Grover Washington, Jr., “Just the Two of Us” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 71^st edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington, Jr. featuring Bill Withers. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 71^st edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Just the Two of Us”, performed by 🎙 Grover Washington, Jr featuring 🎙 Bill Withers.

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

“I see the crystal raindrops fall / And the beauty of it all / Is when the sun comes shining through…” 🎵 “Just the Two of Us” easily the biggest hit by the late, great, smooth jazz saxophonist, 🎙 Grover Washington, Jr.  This pop classic appears as the penultimate track on his 1980, double-platinum album, 💿 Winelight.  Winelight marks Washington’s sole RIAA certified album.  Of course, when mentioning “Just the Two of Us,” you can’t leave out the featured vocalist: The late, great, Grammy-winning soul icon, 🎙 Bill Withers.  Joining forces, Washington Jr. and Withers peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Just the Two of Us” is a stunning record, period.  The backdrop balances jazz, but also feels right in the R&B sphere of the 1980s.  The sound is lush, classy, and incredibly refined.  Bill Withers handles the vocals like a champ, hardly, if ever, breaking a sweat.  Withers plays a sizable role, as to be expected, particularly in the unforgettable, incredibly tuneful chorus:

“Just the two of us

We can make it if we try

Just the two of us

(Just the two of us)

Just the two of us

Building castles in the sky

Just the two of us

You and I.”

Withers also gets some help from sweet background vocalists. Beyond Withers’ and those backgrounds, Grover Washington, Jr. shows why he was one of the best saxophonists in the game.  His tone is stunning; utterly celestial, magnificent, sublime – you get the picture!

Final Thoughts 💭 

Honestly, 🎵 “Just the Two of Us” speaks for itself – not much, if any analysis is necessary. The musicianship by Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers is impressive to the n^th degree.  This is a timeless classic, one that appeals to a vast group of music lovers.

🎙 Grover Washington, Jr • 💿 Winelight • 🏷 Elektra • 📅 1980

Grover Washington, Jr., “Just the Two of Us”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 71 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Elektra, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype]