Just the Two of Us

I ran this by Pat and he suggested that we discuss it further here. I'm curious about the official performer credit for the 1981 song "Just the Two of Us". Every original Elektra/Asylum 45 I have seen, including the 12" promos, credits Washington by himself (with no mention of Bill Withers), but Pat was saying that he's had a lot of people email him swearing that their 45's credit "Grover Washington, Jr. with Bill Withers". Joel Whitburn apparently confirms this as well. I know that Bill Withers co-wrote and co-sings the song - that is not in question - but I'm curious if there are really alternate pressings of the original 45's with different performer credits. Can anyone confirm this fact?

Edited by joliom

I have two promo copies, neither of which credits Bill Withers.




Perhaps Bill's initial omission was a result of his not having been signed to Elektra. We've also seen some odd crediting on a few soundtrack hits on labels that aren't home to the artists. Contractual specifics may be at play here.

Case in point: the original artist credit on then-Deram artist Justin Hayward's "Forever Autumn" single (below, left) could only have been dreamed up by someone's legal department. Does anyone ever remember hearing such a mouthful announced verbatim on the radio? Probably not. Fortunately, later pressings (below, right) cleared it up considerably.



Edited by Yah Shure

The LP version runs about 7:22, and surprisingly turns up on Time-Life's 2-CD Body And Soul Vol. 2 Love And Tenderness (1998).

The 45 is an edit of the LP version, and runs about 3:58. This is by far the most common version on compilations. I prefer the sound on Rhino's Radio Daze Vol. 5, but I didn't encounter any discs where it sounds really bad.

An early fade of the 45 edit, running about 3:30, first appeared on Time-Life's 2-CD Heart Rock (1988). This version didn't exist when the song was a hit in 1981. The same analog transfer is used for:

• Time-Life's 2-CD Body Talk (1994; digitally exactly 1.9 dB louder)
• JCI's Only Rock 'N Roll #1 Radio Hits 1980-1984 (1996)
• Warner Special Products' 2-CD Touched By Love (1997)
• Warner Special Products' Soft Love (1999)

Avoid all of the above.

Edited by crapfromthepast