"Live at Carnegie Hall" is a live album by American soul artist, Bill Withers. It was recorded on October 6, 1972 at Carnegie Hall in New York City and released on November 30, 1972, by Sussex Records. This album is renowned for its intimate performance, superior sound quality and strong emotional depth, with Withers delivering an intense, heartfelt performance set against a backdrop of social commentary.
The album features a number of Withers' best-known songs such as "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean on Me", alongside others that arose directly from the artist's experiences and the era's sociopolitical milieu, such as "I Can't Write Left-Handed," a narrative on Withers' visit to a rehabilitation center for wounded Vietnam War veterans.
The album was produced by the well-known Benorce Blackmon and Bill Withers himself. It has received critical acclaim and is often considered one of the best live albums ever recorded. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on October 18, 1996 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005.
Tragically, Bill Withers passed away in 2020, but the record stands as a testament to his raw talent and to the power of live performance in presenting the nuance and character of soul music. It represents the roots of Withers' musical journey, an encapsulation of the period in which it was created, and it remains a prized gem in his discography and in the landscape of live recordings in the music industry.
