Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine

Release date: 1971

This was Withers' first hit. After spending nine years in the US Navy, he had a job at a factory making parts for airplanes when he was introduced to Booker T. Jones from Booker T. & the MG's. Booker was an elite session musician with Stax Records, where Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and many other soul legends recorded.

The part where Withers repeats "I know, I know," has become a very recognizable piece of the song, but it wasn't what he had in mind. Withers told us: "I wasn't going to do that, then Booker T. said, 'No, leave it like that.' I was going to write something there, but there was a general consensus in the studio.

Album: Just As I Am