Watching You, Watching Me
Withers photographed in a white shirt, seated at a table with a mirror behind him; visible in the mirror is a woman looking at him
Studio album by
Bill Withers
Released1985 (1985)
Recorded1981, 1982,1985
Studio
GenreRhythm and blues
Length45:11
LabelColumbia/CBS
Producer
Bill Withers chronology
'Bout Love
(1979) 		Watching You, Watching Me
(1985) 		Lean on Me: The Best of Bill Withers
(1994)
Singles from Watching You, Watching Me
  1. "Oh Yeah!"
    Released: 1985
  2. "Something That Turns You On"
    Released: 1985

Watching You, Watching Me is the eighth and final studio album from American soul singer Bill Withers, released on Columbia Records in 1985. This was Withers' first release in six years and would prove to be his final album before he retired from popular music.

Recording and release

Withers spent several years writing and recording music that Columbia Records' parent company CBS Records rejected, leading to a span of seven years between this and his previous studio album, 'Bout Love.[1] The working relationship deteriorated to the point where Withers said that he wanted to explode a bomb at their headquarters but the artist and label collaborated on promoting the album;[2] this included a tour with Jennifer Holliday.[3]

Recording sessions and locations spanned at least four years:[4]

The album was mixed at The Complex and Conway Studios, Los Angeles, California and mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, California.[4]

Reception

During its eight-week run on the Billboard 200, the album peaked at 143 on June 28, 1985;[5] the same week, it stalled at 42 in a 25-week run on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[6] Writing for Billboard, Nelson George called the release one of the best rhythm and blues albums of 1985, writing that it was "full of little pleasures".[7] Years later, the editorial staff of AllMusic Guide awarded it three out of five stars but has not published a staff review;[8] a discussion of the box set Original Album Classics says this has "limited appeal" and calls the two singles from the album inessential.[9] In his 2020 obituary of Withers, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote that the album contained fantastic songs but was hampered by 1980s production techniques.[1] Stereogum published a list of Withers' best overlooked songs upon his death and included “We Could Be Sweet Lovers”, noting that it has staying power in his catalogue, even if the album is dated.[10]

Track listing

  1. "Oh Yeah!" (music by Larry Carlton, David Foster, and Bill Withers; lyrics by Withers) – 4:04
  2. "Something That Turns You On" (Withers) – 4:26
  3. "Don't Make Me Wait" (music by Don Freeman and Withers; lyrics by Withers) – 4:02
  4. "Heart in Your Life" (Withers) – 4:16
  5. "Watching You Watching Me" (William Eaton) – 5:50
  6. "We Could Be Sweet Lovers" (Withers) – 3:28
  7. "You Just Can't Smile It Away" (Withers) – 4:42
  8. "Steppin' Right Along" (Withers) – 5:46
  9. "Whatever Happens" (music by Carlton and Withers; lyrics by Withers) – 3:15
  10. "You Try to Find a Love" (music by Michel Colombier; lyrics by Withers) – 5:43

Personnel

Charts

Watching You, Watching Me sales chart performance
Chart (1985) Peak position
United Kingdom 60[11]
US Billboard 200 143[5]
US Billboard Top R&B Albums 42[5]
Sales chart performance of singles from Watching You, Watching Me
Single Year Chart Position
"Oh Yeah!" 1985 US Billboard Hot Black Singles 22[12]
"Oh Yeah!" 1985 US Billboard Adult Contemporary 40[13]
"Oh Yeah!" 1985 UK Singles 60[14]
"Something That Turns You On" 1985 US Billboard Hot Black Singles 46[15]

References

  1. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (April 3, 2020). "Bill Withers: The Brilliant Folk-Soul Star Who Said It All with Time to Spare". The Guardian. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  2. ^ "Celebrity Beat". Jet. Vol. 68, no. 14. June 17, 1985. p. 53. ISSN 0021-5996.
  3. ^ Benarde, Scott (October 27, 1985). "Bill Withers, 'Lean on Me' Attitude Back the 47-year-old Singer, Whose Style and Delivery Fall Somewhere Between Lou Rawls and Marvin Gaye, Has Released a New Album and Embarked on a Concert Tour". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Watching You, Watching Me (liner notes). Columbia Records. 1985.
  5. ^ a b c "Bill Withers". Billboard. June 28, 1985. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "Bill Withers". Billboard. June 28, 1985. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  7. ^ George, Nelson (January 11, 1986). "The Rhythm & the Blues". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 2. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510.
  8. ^ "Watching You Watching Me – Bill Withers". AllMusic Guide. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  9. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Original Album Classics – Bill Withers". AllMusic Guide. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  10. ^ Shipley, Al (April 3, 2020). "10 Overlooked Gems from Soul Legend Bill Withers". Stereogum. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  11. ^ Sharkey, Alix (August 10, 2010). "Bill Withers Interview". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  12. ^ "Oh Yeah (R&B)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  13. ^ "Oh Yeah (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  14. ^ "Oh Yeah (UK)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  15. ^ "Something That Turns You On (R&B)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2020.

External links

Bill Withers
Authority control databases
Categories