The Poet

I didn't really enjoy this album but reading about Bobby Womack was a truly wild ride. Go check out his biography.

The thirteenth album from Sam Cooke's old pal and the writer of 'It's all over now' with a fresh sound for the new decade, featuring some established sessioners and new kid Nathan East on bass. 'If you think you're lonely now' was a bit hit on the Billboard black charts and this helped the album to top that particular chart, though this was still the time before MTV became universal and this is not a mainstream work. It's been suggested that this is one of the few really good 80s soul albums - before Luther and Alexander I guess.......I found it ok, his voice is wonderfully lived in, but lacking in consistent gems.

Very talented and an awesome listen. Recommend highly.

enjoyable! 3.5

4.5

kabbelend plaatje... niet slecht, maar nogal veel van het zelfde... en een vervelend achtergrond orgeltje er bovenop

Pretty funky cool!

Funky and enjoyable but nothing to rave too much about. Likes: So Many Sides of You; Just My Imagination

Previously unknown. Solid.

finally a great soul album

Pretty funky I suppose, but the lyrics can be lacking. “When you hold be close and do all the things you do to me, oh wee, baby. Just like some good ol’ Kentucky fried chicken.”

Solid

Soulful and catchy throughout with a coherent sound that builds through the songs. I added a few songs to playlists for the future and Bobby Womack is definitely someone I want to come back and listen to more.

Hell yeah

Beautiful souls with some amazing songs and ruthm

Nice stuff, but it's been done better by other people. Can't imagine putting it on but wouldn't turn it off

Can't complain about this one. I can think of only two negative critiques, and those are that these really aren't the most memorable songs, plus a lot of them seem to kind of ramble on longer than they need to. However. This is still a lush, sexy, great display of soul; and even the worst soul is better than a lot of things. I see why Mr. Womack doesn't have more fame, but I'm very glad to know him now and this album. Good shit.

Alright

A good easy listening album. 4 stars or B.

I'm just not really feeling this. The smooth cheese funk I just find too much to enjoy at all really.

I've been listening to these albums 2 a day most days, and I just went from David Berman's vocals to Bobby Womack, which is a pretty vast difference. There's so much passion and energy in Bobby's singing, even the songs that are meant to be sad end up lifting your spirits. Still, it's very funny to name your album The Poet and have a lyric rhyming Kentucky Fried Chicken and finger lickin.

Muy bueno el álbum. Un estilo muy alegre.

Interesting and enjoyable to listen to but not sure why it warrants inclusion on this list.

80s flavoured music for pervs.

A new favourite.

Interesting juxtaposition with Sly. This was a great album

This falls under the didn’t hate it but wouldn’t choose to listen to it category. It’s just not a style of music that interests me, though I thought the vocals and songwriting were good.

I guess if I were some middle-aged twice divorced guy who just brought a lady friend home from the corner bar I might consider putting this on to set the mood.

I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. This is a soul/R&B album. I enjoyed the sound, particularly the bass work. The singing is very nice. The final two tracks are the highlights for me, although there isn't a bad song here. Overall, the album is a little bit unvaried, but I liked it enough to listen again.

Was fine, seemed like a product of its time.

I liked the style and could probably listen to it all day, but it never elevated.

Pretty fun, but nothing all that unique

Overall a bit too easy listening, but when he really brings the emotion (such as on If You Think You’re Lonely Now) it is good.

Inject these bass lines into my veins.

01) So Many Sides of You - 6,5 02) Lay Your Lovin' on Me - 6,5 03) Secrets - 6,5 04) Just My Imagination - 6,5 05) Stand Up - 6,5 06) Games - 6,5 07) If You Think You're Lonely Now - 7,0 08) Where Do We Go from Here - 7,0 TOTAL: 6,63 (66/100) Current ranking: 704/1056

Bobby Womack totally nailed it with The Poet, hitting that sweet spot in the early ’80s where disco was fading out and that slick, synth-soul sound was taking over. The rhythm section is locked in, and it just glides from upbeat tracks like "Stand Up" to super smooth jams like "If You Think You're Lonely Now." Womack’s gravelly voice brings so much grit to the polished production, and he’s got that unapologetic swagger that could only come out of a coked-out, high-flying studio era. Yeah, calling the album The Poet is a bit of a stretch when he’s literally comparing love to Kentucky Fried Chicken, and sure, it gets a little cheesy with those ’80s synths. But even when it dips into generic territory, the vibe stays solid. It’s groovy, super smooth, and just a fun, easy listen.

- not as good as Earth, Wind and Fire - enjoyable

don't think i've ever heard a bobby womack song before although i recognize the name dem glasses surprisingly upbeat and funky kick-off dig the wee-woo synthesizers overall it's good stuff, just not my usual, bit too slow-jam 💥lay your lovin on me 💥stand up

Rediscovered Bobby thanks to the Gorillaz

Fun and easy listening

not something i would put on for daily listening. but as background music for walking around, running errands, it's perfect

80s soul, interesting. Not too familiar with Bobby Womack, seems fine. but does have that 80s blandness to it. Some very long fade outs. 3 Heard before? No Owned: No, 108/431 (25%) Will I get: No

Okay I guess.

pretty nice soul music

Yeah its okay - a hell of a voice, brought low for me sinply by thr fact its not my thing. A fine listen, but i wont be comjng back

Not much in the way of poetry, but some very smooth, late 70s soul. Beautiful. 3.5/5

Easy listening album with some dancy numbers in there too. Enjoyable.

This is pretty good. Some decent funky riffs on here and it’s certainly unobjectionable, but it also doesn’t really grab you.

Lots of interesting ear candy on this one

Soul was never a genre I ever truly dived into that much, and hopefully i continue to discover it as the time goes on, so on that essence, im really glad I gave this a listen. Some albums are just easy on the ears and truly uplift you. While I may never pull this record as my go-to uplift album, i truly did appreciate spinning this. This is probably an album i will re-review when i have a true baseline for what my taste for Soul is. My Rock and rap elitism is really showing in this review... :/ 3/5

I love me some Bobby. His voice is unmatched. This album isn't my favorite from him but If you think you're lonely now is a classic

I did not realize that I really like 80s soul music. I feel like a lot of the popular music of the late 70s and early 80s developed this smooth sound that may not be critically lauded, but sure feels nostalgic. Think yacht rock, for example. This isn't yacht rock, but it does capture a nostalgic feeling despite the fact I've never heard it before. Very enjoyable album.

this is incredible. listened to just my imagination 5 times in a row

I liked it, nothing stood out as exceptional, but nothing was bad. Will have to listen another time, to find the exact vibe. (3/5)

Bobby Womack — The Poet Pre-listening: no idea. Open to it. Best: Stand Up Runner-up: Just My Imagination Third: So Many Sides Of You Post-listening: I was open to it. But just couldn’t get into it. I’m sure on the right day, I could see this album as fun and interesting, but today, it was just there. More than anything, I was just glad to listen to something different. Rating: 5/10 Stars: 2/5

GOODDD stuff

When I started playing the album, it cheered me up – what lovely music. To be honest, after five tracks I’d had enough. I still think it’s lovely music, but not for an entire album. My advice is to just play the first side of the LP and then switch to something else.

Super smooth and cool, though it gets a little too slow and schmaltzy in the last few tracks, where it feels the most dated to me. But on the whole I liked it! Womack has a great voice with some roguish gravel in it. I don't know why If You Think You're Lonely Now is the runaway hit off this album, when it might be the worst track on it – maybe my taste is calibrated all wrong!

This sort of music doesn’t hold my attention but I didn’t mind having it on in the background. Barry White did this sort of thing better though. Some of his wailing and screeching (listen to the end of Secrets) reminded me of Red Dwarf’s Cat so that was fun! It was soon over anyway.

Great voice but it’s a bit too cheesy for me! All just a bit too much really - I wouldn’t turn it off but it would fade into the background… shame really as I was looking forward to listening

Bobby, that is quite the pair of glasses! This record is way too smooth, way too '80s, except 'Stand Up' which was cool. By the last few tracks I was very irritable and just wanted it to end.

Album 316. The Poet (https://open.spotify.com/album/3b4FRQBIqULkm6vudUXkcS?si=TapZ0ihdQwGa4daE-aTICw) — Bobby Womack (1981) Decent soul/funk album. I like the vibes Not the best soul and funk I've heard in my life, but it was a good, smooth time 3/5 Liked: — So Many Sides Of You — Where Do We Go From Here

Lively, interesting and well put together. A fun listen.

Smooth, but a tad cheesy. I guess that exemplifies the 80's as a whole, though.

Sorry bud you did not make my cookie crumble Rating: strong 4/10

Blind album and artist. Walmart Stevie? - harmonica? As I listened more, I can understand how that is a bad comparison, but that was my initial thoughts after a few songs, definitely the opening track. Mostly okay, did feel like some songs were missing something, or maybe just didn't hit me.

Probably good if you like that type of music

I kind of liked it. Not bad, not bad at all

I had a lot of fun with this one

Muy decadente, muy negro y muy de los ochenta. Pese a todo es un buen album.

Remnant-disco soul blues. Vocals were a lot deeper tone than I expected to come from the individual pictured on the album cover. 2.5/5.0

Every track was great

I might overrate funk/soul albums like this because I only got into this genre in the last 4-5 years but I just love this style of music. Bobby’s amazing vocal style, the killer bass lines (Secrets especially) just come together in an amazing package.

Groovy and soulful. Solid tunes but nothing very memorable either

nada tira da minha cabeça que na verdade esse é um álbum de yacht rock (bom pra caralho, diga-se de passagem) baixo cheiodeodio.com.br/naquele-pique gostei bem

eh por albuns assim que a gente tem que ser GRATO ao uso exagerado de cocaína. é pó neles!!!!!! o amigo tá certo nesse aqui, BAIXARIA da boa. tá doido. coisa boa demais. só musicaça soulzinho gostosinho no azeite.

80s R&B. Not polished enough for pop, not smooth enough for jazz or gospel. Songs about fucking, but delivered in a wholesome manner that suggests it wasn't all that blatant in the first place. Kind of boring. I guess it's expert musicianship, but I find it to be a drag.

I liked it. Kinda same samey, but a couple tracks stood out.

Pretty good album. Good little mo-town vibe.

Enjoyed this one- I was familiar with Womack but had never really sat and listened to him. The songs were full of emotion and spoke to shared experiences with love. Overall- good album. 3.5/5, not quite a 4

No private session used. I thought this was a fine album for the genre. Its the kind of music you hear live in a nicer venue where half the people there are for the music and the other half are there to drink and socialize.

Checked my overall stats as I get close to 250 albums, it's recording my favourite genre as "Funk", not "mid-90s UK Indie". Which is surprising. But not that surprising when I keep getting recommended absolute bangers like this.

I like this, especially the slower numbers, BW could certainly write a chorus. Not my go to genre but I can appreciate it. 3.4

Fine but I'm probably never going to be more than a greatest hits man.

unexpectedly shady love songs

favs: lay your lovin’ on me just my imagination stand up games rating 2.5/5

The band Gorillaz introduced me to Bobby Womack, and his unique voice soothed me the first time I heard him(in their song "Stylo"). This album is no exception, and also offers a variety of funky beats to dance to along with his voice. Damn, it's so much fun. It made me want to dance in a nightclub in the 1980s with a beautiful woman. Unfortunately, Bobby Womack had some scandals(one particularly disgusting scandal). Again, for the third time in less than a week, I ask-do we separate the art from the artist? Well, this artist is dead, but the question is still interesting nonetheless. Favorite Track: "Stand Up".

I say no-et to the poet. This was terrible. I hate this music

Shmoov yet funky Fave track: So Many Sides of You

Jams. 3.5/5

Cool soul/R&B grooves.

Very glossy smooth disco, the songs in here are super slick and quite lovely, something about the levels of production gloss makes me not sure of this as an album, could be a grower.

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IIRC, Bobby wasn’t the first to rhyme ‘chicken’ with ‘finger lickin’

Great singing voice

This is a very good artist. The album consists of fairly average quality tracks but there's consistency of that quality across the album. It's a genre of music that, when excellent, is unbeatable. This selection of tracks provides a good introduction to the genre but is not too memorable.

A really enjoyable listen of soul and funk tracks. But, for an album called The Poet, the lyrics were entirely underwhelming.

This one didn't leave quite the impression on me as some other soul albums we've had have, but I mean, it's classic smooth soul, it's difficult to call it "bad" or "boring".

Very smooth, lil funky with it, but didn’t really wow me

This came close to a 5 because while it's nothing groundbreaking in itself, it touches on everything I enjoy about this era of funk/RnB/soul. You can just imagine Anderson .Paak gliding on a lot of this (but especially If You Think You're Lonely Now). Loved it! Standouts: So Many Sides Of You • Lay Your Lovin' On Me • Just My Imagination • If You Think You're Lonely Now • Where Do We Go From Here