The Poet

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.

God bless this coked out mess

“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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

I didn't realize the impact Bobby Womack had. I saw the movie, One Night in Miami and I learned about the influence he had on Sam Cooke and the crazy story about his personal life. Womack married Sam Cooke's widow, but then his brother married Cooke's daughter! Then Womack carried out an affair with the daughter while married to the widow! This led to Womack being shot at by Cooke's widow and to their divorce, but the daughter married his brother and worked with Womack on a ton of records! Crazy. Anyway, this is a great album. First Bobby Womack album I've ever listened to. I knew Across 110th Street, which is amazing, but this dude is great! So much soul in his voice. I'll admit, this album sounds more dated than his earlier stuff. The 80s are all over this thing, but he sounds great, and it reminds me a lot of Prince at times.

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

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.

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

I like it. It’s groovy and funky and great background music to jam out to.

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.

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.

Ugh, how was this on the list?? Listening to this album was painful.

The Poet Made a shit album And didn’t know it

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.

Hoy toca artista casi desconocido, que con la canción inicial me recuerda a Stevie Wonder y después a bandas más contemporáneas argentinas como Bandalos Chinos. Leyendo su bio veo que suya es la canción emblema de "Jackie Brown" y voy uniendo cabos. Discazo sexi, divertido, ideal para una juntada nocturna con una pareja o promesa de ella. Gracias como siempre y hasta mañana.

amazing album, great discovery

The sexiest album on the list so far

Was gonna give this a 4, then if you think youre lonely now came on and pushed it over. Holy moly

Absolutely superb.

This album is wild. I don't think I've listened to Bobby Womack before. Excellent funk music. Nathan East is a great bass player. This is not my general listening so I'm glad the generator threw this my way. This is good to listen to on repeat. Dig it.

Приятный нежный

I'll keep this short, since I wasn't able to get to this album the day my group had it and I just **need** to hurry on to listening to Country Joe & The Fish—oops, I'm not supposed to know that. But anyway, before now, I had no idea what Bobby Womack had done besides "be on a Gorillaz song." So to discover that he used to make lush-as-hell funk and soul... Oooh, this shit is incredibly up my alley. The soul stuff especially, it's so pretty. Honestly, I really wish I'd been able to spin this yesterday instead of having to hurry along like I feel I hafta. This is shit I really adore, goodness. Country Joe could never.

I’m at a 5. This is just unabashedly my type of music, and I will not apologize for it one bit. Very, very Stevie-esque stuff here, but without the same sort of emotional maturity or wisdom… but a lot of the funk. Sometimes, all you need is the funk. That’s not to say this album is entirely stupid or anything – it’s a little stupid, but in the “go stupid and have fun” type of way, not in the “go drink bleach” type of way. I had a lot of fun with this – it’s sort of a final gasp of the late 70s disco era, but just contemporary enough for the early 80s that it kinda sneaks into that “sure, this sounds like it could go next to a Hall & Oates record” place on the record store shelf. My biggest compliment that I can give, other than the instrumentals being fantastic, is that his voice is absolutely perfect for this style and sound – the only Bobby Womack I’ve heard before this is Across 110th Street (significantly more of a socially serious 60s-style track), and his two features of Plastic Beach, but his voice especially pops on these more funky instrumentals, especially when he’s doing his best Stevie Wonder impression. It’s truly impossible for me to not make the comparison here, sorry. I just really, really liked this. I could keep going, but I’ll boil it down to this: it’s funky, he’s got a gritty voice, it’s a great combo, and it makes for a great album. Super fun 5.

5/5

Had only heard the name before now. Brilliant soul/rnb album top to bottom, with some excellent guitar playing, particularly on "Games".

made my day

Incredible front to back. One of the best finds so far. Musically inspiring.

There really are still albums worth listening to before you die, unfortunately there are too few on this list. But this is definitely one of them.

I love Bobby Womack!

Sensational

Smooth and funky. Immaculate basslines; incredible voice.

Now this is some comfy and groovy stuff. Definitely adding this guy to my list of interesting artists I never would have discovered if it weren't for this project.

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

A SOULFUL MASTAPIECE, shit got me dancing fr fr

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

Love this Album and will gladly listen to it again!

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…

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

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.

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

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.

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

This album is fantastic. Womack’s vocals and his great instrumentals make this a great soul filled funky listen.

Bobby is a king

Fun old Motown

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.

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

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

Geweldig

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

Could listen to his voice forever

Cool album

Muito bom o som

Groovy. I loved it.

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.

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

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

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.

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

Soulful and some groovy to it. Loved this

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.

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

Killer.

tap tap tappin my shoes

Asså det här var ju asnice. Krispigt.

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

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

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.

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.

BUENO

Short and very very sweet

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

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

meh

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.

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

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

Love Bobby, smooth, soulful, mmmmm

Funky delicious jams. All about it

upbeat R & B. Catchy

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

hohoho dit is goed voor die avonden alleen

Groovy af!!

Nice

Funky and i liked it

1 fiestas

Great soul album ❤️

Great album

I like this smooth R&B, soul sound and from an artist I never heard of. I would listen more from him.

the most Smoothed Over of smooth soul possible, just Drenched in early 80s cheese. so so enjoyable tbh lmao, its nothing revelatory but the glitz and idealizaed sexuality and big emotions are all pursued in effortful earnestness thats difficult for me to not respond to. its never got the very Best vocal performances or the very Best arrangements or the very Best melodies like maybe ud expect from a record being included in this 1001 canon thing, but theyre all quality, swishing around my senses and emotions v v pleasantly. and congrats to this guy, ive never heard of him before but he finally broke the unpleasantly horny men streak! very silly era but im glad it-...he did WHAT?????????

A groovy little soul album. Reminds me a lot of Stevie Wonder. Not much to say about this one, just a decent album. Low 4.

Bobby moest even wat relatieproblemen van zich afzingen, maar doet dat wel op honingzoete wijze met warme glittersoul. Jammer van zijn geklaag, verder klinkt het allemaal om door een ringetje te halen.

Alright. I can vibe with this. This is just a nice soul/funk type album. The singing is pretty good. There's some solid emotion here. The writing hasn't aged poorly. That's a good thing. The sound is nice. It's quite pleasant, and also fits the writing quite well. "If You Think You're Lonely Now" is the stand-out track, but the other ones are still good. The general tone is quite sensual, but it works well. It's not my favorite "sexy album." I think Marvin Gaye has Bobby Womack beat in that regard. However, this is still an album that I enjoyed significantly. I don't have a ton to say. The album's pretty good. Light 4/5.