Bill Withers Back In The Studio

Soul legend and personal favorite Bill Withers is back in the studio. (If you don't own the acoustic soul gem Just As I Am, run out and get the new DualDisc version. It contains the classic "Ain't No Sunsine," "Grandma's Hands," a killer cover of the Beatles' "Let It Be" and "Harlem." Great stuff -- plus you get a 20 minute documentary and some live clips.) He's recorded a duet with Maroon 5 (okay, I'm less excited now) for the soundtrack to the upcoming family film Hoot, based on the Carl Hiaasen kid's book. How did I stumble on this? Because I was looking up Jimmy Buffett. (My brother was complaining about the lack of Buffett on this site.) Turns out Buffett is touring in the spring, spending the summer with his kids, putting three or four songs on the Hoot soundtrack, and working on the followup to his country album Licensed To Chill that he expects to put out in the fall. So there. Now someone get Withers in the studio to record a complete album -- preferably with Rick Rubin producing.