About

A TAV Curator's Pick.

Just As I Am is the debut studio album of American soul musician Bill Withers, released in 1971 by Sussex Records. With production, arrangement and keyboard accompaniment by Booker T. Jones.

Hit single off this album "Ain't No Sunshine", was ranked at number 280 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

“In a career laden with highlights and hallmarks in the annals of soul history, Just As I Am is rather overlooked as one of the best soul debuts ever issued. Beautifully remastered, Just As I Am is presented to a new generation of listeners who may have missed out the first time.

With this remastering comes an intimacy, warmth, and immediacy to the recordings that was only hinted at with previous versions; it's almost as if Withers is in a living room singing to a small group of people, rather than making a record.

Of course, the instantly recognizable anthem "Ain't No Sunshine" gets all of the acclaim it so richly deserves, but also in tracks like "Harlem", "Grandma's Hands" and "Better Off Dead" you can hear  the intensity and maturity of Bill's performances. Even when he's doing covers, Withers makes them sound as if they are his own compositions.” - Music On Vinyl

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