Bill Withers' 'Lovely Day' Ranked Among 'Best Basslines of All Time'

In a ranking collated by Guitar World, Bill Withers' 1977 classic "Lovely Day" was ranked among the greatest basslines ever recorded.

The song was written by Withers and R&B legend Skip Scarborough, later released as a single from the former's sixth album, Menagerie. The track was an immediate success, and has since become one of Withers' most recognizable and enduring songs.

"Lovely Day" shot to No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Menagerie would later debut at No. 39 on the Billboard 200. This commercial success was a much-needed turning point in Withers' career, which had peaked early with singles like "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean On Me", before entering a period of relative inactivity.

The song is perhaps most famous for the 18-second single note that Withers sings towards the end of the track, as the song's backing vocals dance around his "Lovely Day" refrain that just won't end. It's an incredible vocal feat, and it remains one of the longest sustained notes ever recorded.

In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked "Lovely Day" at No. 402 on the publication's famous 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, marking the iconic soul singer's only appearance on the list. The song offers a perfect blend of Withers' luscious vocals and rich, layered instrumentals that reflect the evolving music of the '70s.

In their ranking, Guitar World wrote: "The song comes complete with a sweet, descending [bass]line that adds a funky fill each time it goes down a step and then adds a dexterous turnaround on the way back up."

They correctly point out that Withers' voice often distracts from the driving bass guitar, which is why "Lovely Day" is rarely mentioned in lists of this sort. The bassline was recorded by legendary producer Jerry Knight, and has since been sampled many times in the world of R&B.

It's not often that a bassline manages to sink into the background of a song while still leaving a huge impression, but that's exactly what Withers accomplished with "Lovely Day". He makes the listener aware of that driving melody in the intro, then allows his vocals to ride the wave that it creates for the entire song.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 6, 2026 at 8:59 AM.