Bill Withers "Harlem" (1971)

[Odawg96]

There was a piece posted up here where Withers talked about having been asked to score the music to "Cotton Comes to Harlem", but opted out because he didn't care for the movie script. If you really pay attention to the lyrics here, though, it's very obvious that THIS song was probably written with the movie in mind. He references the plot of the movie a couple of times: "preacher's delegation wants to a donation...gettin' to the promised land...lyin', cheatin' man, etc."

[kjasper1]

classic

[7coco3]

Yeah!! it's on SR11 right now!! Awsome...

[luqmanms]

somebody put the lyrics up.

[kashill1]

This was a different time...

[56postoffice]

Great tune from a truly great soul star. Right on!!

[mjjcng8958]

he was born the same year and a day aftr my father. still bill is a great documentary

[IrisMG]

Bill Withers is proof that something good came out of West Virginia. Hot damn. God, I miss music!

[markgrebetz]

Let me tell the congregation that Jesus has been back and was singing to us again.



[lookingoutpfunk]

a master

[dcarlson12206]

:-) lov this 1 but i love everything from bill

[mackaroma68]

This song is so under rated its offf the chain when they paly it in the club mix

[tyrusrcobb]

One of America's greatest songwriters. His voice is so buttery smooth. The most underrated artist in music.

[sithlord06]

Funky groove....very underrated artist

[MsTexas73]

WOW!!! I'd only heard the 5th Dimension's version...which I REALLY like...but this ORIGINAL verasion is also a GROOVE!!!

[marQuemusic]

I love Harlem. Vibes!

[spideymayne]

This man and his songwriting skills should be considered up there with Lennon/McCartney, Dylan, Stevie, and Gamble/Huff. Just amazing stuff. 

[JeanlaidAlvarez]

Bottega Veneta Fall 2009 GREAT SHOW , GREAT SONG !!!

[ANITJAY]

One of the Best House Tracks!!!

[LEEFROMTHELAND]

@ANITJAY ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT THAT!!!!!!!! CHI-TOWN LOVE

[jody808]

i love this song, waiting for someone to do a remake

[JERRIO444]

@jody808 TRY LISTENING FOR TODD TERRYS MIX. WRIGHTY.

[6104luke]

@jody808

Hi very ggod remake has been made by HOT CITY SYMPHONY during 70's.

Really hard to find.

[SlickFunker]

@jody808

Creative Source recorded a good version of Harlem, though I have to admit, I prefer Bill's original.

[Wehategod]

A very Catchy Song I may add a classic if anything

[fendertele1988]

anyone know the chord progression or where to get the sheet music?

[dirtyedna]

LOFT/GALLERY NYC ..........if you were there you know what I mean......

[maceo28]

Ok...picture this...a room full of sweating bodies sweatin' to a faceless slammin' House track on 71st street in Chicago at 3am late saturday early sunday then....all of a sudden with the track blasting the DJ puts "Harlem" on acapella!! The fuckin' room went nuts!! Hollering, screaming, dancing! It was perfect....memories are made of this!! Chitown Househeads up in here!!

[ANITJAY]

@maceo28 I could only imagine.. They played this track at the chosen few picnic..in chicago..Man, the entire crowd went nuts!!

[maceo28]

@ANITJAY Chosen Few Picnic?! I can only imagine how they clowned on this track up in there!! This year was the first I missed due to them charging for the first time...I heard it was still slammin' though...gotta love Chicago in the summer...well...when I think about it Fall is pretty sweet too! Thanks for commenting ANITAJAY...peace...

[erickliddell]

@ANITJAY I was right in front. Got footage. Looked like an insane asylum!

[zipper179]

My 1st job in New York; worked for Model Cities in Harlem, for 2 years..Very interesting..

[TooDarnSoulful]

love it :)) ktf

[mayena]

Should be the neighborhood anthem of the revitalized Harlem.

[imwayy2fly]

This is my first time ever hearing this song. This is a slammin' tune..str8t on its way to my playlist!

[gooseisdead]

Killer track.

[nickholm]

i like the toddy terry rmx of this. bangin.

[Auntkekebaby]

BW's music, and especially this song, is permanently on my ipod! this is a SERIOUS STOMPER! MARCH, MARCH, MARCH...

[mcpm4]

would love to hear this live with an orchestra. it just builds and builds. my son loved this song. he never sings and he would sing this in the car when I played it. nice memory.

[aram1414]

hey POWERLOUNGER..you're sick lol

[powerlounger]

Ok, this was on the 'B' side of the 45 'Ain't No Sunshine'. If you can imagine the little white girl in her catholic uniform dancin' in her bedroom lip-syncing to this sing. I know EVERY BEAT of this song. Hey-hey Lord, don't give your money to that lyin', cheatin' man.

[Hypocrisies]

That's pretty hot.

[erickliddell]

2:25 lawd Jesus!!

[flingflangflud]

dam straight

[dirtyedna]

LOFT / GALLERY NYC

[MrBlackshawn]

man, if u r ever in chicago on a Tuesday night, come visit Reynold's lounge. It's House night with D.J Mike Dunn and he beats this record so hard that u can practically feel it n ur soul. Bill snapped in the studio!!!!!!!

[xiloves]

Oh boo when I come home to the Chi I will be there just liet me know where. I be done passed out hearing someone beat this piece folk just dont understand Chicago house. Its very soul filled.

[Trae731]

This is like my favorite house song.

what is the address?

They play this at the Family Den on sundays! I am a HouseHead 4real!!!!!

[casblackie]

my guy Ron Hardy beat this the best in the day. RIP Ron.

[LokiDWolf]

I'm from Chicago and yep, this was rocked by him!!!  I didn't even know who it was when it was played. R.I.P. Ron and House still lives on!!!

[Trae731]

Yes he did!!!

So did Lil-Louis

so did pick house!

they played it alot at the Power house and the Lamarang:^) I spelled that wrong!

Remember Mendle,Leo high school on friday nights! I was at all of them every weekend. OMG remember the WareHouse on Randoulph!!!!!

[romloyschol]

I agree is one of the best song in a house mix, we get down to this song. Young people don't know what real music sounds like. Preach Bill, Hear in Harlem.

[phatblackcow]

I loved hearing this song in the warehouse , it sounds so good with the bass... but y'all don't know nuthin about this...

[2sexxyfaya]

this is bad! i mean michael j bad n thats good 4 yall who dont know! lol

[gam1ller]

Bill's song was remixed and used on the Fall/Winter 2009 runway of Bottega Venata show.

[erickliddell]

ahead of his time! he even got a wallet and celly in his pockets back in 1971...

[xiloves]

You silly eric. Haha you would notice that one. Do you hear the Symphonic cresendo it the beginning. Killllllin it. Love. I have to revisit this one from time to time I see you do to!!

[debjame]

I'd been looking for this song for awhile. Thanks for posting it.

[freepussy]

This whole album was great! Bill is a rockin' the mellow funkster. I love the spare arangement ,Booker T. Jones on the keyboard with Bills velvety smooth voice front and center. Classic!

[TalkingOrangutan]

kick ass beat!

[powerlounger]

Little white girl, in her Catholic uniform, playing the 'b' side to 'Ain't No Sunshine'. And dancing like a lunatic. This was my song.

[ublokr]

Actually, it was supposed to be the A side! See the great article on Bill Withers in the New Yorker, March 8, 2010.

[Capcoor]

@powerlounger You go,white girl.

[powerlounger]

@Capcoor How could I not with this song?

[airplaneguy53]

@powerlounger ..actually AINT NO SUNSHINE was the B-side ... DJ's liked it a little better than HARLEM.....

[powerlounger]

@airplaneguy53 Wow, I liked it a whole lot better than 'Ain't No Sunshine', and I loved 'Ain't No Sunshine'; but I found myself just playing 'Harlem' over and over again. Drove my parents nuthouse.

[terrylingwood]

@powerlounger this was apparently the A-side :-O

[powerlounger]

@terrylingwood For me, it was.

[wmbrown6]

@terrylingwood - That was the original intent; then they put on "Ain't No Sunshine" and that took off.

[Gr8tCompany]

Fred Casey on drums ALRIGHT NOW !!!

[cococristallis]

this has got to be the best song I've ever heard in my life! The BESTTTTTT house jam ever!

[suslider]

Outside the Chi, They don't know nuthin bout that! LOL!

[xiloves]

They were beating this at last years choosen Few.

[loosestudios]

Bill Withers (born July 4, 1938) is an American vocalist and hall-of-fame songwriter who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Ain't No Sunshine," "Use Me," "Lovely Day," "Lean on Me", "Grandma's Hands", and "Just the Two of Us".

[nuveausapien]

The most underrated songwriter of the twentieth century.

[loosestudios]

At the 14th annual Grammy Awards on Tuesday, March 14, 1972, Withers won his first Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Song for "Ain't No SunshineJust the Two of Us",t Grover Washington, Jr., which was released in June 1980. It won a Grammy on February 24, 1982. Bill Withers was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and into the inaugural class of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Also, in 2007 his "Lean On Me" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

He got is due and $

[koollatter]

Noveausapien, I couldn't agree with you more. Withers does not get the recognition that he deserves.

[CaguamaTom]

@nuveausapien totally

[mrgeeky]

WOW!! Love those strings...

[themack1970]

deep house music

[darksis2000]

I freakin' Love this song!!

[chillydotjeff]

I do too! People tell me I have such an old soul cause I ride around blastin' this kinda shit! ! ! ! !LOL!

[Locard56a]

Amen to that!

[thyzira]

can i say it s always good love your music thanks