The Poet

Funky stuff from Mr. Womack. Absolutely killer hook on So Many Sides of You.

This was fun and funky that made me bippity bop, but it also had a cheese factor that made it hard to take very seriously.

As cool as this album is, it's almost unbearably 80s R&B/Blues/Soul. I can't really put my finger on it but there was something about the production of this kind of music in the early to mid 80s that is just unmistakable. Maybe it's the long fade outs on every song? Cheesy synths? The over-tight sound of the drums? All of those things? I don't know. It was a fun record to listen to but any longer and I would have struggled. 2.5/5

Energetic soul album that had me grooving right away. Bobby has a nice voice and is stringing together many fun disco or soul tunes here. Lay your lovin on me, if you think youre lonely now and stand up are the standouts for me. Like but not love this lp.

I appreciate the craft here, he has a brilliant voice no doubt but it’s just not my thing really. I enjoyed it to a point but I probably tuned out after 4-5 songs so I won’t be returning voluntarily. I was debating whether to award this 2 stars but that seemed a bit harsh.

62/1001 Bobby Womack - The Poet Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❓ His voice is incredible, the arrangements and general vibe are smooth soul, with some funk elements. The lyrics can be questionable at times. I did enjoy it, but I don't think I'd be reaching for it at random...

Nice smooth, funky bass. Nothing terribly attention grabbing, though. It feels a bit dated, solidly in that late 70s early 80s disco era. Good background music, but that's about it.

This is good. I enjoyed the whole album. Again, as with a lot of the albums on this list, it's great for a listen or 2, but maybe not all the time. Maybe if the list was trimmed down to some essentials, you wouldn't end up with a lot of albums like this. 3.05 / 5 stars

Like it as background music.

Funky fine

So Many Sides Of You - 9/10 Lay Your lovin on me - 7/10 Secrets - 7.5/10 Just My Imagination - 7/10 Stand Up - 10/10 Games - 7/10 If you think youre lonely now - 7/10 Where do we go from here - 8/10 78/100

This dudes history vis a vis poor Sam Cooke and his wife is fucking wild. The album is cool kinda pioneering 80s soul. Some vocal affectations I associate with rick james, not sure who came first.

Pas si pire, mais pas vraiment mémorable

A bit generic until Stand Up. That one has a groove.

Really good album. A 3,5.

Funky Stuff

have limited knowledge of soul music so it was good to expand that. started this album in the baggage drop-off queue at manchester airport, finished it 3 weeks later. was pleased with the consistent use of the gospel choir - allowed womack to improvise adlibs over which sounded great. very funky bass guitar had a huge significance in a lot of tracks. the use of the harp was beautiful in some parts but overused in others. simplistic lyrics makes the title ironic. 'game' had a stunning instrumental.

Not bad but not for me

Временами приятно, временами тягомотно. 6 из 10.

Pretty good soul album.

78/1001. To quote Hitchhiker's Guide to tje Galaxy: mostly harmless.

Hyvää settiä!

Nice feel good music, very upbeat! I dont know that it super pulled me in ir felt super revolutionary to me but it was def a pleasant listen. Groovy. 3.4

Pretty basic.

This isn't for me. Its alright. It feels kind of strange but I think that it probably didn't at the time?

The Poet is a nice listen and a 3 ⭐ album. It's a great sounding album, from a mix and production perspective. Bobby Womack had a good voice, not being too smooth, with just a bit of grit to it. The guitar and bass are stand-outs. Some of the guitar fills are quite tasty. Ultimately, there wasn't any tracks on this album that grabbed my attention, got my foot tapping, my head nodding and stirred the soul; nothing to make me want to listen again or explore further. Would I listen to this album again? No. Would I buy this album? No. 1 "So Many Sides of You"- 3 ⭐ 2 "Lay Your Lovin' on Me"- 3 ⭐ 3 "Secrets"- 3 ⭐ 4 "Just My Imagination"- 3 ⭐ 5 "Stand Up"- 3 ⭐ 6 "Games"- 3 ⭐ 7 "If You Think You're Lonely Now"- The best track on the album.- 3 ⭐ 8 "Where Do We Go from Here"- 3 ⭐ Total - 24 Average - 3.00

Das Album The Poet wurde in den Kendun Recorders in Burbank, Kalifornien, aufgenommen. Bobby Womack war ein US-amerikanischer Sänger, Gitarrist und Songwriter, der mit diesem Werk seinen Stil zwischen Soul, Funk und R&B weiterentwickelte. Das Album erschien in einer Zeit, in der traditionelle Soulmusik kommerziell unter Druck stand, und zeigt dennoch eine klare persönliche Handschrift. Songs wie „If You Think You’re Lonely Now“ und „So Many Sides of You“ gelten als markante Stücke im Repertoire Womacks und fanden auch später noch Beachtung in verschiedenen musikalischen Kontexten. Die Stücke sind durch ihre betont ruhige, dialogartige Gesangsführung und ihre einfache, aber direkte Instrumentierung geprägt. Stilistisch ist The Poet dem klassischen Soul zuzuordnen, mit Einflüssen aus Gospel und Blues. Die Arrangements sind zurückhaltend, oft gitarrengetragen, wobei Womacks Stimme im Vordergrund bleibt. Die Produktion ist klar, aber nicht übermäßig poliert. Das Album vermittelt den Eindruck eines persönlichen Statements inmitten einer sich wandelnden Musiklandschaft. Es wirkt geschlossen und reflektiert, ohne sich vordergründig an Trends anzupassen.

2.8 That little guitar lick in Just My Imagination might be the worst line (and unnecessary) I have ever heard. Not familiar with Bobby Womak or its album but it really felt like an 80's soul album, which is precisely what it is. If you think your lonely know is a baby banger,

Album 838 of 1089 Bobby Womack -The Poet (1981) Rating : 3 / 5 I really enjoyed this one. It felt like a little blast from the past—smooth, soulful, and the kind of sound you just don’t hear much in new music anymore. Solid arrangements, tasteful musicianship, and Womack’s vocals stayed steady and strong throughout. It didn’t blow me away, but at no point did I find myself checking the time or hoping it would wrap up. Just some smooth, well-crafted tunes. “Just My Imagination” even made it onto my “like” list. A good, easy listen.

Great, but just didn’t pull me in.

I don't know. Cheesey but good fun

This one was good but it sort of sunk into the couch cushions and had trouble getting up again.

Sexy time music

god nok soul funk. Synes ikke rigtig det var noget specielt selvom jeg godt kan lide Bobby womack. Måske ramte jeg bare ikke dagen, er i en periode hvor musikken gerne må være lidt hårdere

Such a classic, smooth, sound. Turn the lights down, grab your best girl and a couple of glasses of wine, and make the evening memorable.

Before the likes of Luther Vandross and Prince, we had Bobby Womack and other trailblazers. I've listened to Bobby Womack in the past, but I can't really say that this is his most interesting release. It's a fine if not too notable listen, there are nice songs on here but nothing that's hugely consequential.

Extremely groovy music. I dug it enough to listen to it passively for a while, but it didn't really strike me as something I will return to.

Basically a doo-wop crooner. Had heard Bobby's name before, but probably would not have been able to describe his music. Good stuff!

A fun album with a little bit on funk.

It was fine. Nothing spectacular.

Nice and enjoyable. Didn't know. 3*

Some smooth and gentle R&B. Nice to listen to.

Kinda funky kinda corny.

I liked some of the songs

3.5- good funky soul

This was a fine album.

Interesting...I enjoy this old school soul funk sound. 3.5/5

kinda liked it

Oh the bass licks Very relaxed, a great vibe but also a tad forgettable

A definite 80s turn on Soul and R&B from our Bobby. Sure, the funk is there, but there's a fair amount of squelchy keyboard and it kind of gets in the way rather. Stand out track for me was If You Think You're Lonely Now, much more classic Womack. Overall a reasonable listen but I doubt I'll return to it anytime soon.

Cool cover. The music is good but I must admit it kind of washed over me, rather than drawing me right in.

Straight middle of the road. Fun but not special

It's not like it's bad, but I can't tell you anything I liked about it. It vaguely reminded me of things I like. I listened to it twice to try to figure out how I felt and I still don't know. I don't expect I'll listen to it again ...Oh there was one track with a really nice snare drum/clap sound...

Nice album, I love soul and he has a great voice but I didn't feel any one song stood out.

Alright, not my thing

Solid 3. Nothing amazing, nothing unpleasant

It was fine.

I enjoyed this; his voice is soothing, and it was easy to listen to. Favourite song was ‘If You Think You're Lonely Now’

Pleasant r&b

I enjoyed this album listen! This album is heavily influenced by blues, funk, soul and other music genres that I typically find myself to enjoy. Overall, I would listen to this again depending on my mood and recommend it to others!

So Many Sides Of You and Just My Imagination are the highlights. The rest suffers a bit from, you know, the 80s. I'd have gone with George Benson's Breezin' from just a few years earlier.

Not bad, just not my thing.

im so fucking mad today cause i messed up my music final exam by playing "smells like teen spirit" gradually faster and out of sync with the backing track while also played the solo all wrong. i don't need any fucking r&b to sooth it, i'd rather like some leonard cohen cause it will make me depressed. and this is so fucking cheesy!!! 3/5

Great songwriter, turmoil in his personal life adds more depth to the material, not always in a good way. The songs are clear slices of everyone’s life, but as a full statement there is too much.

Soul, RnB, 1981 -> 3

Again. Neither the best of the genre nor of Mr Womack’s catalogue. And in this case, I think the gaps are pretty glaring. On the whole I’ve enjoyed this project - it bludgeoned me into accepting Elvis Costello as a legitimate artist, for instance - but some of the selections are, well, peculiar.

High 3 Pretty fun album from a genre I usually find repetitive

Wasn't bad, just not my genre

Sensual, soulful, perfect for a quiet slow morning...or a sexy evening with some wine.

Funky, soulful and alot of fun.

Which one?

legal

It's ok I guess, maybe good dinner background music 3.15

A pretty smooth & chill listen. The songs aren't outstanding but they'd do in a pinch.

Maybe on another day this would have caught my attention more. But today it kind of just faded into the background. Definitely wasn’t unenjoyable, just not too memorable. 2.5/5

Undeniably funky, just not my thing unfortunately

I like the general vibe of this album. The songs are catchy, and, while I am not a huge lover of R&B or jazz, I thought this was quite good. Womack's voice is pleasant and smooth. I didn't really view this album as poetry, as the name of the album had me thinking, but there are some nice love songs. The guitar is the first thing my ear goes to in a song (other than vocals of course), and Womack's playing is fantastic across the board. Good album.

There are parts of this that I really enjoyed, but the production is so dated that it's hard to love it as a whole. The funkier parts are top-notch, some of the ballads are a little much.

Reading the description and other reviews, I was prepared to hate this. But it wasn’t what I feared. Not my usual jam, but a good listen.

Not a funk fan, but this was pretty decent.

A classic song writing, that not sure he makes the jump for a classic song writer/singer.

Funk soul brotha

I was in a foul mood when I put this on and it kind of helped to be honest.

oh yeah? only then ill be lonely? get off my back

Some fun tunes on here and Bobby Womack has a great voice/scream but this album has no business being on this list. How is this required listening? Also shoutout to KFC baybee!

Decent soul. If You Think You’re Lonely Now was the only one that really jumped out. The rest wasn’t bad but didn’t do much for me. Just shy of a 4.

An excellent soul album. Not a ton of range, but I'd gladly return any time.

Enjoyable soul/r&b. Not overproduced, but a clean recording that preserves the rawness of the vocals.

Not a great dude, it seems, but which musicians were in this era? I enjoyed it. I don't know enough about soul to really rate it or know how influential it was, but I like the fusion of soul, funk and blues here and it's all very well performed and produced. No especially catchy or memorable individual songs for me.

Not for me.

Una voz y calidad enormes para el bgran B. Womack, autor del primer éxito de los Stones (It´s all over now) y de uno de los mejores de Wilson Pickett (I´m in love), colaborador de Gorillaz, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, Janis Joplin y Sly and the Family Stone, pero sobre todo de la mejor canción en una pelílca de Tarantino: Across 110th Street. Este The Poet (tendría continuación en el siguiente disco The Poet II) es su album más exitoso y con razón: La apertura de So many sides of you (a lomos de Master Blaster de Stevie Wonder) ya marca el camino a seguir. Lay your lovin´ on me es una delicia, con la voz despegando a un nivel del que ya no baja. Secrets, que fue el sencillo de presentación y sobre todo Stand Up suben el ritmo. La tríada final es, con mucho, lo mejor: If You Think You're Lonely Now como puntal del disco y Where Do We Go From Here como otro de sus éxitos. Just my imagination es una de mis favoritas junto con Games, una obra de arte.

Really smooth and easy to listen to when it’s on. Like, it would be great to make dinner to. But it’s hard to really remember it after it’s finished. I still think everyone should listen to it. One of those weird 3-star must-listens (#111).

Solid, right down the middle but probably won't revisit

This was some solid tunes for interstate driving.

fine soul, not too 80's. it was background jams for me.

Not a album I’d listen to from start to finish.

Just okay.

Decent. 3/5

Lots of soul and funk

It was pretty good. 80’s soul music isn’t really my thing but I enjoyed it. As with so many of the suggestions I feel a whole album is a bit much.

Enjoyable, short-and-sweet album that kept me hooked the whole way. Firmly a 3, but didn't quite have enough to bring it up to a 4.

Getting some serious Miles Davis "Get Up with It" vibes from Womack's glasses on this cover. Just My Imagination is a weird fusion of styles that plays like a southern funk ballad. I'm oddly into it; especially the weird progression of the slide guitar with the chorus. I've definitely heard the guitar lick from If You Think You're Lonely Now in some recent rap sampling. Song stands out for its single quality for sure. I'll say this was a nice short and sweet entry in the list. Not something that really got me going, but there was some solid guitar in here and just some smooth songs. Solid 3 out of 5 territory.

Another high 3. I really enjoy this genre of music, but comparing to other soul music it is just solid/average. Great voice and groove, but nothing truly stood out to me about this album.

Nice soulful album

i can't say i've listened to a lot of bobby womack's stuff but i am familiar with some of his 70s output. this album is obviously a little bit different from 'across 110th street' but it's interesting to see how his music has evolved. it's pretty nice to listen to, very smooth, but honestly very middle of the road. the opening track, 'so many sides of you' sounds like a knock-off of stevie wonder's 'master blaster.' the rest of the album feels a bit run of the mill. this sort of 80s smooth r&b is not really my thing, but i can see why people liked it.

Maybe it's just me, but this doesn't really seem that great? It is good, and I'm vibing along, but it doesn't really feel special in any way. Again, I like it, and it's good, but it's missing something to make it really special/good. Favorite Song(s): Stand Up, If You Think You're Lonely Now

3 только за затянутость песен, а в целом рнб фанк о любви - неплохо

This is good not amazing 80’s soul. Still way more enjoyable than much of what followed. Had never heard of Bobby Womack until now so for that I’m thankful for this project. However don’t believe this is an album I HAVE to listen to.

This has a groove with a solid voice that sometimes sounds like a preacher...for lovers.

A triple threat - guitarist, singer, songwriter - Womack reintroduces himself with a soulfully funky early 80s turn. It's not just what he does but how he does it - I believe what the man says - the come ons and laments alike. There are no real low points but the first side truly slaps - both literally (there will be some slap bass) and figuratively as the kids say (at least as I understand it). 3.5.

Yeah, nice. Soulful.

Catchy, groovy and danceable. The smooth jive of Womack is fun and lush, the guitarwork is exactly what you would expect from the genre and the grooves are just enjoyable. The record lacks a little in comparing it to acts like curtis mayfield. Overal though I simply ejoyed the vibes and had fun with this one. Favorite song: just my imagination. Overal score: 6.5/10

Funky, jazzy and kinda sensual at times. It was fine, never got too adventurous from an instrumental standpoint but it was enjoyable for sure. 3 stars

Listened: 21/02/2025 Album no: 23 % rating: 67% Fave Song: Secrets Never heard of Bobby Womack so this is all new to me! Super funky, bluesy vibes. Really enjoyed my first listen. I don’t think I’d revisit it but still really enjoyed my listen.

Oh baby making Musik Sehr schön

This was fine, but nothing to write home about. As for the title, Womack is hardly Keats.

The Poet sounds like it’s right off the ‘70s Soul Train. Bobby’s got some early funk going on, but sounds like he’s trying a little too hard to be cool. Didn’t remember or know any of the songs from the album, never heard of Bobby Womack, but enjoyed the trip back five decades during the listen. (2.9*s)

Not as boring as lots of 80s r and b, but still not my favourite era of music.

Easy listening, no standout tracks.

Great music but not for me.

So pleasant and cool. 3 stars, however

funny enough the only album by this bloke ive heard is his 2012 comeback album right before he passed ... but not familiar with him really otherwise. some nice and funky soul tho ... pretty fun but nothing mind blowing!

5/10 so mellow I melted while wreirjiethng thiesdfefwiojfoaj 2-12-2025

Decently entertaining Soul album. I laughed when he name dropped Kentucky Fried Chicken. Best track: If You Think You're Lonely Now

80s Soul, nicely done if you are into that sort of thing. But Simply Red did it better. Still, 3/5.

Some smooth, easy-listening here.

Kæft han synger godt. Smooooth!

Bobbyn musiikista muuten diggaan, mutta tämä jätti kylmänpuoleiseksi. Silti ihan passelia taustamusiikkia.

The Good: We’ve got a Womack! The Bad: Not sure if he’s a poet… The Ugly: Wondering what happened… I saw this album pop up, so I instantly thought about Womack & Womack, and then I read the wiki page, and then I had to take some heroine, and hootch, and other assorted goodies to pretend like I hadn’t just read what I did… The Poet starts dating the widow of the late Sam Cooke, just shortly after the afore mentioned man is shot… then years later she boots him out the door when it turns out that he’s started an affair with the daughter of the widow… and then the daughter ends up marrying The Poets brother… While another one of his brothers dies when he’s stabbed in the neck by a jealous girlfriend… and… and… and… you just can’t make this shit up. So, the main elephant in the room here is the simple question of “Why is this album included?” It was what I was thinking when I started listening to it… also taking into consideration that The Poet released 12 albums before this one came to fruition. And then I started thining about all the shit albums I’ve had to listen to so far, and I figured that, if they’re going to include some soul music from the early ‘80s, then this ain’t a bad album to listen to. Songs are catchy, composition is tight, voice is lovely, so no complaints there. Yet, try finding this album in top list of Soul albums of 1980s… and I wish you the best of luck. Maybe the authors of the 1001 book know something that other are, so it seems, blind to… I am going to lump Bobby Womack together with Womack & Womack, and give the righteous score of 3*

Standouts: So Many Sides Of You If You Think You're Lonely Now Where Do We Go From Here

In the right circumstances, I could enjoy this.

Ok

A bit too smooth for my liking as I like my funk a little bit harder and edgier. But this is still a decent listen.

Vibey, but the songs are all pretty similar and some drags on a bit too much, expecially towards the end

Not my thing but fine

Allllll the soul (sung in Bobby Womack voice)

It’s not bad, but r&b in general was in a lull

Perfectly fine background listening.

All I knew of Bobby Womack going in was his guest vocals on Plastic Beach, so I didn’t know what to expect. I can see why people would like this, but doesn’t really do it for me. His voice is good and the talent is there, but I’m just not an R&B guy.

#463. Is this a good album? Sure it is. Is this an album that one *needs* to hear? Not really. Like so many others on this list, it's good enough, but not necessarily anything special. 3/5: decent

Favorite Track: If You Think You’re Lonely Now

Hot, smooth.

Meh kind of like a not as good Marvin Gaye

30 - Really solid soul funk album with tasty instrumentals and virtuoso vocals. It's sort of like an 80s Marvin Gaye sound, has some real highlights, seems underrated online. B

I'm just not really into this 80's soul sound. It doesn't really bother me if it's playing in the background but I have no real desire to go back to this album. Kind of a low 3.

Groovy, funky!

Not my cup of tea

This was a good listen! Some call the production cheesy but I love it. R&B isn't my favorite genre, so that probably knocks it down a bit. I don't think this one will get much if any replay from me. I love the country tinge in Just My Imagination, and If You Think You're Lonely Now is one of his biggest hits, and those were the songs I liked best. The backing vocals were definitely a highlight throughout.

3.5 rounded down groovy bay bay! highlights: lay your lovin’ on me, stand up (sep 9 2024)

A little too much on the cheesy R&B and funk production end of things for me, and nothing that hits remotely like Across 110th Street.

Bij het krachtige eerste nummer spitste ik mijn oren. Maar eerlijk gezegd, volgt daarna niet veel bijzonders. Natuurlijk, er is weinig mis mee, maar er springt ook niet veel uit.

Vroeger werd soul en R&B nog regelmatig begeleid door een gitaar ipv door hiphopbeats en dat bevalt me prima. Het is ietwat zoet allemaal, een soort restaurantmuziek. Easy listening. Ik kan dit prima hebben, maar ik mis persoonlijk weer het hitje dat er een ster bij kan doen. Blijft nu steken op een 3.

Suadente, interessante.

fúnkísskotnir sálartónar. frekar gott. annan séns. 3,5.

Favorite Track: Games

Pleasant way to spend 40 something minutes. 3.5 stars.

So Many Sides of You 3.3 Lay Your Lovin' on Me 3.1 Secrets 3.2 Just My Imagination 3.4 Stand Up 3.2 Games 3 If You Think You're Lonely Now 3.5 Where Do We Go from Here 3.3 Score: 3.25

The Poet is the thirteenth album from soul singer Bobby Womack. Womack's albums did well on the R&B charts, but never found much success with a broader audience, on the pop charts. The Poet is considered his best work. This is a good collection of soul songs, including the successful single "If you think you're Lonely Now." Womack plays lead guitar, with a solid, R&B band behind him, including a group of background singers.

Finely performed. The lead guitar is great. Something about this album feels a little, I don’t know, self-satisfied? It detracts from it as a whole. Didn’t like it as much as I expected.

Sound production is too 80s

This sounded pretty much better exactly how I expected it to. He has a good voice, but the material is a bit too 80s sounding. Low 3.

3 out of 5. This album was a smooth piece of cake.

Standard 80s jazzy bluesy pop. Not interesting to me.

A funky toe tapping start but runs out of steam

This was a nice pleasant album, and for the most part, I enjoyed listening to it. This is the type of thing for me that is fine to listen to if it happens to be playing at a friends house or a restaurant, but it’s nothing that I would seek out or purchase for myself. For me, this is three stars.

Ég á tvöfaldan safndisk með Bobby, sem ég hlustaði mikið á fyrir circa tveimur áratugum. Þar er hann betri en hér, lögin almennt sterkari og röddin frískari heilt yfir. En þetta er fínt, mjúkt og tilfinningaríkt.

Not my style, I don't have a framework to judge this against

Fun and groovy record that's very inoffensive. I enjoyed it but it's more of a background-music album for me.

This is exactly what I expected, and it was great! Love songs, sex songs, soul songs. Admittedly, there isn't much variety between songs, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I feel like every song on this record holds up and pushes the music forward. The main variance is the emotion between each song. Some songs are about heartbreak, where other songs are celebrating love. I like the bass lines, the synths, and fun drum beats. I love how no matter the subject matter, every song is going to church. A gospel choir could get behind any song and totally crush it. This was fun!

3.5

Nice voice, soulfull mood. Maybe a bit aged. No outstandig track. Sometimes feels like a soundtrack to a Tarantino movie. Weak three stars for this album. 2,5

Ho Hum

It's a solid soul record. I was grooving with it for the most part, but nothing really hooked me. It's well made, but not very memorable.

-what is there to say… it’s a nice album with some really good songs. Feels a bit like Stevie Wonder but maybe slightly late to the party? It was consistent in quality across the board though I preferred the second half I guess -Favorites are Stand Up, Games, and If You Think You’re Lonely Now

I like Bobby Womack and his music, going back as far as The Valentinos. There's a couple of good tracks on this album, and several nice tracks, but even with my bias towards this kind of music I'm struggling to see what makes this album one of the 1001 I must hear.

Thirty-seven year old Bobby Womack was about three decades into his career by the time "The Poet" came slinking along. He'd played in bands from the age of 12, featured as guitarist for the likes of Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and Sly and the Family Stone, and was now contending with a new decade of soul. Arriving in 1981, "The Poet" is much lighter and silkier than I'd anticipated. While the soul and depth of feeling is inarguable, it's let down slightly by brash mid-range production and a little too much sheen. I was surprised that the big hit here, and one of Womack's most celebrated songs, is the fairly maudlin, by-the-numbers ballad "If You Think You're Lonely Now". To me one of the most forgettable songs, it was originally B-side to the far superior "Secrets" but ultimately proved more popular. The uptempo numbers, like "Secrets" and "Stand Up" stood out to me more, although the ballads are best for showcasing Womack's lovely vocals. Across the rest of the album, Womack may not be making music to explode to, but it is music to gently and painlessly melt to. "Where Do We Go From Here" is lilting and luscious; "Just My Imagination" (not that one) fizzes by in a dream state, with its gliding chromatic keyboard figures and Womack's ever-wistful falsetto. There's a little too much keyboard and drum machine for my taste, robbing the songs of some sincerity, but the musicians we do get do a sterling job. David T. Walker (a session musician on "Visions", from Stevie Wonder's "Innervisions" album) shows up with some tasteful guitar accompaniments, harpist Dorothy Ashby adds some nice ornamentation, and a whole roster of backing vocalists really elevate tracks like "Games" and "So Many Sides of You".

Title misleading, no poetry found inside....

3.5 Never heard of the guy, but damn is his music funky, fresh, and sexy. Apparently he was Sam Cooke’s guitarist which explains a lot, though he infamously went on to marry the dude’s widow shortly after his death in a move that turned a lot of his audience against him. And then, if that wasn’t controversial enough, he later cheated on said wife with her and Sam’s daughter, culminating in her pulling a gun on his ass and opening fire (unlike his former bandmate, Bobby walked away with only a graze). Anyway, not saying this is a great guy, but it’s a shame his music isn’t more known - it really seems that he took the fiery, romantic fervor of Sam Cooke’s music and evolved it with the times, resulting in a really solid 80s R&B record that I feel holds up a lot better than a lot of similar albums from this time. Hell, even some after - something about this just feels kind of timeless, especially compared to a lot of 90s R&B. I think a lot of that is owed to the production, something that was also apparently handled by Mr. Womack. It really seems like the dude had natural musical ability, I guess he just didn’t have quite the same star power as Sam. Can’t say this is the kind of thing that blew my mind or that I fell head over heels in love with, but I can say this was a pretty grooving 40 minutes. I liked just about every song I heard, though If You Think You’re Lonely Now is far and away the highlight (based on the Spotify play count, it seems most would agree with me in that regard). However, what I think I most appreciate is the fact that this album feels genuinely romantic without feeling oversexualized or gratuitous, which I think gives it a lot of replay value in my eyes over many other R&B records. Will definitely have to check out more of this guy’s stuff!

I felt like the Ladies Man while listening to this album

Another from the project where I have heard of the artist but haven’t listened to any music! Nice tracks that blend soul, funk, r&b. I enjoyed the album enough, but seemed a bit dated, wasn’t really my groove today. 3.25/5

He's jammin. Will I listen to again: 25%

There’s some good stuff here. Very Marvin Gaye-esque

Mostly solid album but the quality really dropped off the last few tracks

3.5

I dig this album! Not usually the kind of thing I would pick up to listen to but I like the smooth vibes and vocals.

3/5. Love the weird sounds and experimental background instruments along with the pop/r&b. The album makes you want to move for sure with the upbeat ones and the ballads are okay, don't think that's his highlight stuff. Lonely was an outlier. The album was enjoyable but I don't think it was too unique to stand out to me. The second half turned out to be better than when it started. Best Song: If You Think You're Lonely Now, Stand Up, Where Do We Go From Here

Not my style but some good songs (couldn’t listen to all of them due to restricted songs)

Enjoyed it

I can’t explain why, but I wanted to be the bass getting slapped throughout this whole record.

If you think this album is inessential, wait until "If You Think You're Lonely Now" and your skepticism will be long gone.

Smooth. I liked it when he started going on about KFC. Made me hungry.

Soul, R&B.

Easy listening soul music, with a bit of electric disco funk, overall decent for the first time I’ve listened to it

i should like this more. it's completely insane, which i should love, but it just kinda left me a bit...flat.

2 good songs and some mess

Best Song: If You Think You're Lonely Now. The oddly threatening lyrics mixed with the beautiful production make this a treat. A weird treat, but a treat nonetheless. Worst Song: Secrets. I just think has the most boring chorus. Love the bassline though. Overall: The album starts weak and takes some time to find its groove, but the back half is full of great, soulful tracks.

Not bad. Not my jam though.

Sköna vibbisar, i like it

3.5/5

Fun, funky, but not really my style.

Nothing particularly notable for me

Surprised how something so smooth can be soo cheesey at the same time.

If Super Cheesy Soul were a genre, this would have to be a finalist. I enjoyed it, it's warm, bounding and fun, but part of my smirk is a satirical one. I'm missing a few things, furry dice, a V8, summer nights and flares, and formation dancing by the Solid Gold Dancers . If you ARE in the mood for it, it's super extra cheesy fun to groove to. But it's also so cheesy it's rich for satire, too. Like American cheese sauce, don't look too deep for substance, and it may not "mature" well. Still undecided if this is intended as Comedy.

Nice to listen, nothing special.

Solid R&B/Funk-ish album. I'll go out on a limb and say that "If You Think You're Lonely Now" rivals every other song in the genre, including Let's Get it On. The rest of the album is solid.

Fed stemme og cool lyd. Laid back feel på hele albummet. Jeg kendte kun Bobby W af navn fra hans senere samarbejde med Gorillas

This album was pretty good, but the CLEAR standout imo is "So Many Sides of You". All around this was a pretty sensual listen. Not sure how often I'll come back to this one but not a bad listen. 3/5

Trodde aldrig att jag skulle säga det men detta var ändå ett ganska mid soul och funk-album. Visst gick det att lyssna på och det var inga större fel med låtarna, men jag har börjat kommit till den punkten då jag insett att en stor del av plattorna i denna typ av genre är ganska lika. Jag tycker fortfarande att majoriteten av det är bra men denna skiva var lite tråkig. Samma med omslaget.

A slightly jazzy background listen

more dickin down music. groovy.

Didn’t love or hate. Easy listening, soulful R & B good for certain settings.

A few different types of baby making music here. Not much meat to it though, so didn’t really feel worthy of anything over 3

I’d only heard of Bobby Womack in passing. I couldn’t have told you his genre or what era he was most popular during. I’d just heard the name. This was alright. In general, this style of music isn’t really my thing. There are a few Al Green songs that just get me though, and there’s some of that influence and energy here. Loved that. But overall I just wasn’t super enamored. There’s some great grooves, and it’s something to be appreciated. But the genre just isn’t mine and that’s alright. Mr. Womack gets three stars because what I liked was great, what I didn’t was still good, and man it just sounded like he was having so much fun. Standout Tracks: So Many Sides of You, Stand Up

Smooooooooooooth!

Great voice. Not really into this kind of R'n'B. If You Think You Lonely Now is kinda creepy.

Good but nothing extraordinary or special. First 3 tracks not working on Spotify - but their play counts don't suggest Im missing much

gooood good vibes

Enjoyed the faster numbers, the whole record was scattered with some delicious slap bass. But ultimately fell a bit short, a little dreary in places

This is some corny shit. 3 stars

The Poet is short and sweet, maybe just really cheesy and sweet, but it's a decent listen. Problem Womack has is that it all seems like a budget tribute effort to giants of the genre; his voice is good but not great, the grooves are slick but not legendary like his predecessors, his lyrics are passionate but lack depth, and calling himself The Poet doesn't sound tongue-in-cheek but a little arrogant by comparison. Just My Imagination is the best track, it's a solid 3, but when the backing singers and production are better than the artist, you're sort of limited as to how good it can be.

É um álbum massa de ouvir mas não achei nada de fenomenal também. Ainda assim, um bom álbum que vale a pena ser ouvido, talvez só não seja marcante.

2/8, 25%

Soul meets yacht rock.

Good stuff, because of course it is. Very nice change after the past few albums.

The Poet is the thirteenth studio album by Bobby Womack, originally released in 1981. Bobby Womack has been active in the soul scene for a while, dating back to the 1960s. He was already deep into the funk sound by this record's release in 1981. This record contains a combination of upbeat funk and some slower ballads. The backing band is solid, with a mainly funk but a bit disco-tinged sound, as was appropriate for the time. The production is super clean to the point of sounding slick at times. Womack's voice is powerful, and the lyrics revolve around love and women. Solid record overall.

- GREAT vibes - his voice was great - 3.5

Don’t know much about Bobby Womack other than he was half of Womack and Womack. Decent enough

It’s definitely not in the top albums for the genre, but it was fine.

I think that r&b music is definitely a vibe that I have to be looking for at a specific time. It can be really nice and groovy sometimes but then others it just drags along and I get bored easily. I listened half and half with this, and I feel completely averaged. I just feel unchanged after listening to this- it didn’t really alter my thoughts on it and therefore I feel completely mid.

It feels like a set you'd hear at Vroman's. I do like it. Or I should say it's kinda-sorta-enjoyable. But in a way it's still really disappointing. It *sounds* really good/clear yet is comically dated all at once. I'm definitely a fan of soul and R&B - and previous Bobby Womack releases - but a song like "Secrets" while not *bad* can also serve as a great stereotypical example of what 1981 sounded like. Good and bad. The lyrics on that one in particular are a comical plus, though. Great and fun vocals and guitar work especially on "Games" Eh this is maybe a puzzling addition to this list for me, even though it's fine. Feels like I'd listen again but would probably forget anything I just heard just as quickly. 5/10 3 stars

Good old school funk and r&b. There's the blues, but there's no rythym genre, is there? I mean, with C&W, you have both. Country and Western, which are both definitive genres. It's like your truck got repossessed, and then you had to ride your horse everywhere you wanted to go.

Interesting and fun. A pop-funk-R&B-disco vibe that is very dated to the early eighties. A bit more time-period synthensizer. The songs do have a pretty good pop catchy hook, though the repeating chorus of tracks like Secrets does tire pretty early. Amazingly, the most shockingly dated track, Stand Up, is also the most fun. It goes heavy into disco-synth, but it just bounces. I'm not sure what he's trying to say with "if you think you're lonely now"... it sounds like a threat. Still fun.

Generally I enjoyed it.

I somehow understand the reason for that kind of music, it just does not resonate with me. Good production, all played on spot, I guess the singing and all are what it should be. It is all musical and does not sound generic shit. For what it is worth...

That has to be one of the shortest albums on this list!

Mostly down-the-center songwriting, and nothing about the arrangements, the timeliness of the instrumentation, or artistic flair elevates it beyond that middling foundation. "Just My Imagination," "Stand Up," and "If You Think You're Lonely Now" nearly rescued this up to a four. Well delivered and I'm sure it was enjoyable in its time. In retrospect, aggressively mediocre.

Incredibly easy listening I thought. But not in a good way. It was a very generic blur in my ears. 2.7/5

A fun album, not my favorite in this vein but I really enjoyed his voice. I like the melodrama of spoken segments as in If You Think You’re Lonely Now.

It's OK - pretty smooth in a Silk Sonic way. Strange reference to KFC in one of the songs. Product placement?

This feels skilful and slightly unhinged. Secrets is what McGruff The Crime Dog lifted for their album for sure.

That is a great voice. Combine that with funky guitar and lyrics about love and you get "James Brownesque" perfomance. 3.5/5.

mayb 6-7/10

Bobby Womack's voice is certainly one of a kind, but beyond that this is a very smooth, if rather shallow, soul record that sounds very commercial above anything else. "Stand Up" is definitely a jam though.

Most of the songs on here didn’t really stir me

Very nice and chill album, relaxing for background listening. Would recommend, although half of the album was unavailable for me for some reason.

Probably okay R&B/Soul. Just not my thing. But easy listening, not offensive.

This dudes personal life is better than the album.

Fine

Fun album but a bit simple

Excelente artista e guitarrista

Good, but I feel like his voice just doesn't stand out enough to make this amazing

3.5

Funky bass lifts this and the soulful singing was good. Wouldn't put this on myself but enjoyed it nonetheless.

Feine achtziger Jahre!

Stand Up was a great song otherwise not my thing.

A bit short but pretty good. Low 3.

favourite song: stand up has a lot of very fun moments but i just didnt vibe with it too hard

I listened to this as I was driving around town doing various errands. I liked these funky jazzy vibes. Probably wouldn’t listen again but it was pleasant enough.

Nothing hugely mindblowing but some funky guitar licks

Easy to listen to, not great but I'm not mad at it. 2.8.

The last three songs were real long slogs for me, so it was hard to remember that I enjoyed the more upbeat songs quite a bit more than the slows. This is fairly consistent with my musical tastes though, as opposed to the artist's talent.

I never listened to this album before, familiar with Womack but on a greatest hits level, some of his 70's stuff is great. I was a little nervous for a 80's album given the potential for poor production. While this one does have some of the gloss and cheese applied, it's tolerable. I thought it was good just not great. I'm feeling a 3 on this but a few songs have Nathan East on bass so that almost warrants an extra star to 4 but I can't quite do it.

Ya, it was okay. Very 80's sounding. Not really my cup of tea, but I can appreciate it.

Definitely not my style, but this is a very smooth album--the last 2 tracks really hit!

Groovy beats about love with great singing as accompaniment. I really like the vibe, but it all just sort of blended together after a while and no specific song stuck out to me. All good, but nothing great.

Pleasantly surprised. Liked the hard hitting anthems he started with. Something simple and fun about this type of R&B. Reminded me a lot of Luther Vandross. Definitely belongs on the love making playlist. Much to wholesome for the slaying sloots playlist.

This album got me pregnant.

Nice album. Easy listening. Nothing reinvented, but I’d see him live, if he was still alive.

Cool

I wish I could’ve lived in the 70s and done an unholy amount of cocaine

Normally, I'm not a big fan of old school soul, yer Barry Whites and the like. There were times when this album veered into that hackneyed territory, but by and large I thought it was much more interesting than that. Great voice, good arrangement and well-written songs in the main. Loses a little bit for being a bit same-y and not overly inspiring.

Sleek production can't save this slightly boring 'soul by numbers' record

Kind of a sexy album, but very samey all the way through. Guess it doesn't matter when your about to cum.

I was too harsh initially, not bad tbh Best song: Secrets Worst song: N/A

I actually did listen to the album, but it slipped my mind completely. Guess that makes it a forgettably easy listen.

His best song was about threatening to leave someone if they didn't stop bitching. lol

While not the best album in his catalog, the boldly titled Poet from Bobby Womack allows him to seamlessly fit in with the changing sounds of R&B with quiet soul influenced balladry and post disco romps. He does look cool as fuck in the album cover, though. Favorites: So Many Sides of You, Lay Your Lovin' on Me, Just My Imagination, If You Think You're Lonely Now.

He has a sultry voice but the music was a bit overplayed and didn’t really do anything for me. This is love makin music but Im not makin no love. 5/10

Good album. The music was great. BM sounds like he's really feeling it.

The only song I previously knew by Bobby Womack was 'Across 110th Street'. This album is lot funkier and sexier than that song but also a bit less mature. That's not to say it's bad, just not what I expected. I can imagine loads of artists being inspired by Womack and his music really fitting a niche at the time. But to be clear, this isn't Stevie Wonder.

Nice voice. Some good tunes

Solid album. Good old fashioned R&B. Some good, some great.

I wish I could’ve heard the whole thing!

Not really my thing but okay

Has that early 70s Motown sound that I enjoy.

I'm starting to dislike this genre. I mean it's nice, but it gets repetitive and generic quickly. The formulaic and over-sanitized quality made it worse. It's pretty bland for me, actually. I feel like an asexual.

positively delightful! bobby womack's voice is delightful and smooth. with r&b and funk, that guy's voice was like butter. what couldn't he sing? honestly, the poet was over criminally fast. to be fair, this album was nothing too outside of the norm, nothing too challenging, but a gosh darn pleasant listen. 3.5

This was a nicely produced, smooth, enjoyable example of R&B and soul with plenty of funk attached! I don't know what quite made it stand out to be included here. It's inclusion may very well come down to the general opinion that there are just no weak songs on this relatively brief album, an opinion that I am in agreement on! While I wouldn't say I was wowed by this, it was definitely listenable and enjoyable!

3/5. Very Sunday morning, probably won't listen again.

I don't think there is much to say here honestly.. some bangers here, some meh songs there. decent album, beautiful singing, overall not a bad listen for today. 3/5

Half of the album on Youtube and half of the album on Spotify, congratulations to everyone involved!

Pretty good.

A fine sound that washes over me whilst I work. Nothing to send me to either extremes of marking. Bang in the centre. Lovely voice though.

Det er groovy og teknisk godt, men siger mig ikke så meget. Ingen sang jeg ville sætte på en playliste selvom pladen er behagelig nok at lytte på

Generally enjoyed this, Womack is a fantastic singer and the production is great too. Not many of the songs stand out for me though after a first listen. Some of the lyrics are a bit cheesy/old fashioned too.

Easy listening but don’t think I’d bother to listen to it again.

The funky base was undoubtedly the best part

the lyrics of just my imagination hit hard

Not always in the mood for smooth 80s soul

Impressions: R&B, funk, jazz -- a jam! Favorite tracks: Secrets, Stand Up Rating: 3/5