Who is He and What is He to You

Recorded in 1973 at G.M. Studios in Detroit, with overdubs at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, 'Who Is He and What Is He to You' featured the vocal group Creative Source, whose members included Barbara Berryman, Barbara Lewis, Celeste Rose, Don Wyatt and Steve Flanagan. Produced by Michael Stokes, the recording reinterpreted the composition written by Bill Withers and Stanley McKenny for Withers' 1972 album Still Bill. Originally released on Creative Source's self-titled 1973 debut album for Sussex Records, the song transformed Bill Withers' original into an extended eleven-minute performance driven by rhythmic instrumentation and layered vocals. Issued as a single in early 1974, it became the group's biggest American hit, reaching number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 21 on Billboard's soul singles chart. The recording became a favourite among rare groove DJs and collectors, particularly for its extended instrumental passages and distinctive vocal arrangements. Its continued circulation through specialist compilations, including Classic Funk Mastercuts Volume 1 in 1992, helped introduce Creative Source's interpretation to later generations of listeners.