Bobby Womack Albums (21)
'Rubare Alla Mafia E' Un Suicidio'
Release Date 1/30/2001
Tracks 11
Label Dagored
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What The Critics Say
This is Womack's Christmas album, containing a raft of holiday chestnuts and new material. Amongst oldies like "White Christmas," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "Winter Wonderland," are the most interesting tracks, Womack's own "Dear Santa Claus," aboard in both mass appeal and children's versions. If you like your Christmas music with a soulful slant, this is the album for you. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide
'Back to My Roots'
Release Date 7/27/1999
Tracks 17
Label The Right Stuff
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What The Critics Say
Soul/R&B legend Bobby Womack is definitely a man who's paid his dues -- as the writer of such classics as "It's All Over Now" (covered by the Stones), "Lookin' for a Love" (covered by J. Geils) and the guitarist on Sly Stone's chestnut "Family Affair" and Wilson Pickett's mover "Funky Broadway," he has all the prerequisites for a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. After leaving his strictly religious father's home in the late '50s, (with a car bought for them by Sam Cooke) Bobby and the Womack Brothers set out to conquer popular radio, using their church-bred voices and down-home, bluesy stylings to twist and change genres they hadn't even heard of yet. Back to My Roots finds Womack doing just that, singing some of his favorite gospel numbers, while retaining some of that old fire that made him so popular with the white youth of America and Britain in the '60s. Enlisting the aid of James W. Alexander (Sam Cooke's partner and a former member of the Pilgrim Travelers gospel group) to introduce and close the album, Womack dedicated this work to his father, who unfortunately died before he got a chance to hear the finished product, as did Alexander. With versions of "Rug" (one of his '60s hits), "Motherless Child" and the Staple Singers' classic "Oh Happy Day," this album showcases Womack's love of all styles and genres, from country pickin' to funky, bluesy breakdowns, to choir-esque, baptismal uber-joy. The opening lines of the first track, "Rug," say it all: "Now I'm sitting here reminiscing about the good old days/Singing gospel music with my brothers/We called ourselves the Womack Brothers/Before we were ever born, my father prayed for five sons, he said, "God, if you bless me with them, I will teach them to sing your praises"/Well, he got his wish, not knowing that we would want the material things in life/I remember the first time I told my father I was going to sing rock and roll; that's the first time I saw my daddy cry/I remember him saying, "What does it profit a man to gain the world, and lose his soul?/And I know now, absolutely nothing." ~ Tom Hallett, All Music Guide
'I Wanna Make Love to You'
Release Date 4/7/1998
Tracks 10
Label Universal Special Products
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'I Still Love You'
Release Date 4/7/1998
Tracks 10
Label Universal Special Products
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What The Critics Say
Though Bobby Womack's in great voice, The Poet II doesn't quite hit the same heights as The Poet, which successfully executed ideas Womack had been tinkering with since 1979's Roads of Life. This seeks the success The Poet got by surprise. Womack's skill is his pragmatic take on relationships, but on The Poet II his aim is a little off. "Love Has Finally Come at Last" is the first of three duets with Patti LaBelle. The duet idea works better on "It Takes a Lot of Strength to Say Goodbye"; it sounds better suited for two singers, and the dramatic arrangement and chemistry between Womack and LaBelle are strong but not that exciting. The Poet II also features some over-produced though skillful dance tracks. "Tell Me Why" is effective and has Womack asking why his relationship is failing and uses his children as pawns when he sings, "You don't have to do it for me/But do it for the sake of the kids." By the end of the album, Womack's lack of winning premises starts to catch up with him. "I Wish I Had Someone to Come Home To" has him sounding a little phony with lyrics like "Ain't no way this lonely man can seem to win." Fans of Womack know he'd think up something to do. The effort's last track, "American Dream," features snippets of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. With its so-so lyrics and plodding arrangement, it just falls apart within the first two minutes. The Poet II is no doubt a good Bobby Womack album, but it is clear that he can do much better. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Eschewing the orchestrated sound that dominated much of his 1970s output, the Across 110th Street soundtrack being the definitive example, with The Poet Womack stays in that slick vein, but this time does so with a soft jazz feel. Workouts like "Where Do We Go from Here" contain long intros and codas with Womack's gruff vocal style trading off with the silky voices of a female choir; on "So Many Sides of You," one of the more rollicking songs on the record, the piano, drums, and Nathan East's bass are as crisp as a new dollar bill. A bonus, aside from the songs, is the great cover art, which shows Womack decked out in a lavender sports coat and a pair of sunglasses, which only someone of his soulful grace could pull off. ~ Steve Kurutz, All Music Guide
