After Sussex Records folded, Withers signed with Columbia Records in 1975. His first album release with the label, Making Music, Making Friends, included the single “She’s Lonely”, which was featured in the film Looking for Mr. Goodbar. During the next three years he released an album each year with Naked & Warm (1976), Menagerie (1977, containing the successful “Lovely Day”), “Bout Love” (1978) and “Get on Down”; the latter song also included on the Looking for Mr. Goodbar soundtrack.
In 1976, Withers performed “Ain’t No Sunshine” on Saturday Night Live.
Due to problems with Columbia and being unable to get songs approved for his album, he concentrated on joint projects from 1977 to 1985, including “Just the Two of Us”, with jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., which was released during June 1980.[12] It won a Grammy on February 24, 1982. Withers next did “Soul Shadows” with the Crusaders, and “In the Name of Love” with Ralph MacDonald, the latter being nominated for a Grammy for vocal performance.
