I fancy dabbling with Mr Womack a try, but as he seems to be quite prolific which would be the best album for me to buy first?

The Poet

The Poet II

Communication

So Many Rivers

Good place to start

Most of his work is excellent, I think the only duff one he's done was a country album...

Dive in and enjoy!

Sam

I fancy dabbling with Mr Womack a try, but as he seems to be quite prolific which would be the best album for me to buy first?

link

Home is where the heart is, with the brilliant "Something for my head" and the tittle track of course, plus many more.

For an introduction to Bobby Womack, I'd recommend his first Poet album, no question.

Roger

For an introduction to Bobby Womack, I'd recommend his first Poet album, no question.

Roger

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Most definately, "Poet" is a true classic album. Also listen to "So many rivers" on MCA if only for "I wish he didn't trust me so much"....

For an introduction to Bobby Womack, I'd recommend his first Poet album, no question.

Roger

link

Spot on, this and poet 2 have hardly any bad tracks, which to be honest most of his other albums have. so for a casual buyer think these should be starting point for Womack, I have most of his albums and love him. An alternative suggestion is try one of the cd's out (Womack at Memphis I think is one) and then you can get flavour and track the albums down once you have seen the tracks that appeal.

Will warn you once you start you will be hooked, he is the master for me!

Cheers

Jock

Either poet album.

Spot on, this and poet 2 have hardly any bad tracks, which to be honest most of his other albums have. so for a casual buyer think these should be starting point for Womack, I have most of his albums and love him. An alternative suggestion is try one of the cd's out (Womack at Memphis I think is one) and then you can get flavour and track the albums down once you have seen the tracks that appeal.

Will warn you once you start you will be hooked, he is the master for me!

Cheers

Jock

link

I've picked up virtually every Womack LP I own at bootfairs in the last 10 years and the two Poet's are two of the easiest & best to find.

Girf

on the subject of bobby womack LPs:

can someone sell me a mint copy of an original issue of the Across 110th Street soundtrack LP?

PM please

thanks, mark

oh yeah, and getting back on thread - just get em all

Edited May 20, 200520 yr by woolie mark

If you dont mind cd`s then i would check out " best of the poets" its got all the best tracks from poets 1 & 2 plus another of studio stuff.

Its a must have imo.

Garv.

I fancy dabbling with Mr Womack a try, but as he seems to be quite prolific which would be the best album for me to buy first?

link

The Poet is easily the most accessible Safety Zone is a very underrated effort and Roads of Life is essential, At Home in Muscle Shoals is a compilation of the best of his Columbia stuff and great. They all have something good on them so just get what you can

John

Oh and if you like your 60's then the Bobby Womack & The Valentinoes on Chess is essential

Bobby Womack & The Valentinoes

I found a true love

What about me

Do it right

I'm gonna forget about you

Let's get together

I've come a long way

See me through

Darling, darling, darling

Sweeter than the day before

A lonesome man

I fancy dabbling with Mr Womack a try, but as he seems to be quite prolific which would be the best album for me to buy first?

link

Roads of life.....is very good, got a great version of " How could you break my heart ".

Roads of life.....is very good, got a great version of " How could you break my heart ".

link

Good version John??? Can't think of any other versions Having said that it certainly isn't a single tracker check out The Roots In Me; Give It Up; The Roads Of Life and of course How Could You Break My Heart all amongst the highlights but not really a bad track on it

Good version John??? Can't think of any other versions  Having said that it certainly isn't a single tracker check out The Roots In Me; Give It Up; The Roads Of Life and of course How Could You Break My Heart all amongst the highlights but not really a bad track on it

link

Hasn't the album version of H.C.Y.B.M.H got a longer intro to it than the single release?

Cheers

Pete

ps Just buy anything by him

Hasn't the album version of H.C.Y.B.M.H got a longer intro to it than the single release?

Cheers

Pete

ps  Just buy anything by him 

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There are two versions if you count removing the spoken intro as a different version Pete

I'd agree with the sentiments of those who say "buy anything". Each Womack lp contains moments of soul history.

The Poet lps are probably the most accessible, but probably the most uniform and least individualistic examples of his work. My favourites are "Communication", "Understanding", "Looking For A Love Again", "Facts Of Life" and "Home Is Where The Heart Is", which all contain the essence of Womack at his most dazzlingly creative: stretched out, completely spontaneous examples of a supreme soul artist connecting with his audience in a way which is still breathtaking.

These albums also contain plenty of covers of pop hits and idiosyncracies such as the ode to Hillbilly moonshine making "Copper Kettle" which to the uninitiated may sound a bit strange, but which to me are quintissential Womack: I love his version of Bacharach & David's "Close To You", for example, which comprises about eight minutes of the most natural, intimate and confidential example of an artist talking on a record.

The Poet series and the MCA albums after these sound a bit more corporate and polished: they are very much products of LA as opposed to the funky and loose arrangements of the Memphis and Muscle Shoals work of the 70s heyday, but all contain some stunning songs.

Even the largely unappealling "Last Soul Man" set (which has a truly horrible version of Living In A Box) contains the stunning "Gina" a crushingly soulful tribute to his (presumably long suffering) wife.

Agree with JOT on the Valentinos retropsective. It's interesting to me that the best two tracks are the ones which feature Bobby on lead vocals as opposed to his various brothers: "See Me Through" and a magnificent demo of Wilson Pickett's "I've Come A Long Way", both of which were unissued at the time.

Also worth picking up are a couple of Wilton Felder lp's with Bobby Womack on vocals,the most noteable being 'Inherit the Wind' and 'No Matter How High' off the Secrets album.

His highest chart success was a duet with Lulu with a cover of Jean Carne + Al Johnson's 'Back For More'

Pete

accross 110th street just blows me away every time i hear it

didnt mr womack start of as a singer/song writer with non other than mr sly stone?

accross 110th street just blows me away every time i hear it

didnt mr womack start of as a singer/song writer with non other than mr sly stone?

link

No it was Sam Cooke but they both start with an S

No it was Sam Cooke but they both start with an S 

link

im sure i read a artical about 3 years ago in mojo magazine about sly and the family stone and there was mention about mr womack in there might have been piano/keybord player ????????

  im sure i read a artical about 3 years ago in mojo magazine about sly and the family stone and there was mention about mr womack in there might have been piano/keybord player ????????

link

H emay well have played with Sly and the guy's but he started off with the Valentinoes who were picked up by Sam Cook and Sam and Bobby were pretty close apparently waaaaaaay before the SatFS days

H emay well have played with Sly and the guy's but he started off with the Valentinoes who were picked up by Sam Cook and Sam and Bobby were pretty close apparently waaaaaaay before the SatFS days

link

ah that explains it then

'No Matter How High' off the Secrets album.

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back of the net pete

this is just sublime - now you've reminded me about it i'm gonna dig this out of my slowies box and play it tonight (followed by if you think you're lonely now)

I've got his 1968 Liberty/Minit 'My Prescription' which although contains some pop covers, Calfornia Dreaming & Fly Me To The Moon, has some good BW originals such as It's Gonna Rain & I'm Gonna Forget About You.

TTM

anyone know what an original Across 110th St OST goes for? just picked one up for next to nothing...sleeve has a smidge of water damage and record is vg++

anyone know what an original Across 110th St OST goes for? just picked one up for next to nothing...sleeve has a smidge of water damage and record is vg++

link

Got mine for about a tenner i think, on United Artists, was quite recent so about this price is good