Menagerie may not be Mr. Withers best, but it has my absolute favorite track of his “Lovely Day,” a song that never fails to reach me simultaneously in the heart and in the loins, always putting a smile on my face, something of a rare occurrence these days.

Listening to side one today I couldn’t help thinking “this is what analog IS ALL ABOUT!” Solid yet “tubey” bass, sharp guitars, air around the percussion, and clear present vocals.

Leaving aside the disco numbers that must have been compulsory in 1977, as he has always done so well, Bill takes his time on these songs, and I found the groove of most a ways in. Withers impulsively avoids conveying drama with heartfelt outbursts and crescendos, preferring to take things slow and steady and favoring relaxed rhythms that let his songwriting speak for itself.

…and that voice! I can’t think of many singers who hold their notes so long and so clearly you forget the vocal track is still playing!

Robert Ludwig mastered Menagerie at Masterdisk and side one of my copy bears his signature. Not so the second side which sounds nearly as good with a bit less bass. There appears to be just a handful of U.S. versions out there. The promo appears to have Mr. Ludwig’s credit on both sides, but as far as I can tell the others have it on just one side or the other.

I’ve only heard this one copy, but I remain curious about the other versions and am tempted to pick up the version that has the “RL” on side 2. If this record weren’t so surprisingly scarce and increasingly expensive I might do just that! Who knew!