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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

The Poet

Bobby Womack

1981

Buy At Rough Trade
The Poet
Album Summary

The Poet is the thirteenth studio album by American musician Bobby Womack. The album was released in November 1981, by Beverly Glen Music. The album reached the top of the Billboard Top Black Albums chart due to the success of the single "If You Think You're Lonely Now", which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.2

Votes

10557
Genres
Soul
Funk

Reviews

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Tue Dec 28 2021
5

My wife had a rough holiday weekend, so I'm making sure to treat her right this evening: I've got this album, I've got a dozen roses, and I've got a boxed macaroni and cheese dinner for two.

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Mon Mar 22 2021
5

God bless this coked out mess

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Tue Jul 20 2021
3

“The Poet” by Bobby Womack (1981) R&B, funk, jazz, finely performed by Womack, with plenty of excellent backing support. These are mostly love songs that are presented with soul and flair. Womack’s lead guitar is nice to listen to, as well his not-quite-mellow-enough baritone voice. And the backing vocals are angelic. “Stand Up” cooks—makes ya wanna dance. These tracks are well arranged, but some idiosyncrasies (like overused harp glissando) mildly detract. And while the lyrics are suitably passionate, they lack depth and lexical variety, hence the album title “The Poet” is somewhat pompous. The track “If You Think You’re Lonely Now” is interestingly equivocal. Is it sympathetic or menacing? The listener can decide. But it’s good music that gets under your skin. Womack’s “Just My Imagination” (1981) is strikingly similar to The Temptations’ “Just My Imagination” (1971). Are the attorneys on top of this or is it just my imagination? A very enjoyable album. 3/5

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Thu Dec 23 2021
3

nice vibes, lush production, and he has an amazing voice but im not sure if i think this one has aged well. just a little bit too 80s cheesy for me

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Sat Apr 24 2021
2

I'm not a fan of this genre but the album wasn't that much of a pain to listen. Not too repetitive and short.

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Tue Aug 03 2021
5

Absolutely PERFECT. Womack remains the king of soul, and this album is one of my favorites. Every track is genius, but "If You Think You're Lonely Now" is one of my favorite songs of all time.

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Thu Jul 22 2021
5

Where has this been all my life? Smooth, sexy, groovy, passioned, and damn COOL

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Wed Apr 21 2021
5

Ooooooooo. funkay. Love the funk R&B on Secrets. So Many Sides Of You is a great opening track. I actually don't love If You Think You're Lonely now, but I still love this album. Great album, I had a blast listening to it.

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Wed Jul 14 2021
5

This album has no weakness, every kind of Soul/R&B music is represented in this album. Also, every song makes you wanna dance. A Hidden Gem in music history.

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Wed May 25 2022
5

So much craic. "Girl, you know how to make my cookie crumble, my cookie crumble When you hold me close and do all the things you do to me Ooh-wee, baby Just like some good old Kentucky Fried Chicken And all of it was good enough to be finger lickin′" that is all

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Sun Apr 25 2021
4

For some reason, I remember listening to his final album when it was released. However, never really listened to earlier Womack. I'm not especially qualified to evaluate how this compares to other soul/RnB/funk from the era, but damn it seems pretty damn good to me. I got the 2021 remaster, and it sounds really well defined to my inexpert ears. You've got funky party anthems like "Stand Up", and slightly generic bedroom preludes "Lay Your Lovin' On Me". But my preference is for the long, reflective ballads like "Games" and "Just My Imagination" (weirdly with a country tinge to it. Edit: apparently he had at least one whole album of "country soul"!), which really take you on an emotional/narrative journey. I'm not a huge fan of the growling soul thing he does sometimes, but Womack's voice is definitely a strong asset here. All the musicianship is good, and the bass particularly stands out on some tracks.

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Tue Sep 14 2021
4

A funky, jam-filled album from a crazy talented singer. Straight up, this record will make you want to dance and sing like a madman. The guitar and piano riffs are groovy, there's a disco-based rhythm section, and Womack brings heat to his voice that you can feel in your soul. Favorite Song: If You Think You're Lonely Now Least Favorite: Secrets

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Wed May 25 2022
3

Sometimes I wonder if I overrate certain rock records and underrate other genres, primarily soul and R&B. Because I hear good stuff here but it doesn’t really sound essential to me. I do think it’s an interesting footnote in R&B history, as this came out right when disco became passé, but no one really knew what would be the new sound. A lot of it tends to run together for me, but I have fun anyway. C

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Thu Jun 01 2023
3

Surely I’m not the first, but I’d like to call your attention to these lyrics, penned by The Poet, on track three, “Secrets”: (I’d like to emphasize that I am merely the messenger) “Girl, you know how to make my cookie crumble, my cookie crumble When you hold me close and do all the things you do to me Ooh-wee, baby Just like some good old Kentucky Fried Chicken and all of it was good enough to be finger lickin' Oh, you must have had a (secrets, secrets) Wanna see it (she must have had a secrets) Ooh, baby (secret, secret, you must have had a secret, secret) Finger-lickin good y'all” [chef’s kiss] Poetry.

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Fri Dec 10 2021
2

I got on with it, So Many Sides of You, If You Think You're Lonely Now and Stand Up all slap. The rest is all okay. However, I feel like the super polished sound was a malign influence on the rest of the decade, with so much overproduced plastic soul afterwards. This isn't quite there. Nothing sounds glazed over and evil like what came later, but it's definitely on its way there. I'd have given it three, but it loses a star for what it wraught on ears in the coming years.

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Tue Jul 26 2022
2

Very busy energy which Womack matches with fidgety vocals. More disco here than you might suspect. Blues, too. Basically, he'll take rhythm from any place he can get it. But poesy? An overstretch.

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Tue Apr 27 2021
1

No tengo idea de porqué está este disco aquí. Este men tiene discos increíbles a principios de los 70s. La producción de este pedo es vomitiva y las canciones están equis.

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Fri Dec 03 2021
5

hohoho dit is goed voor die avonden alleen

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Fri Dec 03 2021
5

Amai dit was genieten, jammer dat er twee nummers niet beschikbaar zijn. just my imagination vind ik de leukste

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Mon Mar 28 2022
5

Love Bobby, smooth, soulful, mmmmm

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Tue Mar 29 2022
5

Great album easy to listen to music. Bobby Womack great soul artist!!

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Sat Apr 02 2022
5

This isn't the kind of music I would typically listen to, but it is beautiful.

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Wed Apr 06 2022
5

I mean this dude is just an absolute legend. Have hardly ever heard a bad song and this song is just full of jams. 'Imagination' and 'If you think you're lonely now' are incredible.

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Mon Apr 25 2022
5

Proves Womack is one of the giants of R&B. One of my favorite albums!

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Tue Apr 26 2022
5

Ok this is the best shit I've ever heard.

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Mon Aug 01 2022
5

Disappointed that there's only 5 of the 8 songs on Spotify available to play. I listened to it several times. I enjoyed this a lot.

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Fri Aug 26 2022
5

First off, what a really cool album cover, amazing. And thankfully, the quality of the music is equally top notch. Soulful lead vocals, gospel influenced backing vocals, lovely smooth production, tasteful arrangements. It's hard to pick stand out tracks as every one is a winner thanks to the funky backing, it never drags. A joyous, wonderful record from start to finish.

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Mon Sep 19 2022
5

Upbeat jazzy songs. Voice sometimes goes rough but it’s done well. Really good album with variation between songs, some fast and some slow

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Sat Oct 01 2022
5

So, so cool. Those lush backing vocals are a perfect platform to launch Bobby's crooning voice. It's fabulous.

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Tue Oct 25 2022
5

Asså det här var ju asnice. Krispigt.

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Mon Jan 09 2023
5

my favorite album yet! know I will be returning to this. story about Bobby Womack and Sam Cooke is soo crazy listened to it again and again

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Tue Jan 31 2023
5

Proved soul wasn’t dead with the advent of the 80s, it just needed to adapt. “If You Think You’re Lonely Now” (yes, the sane song Mariah Carey references in “We Belong Together”) is a stone classic.

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Wed Mar 15 2023
5

Soulful and some groovy to it. Loved this

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Mon Mar 20 2023
5

Me encantó, perfecto para quitarse el mal sabor de oído luego es escuchar alguno que no te haya gustado. No esperaba nada de el al igual que de la mayoría hasta ahora, pero se siente increíble cuando termina siendo una obra maestra como esta. La única que flojea un poco es Just My Imagination, pero, incluso así, sirve como respiro después de ese inicio tan emocionante

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Wed Apr 12 2023
5

This album shows a lot of soul that seems to get passed on in later slow albums in the same genre. Also first 3 songs are unavailable on Spotify.

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Fri Apr 21 2023
5

Soul funk super bien réalisée, voix, arrangements, musiciens, tout est de très haut niveau. Just my imagination, stand up...

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Wed May 10 2023
5

Funk has been one of the genres I’ve consistently rated the lowest on this; it just doesn’t work for me So it is much to my surprise that I absolutely loved this album His voice is brilliantly soulful but the songs are fabulous as well Particularly loved So Many Sides Of You, Just My Imagination, Stand Up, If You Think You’re Lonely Now For turning the head of someone who doesn’t normally go for this, this gets the full monty

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Sat Jul 29 2023
5

Je suis désolé d'avoir attendu aussi longtemps pour écrire cette critique, mais j'attendais tout simplement de vérifier une théorie. Le lendemain du jour où j'ai écouté cet album, en voyant ma gueule dans le miroir de ma salle de bain, j'ai été stupéfait de voir à quel point Bobby Womack l'avait baisée. J'ai ainsi voulu consater sur la durée les effets de la baise de Womack sur ma gueule, et je peux vous affirmer après deux mois que ma gueule porte encore les stigmates de sa baise à chaque recoin. Rien d'étonnant quand on sait que le Womack est l'ambassadeur de l'énorme-baiseur-funk, ce courant musical consistant à baiser absolument tout ce qui bouge.

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Mon Oct 23 2023
5

Could listen to his voice forever

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Wed Nov 01 2023
5

Insane Bobby wommers, will listen to this from here on out

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Fri Nov 10 2023
5

Loved it. No other words to describe this album but SMOOOOOOOTH

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Mon Nov 20 2023
5

Fantastic album! "Stand Up" is my favorite but I was groovin' from start to finish.

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Tue Nov 28 2023
5

I didn’t expect to like this album just based on what I heard about it beforehand, but wow, I REALLY liked this album. I don’t know if I’ll feel the same way in a week but I think I’ll be listening to this album for a long time.

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Mon Dec 25 2023
5

Классно, классно! Вот такой R&B мне нравится! Secrets классная, все остальное тоже на уровне. Удивляюсь, почему мой сосед от R&B блюётся.

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Thu Jan 25 2024
5

Wow! I wasn't previously familiar with Bobby Womack but I just loved this album top top to bottom. There were a decent amount of earworms, some really interesting backing tracks/effects, and great vocal takes. If you think you're lonely now is the standout imo I'm really bummed the first 3 tracks aren't on Spotify cuz I want these all showing up on my shuffle list.

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Thu Feb 01 2024
5

I have been fucking obsessed with this album in the past. and I will be fucking obsessed with it in the future.

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Fri Feb 09 2024
5

In the game, "marry, f*ck, kill," this is one you marry. It's goofy-funny while still being able to pull off cool-sexy, a rare combo, but it exists. Take my wife! Perhaps you commitment-phobes out there can listen to this and see how all these features can coexist. Maybe there really is the perfect person for you somewhere.

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Thu Feb 29 2024
5

The single funkiest album I've heard in this book so far. Welcome to my immediate rotation, Bobby Womack. Favorite track: Stand Up

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Thu Feb 29 2024
5

Some days this project feels like work. A lot of the albums lately - even the 4s and 5s - seem to have taken some effort to listen to and evaluate. Today the lights went down, a log went into the fireplace and I mentally stretched out on deep shag carpet to The Poet’s dulcet tones mentally massaging my psyche. There is something magical about R&B from the late seventies… and Bobby really knows how to sing it. On the second listen I became Pam Grier coolly driving through rush hour traffic to “Lay Your Lovin’ On Me.” A smooth and easy 5…

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Wed Mar 06 2024
5

Love this Album and will gladly listen to it again!

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Thu Mar 07 2024
5

This was a beautiful and soulful experience. Increíble musicalidad y complejidad disonante que encaja como si fuese destinado a ser escrita e interpretada de esa forma. 0 burdens, all the vibes needed. This album delivered. 10/10

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Thu Mar 07 2024
5

A SOULFUL MASTAPIECE, shit got me dancing fr fr

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Fri Mar 08 2024
5

This album is the perfect balance of nuanced instrumentation with straightforward “songs” that each stand alone.

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Fri Apr 16 2021
4

This was groovin and the just my imagination cover was good

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Mon Feb 22 2021
4

Á great album for a sunny day longing back to some 80's vibe, the funkyness of the first half the album was very enjoyable, after that it become a bit more souly which is awesome, but less my vibe.

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Mon Jul 19 2021
4

Could only hear half the album. Was pretty catchy for what I heard

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Mon Mar 22 2021
4

Don't you ever tell me what to give a five, Faith.

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Wed May 05 2021
4

good ass soul. this music is just the best kinda music and this album was overall really great. nice one bobby. best track = If You Think You’re Lonely Now. 4.7

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Wed Mar 24 2021
4

That was 11 herbs and spices of fun music. To get in on the DKRS (Dave Kendrick Rating Scale, patent pending) I give it 4 original recipes

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Mon Apr 05 2021
4

I've heard the name Bobby Womack but can't say that I could name a song. I really enjoyed listening to this album.

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Tue Apr 27 2021
4

Así, en la primera escucha, me pareció como música de cena/fiesta elegantiosa y luego que pensé que eso me sucede sobre todo por la educación visual (películas y series donde pasa eso más o menos). Luego entonces me cruzó por la mente si esto quizá sea algo medio "genérico". En fin, no investigué más, pero la voz de Bobby me parece cool y todo aquí es muy enérgico. También creo que es algo que escucho muy poco y en moods muy especiales, quizá. Mis favs: "Lay Your Lovin' On Me" y "Stand Up" por muy animada. 7.5/10

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Wed May 05 2021
4

kinda fresh, kinda funky. 7/10, strong across the board but the bass player carried the opening track

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Tue Jun 08 2021
4

Hat mich beim ersten Mal hören nicht so umgehauen aber es wird immer besser (ich habe nicht getrunken).

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Wed May 19 2021
4

Gut zu hören. Kann man mal wieder machen

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Sun Mar 28 2021
4

Solid soul with some nice jams...

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Thu Apr 01 2021
4

Not what I'd normally listen to but the singers voice was really smooth and I think overall it's a very nice and well-made album. And I liked the bass!!

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Thu Jun 17 2021
4

Great mix of funk, soul, R&B (& maybe a little disco)! Great voice and danceable basslines.

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Thu May 13 2021
4

Finally, some delicious fucking food

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Fri May 07 2021
4

Best track: If you think you're lonely now

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Sat Jun 05 2021
4

Gillar verkligen albumet! Bästa låtar: So Many Sides Of You Just My Imagination If You Think You're Lonely Now

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Tue Jun 08 2021
4

loved it. adding to the rotation

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Fri Aug 06 2021
4

4/5 upbeat soul sounds, nice!

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Tue Aug 24 2021
4

Bobby is quite the entertainer! Every song was great. Not giving it 5 stars only because I probably will not come back to listen again

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Mon Aug 30 2021
4

Always new who he was, but this is first time listening to an album of his. Real good song writer. What ever happened to this good style of R&B.

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