1985 Bill Withers – Watching You Watching Me
Watching You Watching Me is the eighth album by Bill Withers, released in 1985
It featured the Top 40-rated R&B single “Oh Yeah”, and ended Withers’ business association with Columbia Records. Bill Withers stated in interviews that a lot of the songs approved for the album, in particular, two of the first three singles released, were the same songs which were rejected in 1982, hence contributing significantly to the eight-year hiatus between albums. Withers also stated it was frustrating seeing his record label release an album for Mr. T, an actor, when they were preventing him, an actual singer, from releasing his own. He toured with Jennifer Holiday in 1985 to promote what would be his final
Tracks
1 Oh Yeah! (Bill Withers, David Foster, Larry Carlton) 4:05
2 Something That Turns You On (Bill Withers) 4:25
3 Don’t Make Me Wait (Bill Withers, Don Freeman) 4:02
4 Heart In Your Life (Bill Withers) 4:18
5 Watching You Watching Me (William Eaton) 5:49
6 We Could Be Sweet Lovers (William Eaton) 3:30
7 You Just Can’t Smile It Away (Bill Withers) 4:44
8 Steppin’ Right Along (Bill Withers) 5:48
9 Whatever Happens (Bill Withers, Larry Carlton) 3:18
10 You Try To Find A Love (Michel Colombier, Bill Withers) 5:19
Musicians
1 Oh Yeah!
| Bass | Nathan East |
| Drums | JR Robinson |
| Keyboards | David Foster |
| Synthesizer | Bill Withers |
| Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
| Background Vocals | Denise Decaro |
| Background Vocals | Marty McCall |
| Background Vocals | Myrna Matthews |
2 Something That Turns You On
| Bass | Bill Withers |
| Clavinet | Paul Smith |
| Fender Rhodes | Bill Withers |
| Synthesizer | Paul Smith |
| Synthesizer | Keith Seppanen |
| Synthesizer | Bill Withers |
| Percussion | MB Gordy |
| Background Vocals | Alex Brown |
| Background Vocals | Denise Routt |
| Vocals | Phil Perry |
3 Don’t Make Me Wait
| Bass | Bob Popwell |
| Bass | Don Freeman |
| Guitar | Paul Jackson Jr |
| Keyboards | Robbie Buchanan |
| Piano | Don Freeman |
| Synthesizer | Don Freeman |
4 Heart In Your Life
| Bass | Bill Withers |
| Piano | Bill Withers |
| Synthesizer | Greg Phillinganes |
| Synthesizer | Bill Withers |
| Synthesizer | Keith Seppanen |
| Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
5 Watching You Watching Me
| Bass | Marcus Miller |
| Drums | Buddy Williams |
| Guitar | Dann Huff |
| Clavinet | Marcus Miller |
| Fender Rhodes | Richard Tee |
| Synthesizer | Robbie Buchanan |
| Synthesizer | Marcus Miller |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
| Harpsichord | Marcus Miller |
| Background Vocals | Lonnie Groves |
| Background Vocals | Maretha Stewart |
| Background Vocals | Yvonne Lewis |
6 We Could Be Sweet Lovers
| Drums | JR Robinson |
| Synthesizer | Bill Withers |
| Synthesizer | Don Freeman |
| Synthesizer | Paul Smith |
| Steel Drums | Don Freeman |
| Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
| Background Vocals | Edie Lahmann |
| Background Vocals | Kate Markowitz |
| Background Vocals | Phil Perry |
| Vocals | Alex Brown |
7 You Just Can’t Smile It Away
| Synthesizer | Paul Smith |
| Synthesizer | Robbie Buchanan |
| Sax | Ernie Watts |
| Background Vocals | Edie Lahmann |
| Background Vocals | Kate Markowitz |
8 Steppin’ Right Along
| Drums | JR Robinson |
| Keyboards | Joe Kelly |
| Synthesizer | Bill Withers |
| Synthesizer | Don Freeman |
| Synthesizer | Paul Smith |
| Vibraphone | Don Freeman |
| Percussion | MB Gordy |
| Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
| Background Vocals | Denise Routt |
9 Whatever Happens
| Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
| Synthesizer | Greg Phillinganes |
| Synthesizer | Michel Colombier |
10 You Try To Find A Love
| Guitar | Paul Jackson Jr |
| Synthesizer | Michel Colombier |
| Synthesizer | Michel Colombier |
Liner Notes
Producer – Bill Withers (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Producer – Larry Carlton (Track 1)
Producer – Denny Diante (Tracks 3, 4, 5, 9, 10)
Producer – Don Freeman (Track 3)
Producer – Ralph MacDonald (Track 5)
Producer – Michel Colombier (Track 10)
Co-producer – Denny Diante (Track 1)
Arranged By – David Foster (Track 1)
Arranged By – Don Freeman (Track 3)
Arranged By (Backing Vocals) – Alex Brown, Denise Routt, Phil Perry (Track 2)
Engineer – Keith Seppanen (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Engineer – Hal Sacks, Keith Seppanen, Larry Carlton, Larry Hirsch, Mick Guzauski (Track 1)
Engineer – Ed Cherney (Track 7)
Engineer – Erik Zobler, Tom Suefert (Track 3)
Engineer – Frank Wolf, Kendall Brown, Ed Heath (Track 5)
Engineer – Mick Guzauski (Track 10)
Mixed By – Mick Guzauski
Mixed By (Assistant) – Richard McKernan, Rick Clifford, Sharon Rice
Art Direction – Nick Lane, Nancy Donald
Photography By – Todd Gray
Manufactured By – Columbia Records
Manufactured By – CBS Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – CBS Inc.
Copyright (c) – CBS Inc.
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman
