Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack (March 4, 1944 – June 27, 2014) was an American soul singer-songwriter and guitarist whose influential career spanned over six decades. He was a pivotal figure in R&B, known for his gritty vocals and prolific songwriting for legends like The Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Womack grew up in extreme poverty, sharing a single bedroom with his four brothers. Encouraged by their father, Friendly Womack, the five brothers formed a gospel group.
While touring, they were discovered by Sam Cooke, who signed them to his SAR Records label and renamed them The Valentinos. Under Cooke’s guidance, they recorded "Lookin' for a Love" (1962). Womack also wrote "It's All Over Now," which became the Rolling Stones' first UK #1 hit. Following Cooke's death in 1964, Womack became a sought-after session guitarist and songwriter. He played on Aretha Franklin’s Lady Soul and wrote hits for Wilson Pickett.
At age 21, Womack married Sam Cooke's widow, Barbara Campbell, just months after Cooke's murder, which led to a significant industry backlash. His life was marked by the loss of his brother Harry, who was murdered in 1974, and the deaths of two of his sons.
In the early seventies he launched a successful solo career with hits like "That's the Way I Feel About Cha" (1971), "Woman's Gotta Have It" (1972), and the soundtrack for the film Across 110th Street. After a career slump, he returned with the critically acclaimed albums The Poet (1981) and The Poet II (1984), featuring the classic "If You Think You're Lonely Now".
In 2010, he collaborated with Damon Albarn for the Gorillaz track "Stylo." He released his final studio album, The Bravest Man in the Universe, in 2012. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 and posthumously into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2025.
Womack passed away on June 27, 2014, in Tarzana, California, at age 70 after battling various health issues, including Alzheimer's disease and cancer. <div hidden>Bobby Womack </div>
BW Goes C&W
Written-By – C. Womack
3:12
A2 Behind Closed Doors
Written-By – K. O'Dell
2:32
A3 Bouquet Of Roses
Written-By – B. Hilliard, S. Nelson
2:43
A4 Tired Of Living In The Country
Written-By – S. Cooke
2:01
A5 Tarnished Rings
Written-By – R. Dollarhide
2:39
B1 Big Bayou
Written-By – G. Gilbeau
2:50
B2 Song Of The Mockingbird
Written-By – D. Lovelace, G. Attaway
3:10
B3 I'd Be Ahead If I Could Quit While I'm Behind
Written-By – J. Ford
2:34
B4 You
Written By – D. Warner
2:40
B5 I Take It On Home
Written-By – K. O'Dell
3:17
Label: United Artists Records – UAS 29979
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1976
Genre: R&B Soul, Folk
Style: Country, Soul
Communication
Written-By – Bobby Womack
4:30
A2 Come L'amore
Written-By – Bob Hilliard, Leon Ware
3:00
A3 Fire And Rain
Written-By – James Taylor
4:30
A4 (If You Don't Want My Love) Give It Back
Written-By – Bobby Womack
2:50
B1 Monologue / (They Long To Be) Close To You
Written-By – Burt Bacharach-Hal David*, Bobby Womack
9:30
B2 Everything Is Beautiful
Written-By – Ray Stevens
2:55
B3 That's The Way I Feel About Cha
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Joe Hicks, John Grisby
5:03
B4 Yield Not To Temptation
Arranged By, Adapted By – Bobby Womack
3:30
Label: United Artists Records – UAS-5539
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Seventies Soul, Southern Soul
Facts Of Life
Written-By – J. Cox
2:55
A2 I'm Through Trying To Prove My Love To You
Written-By – B. Womack
4:00
A3 If You Can't Give Her Love Give Her Up
Written-By – C. Ivey, P. Mitchell
2:41
A4 That's Heaven To Me
Written-By – S. Cooke
2:47
Medley
A5a Holdin' On To My Baby's Love
Written-By – G. Jackson, R. Moore
2:23
A5b Nobody
Written-By – B. Womack
0:45
Medley (6:25)
B1a Fact Of Life
Written-By – B. Womack
3:40
B1b He'll Be There When The Sun Goes Down
Written-By – B. Womack
2:45
B2 Can't Stop A Man In Love
Written-By – G. Soule, T. Woodford
2:20
B3 The Look Of Love
Written-By – B. Bacharach / H. David
3:30
B4 Natural Man
Written-By – C. King, G. Goffin, J. Wexler
2:43
B5 All Along The Watchtower
Written-By – B. Dylan
3:20
Label: United Artists Records – UA-LA043-F
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Fly Me To The Moon
Written-By – B. Howard 2:09
A2 Baby! You Oughta Think It Over
Written-By – B. Womack 2:37
A3 I'm A Midnight Mover
Written-By – B. Womack, W. Pickett 2:02
A4 What Is This
Written-By – B. Womack 2:32
A5 Somebody Special
Written-By – B. Womack 2:57
A6 Take Me
Written-By – D. Ervin 2:34
B1 Moonlight In Vermont
Written-By – J. Blackburn, K. Suessdorf 2:33
B2 Love, The Time Is Now
Written-By – B. Womack, J. Holiday 3:19
B3 I'm In Love
Written-By – B. Womack 2:41
B4 California Dreamin'
Written-By – John Phillips 3:32
B5 No Money In My Pocket
Written-By – B. Womack, J. Holiday 3:05
B6 Lillie Mae
Written-By – Don Juan, Vee Pea 2:12
Label:
Minit – LP-24014, Minit – LP 24014, Minit – LP24014
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Research Craft Press
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul
Bobby Womack's debut solo album, Fly Me to the Moon, is considered a groundbreaking and classic soul record that established his unique vocal talent and innovative arrangements. It received critical acclaim for its bold reinventions of popular songs and Womack's powerful, ad-lib driven soul style.
The album is noted for transforming established songs, making them distinctly Womack's own. His cover of the title track, originally a jazz standard, featured a "magnificent tonal shift" and a "soul-swing of the arrangement" that critics praised for blowing "all the originals out of the water". Similarly, his slowed-down, horn-accented version of The Mamas & the Papas' "California Dreamin'" is widely considered the definitive soul interpretation.
Womack's singing is celebrated for its raw, "church" quality, characterized by ad-libs, staggered phrasing, and a gritty voice that commands attention. He creatively used the spaces between musical phrases for improvisation, a style reminiscent of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, which critics found inventive and engaging.
The album successfully blends elements of soul, R&B, jazz, and blues, showcasing Womack's versatility and establishing his signature sound.
While perhaps not an immediate massive commercial hit compared to later albums like The Poet, the album achieved moderate success and laid the foundation for his long and influential career. It is highly regarded by fans and music enthusiasts, with strong average ratings on music databases.
In summary, the album is highly recommended for fans of classic soul music and is praised for its demonstration of Womack's talent as both a powerful vocalist and an innovative arranger. The album is considered an essential piece of his early work.
Bobby Womack
Lookin' For A Love Again
Guitar – Tippy Armstrong
Written-By – J. W. Alexander, Z. Samuels
2:37
A2 I Don't Wanna Be Hurt By Ya Love Again
Guitar – Rhino Rheinhardt
Written-By – B. Womack, E. Evans
3:27
A3 Doing It My Way
Written-By – B. Womack
5:44
A4 Let It Hang Out
Written-By – B. Womack
2:26
A5 Point Of No Return
Written-By – J. Ford
2:42
B1 You're Welcome, Stop On By
Written-By – Bobby Womack, T. Thomas
3:44
B2 You're Messing Up A Good Thing
Written-By – C. Ivey, F. Johnson, T. Woodford
2:38
B3 Don't Let Me Down
Guitar – Rhino Rheinhardt
Written-By – T. Thomas
2:06
B4 Copper Kettle
Written-By – A. F. Beddoe
3:17
B5 There's One Thing That Beats Failing
Written-By – B. Womack, T. Thomas
2:44
Label: United Artists Records – UA-LA199-G
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Funk, Soul
My Prescription
Written-By – B. Womack , D. Carter
3:13
A2 More Than I Can Stand
Written-By – B. Womack , D. Carter
2:53
A3 It's Gonna Rain
Written-By – B. Womack , D. Carter
2:20
A4 Everyone's Gone To The Moon
Written-By – K. King
2:38
A5 I Can't Take It Like A Man
Written-By – J. Williams , L. Weiss
2:51
A6 I Left My Heart In San Francisco
Written-By – D. Cross , G. Cory
2:22
B1 Arkansas State Prison
Written-By – B. Morrison
2:56
B2 I'm Gonna Forget About You
Written-By – S. Cooke
2:27
B3 Don't Look Back
Written-By – R. White , W. Robinson
2:47
B4 Tried And Convicted
Written-By – B. Womack
2:42
B5 Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
Written-By – B. Howard
2:09
B6 Thank You
Written-By – B. Womack , D. Carter
4:00
Label: Minit – LP-24027
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1970
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style:Seventies Soul
Only Survivor: The MCA Years
2 Wanna Make Love To You
3 That's Where It's At
4 The Truth Song
5 Let Me Kiss It Where It Hurts
6 A Woman Like To Hear That
7 So Many Rivers
8 A World Where No One Cries
9 Living In A Box
10 I Ain't Got To Love Nobody Else
11 When The Weekend Comes
12 Only Survivor
13 Inherit The Wind
14 (No Matter How High I Get) I'll Still Be Lookin' Up To You
Label: MCA Records – MCAD-11419
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1996
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
So Many Rivers
Written-By – H. Payne, J. Eubanks, P. Luboff 3:54
A2 So Baby, Don't Leave Home Without It
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Harold Payne 4:02
A3 So Many Rivers
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford 4:22
A4 Got To Be With You Tonight
Guest [Special Guest] – Wilton Felder
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Harold Payne 4:00
A5 Gypsy Woman
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield 4:23
B1 Whatever Happened To The Times?
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford 4:16
B2 Let Me Kiss It Where It Hurts
Guest [Special Guest] – Wilton Felder
Written-By – Bobby Womack 4:45
B3 Only Survivor
Written-By – Cecil Womack, Linda Womack 3:49
B4 That's Where It's At
Written-By – Sam Cooke 3:42
B5 Check It Out
Written-By – Bobby Womack 3:48
Label: MCA Records – MCA-5617
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Contemporary R&B
Bobby Womack's 1985 album So Many Rivers is a strong entry in his 80s catalogue, blending his signature soulful grit with contemporary electronic sounds organically, featuring hits like "I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much" and funky grooves on the title track, showcasing a mature artist adapting well to the era's production while delivering heartfelt, often gritty soul with standout tracks such as "Whatever Happened To The Times?".
Reviews praise its organic fusion of live and electronic elements, solid material, and Womack's enduring vocal power, marking it as a key album in his late-career resurgence.
The album successfully incorporates electronic textures common in the mid-80s (synths, drum machines) but maintains a warm, band-oriented feel, avoiding the pitfalls of purely disco-driven soul.
It produced major R&B hits, most notably the iconic "I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much," a classic tale of temptation and friendship, and the funky title track.
Beyond the hits, tracks like "So Baby, Don't Leave Home Without It," "Gypsy Woman," and the extended version of "Whatever Happened To The Times?" are frequently mentioned as highlights.
While noted for its "heavy-handed 1985 production," reviewers feel Womack's experience allows him to elevate the material, making it a captivating listen.
Considered a strong album, it helped solidify Womack's relevance in the 80s, building on the success of his earlier 80s work like The Poet.
So Many Rivers captures Bobby Womack at a creative peak in the 80s, delivering powerful, mature soul that balances contemporary sounds with his timeless, blues-infused vocal delivery, making it a favorite for many fans of his later work.
Bobby Womack
The Poet
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford
3:46
A2 Lay Some Lovin' On Me
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Patrick Moten
4:09
A3 Secrets
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford
3:52
A4 Just My Imagination
Written-By – Cecil Womack
5:09
A5 Stand Up
Written-By – Cecil Womack
3:33
B1 Games
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Roger Dollarhyde*
6:57
B2 If You Think You're Lonely Now
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Patrick Moten, Richard Griffin
5:30
B3 Where Do We Go From Here
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford
6:41
Label: Beverly Glen Music – BG-10000
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Eighties Soul, Southern Soul
The Poet II
Vocals – Patti LaBelle
Written-By – Patrick Moten
5:34
A2 It Takes A Lot Of Strength To Say Goodbye
Vocals – Patti LaBelle
Written-By – Chris Brubeck
3:49
A3 Through The Eyes Of A Child
Vocals – Patti LaBelle
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford
5:13
A4 Surprise Surprise
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford
3:36
A5 Tryin' To Get Over You
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford
4:12
B1 Tell Me Why
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford
6:02
B2 Who's Foolin' Who
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford
4:02
B3 I Wish I Had Someone To Come Home To
Written-By – Cecil Womack/Linda Womack*
3:45
B4 American Dream
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Jim Ford
4:40
Label: Beverly Glen Music – BG-10003
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk
Understanding
Written-By – Bobby Womack
6:30
A2 Woman's Gotta Have It
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Darryl Carter, Linda Womack
3:30
A3 And I Love Her
Written-By – John Lennon/Paul McCartney*
2:40
A4 Got To Get You Back
Written-By – Jimmy Lewis
2:47
B1 Simple Man
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Joe Hicks
5:50
B2 Ruby Dean
Written-By – Bobby Womack, Joe Hicks
3:22
B3 Thing Called Love
Written-By – E. Wright*, Joe Hicks
3:55
B4 Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)
Written-By – Neil Diamond
3:07
B5 Harry Hippie
Written-By – Jim Ford
3:50
Label: United Artists Records – UAS-5577
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Womagic
Written-By – J.L. Williams 4:22
A2 When The Weekend Comes
Written-By – B. Womack, H. Payne 5:33
A3 The Things We Do (When We're Lonely)
Written By – T. Snow-D. Pitchford 3:51
A4 I Can't Stay Mad
Written-By – B. Womack, H. Payne 4:13
B1 Can'tcha Hear The Children Calling
Written-By – B. Womack, H. Payne 4:34
B2 Outside Myself
Written-By – B. Rothstein, G.M. Elian, R. Ash 3:17
B3 I Ain't Got To Love Nobody Else
Written-By – C. Moore, L. Jones, R. Wrightsil 3:20
B4 More Than Love
Written By – B. Wood-R. Cooke-C. Wood 3:25
B5 It Ain't Me
Written-By – D. Kyles, M. Hodges 4:45
Label: MCA Records – MCA-5899
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album,
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre:
R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul
The 1986 album Womagic is a unique entry in Bobby Womack's discography, noted for blending his traditional rhythm and blues attitudes with the contemporary quiet storm and dance funk production styles of the mid-80s. Critics generally view it as a strong late-80s outing, though some have mixed feelings about its thematic depth.
The album successfully merges organic, acoustic R&B elements with the electronic instrumentation and synth-funk prevalent in the 1980s.
Womack's signature powerfully raspy voice remains a highlight, carrying the material with a raw, personal conviction, making even diverse tracks sound distinctly his own.
The production is often described as "sizzling and sparking musically," with the live and electronic elements arranged cohesively.
While part of a strong run for Womack on the MCA label, these late-80s albums are sometimes considered "criminally underrated" by some fans and reviewers. The album holds a respectable average user rating of around 3.76/5 on sites like Discogs.
Thematically, the album touches on social issues such as poverty and runaway children, though some listeners felt these difficult subjects resulted in a heavily pained or weary outlook without offering enough positive release.
Overall, Womagic is remembered as an interesting and strong effort from Womack's later career, capturing a transitional sound in R&B while maintaining his distinctive artistic voice.
Bobby Womack