Menagerie in Bloomington, MN

Following the twin peaks of
Still Bill
and
Live at Carnegie Hall
in the early '70s,
Bill Withers
had a little trouble sustaining his peak of creativity, along with his chart positions. He still made good music and had hits, but had trouble delivering a consistent album that brought him back to the heights of his
Sussex
work. Finally, in 1977, he delivered
Menagerie
, an assured return to form by one of
soul
's greatest
singer/songwriters
of the '70s. If
doesn't have the earthiness or consistent brilliance of
, it nevertheless has a solid set of songs and an easy, relaxed charm that is thoroughly winning. Where his
material was slyly eclectic, touching on a number of different styles, this album is more cohesive, a smooth album that points the way toward
quiet storm
while retaining a warm soulfulness, largely due to
Withers
' wonderful voice. Even when the tempo gets sprightly, as on
"Lovely Night for Dancing,"
there's a relaxed vibe and a nice sheen to the production that keeps things even-handed and easy. As such, those listeners who preferred the darker undercurrents that ran through such songs as
"Use Me"
"Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?"
may find this a little too amiable, but that's just a matter of taste -- this is an easy record to like, after all, with a consistent tone and a soothing vibe, plus a good set of songs. If it's not as distinctive as his
records, it's nevertheless an undeniable high point in his catalog. [The 2003 reissue contains three bonus tracks: a previously unreleased demo of
"Rosie,"
a single version of
and an
instrumental
of
"Let Me Be the One You Need."
] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine