"Just the Two of Us" was written by Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald and William Salter. Originally an instrumental track written by MacDonald and Salter, MacDonald contacted Withers and he wrote the lyrics. The song originally appeared on Washington's album Winelight (1980).
The Fender Rhodes electric piano, played in the introduction and throughout, was performed by Richard Tee.
The song reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, staying there for three weeks, behind "Morning Train (9 to 5)" by Sheena Easton and "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes. It was Washington's only Top 40 hit.
The song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. Withers included the edited version on the 1981 compilation Bill Withers' Greatest Hits and many subsequent greatest hits collections.
"Just the Two of Us" was covered by Japanese singer Toshinobu Kubota as a duet with Caron Wheeler in 1991, for his album Kubojah: Parallel World I. The song was listed as "Just the 2 of Us", featuring a reggae-style beat. In 1995, Kubota re-recorded the song with a more R&B-style beat for his album Sunshine, Moonlight. In 1996, he released the song as the second single from the album. The song charted at number 30 on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart and remained on the charts for five weeks.
Bill Cosby did a parody version, "Just the Slew of Us", as the theme music for his movie Bill Cosby: Himself. Ralph MacDonald was the writer/producer.
In 1992, the New York City R&B vocal trio Around the Way sampled the song in "Really Into You". They reached No. 89 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of that year.
Will Smith released a single in 1997 which samples and incorporates lyrics from the original. Instead of love between a couple, "Just the Two of Us" focuses on the relationship between a father and son. Smith originally wrote a children's book with the same title and lyrics. For his album, he performed it in rap form.
Dr. Evil parodied the Will Smith version in the Mike Myers James Bond parody film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Adult Swim's online show entitled FishCenter Live made a parody of the song entitled "Just the Ten of Us" about the fish.
Eminem sampled the song on 97’ Bonnie & Clyde off of his debut major label album The Slim Shady LP.
Johnny Mathis covered the song on his 2008 album, A Night to Remember.
HAMMOND B-3 ORGAN: Ed Alstrom
BASS: pedals, baby!
DRUMS: Yamaha Tyros, Roland MC-707 and Korg Electribe drum machines
www.edalstrom.com