Classic Pop Icons

This week’s Song of the Week is Bill Withers’ “Lean On Me,” which was enjoying its third week at number one in the US on this date in 1972. Withers had hit it big the previous year with his debut album, “Just As I Am,” and in particular the first single taken from that album, “Ain’t No Sunshine,” which sold a million and won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song in March 1972.

Withers recorded the classic “Lean On Me” during a break from touring. He explained his inspiration to Songfacts.com:

Here’s Withers singing “Lean On Me” in 1972 at a Save the Children benefit gig in Chicago.

“Lean On Me” appeared on Withers’ second album,”Still Bill,” and there is also a live version on the album “Bill Withers Live At Carnegie Hall,” which was recorded on Friday 6th October 1972.

Recording date/location

“Lean On Me” was recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA in early 1972.

Authorship

“Lean On Me” was composed solely by Bill Withers.

Musicians

The following musicians played on “Lean on Me”:

• Bill Withers – guitar, piano, vocals
• Bobbye Hall – percussion
• Benorce Blackmon – guitar
• Melvin Dunlap – bass
• James Gadson – drums, percussion
• Raymond Jackson – piano, clarinet, horn & string arrangement.

All but Hall and Withers himself were members of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band.

Chart performance

“Lean On Me” was released in May 1972 and hit number one on the US pop chart on July 2, where it stayed for three weeks.

The song became Withers’ second gold disc, after “Ain’t No Sunshine” the previous year, and sold in excess of three million copies. “Lean On Me” was Withers’ only number one, but his next single, “Use Me,” did hit number two.

Covers

Club Nouveau – “Lean On Me”

Club Nouveau became the second act to take “Lean On Me” to number one with their R&B cover in 1987. Although recorded 15 years later than Withers’ version, it is the more modern cut that sounds dated, with its use of 1980s synth effects.

Sandra Reaves-Phillips – “Lean On Me”

“Lean On Me” was the theme song for a film of the same name in 1989, which was essentially a remake of To Sir With Love. The film featured versions of “Lean On Me” by Sandra Reaves-Phillips and a hip-hop version by Big Daddy Kane. Here’s Sandra Reaves-Phillips in a clip from the film.

Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow and Keith Urban – “Lean On Me”

The lyrics of “Lean On Me” make it a natural choice for artists when encouraging us to support a cause. Earlier this year, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow and Keith Urban sang “Lean On Me” at the Hope for Haiti earthquake relief telethon.

You can still pick up Withers’ great second album, “Still Bill,” which features “Lean on Me.” The song is also of course featured on a number of compilation albums, of which “Ain’t No Sunshine – The Best of Bill Withers” comes highly recommended.

Title
Bill Withers – Still Bill (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Ain’t No Sunshine – The Best of Bill Withers (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

There will be a new Song of the Week on July 26.