Bill Withers: Just As I Am

Just As I Am was Bill Withers debut studio album. Withers' soulful folk and blues style, lyrical talent, and alluring voice did not take long to catch on. There is no doubt that Booker T.'s production made this album a record worth a listen as well. The album generated multiple hit songs, including "Ain't No Sunshine", which is ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone magazine also recognized Just As I Am as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

This review pits two reissues against each other. The Vinyl Me, Please (VMP) reissue from 2021 and the Speaker Corner Records (SCR) reissue from 2007. This is the second in a series of reissue comparisons. Unlike the Cody Jinks Lifers review, which compared the original release to the VMP reissue, the goal here is to compare how VMP reissues stacks up against other reissues of a similar price range. VMP and SCR were chosen due the perception that both labels are of audiophile quality. Both records were treated the same and cleaned before playback using a Degritter ultrasonic record cleaning system.

Without question, the Speakers Corner Records reissue outperforms the Vinyl Me, Please reissue in every aspect. SCR has greater dynamic range, a fuller sound and is quieter where it counts. Pops, cracks, and snaps were virtually nonexistent. Like many VMP reissues I have tested, it appears as if this record is simply a repress of a Sussex Records reissue on colored vinyl. Based on my research, unless otherwise stated, most VMP releases are merely a reissue pressed on colored vinyl and manufactured by the label owning manufacturing rights (i.e., Cody Jinks: Lifers on Rounder Records, Sturgill Simpson: Metamodern Sounds In Country Music on High Top Mountain Records, Ray Charles: Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music on Concord Records, etc. )

This is not to say that Vinyl Me, Please reissues are bad. However, to generalize that all VMP reissues are audiophile quality would be inaccurate and a very disappointing eventual realization they are not. Most are nearly as good as the latest reissue by the label owner. We equate VMP to Music On Vinyl. Both produce mostly acceptable reissues. Most are likely produced from digital masters.

That said, there are Vinyl Me, Please releases that are of audiophile caliber. One such release that comes to mind is VMP's release of Fiona Apple's Tidal. It is pressed on 180 gram colored vinyl like most VMP reissues, but it is also remastered from original analog tapes. Here is the difference maker. Don't confuse this with some VMP hyper stickers that say "lacquer cut by ... and pressed at...". This is not the same as a record being mastered from original analog source tapes. A record from a digital source can be lacquer cut by...and pressed at..." just as an original analog tape sourced master can.

TRACK LIST
A1 Harlem
A2 Ain't No Sunshine
A3 Grandma's Hands
A4 Sweet Wanomi
A5 Everybody's Talkin'
A6 Do It Good
B1 Hope She'll Be Happier
B2 Let It Be
B3 I'm Her Daddy
B4 In My Heart
B5 Moanin' And Groanin'
B6 Better Off Dead

If you are looking for a decent reissue on colored vinyl, a Vinyl Me, Please reissues is a worthwhile look in most cases. However, VMP has produced some poor products. This is most likely due to their infancy and lack of manufacturing controls. Hopefully this will be addressed with the alleged purchase of their own pressing plant.

If you are looking for an audiophile quality record, in our experience Vinyl Me, Please will be a rare choice. They will produce a few audiophile records from time to time. However, your best bet is to lean on the tried and true labels such as Analogue Productions, Speakers Corner, MOFI, Impex, Classic Records, Blue Note, DCC, and Music Matters just to name a few. They are more costly than the average reissues, but well worth it if the quality of the music and experience coming out of your system matters to you.

Pick up Bill Withers Just As I Am on Speakers Corner Records at your local record store. It is a well pressed and well mastered record from analog tape sources💰

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