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.
^Menagerie at AllMusic. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
^"Menagerie". Bill Withers. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
^"Bill Withers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
^"Bill Withers Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
^"Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
^"Bill Withers US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
July 30, 2023
menagerie, album, menagerie, sixth, studio, album, american, singer, bill, withers, released, october, 1977, through, columbia, label, menageriestudio, album, bill, withersreleasedoctober, 1977recorded1977studiothe, record, plant, angeles, california, recordin. Menagerie is the sixth studio album by American R amp B singer Bill Withers released on October 29 1977 through the Columbia label MenagerieStudio album by Bill WithersReleasedOctober 29 1977Recorded1977StudioThe Record Plant Los Angeles California A amp R Recording New York City New YorkGenreSoul R amp BLength38 26LabelColumbiaProducerBill Withers Keni Burke Clarence McDonald Cliff CoulterBill Withers chronologyNaked amp Warm 1976 Menagerie 1977 Bout Love 1979 Contents 1 Reception 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 3 1 Production 4 Charts 4 1 Weekly charts 4 2 Year end charts 4 3 Singles 5 External links 6 ReferencesReception EditProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllmusic 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 amp B chart and 39 on the Billboard 200 It was Withers biggest selling album in the UK where it reached 27 Track listing EditNo TitleWriter s Length1 Lovely Day Bill Withers Skip Scarborough4 152 I Want to Spend the Night Withers3 413 Lovely Night for Dancing Withers5 514 Then You Smile at Me Withers Clarence McDonald4 545 She Wants To Get On Down Withers Larry Nash3 156 It Ain t Because of Me Baby Withers Michael Jones3 317 Tender Things Withers5 028 Wintertime Cliff Coulter3 179 Let Me Be the One You Need Withers Scarborough4 44 Reissue Bonus Tracks 3 4 No TitleWriter s Length10 Rosie Withers4 1111 Lovely Night for Dancing Single Version Withers4 2512 Let Me Be the One You Need Instrumental Version Scarborough Withers4 39Personnel EditBill 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 Edit 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 photographyCharts EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1978 PeakpositionUS Billboard 200 5 39US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 6 16 Year end charts Edit Chart 1978 PositionUS Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 7 50 Singles Edit Year Single Chart positions 8 Billboard Hot 100 USR amp B USA C1977 Lovely Day 30 6 251978 Lovely Night for Dancing 75 External links EditBill Withers Menagerie at DiscogsReferences Edit Erlewine Stephen Thomas Bill Withers Menagerie gt Review at AllMusic Retrieved August 29 2011 Christgau Robert 1981 Consumer Guide 70s W Christgau s Record Guide Rock Albums of the Seventies Ticknor amp Fields ISBN 089919026X Retrieved March 22 2019 via robertchristgau com Menagerie at AllMusic Retrieved December 31 2020 Menagerie Bill Withers Retrieved December 31 2020 Bill Withers Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved April 16 2021 Bill Withers Chart History Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Retrieved April 16 2021 Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Year End 1978 Billboard Retrieved April 16 2021 Bill Withers US singles chart history allmusic com Retrieved August 29 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Menagerie album amp oldid 1152992714, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
