (1, 2), bass (3, 6, 7)
  • Bryan Garofalo – bass (2, 5, 8)
  • Jerry Knight – bass (3)
  • Keith Hatchell – bass (4)
  • Russ Kunkel – drums (1, 2, 3, 5–8), additional cymbal (8)
  • Harvey Mason – drums (4)
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion (1, 5–8)
  • Buddy Collette – flute solo (2)
  • Bill Eaton – horn and string arrangements (1, 8), additional string arrangements (5, 6)
  • Jeff Ervin – additional horn arrangements (1, 3)
  • Jean Hintermann – additional horn arrangements (1, 3)
  • Wade Marcus – horn arrangements (4–7), string arrangements (5, 6, 7)

Production

  • Paul Smith – producer
  • Bill Eaton – production consultant
  • Gerry Griffith – production consultant
  • Ralph MacDonald – production consultant
  • Wade Marcus – production consultant
  • Bob Merritt – recording, mixing
  • Phil Jantaas – assistant engineer
  • Ollie Cotton – assistant engineer
  • Ed Rakowicz – assistant engineer
  • Andy Engel – design
  • Fred Anderson – photography

Charts

Chart (1979) Peak
position
Billboard Pop Albums[5] 134
Billboard Top Soul Albums[5] 50

Singles

Year Single Chart positions[6]
US
R&B
1979 "Don't It Make It Better " 30
"You Got The Stuff " 85

References

  1. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 366.
  2. ^ Hogan, Ed. Bill Withers: 'Bout Love – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ ""'Bout Love" Charts & Awards". Allmusic. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Bill Withers US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  6. ^ "Bill Withers US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.