Just As I Am

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Just As I Am · This debut was released on 1 May 1971 on Sussex Records. Booker T. Jones produced the record, arranged the songs and played keyboards and guitar. On the sleeve Bill Withers stands next to a brick building, in a yellow T-shirt and carrying a lunch box, at what is reportedly the factory where he was then working, installing toilets for aircraft.

The album contains Ain't No Sunshine, which Rolling Stone later placed at number 280 on its list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, and Grandma's Hands, which reached eighteenth place on the soul chart. Robert Christgau wrote that Withers is more folk than pop and that he combines gospel fire with folk seriousness, which makes titles such as I'm Her Daddy and Better Off Dead sound like radical protest. In 2020 Rolling Stone placed the record at number 304 of the 500 greatest albums.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Harlem3:25Apple Music ↗
2. 2Ain't No Sunshine2:06Apple Music ↗
3. 3Grandma's Hands2:03Apple Music ↗
4. 4Sweet Wanomi2:35Apple Music ↗
5. 5Everybody's Talkin'3:28Apple Music ↗
6. 6Do It Good2:54Apple Music ↗
7. 7Hope She'll Be Happier3:51Apple Music ↗
8. 8Let It Be2:39Apple Music ↗
9. 9I'm Her Daddy3:20Apple Music ↗
10. 10In My Heart4:22Apple Music ↗
11. 11Moanin' and Groanin'2:00Apple Music ↗
12. 12Better Off Dead2:15Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗