Still The Greatest

Yeah, TNOP knows: it's Monday. So if it feels like you are already on the ropes, we're going to set things right.

Over the weekend, it was the 36th (!) anniversary of the "Rumble In The Jungle," Muhammad Ali's stunning defeat of George Foreman in the African nation of Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo). [The night before the boxing match there was a music festival featuring James Brown, Bill Withers, B.B. King, The Spinners and Celia Cruz & The Fania All-Stars.] And if there ever was an authentic rock and roll boxer, it was Ali -- still "The Greatest."

So when you have worked your Monday morning rope-a-dope to perfection and decide it is time to dance, close the office door and turn up the video from The Hours below.

The Morning Papers

TNOP brings the news to your front doorstep . . .

NPR Music is streaming the new Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach. We're a couple of spins through and its true to the groove. While there doesn't appear to be a song like "Feel Good Inc." or "Clint Eastwood" that immediately catches the ear, the Lou Reed tune, "Some Kind of Nature," is especially cool. And you can also check out 2D, Murdoc and Noodles being pursued by Bruce Willis in the video for the first single, "Stylo." Where's Russel? Stay tuned.

On May 18, Universal Music will reissue one of the most critically acclaimed rock records of all time, The Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street. The new package will include four never heard tunes produced by Jimmy Miller, Don Was and The Glimmer Twins (Mick & Keef).

Brooklyn's Yeasayer played Brighton Digital in the UK on Monday night. The Guardian reviews.

Clarence Greenwood a/k/a Citizen Cope talks with Jim DeRogatis in advance of his sold-out show in Chicago this coming Friday at The Vic.

The Morning Benders, a three piece outfit from Berkeley, California, have warmed up for some significant indie acts (Grizzly Bear, The Kooks and Ra Ra Riot, to name a few) over the past couple of years. Now they may be on the verge of breaking out with their pending CD Big Echo. You can stream the whole album over at Muzzle of Bees. And the band lets you download their Phil Spector Wall of Sound influenced opening track, "Excuses," for free at their website.

Baltimore pop duo Beach House celebrate their latest release Teen Dream with an interview and mini-set on the World Cafe.

This Saturday night The Avett Brothers play a sold-out gig at The Riverside in Milwaukee. No tickets? Hear the show live on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee.

If you've been a reader of this blog, you know our affinity for soul giant Bill Withers. Now the latest issue of The New Yorker profiles him.

Canadian folk legend Gordon Lightfoot submits to a Q&A with Connect Savannah.

The Choice Music Prize is Ireland's annual bow to the best pop music on the Emerald Isle. The Irish Times gives us a run-down on all the nominees and sets the odds of winning, as well.

Finally, The Band's multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Richard Manuel passed away 15 years ago today. In gracious memory of his extraordinary talent, listen to his lead on "Tears of Rage" at Woodstock in 1969. The footage is rare and quite coarse, but it's worth it. As Levon Helm put it, ". . . once he got started, man: drums, piano, play it all, sing, do a lead in one of them high, hard-assed keys to sing in. Richard just knew how a song was supposed to go. Structure, melody; he understood it."

Special Screening of "Still Bill"

Back in October, we wrote at length about the enduring musical legacy of Bill Withers and the limited release of the new documentary on his career, Still Bill. This Tuesday night, the good folks at 88Nine Radio Milwaukee will host a special screening for listeners at the Hi Hat Garage at Brady & Arlington Streets in Milwaukee. The benefit showing will be followed by a performance by the great Paul Cebar and the up and coming talent Evan Christian. It's only $10 and the fee benefits an independent radio station which is an oasis on the radio dial.

Ultimate Singles Jukebox [Slot 102]

USE ME
b/w "It's Just A Matter Of Time"
Bill Withers
Sussex/A&M Records 241
Released 1972
Produced by Bill Withers
Written by Bill Withers

By the time William Harrison "Bill" Withers Jr began recording for Sussex Records in 1971, he was already 33 years old. Hailing from a dot on the map called Slab Fork, West Virginia, Withers had already served a nine year hitch in the Navy and worked as an assembler in several different Los Angeles area companies, including Douglas Aircraft Corporation. In 1970, his demo tape was heard by an executive at Sussex and he was offered a record contract.

In 1971, Withers burst on to the music scene with the Booker T. Jones (of Booker T. & The MG's fame) produced album Just As I Am. "Ain't No Sunshine" was the breakout hit, reaching #3 on the Hot 100. It subsequently was awarded the Grammy for Best R&B Song of the Year. "Grandma's Hands," a sweet ode to Withers' own grandmother, also made some noise on the charts.

By 1972, Withers had convinced band members from the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band ("Express Yourself") to tour with him: drummer James Gadson, guitarist Benorce Blackmon, keyboardist Ray Jackson and bassist Melvin Dunlap. Along with percussionist Bobbye Hall, this group would be the musical cornerstone for Withers' best studio album: Still Bill, released in the summer of 1972. The biggest hit of Withers' career came from these sessions: "Lean On Me," which shot to #1 the week of July 8, 1972. But a second song from Still Bill, riding one of the funkiest grooves to hit the airwaves, would rise as high as #2 and tag Withers as a man to be reckoned with in a star-studded popular music field of the time (for example, Stevie Wonder was just starting to hit his solo stride at this point).

The Withers penned "Use Me" grabs the listener immediately with an irresistable keyboard hook and syncopated beat. The lyrics are grabbers - we don't particularly know who's done who wrong: "It's true you really do abuse me/You get me in a crowd of high-class people/And then you act real rude to me. . ./I wanna spread the news/That if it feels this good being used/You just keep on using me/Until you've used me up."

For the most part "Use Me" has remained a staple on radio. The band used on Still Bill later recorded a live set at Carnegie Hall that holds up particularly well. Withers eventually left Sussex and signed with Columbia, where he cut four albums. He then concentrated on collaborations with the likes of Grover Washington Jr (scoring the hit "Just The Two Of Us") and The Crusaders. But Withers then faded away from the music scene. In 1988, a ten year old song, "Lovely Day," was remixed and became a hit in the UK. He resurfaced briefly again in 2004, but only as a writer, contributing two tunes to the Jimmy Buffet release "License To Chill."

Bill Withers has not recorded any new music in almost 25 years, despite constant rumors of a lot of unused material and invitations from some of the more note-worthy producers in the business to collaborate. A documentary, also entitled Still Bill, was produced and screened in limited release this past summer. A DVD release date has yet to be announced.

Be sure to check out this video of Bill Withers and his band performing (at a slightly slower tempo) "Use Me," probably taken from English television's The Old Grey Whistle Stop back in 1972. The guitar work of Benorce Blackmon is particularly enthralling.