Billboard #1 Hits: #276: “Lean On Me”- Bill Withers. July 8, 1972. #1 for 3 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100.

• Single: “Lean On Me” – Bill Withers
• Record Company-Sussex
• Genre: Soul
• Written by Bill Withers
• Time: 4:17
• B-side: “Better Off Dead”
• Album- Still Bill
• Grade: A+
• Peaked at #1 3 weeks in Billboard Hot 100. #18 in UK Singles Chart.

Bill Withers first hit was a year earlier in 1971 “Ain’t No Sunshine” #3 from his outstanding debut album Just As I Am. On his equally impressive sophomore album Still Bill- came what would be his biggest hit “Lean On Me.” A great song written by Withers-and what a singing voice he had. An underrated performer. It was good to see him enjoy being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a few years before his passing this March. Rolling Stone ranked “Lean On Me” #208 in their 500 Greatest Songs Ever list. A song I never get tired of- and one which has been covered many times- but never as good as the original. Withers was inspired to write this after moving to Los Angeles. Having grew up in the small community of Slab Fork, West Virginia- he was missing the strong community ethic of his old hometown.