Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Just a spectacular hook to open up with on “So Many Sides Of You”!! A groove thats super in-the-pocket, a really memorable phrase and energy thats hard not to latch onto. “Lay Your Lovin’ On Me” takes a little longer to get to the point, but the pay off is there in the chorus all the same - that chorus of vocalists are majestic, floating over the bouncy funk arrangement until it fades out. “Secrets” follows next and is a bit less impactful, doing mostly what’s the first two songs do with a bit less oomph. A special shout-out to the bendy circus keyboard effect on “Just My Imagination”, which pairs so well with the contemplative, chuckling nature of Womack on this one. What comes after are a few songs which are a pleasant but quick mix of dance floor heaters and romantic jams. Then comes “If You Think You’re Lonely Now” which very well may be the best funk song past the 70’s, if not if all time. This song is perfection and the world is better for this song existing in it. A longer closing track concludes an offering from Bobby Womack that is so fun and thorough on all fronts. Really loved this one
Funky sexy soul for the masses. Bobby even channels his inner preacher man passion occasionally. Full robust production. His personal life was bananas but this album is fantastic.
The pipes on this guy, oh my god. Seriously one of the coolest soul albums I’ve ever heard. Not sure if it’s anything wild or groundbreaking which is going to stop me from giving it a five but loved the voice, loved the production on this one.
Soulful and funky, caught me just in the right mood i guess. Enjoyed it throughout.
Same experience with this bloke as Sameen, but I honestly to goodness thought this ripped!! He was killin it every damn song
Produktionen er lige corny nok men det er lige til at blive i godt humør af jo
I liked all of this. Love Bobby’s iconic voice. He’s great. Every single song is a bop. Not an incredible amount of range, but noticeable enough to impress me for an album rather late in his career. Really phun stuph. Glad to have heard it. 4/5
First time listening to Bobby Womack. It's dated and cheesy, but damn it's good. Personally I prefer the tracks with a bit of grit like Stand Up, more than the saccharine in some other tracks.
good so far, I like R&B, good beat, 80's music bops
I quite liked Bobby Womack's album. But it didn't impress me as much as other albums in this genre. It was good, but not thrilling. Still, it was nice to have heard it. 4/5
I knew of Bobby Womack prior to today but had never heard of anything by him except the Rolling Stones cover of Harlem Shuffle. This is a rare album in this project that I enjoyed but I'm not sure where it fits in the book. It's not really a comeback album and Womack doesn't have another album in the book, so this isn't a companion album either. The songs were (yet again) a bit long a times but I enjoyed the songs, especially So Many Sides of You, Just my Imagination, If You Think You're Lonely Now and Lay Your Lovin' On Me. There is a definite trend towards the "smooth 80's crooner" soul sound that was famous during the era, but Womack has more soul and grit in his voice.
Nice, classic, soul music.
Smooooooooooth! Enjoyed this a lot.
Gut! Dinner/ Cocktails
Really enjoyed the funkier songs. Not as big on the slower R&B songs. Overall, solid album
I like this smooth R&B, soul sound and from an artist I never heard of. I would listen more from him.
Really enjoyed the first half of this album! Loved the vibes and the energy The 2nd half started slowing down a bit too much. Still very enjoyable songs, but I wanted that energy throughout the album 4 ⭐️
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.
Just from looking at the cover you know it's gonna slap
#82 Vibing.
My only previous exposure to Bobby's music was with Gorillaz (Stylo specifically). So it's no surprise here that he's got powerful vocals. Nice production, backing vocals and range of instruments in the tracklist here. Love how prominent the bass is in the mix - so funky. It's a vibe, no doubt, with some cheesy lyrics and undeniably 80s sound.
Turbo banger album.
Something special about this one. The passion, love, soul, heartache, really comes through the music. Will be a go to for slow jams
I didn't listen to my album yesterday for obvious reasons if you're keeping up with the news. Sam Cooke would've actually been very relevant for the mood I felt at the time, but I was far too stressed to think about that. Thankfully the algorithm blessed me with one of my favorite 80s soul records with an adult contemporary lean that finally gives me a chance to talk about Bobby Womack. Bobby Womack is one of those musicians whose personal life overshadows the music for many people. Barring the obvious names, he was probably one of the most devious RnB musicians on the planet. But above all, he was an extremely skilled guitarist and soulful singer with extensive range. If you want a perfect example of those traits, "Communication" and "Understanding" are excellent starts to his discography in the 70s. In the 80s, his career underwent a revival with "The Poet". This short, but sweet, record was able to revitalize Bobby's career. It features the sleeper hit If You Think You're Lonely Now, which got sampled in Mariah Carey's We Stay Together (and is one of my favorite soul songs of the 80s). This album having so much bounce and flavor in the percussion session makes sense when you realize Paulinho de Costa of Toto fame was on rhythm duties; a little yacht makes everything sound better. I'll forever be salty about Quiet Storm not being considered a real genre on RYM, because this is a perfect contender for the best album in it besides the Smokey record that started it all. 8/10
Very good album! I have never heard this before and it's great, nice vocals, excellent beats. It's smooth and detailed, I like it a lot and will definitely listen to it again.
Beautiful music
Not many feelings about this one. I'm glad I listened to it, the music was smooth and full of passion. If You Think You're Lonely Now stuck with me.
Have heard the name and happy I can associate the name to his music. I can really sum up this album by saying, I just want to go home now, grab my wife and spend the rest of the day grooving to this and music just like this. I'm a Rage Against The Machine, Bon Scott rock n roller, but gogdamn, I just love the older R&B and soul. Solid album. 8 very goods songs and straight to the point in 40 minutes. Now you let the genre play out on Spotify and I will guarantee you'll want to go home to the one you love and love em up good. Beautiful album. Best in awhile. 4
This was a great album. There were a lot of really good songs on there that my wife and I enjoyed. It would be a great vibe to just have going in the background somewhere.
Banging
Groovy and nice. Need to spend more time with it and the catalog.
About time I got something a lil funky
super funky disco album with some deep and soulful lyricism that adds to the intensity of the album. Big fan.
This shi fye “Just like some good old Kentucky Fried Chicken” Favourites: Secrets Games If You Think You’re Lonely Now
This shit made me want to dance proactively
Oh yeah, this album fucks. S/o to Gorillaz for introducing me to Bobby which made me pick this album up on a whim. Enjoyed this listen through as well and reminded me to go through his other works
I would listen to this for pleasure The whole thing is great, but Secrets is a level above. Absolute banger Really good. If You Think You're Lonely Now is so good too Good 4
Simply just some wonderful soul from one of the greats of the genre. 4.5 down to 4.
Pretty decent way to start the day without getting too hyped up or worked up.
Maybe after a string of dud albums this would be a 5 but this project has been kind to me recently, so sorry Bobby, you get a downgrade
Some lovely sunny 80s cheese, perfect for listening to in the garden.
Ok, I’ve not heard of this album, though I am aware of bobby Womack. Magnificent talent. Enjoyed a great deal. Must listen? I’ll give this one the benefit of the doubt. 4 probably growing to 5.
Bobby Womack is a legendary talent. Personally, my tastes lean towards his grittier 60s and 70s recordings (10/10, would recommend), and I was not at all familiar with this record. 80s RnB is not typically my jam; a little too smooth, a little too polished. And this album is certainly awash with slick musicianship. The production is clean and smooth, and the playing is always tasteful. But it's Bobby's vocals that really lift this from being simply 80s pastel wallpaper. His soul mastery, steeped in gospel, with the right amount of grit and rasp, makes this album really soar. Layer on the gospel choir backing on 'Where Do We Go From Here' (which is kind of an odd song), and you have something really special. So, too my taste, not the Bobby Womack album I would have chosen, but still great to have it on the list. it was huis most successful album and, in fairness, is one of the best RnB records of the decade. Side note: Bobby looks absolutely smokin' on the cover. That jacket, those sunglasses, totally of their era, but he carries them off with his million watt charisma.
Some sick songwriting and musicianship on here.
Det var ret cool. Kendte egentligt kun navnet fra Gorillaz sangen Stylo. Der var gode sange imellem, og jeg gik ind og ville have mere med Bobby bagefter albummet. Om jeg høre det igen, må tiden vise.
Not to be a Tik Tok influencer, but I love his enegyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy [vocal fry]. Bobby has a magnetic draw with his growling vocals.
Pretty good soul. I really like ‘Stand Up’. I am lazy and never want to write a review so sorry ig
Like an explosion in a Babybel factory circa 1982, and another reason this project is ace. It's not going on my "goodness gracious, this is the finest thing to ever enter my ears" list, but wasn't at all familiar with the artist or album and now I'm educated. This was a tasty slice of overblown 80s funk / soul and I am here for it.
A fun, soulful album. It's relatively short, as it lasts around 40 minutes. If You Think You're Lonely Now stood out to me for some reason. I quite liked how it flowed. It's not the most creative album I've ever heard, but simplicity can be enjoyable sometimes.
This album is just oh so smooth. A beautiful journey about love and enjoying the world around you. Definitely going to jump back in
- fantastic soul - really enjoyed my listen -3.5
If you put this record on and it doesn't make the toes tap or put a groove in your step, you might dead.
Would definitely listen again. Just My Imagination is :chefskiss:
4 stars
Very upbeat, almost funk-y, but not quite. Fun.
Both a good album of you like cheesy sex funk and if you want something to laugh at. The music is so cheesy, but so much passion is put into it you can't help but both laugh at it and like it. Secrets is a song about a woman's mysterious sexual techniques, yet with it's food metaphors it sounds like its also a song about Colonel Sander's secret chicken recipe. Stand Up is straight sex funk number of the album, but the rest of the songs are romantic in nature. The final song is a dud, combining religious music with usual romance and comes off like a smarmy preacher trying to make money.
Bobby Womack's album "The Poet" stands as a landmark in his career, showcasing his multifaceted talent as a singer, songwriter, and musician. Released in 1981, it remains a timeless piece of soul music, characterized by its poignant lyrics, captivating melodies, and polished production. **Lyrics:** Womack's lyrical prowess shines throughout "The Poet." His songwriting delves into themes of love, heartbreak, and redemption with a raw honesty that resonates deeply with listeners. Tracks like "If You Think You're Lonely Now" and "Love Has Finally Come at Last" are prime examples of Womack's ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet profound lyrics. The album's storytelling is rich and evocative, drawing listeners into Womack's world with every word. **Music:** Musically, "The Poet" is a masterclass in soul and R&B. Womack's velvety vocals soar over lush arrangements, consisting of smooth grooves, infectious rhythms, and soulful instrumentation. Tracks like "Secrets" and "So Many Sides of You" showcase Womack's versatility as a musician, seamlessly blending elements of funk, jazz, and blues to create a sound that is uniquely his own. The album's melodies are catchy and memorable, sticking with listeners long after the music stops. **Production:** The production on "The Poet" is top-notch, thanks in part to Womack's collaboration with renowned producer Wilton Felder. Together, they craft a sonic landscape that is rich, dynamic, and impeccably polished. Each instrument is given room to breathe, resulting in a sound that is both warm and expansive. The production enhances Womack's vocals, allowing them to take center stage while complementing them with lush harmonies and tasteful instrumentation. **Themes:** Thematically, "The Poet" explores the complexities of love and relationships with nuance and depth. Womack's lyrics touch on the highs and lows of romantic entanglements, from the ecstasy of newfound love to the agony of heartbreak. Throughout the album, Womack grapples with themes of longing, desire, and vulnerability, painting a vivid portrait of the human experience. His songs resonate with authenticity and sincerity, making them relatable to listeners of all backgrounds. **Influence:** "The Poet" has had a lasting influence on the world of soul and R&B music, inspiring countless artists with its timeless sound and heartfelt lyrics. Womack's soulful vocals and poetic songwriting have earned him a reputation as one of the genre's most iconic figures, influencing generations of musicians across musical boundaries. His impact can be heard in the work of artists such as D'Angelo, Maxwell, and Alicia Keys, who have cited Womack as a major influence on their own music. **Pros:** 1. **Lyrical Depth:** Womack's poignant lyrics resonate deeply with listeners, exploring themes of love, loss, and redemption with raw honesty and emotional sincerity. 2. **Musical Versatility:** The album's eclectic mix of soul, R&B, funk, and jazz showcases Womack's versatility as a musician, appealing to a wide range of tastes. 3. **Polished Production:** The album's polished production elevates Womack's soulful vocals, creating a rich and dynamic sonic landscape that is both immersive and captivating. 4. **Timeless Sound:** Despite being released in 1981, "The Poet" remains relevant today, thanks to its timeless sound and universal themes that continue to resonate with audiences around the world. **Cons:** 1. **Lack of Diversity:** Some critics may argue that the album lacks diversity in terms of musical styles, with many tracks following a similar soul/R&B formula. 2. **Occasional Clichés:** While Womack's lyrics are generally heartfelt and authentic, there are moments where they veer into cliché territory, lacking the originality and depth found in other tracks. 3. **Limited Innovation:** While "The Poet" is undeniably a solid entry in Womack's discography, some may argue that it doesn't push the boundaries of the genre or offer much in the way of innovation. In conclusion, "The Poet" stands as a testament to Bobby Womack's enduring talent and influence in the world of soul and R&B music. With its poignant lyrics, captivating melodies, and polished production, the album remains a timeless classic that continues to inspire listeners decades after its release. While it may have its flaws, such as occasional clichés and a lack of musical diversity, these are far outweighed by its many strengths, including Womack's soulful vocals, heartfelt songwriting, and lasting impact on the genre.
This was killer. Reminded me a lot of the Curtis Mayfield record I listened to from this list. So many stand outs. I’m gonna keep coming back.
The only experience I had with Bobby Womack before today was his feature on Stylo from Plastic Beach. That’s a song I’ve loved for years, and his part is great, so the name was familiar to me. The truth is, this dude is a legend. I think he should definitely be regarded as an icon of 70s and 80s soul and funk music. But it seems like from a critic standpoint, he isn’t the most acclaimed artist. That’s a shame, since his music, and particularly this album, definitely has something going for it. If you like either of the two previously mentioned genres, you would be doing yourself a favor by giving this a chance. It has everything a good funk album should have. And even if it doesn’t exactly change the game in any particular category, it does a damn fine job. This album is entirely made up of love songs. It’s all about love. So maybe if you aren’t a fan of too many of those, skip this one. But I like the sort of “lover boy” character that Bobby portrays here. And he pulls it off. Some of these songs are sexy as fuck. And they would surely work on me if someone wanted to get me into a certain mood. Also, the bass lines on this album are super fat. There isn’t any famous or notable bassist on this album, but the ones they have are great, and are honestly the best part of the backing group. Bobby Womack just feels like he was born with soul in his blood. His personality, and especially his voice, were so adherent to the key aspects of the genre. So rest in peace to an underrated star. Rating: 7/10
Was not allowed to listen to the first 3 songs so I only heard 5 of the 8.
Liked it! Great vocals and overall catchy music!
I don’t know who came first but I’d call this Barry White lite. I just like this type of music so I’m really not sure what it would take for me to be blown away. There are no songs to be skipped. There really isn’t any songs to get you moving, other than to have sex. It’s actually more of a warm up before you put Barry White on to “drive it home”. Choice cut: Where Do We Go from Here
Love this
4.3 - really enjoyed this, nice and groovy and great voice
I'm feeling this. Some stereo mix. Some of it reminds me of the vibe of McGruff the crime dog's album. Secrets is amaizing I listened to Secrets at least 10 times today.
# Playlist track - Just My Imagination # Notes - Great production. Sounds are rich, interesting and there are cool hooks throughout +2 - No bad songs +1 - Super corny, but like "cool 80s corny" +1 - Album lacks a killer track or unforgettable moment. Still super good!
taustasanantoistaoa kun samalla edessä huutaa... eivälttämättä sanantoistopoppia... tykkään wiboista tykään lyriikoista.. voisi nojata sinne bluessikitaran soittoon enemmän kun kerran pitää kuvassa sen rämpyttimen kanssa virnustella.. anna palaa vaan mutta ei... vähän alkoi kyllästyttämään tuo ainainen R&B temaattinen hiuhau härmäily... härski juttu 12... hehheh,,, games
Fire
Poetic
A complete surprise to me. Bobby Womack, to me, is an artist that should be better known than he is. This album, while.mostly just love songs, is funky and soulful. Good arranging and instrumentation. Womack is also a pretty solid guitar player in his own right!
Unreal sound.
skibidi rizz
AAAAAAAA. Sounds similar to what i imagine a woodpaneled house would sound like.
Bobby Womack lived an impressive life. From playing guitar with superstars Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin to coming into his own soul and r&b singing and songwriting. His friendship with mentor Sam Cooke is mentionable and even controversial is the fact that he married Sam’s widow. I enjoyed this album.
Dig it. Its one of those albums that i know i would be blown away to see it live. Just listening casually is just ok so far.
Some R&B for the soul. Good, not great today.
Very early 80s. Very R&B. As each tune started, I rolled my eyes a bit and then, as each tune progressed, I found myself grooving. Enjoyed it a lot.
Hard to listen without moving at least one body part. Bouncy, addictive bassline on the opener. The 7-minute Games is a highlight with female backing vocals and interplay of pianos, bass and sax. If You Think You're Lonely Know was the big hit, bringing more of the soulful stuff. Great, clear production throughout too.
Like Marvin Gaye, but slightly better. Marvin is the better singer, but Bobby's music is better. First song is amazing, the rest is not that good, but there are no bad songs on the album. I didn't know his solo work, only Womack&Womack, which is kind of boring, so this was a pleasant surprise. Favorite song: So Many Sides Of You.
very smooth, i like
8/10 - 4/5 Great short album. Really good style, tight instrumentation. And Bobby's voice works so well for this style. Consise album with no room for filler, and a pretty fun listen.
Really good
Good soul/funk/gospel album. As I’m up late hearing my literal baby crying for the third hour thinking about I wish I was lonely while listening to you think you’re lonely now. Great break up album
Can’t say I’ve ever heard of Bobby Womack but I sure as hell have now. I listened to the original 1980 five-track release first before listening to the first three tracks on the 2021 rerelease. Just My Imagination is a great starter and has that quintessential yacht rock sound. Stand Up is a freaking jam that had my attention in about 15 seconds. The jazz and soft rock in Games switches up the vibe in an instantly and gets into the blues for If You Think You’re Lonely Now. From there I don’t see any reason that Where Do We Go From Here needs to go on that long. The additional three tracks are solid but nothing spectacular. The bass and guitar parts as a whole are phenomenal. I know every song can’t be incredible but the good-but-not-great songs bring this down to a four for me. Can’t wait to listen to more of his stuff in the future.
We can all agree that Bobby Womack was a menace, but nonetheless quite talented. Despite his difficult upbringing and audacious to downright savage behavior, this album grooves real hard. Some great love songs, great reflective songs about death of his brother, and of course, songs about how complicated relationships can be-- something he knew a lot about. Sonically, this 1981 album is deeply set in the boogie era, which sees this R&B crooner, blues rock belter, jazz-funk OG sound somewhat overproduced but nonetheless bigger than ever.
Smooth, Lovely and in a good length. Good Record and very good playable. It had nothing that disturbed me in any way. 4.0/5.0
groovy groovy
This guys awesome.
I liked this a lot more than I expected I would. This album had a very 70s feel (even though it came out in 1981). Tracks that stood out for me included So Many Sides of You, Just My Imagination, Games (with lots of great guitar in the last few minutes), and If You Think You're Lonely Now (the highest ranking hit single from the album).
Overall, this album was a welcome surprise! I really enjoyed track 5 which according to YouTube Music was the least played track on the album. I would call it a hidden gem or maybe I was just in the right mood. Track by track: 1 - This is very pleasant. Foot tapping is going strong. Loved it! Great backup vocals as well. 2 - Keep laying this stuff on me. I'm digging it. 3 - Bit of a change of pace. I don't like this one quite as much but it's still fine. 4 - Another change of pace. This is nice. 5 - Ok... I have "Stank face" during the repeat of "Standing Room Only" towards the end of the track. I immediately want to play it again. 6 - This track was pretty decent. Didn't capture my interest too well but I enjoyed it. 7 - This one is nice. Chill but with some building intensity. 8 - What a fun exit track. I feel like this has been a true send-off.
How have I never heard of this guy? These songs bang. Mariah Carey sang the lyrics “If You Think You’re Lonely Now” in a song of hers which was a fun call back. This dude is 10x better than Marvin Gaye. I’d have sex with him 8/10
Pretty enjoyable smooth album. Good soul music just soothes you a way that no other genre can do. Man is this relaxing. 7/10
Soulful, soulful. Last two cuts best. Lyricists that name their work such as this need to seriously consider whether incorporating "Kentucky Fried Chicken" is a suitable artistic choice.
Smooth album.
I have been getting consistently good albums lately and this one is no exception. Smooth AF.
Not all tracks were available on Spotify but I enjoyed the ones I could listen to
It's real cool that this album, even tho i'm not a big fan of this type of music, you can listen to it calmly 'cause you don't feel it long lasting and the songs in it are literally *lovely*
Chilling
I could listen to Bobby Womack switching between inaudible howling and soft spoken words for days without growing tired of it.
Womack delivers hit after hit on The Poet. Funky, soulful beats accompanies Womack’s golden voice and the dirty slap bass really brings it all together. There’s a few songs that doesn’t quite live up to the rest, but with songs like “Secrets” on the track list it’s really no problem.
3 tracks are missing on spotify which is a tragedy because this is solid
Great album, high highs and not really any lows.
A soulful and funky tour de force.
This was way better when I listened to it for the second time. I really enjoyed the mix of disco, soul and blues.
Vraiment soulfull , j'ai bien aimé 4.5
Best suggestion of music I don't usually listen to so far
i had never heard of this one before (only know bobby womack from stylo), so wasn't sure what to expect. but this is an EXCELLENT soul album. really loved this front to back
7/10. Not extremely memorable, but a very enjoyable listen nonetheless.
Pretty solid funky soul album. 8/10
I only knew one song by him, which I quite like, so I was hopeful that I would like it, and I did! It has a nice energy and I'm excited to look through some of his other stuff for something I might like even more. My favourite songs were Secrets and Stand Up.
Short listen - the first three tracks were GEO locked :-( I really liked listening to this and it made me realise that I don't listen to enough Soul! So COOL!
Very chill. Reminds me of 1980s "rock"/Jazz fusion, like Sting's first solo album
Pleasurable
Short and sweet. Couple of toe-tappers for sure. Really enjoyed Secrets, gonna keep that one in rotation.
Super great jazz. I wish I could dedicate more time thinking about this album, but I guess I just vibed with it. I'm not normally a super big soulful slow jazz person because it typically comes off cheesy, but this seems okay. I also love the hints of Reggae, and blues in the music. I guess these romantic albums never really resonated with me, because I tend to disengage from romantically unsure situations, and it seems like there's this whole class of people who really love reveling in it and all of its drama. I don't but I appreciate the music nonetheless.
Solid stuff
nice 4*
Poetry
This was just a nice tight soul record. Nothing mind-blowing or wildly inventive, but it knew what it wanted to be and achieved that very, very well.
Really just cool music. Tight album as well, a wholly pleasant experience.
Secrets is nice! That bass. Stand Up is jammin’! If You Think You're Lonely Now is amazing! Great classic R&B here, I could see this influencing a lot of great 90s R&B. Where Do We Go From Here, great bass lead-in! Going with a 4/5, this is a solid album!
Smooth, funky, groovy, soulful. What an amazing voice, matched by some amazing instrumentation throughout. My interest waned a bit on some of the slower songs, but this was still excellent. Favourite: Stand Up
Tiukkaa hittikamaa! Ei paljoa valittamista, hallittu levy. 4/5
4/5
Amazed I've never heard the album until now! Loved the singing, bluesy, funky bass riffs. Great album!
This is the first soul music that I've really liked tbh
Loved
Solid grooves here
This was a nice 40 minutes of very choral soul music. I was admittedly distracted reading the Wikipedia page of prousts in search of lost time for a couple tracks but I still enjoyed the album overall.
Great stuff - would listen again 👏 love the backup vox
Great album, perhaps a bit front-loaded. Pianos are a little too bright for my taste, but they fit in with the sound of the project adequately. Perhaps a bit repetitive in its ideas and sonic qualities, but not overwhelmingly so.
Lekker en smooth.
A nice set of jolly songs. Shame two have been taken off Spotify
So many relationship emotions. I liked this.
powerful singer and good songs, suffers only slightly from some egregious early 80s flourishes
Love it! The smoothness and soulfulness together with the great guitar tone is just perfect!
Pretty enjoyable album
Smooth, groovy, catchy. A really nice discovery.
Funky and overall fun album. Great for when you’re in a good fun mood.
An absolute classic and must-listen.
Well I definitely enjoyed that more than I expected to. Very smooth and soulful. Can imagine sitting in a papasan and listening to this in the dark while I sip on a glass of brandy.
Note to self - listen to more Bobby Womack as this is impeccable
Lovely album. Slow or fast, every song is good.
Fav tracks: So Many Sides Of You, Secrets, If You Think You're Lonely Now
Very good listen. The background vocalists are really impressive on this and help it carry weight. Important to note that 3 songs are not available on Spotify so I can't give it a full 5 stars but great listen for sure!
Strong vocals and groovy basslines kept my toes tapping all the way through. Stand up was a favorite on my first listen through. The album loses steam towards the end and lost me a bit in the last 2 songs.
Banger
This is pretty top-drawer though backgroundy stuff (mainly because of the day I was having. Nothing was going to be foreground music that day.)
Too hip. The reference to Kentucky Fried Chicken in 'Secrets' (a straight banger) made me hoot. "Let's go to Mars, where children play..."
Felt like Jamiroquai if it was funk
Great voice, 3.6
Really solid and enjoyable album... the only reason I decided on 4 stars is due to the fact that I'd probably never choose to listen to this again on my own accord. But for real, really great funky stuff.
What a great idea to put together some of the best genres of the '70s-'80s. These are mostly love songs but they're never mushy, instead they're filled with funk, soul, and a little bit of cheese for good measure. Now I always want to hear Bobby Womack on the radio, singing to me, "if you think you're lonely now..." - wait a minute this is too deep, but I like it!
Solid record. There's a hilarious track about Kentucky Fried Chicken. What more could you want??
I’m gonna dedicate this album to all the lovers tonight, and I think that might be the whole world…
Couple heaters.
Je n'arrive pas à savoir si j'apprécie funker ou non
Reading about Womack's years of supporting other artists before finally getting some success in his own right is hear wrenching. He worked with a lot of the greats and I can hear and believe how they influenced him but also the other way around. There's a lot of variety in this album which is like a library of funk/soul/R&B, wonderful. I think I like Stand Up the most, but the whole album makes me want to dance. I'm not sure about the title The Poet, the lyrics don't seem particularly poetic to me nor does the instrumentation but maybe I'm missing something. Otherwise that's a bit off/arrogant maybe haha.
Nice and boppy, Got me movin' and groovin'
You knew it was going to be good by the suit and glasses.
Quite jazzy and enjoyable!
I start out really liking this album, but it ends on a bit of a boring/sad note. Not really sure how "If you think you're lonely now" became the hit! 4 stars for the first 5 songs.
Such a good mood
Very nice blend of soul, disco, r&b and a little bit of blues. I enjoyed it very much as background music - although not quite enough that I'd actively and regularly listen to it.
I mean how can I criticize a soul singer that I saw at Glastonbury in a tent called "Le Pussy Parlor Nouveau" after The Pharcyde.
Just what I needed to get in that smooth mellow Motown sound. Definitely brought back the afternoon chill.
This shit is so tight
Nice album!
Great lovely funky listen
Es un sonido muy dulce al que te adentras escuchando este álbum. Estamos hablando del decimotercero de la carrera de Bobby Womack, y es una verdadera joya del soul y el r&b. Con toques disco, un groove que te mantendrá enganchado en todo momento, los instrumentos interpretado de forma magistral y la increíble interpretación vocal, que te dejará boquiabierto. Es alucinante la forma en la cual este artista te seduce desde la primera vez, como si fuese la décima escucha que le haces. Puede ser por lo atractivo que resulta este género, pero también le adjudico una cuota muy grande al artista, que sin duda entrega un producto de altísima calidad para el disfrute de todos. Este trabajo te deja fascinado y sin dudas que con ganas de seguir con la música de Bobby, así como a su vez, con ganas de volver constantemente a este álbum.
Some solid soul. Not my favourite soul on the list, but its up there
Funky, soulful, velvet smooth singing, and oh, that bass guitar sound.
Has some funky bass lines, mostly good
This was a hard one to rate. I LOVED the bass on this album (drums too), loved the verses, loved the up-tempo R&B attack. I've got a "best of (soul years)" collection from Bobby Womack, not one of these songs are on it, and none of them pack the punch these songs do. His singing is killer. Strangely, from a songwriting perspective, I thought every chorus on the record (with an exception or two) was overshadowed by the verse. The verses flowed and rolled and were just fantastic and then the chorus came in and the energy dipped. So, this was an easy 4, but that hampers it, as does the song order. Why stack the three slow numbers at the end like that? All three songs are just fine (though I'd have preferred one more rollicking track replace one of them), but the album comes to a screeching halt before it's over. So, at its best, this was bangin'. But it's far from perfect. Hell, I enjoyed it a lot. 4 stars.
Funky
The best Bobby Womack album from the 80s? In any case, an excellent album with quite a reputation, just like part II. Just short of 5 stars for me - as it is hard not to compare it with his classic albums from the early 70s.
What, where's Wikipedia to give me an easily accessible read about this album? I can't be bothered to do my own research. :) I dug this a fair bit. The first track So Many Sides of You had a Stevie Wonder kind of opening (sounds like Master Blaster), which I love because I love Stevie. Hope it wasn't a ripoff. There is some definite early 80's cheese here - Lay Your Lovin' On Me is a bit over-produced and the lyrics in Secrets are just atrocious at times (KFC? Really?). I get why If You Think You're Lonely Now was the big single - so much deeper and more soulful than the others. But the album is mostly a good funky ride, and that's worth something. Stand Up is another great example. I know, it's got some cheese too but damn that beat. I loved it (reminded me of another great funky cheese You Dropped a Bomb on Me by the Gap Band). A nice surprise and more to add to my list of soft 80's r&b favorites.
Bit slow and not so keen on his voice.
Listened to sometime last week 4/5 Favorite song: just my imagination Spotify only had half the album which is sad but I really loved the jazz vibes and emotive lyrics
Musically really interesting in places and Bobby’s voice is just amazing.
Yeah, funky 80s disco soul. Would have liked more funky disco and less ballads, only half the album so Spotify but I think I’ve got the idea.
Very talented
B+
Bluesy
Mellow, para trabajar, para conducir, de fondo
me re gustó, un album con una banda de energía y divertido AL FIN!!! me encantó mucho cómo empezó el álbum ah. 8 / 10
Cozy and vibrant. From funky danceable to smooth romantic. Great album.
Ok
Jazzy, bluesy fun
Enjoyable and full of heart. Could not find the full album on Spotify, YouTube link here: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lPdfiWy1WS-WR8Fwg3GAGWZKKYB3tngiU&feature=share
Listen again
I might have gone with Understanding instead of this album, but this here's a tight, solid work, the grooves are fantastic, without a single weak track.
WOW!!! THIS ALBUM US ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. i’m blown away by the entire aura.
Fun! Probably not something I'll listen to a lot, but good
What a voice. Slap bass, funky beats, disco guitar, soppy strings. Nice.
What a fantastic voice and great songwriter.
Didn't think I was going to dig this but Bobby's got a great voice and I love the mix of synths and other sounds on here. A couple songs are a little samey but overall an enjoyable listen.
It wasn’t something I would have picked up on my own, but I really enjoyed it. It felt like an AOTM selection.
S'écoute vraiment bien, du bon groove. Certainement à revisiter.
Real nice :)
Excellent release from Bobby Womack and a great return to form. From what I read he had a slump before this album, and this brought him back into the spotlight. He sounds amazing on this and the longer tracks breeze by you.
Was a bit curious when I tried to open this on Spotify, the first three songs are unplayable in my region for some reason. I do think this is a shame because each of them are great songs (in particular Secrets) and would like to have them saved on a playlist. The remaining tracks available range from great, corny, and a bit tame. The favourites of these are If You Think You're Lonely Now (which is great despite its corniness) and Stand Up. On a side note, this is one of those instances where it's not great to look at the artist's Wikipedia page, as Bobby Womack's personal life is a massive yikes to say the least. Although the one upside of doing so was I found out he featured on Stylo by Gorillaz.
Funky, soulful, very solid
Banger
OK this album appears today and my first question is "Who on earth is Bobby Womack?" quickly followed by "Why are a third of his songs not available on Spotify?" He sure doesn't look like Neil Young. So I start to listen and, wow, this guy is good. His music moves and he has a deep powerful voice that I could listen to all night. I still have no clue who Bobby Womack is but I now know how good he is.
В какой-то момент мне показалось, что это Бобби Уомак - Крис Риа в мире соул-музыки. Альбом классный, добротный и приятный.
Enjoyable. Early 80s soul. Will deffo listen to again.
Very soulful R&B with some fun guitar work. Not perfect, but worth a listen.
I really enjoyed this album. Bobby Womack’s voice is so versatile and can be as smooth or gritty as he needs. I was also very impressed with how fluidly he goes between and mixes genres. I was surprised to hear slide guitars in one song. His mix of soul, funk, gospel, blues, jazz, and even country is energetic and incredibly well done.
Run a hot bath, add your favourite oil, spark up some candles, turn out the lights and let this album just wash over you. Soulful, funky R&B will soothe away your stresses. Not perfect, but pretty damned close.
Pretty darn good.
Funk, soul, disco : la totale. Malgré quelques redondances, l’album est un délice notamment grâce à la finesse des musiciens et de la production en studio. La basse (Nathan East?) ressort en particulier, un plancher solide pour la voix puissante de Womack. Ça donne envie d’essayer la cocaïne.
Great album
Fat. Cuts. All. Day.
silky smooth, resonant and true
Very funky album. I enjoyed the sound and it gave me real R&B feelings!
First listen. Funky, soulful, definitely a 1981 sounding R&B album and quite good. The songs seem to fall into three categories: Funky songs where you hear the Sly and the Family Stone and Funkadelic influences. Pop songs sounding very similar to other R&B pop acts of the day like Kool & the Gang and Ray Parker Jr. And finally his strongest songs which is why this album made the list and have much more slow-paced traditional soulful sound with a jazz-based guitar and horns. His crooning voice dominates. These songs remind me somewhat of the Isley Brothers and the one hit and song that I heard before "If You Think You're Lonely Now" fall into this category.
This was a good album, soulful and funky as you'd expect it to be. I didn't vibe with it as much as I would have liked to, though - there were a few weak tracks that I didn't enjoy that much. Stand Up was a highlight though, that song was so good.
4/5. Quite Smooth 😎
Very listenable pop music. Sometime the lyrics seem a little simple and sometimes derivative.
What a nice, smooth listen. I absolutely loved the version of "Just My Imagination". So different to hear that tune not motown'ed out.
I love to start my day dancing! Thank you Bobby Womack!
Ok
Pretty good soul music! My gf and I enjoyed!
Groovy, funky, pretty upbeat - not my chosen genre but I enjoyed the hell out of it. Really cool surprise. 4/5.
Excellent album, but sounds more 70s than 1981.
funky
A really nice way to start the day, great album
75. The Poet - Bobby Womack 8 tracks. This is great. Barry White meets Stevie Wonder with a little sprinkling of Luther & Alex. I didn't know there were Womack's other than Womack & Womack until now. His life story seems.... interesting. Flushed face 4/5
Funky af
I liked, funky... Its not a master piece, but pretty cool to listen and relax...
Not something I would normally listen to but I dig it. R/B with bluesy elements at times.
Very solid album with plenty of variety but it all feels familiar! My favorites had to be Secrets and Where Do We Go From Here.
4/5 Nice album
Weirdly I couldn't stream the first 3 songs of this album on Spotify, but the last ones were dope especially If You Think You're Lonely Now.
Fantastic front to back!
Such a breeziness to these songs, you can almost smell the ocean air.
IF YOU THINK YOU'RE LONELY NOW WAIT UNTIL TONIGHT GIRL
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.
Very romantic
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
4/5 upbeat soul sounds, nice!
pas mal
loved it. adding to the rotation
Gillar verkligen albumet! Bästa låtar: So Many Sides Of You Just My Imagination If You Think You're Lonely Now
Best track: If you think you're lonely now
Finally, some delicious fucking food
Awesome rythm. I feel that.
Great mix of funk, soul, R&B (& maybe a little disco)! Great voice and danceable basslines.
Nice vibe
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!!
Solid soul with some nice jams...
Sehr schönes Soul-Album!
Gut zu hören. Kann man mal wieder machen
Tiene una vibra muy cool
Hat mich beim ersten Mal hören nicht so umgehauen aber es wird immer besser (ich habe nicht getrunken).
Great great discovery!
kinda fresh, kinda funky. 7/10, strong across the board but the bass player carried the opening track
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
Pretty good
I've heard the name Bobby Womack but can't say that I could name a song. I really enjoyed listening to this album.
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
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
pretty damn funky
Don't you ever tell me what to give a five, Faith.
Could only hear half the album. Was pretty catchy for what I heard
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.
This was groovin and the just my imagination cover was good
Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Works
Good voice and great set of musicians but this is bland and unmemorable. The 80s production choices does it no favours either 2.5
The Poet is like a warm hug from the late 70s and early 80s, combining elements of R&B, funk, and soul. It makes for a smooth listen, and Womack's voice is more than up to the task. The Poet doesn't take many risks or push any boundaries, but it did help establish Bobby Womack in the new decade (something a lot other artists from the 60s and 70s struggled to do). I imagine that's enough for its inclusion in the 1001.
Enjoyed it as it's very much my type of music. It felt like a bit of a mess at times though, there are stronger albums in the same genre/s from the 70s/80s that ain't on this list.
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 (+0.5 for technical achievement, but rounded down for personal enjoyment) When I saw how low Underwater Moonlight by the Softboys was rated, I thought to myself, well, maybe it's time to nuke the world. Luckily, my access to the football has been delayed long enough for me to self-reflect and right my wrongs. I think, in a timeline where I was baptized in R&B rather than College Rock, I'd feel about The Poet there the way I do about Underwater Moonlight here. Undeniably, this is a tight album, front to back—every song has its own character but not without sacrificing its overall identity, it doesn't lose momentum until the last few songs (and even then, there was plenty I enjoyed about the last one), every song is probably a soul gem, it's funny, it's danceable, it's emotional, Bobby's got pipes... on and on. I think, were I another person, it'd be criminal to rank this lower than a four. All that said, in this timeline, I just didn't click with it, and I struggle with that given how objectively good it is. I don't know... something about this eighties style is just kind of cheesy to me, which is hypocritical, considering how much dated music I like (see Underwater Moonlight). More and more, I just have to accept that my music taste does not reflect objective goodness, and some things just aren't for me. That's not to say I don't really respect this one, or even that I liked none of what it had to offer—"Stand Up" was fantastic, and I'd listen to "Just my Imagination" and the last song again, for sure. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
This was nice! Consistent, enjoyable, but nothing necessarily to write home about.
Album #201 Bobby Womack: The Poet Soul is a genre I heavily associate with the 70s, so some smooth soul with 80s production was a pretty fresh sound for me. The Poet presents some good tunes, and even some great ones, but it never feels like it’s doing anything new or too impressive. Not the kind of music that I would ever be annoyed at, but at the same time, there are artists that do the sound a lot better. Also interesting that he regards himself as a poet when the lyrics were potentially the weakest point of the album, kind of takes you out of it a bit when he starts going on about how finger-licking KFC is. Best Songs: If You Think You’re Lonely Now, So Many Sides Of You, Where Do We Go From Here Worst Song: Secrets Score out of 10: 6
Mr Bobby has a wild story. No wonder he got into soul music. Marrying his friend Sam Cooke's wife 3 months after Sam Cooke was killed is a choice. But hey the man has talent!
It’s fine - it sounds quite dated, but I enjoyed it
Very soulful and quite enjoyable.
Decent.
I think you have to be less miserable than I am to really like this, especially on a rainy week
alright
It's certainly dated, but it's got a lot of charm. Smoother than a botoxed testicle.
Not a bad album to reach for if it’s sexy time and you totally forgot the names Isaac Hayes, Barry White, Bill Withers, and Marvin Gaye.
Favorite track(s): Lay Your Lovin' on Me, Stand Up, If You Think You're Lonely Now
A little bit like voice first songs second. Womack's range is amazing but the songs and arrangements are a tad samey. Lay your lovin on me is an excellent song though on what is a short album.
Starts really strongly and falls away a bit around the middle, but still a solid album.
Bobby can sing. Bobby can play guitar. Bobby ain’t a poet … lol
Don’t have much to say. Didn’t grab me but it was kinda cool. I now have 110th street stuck in my head though which isn’t actually on this album.
Tiene un ritmo interesante, es disfrutable, no mucho más que decir
This is ok, that kind of r&b / funk type of thing is not my bag, but it’s not awful
First 4 songs were all time bangers 5/5 come on big up etc. the other 4 songs were OK, bit slow but not bad. It's between a 3 and a 4, and I'm gonna go for a 3 because my scores have been too high recently. Sorry love
Pleasant enough.
Not bad, just not for me.
Great soul vibes. Hard to be in a bad mood listening to this.
Great production. Solid songwriting overall. Not my cup of tea. 80s R&B is an interesting thing though.
Groovy Bobby