g i v e i t b a c k

The phenomenal Bobby Womack is a global soul, r&b and funk music influence like only a handful of others. An artist that perhaps gives more than he receives, Womack to a certain degree, has contributed much to some of the worlds more notable music artists. From soul, r&b and funk artists of the 1960's and 70's on, to the complete commercial packages of today's music industry icons, the influences of Bobby Womack are literally littered across musics, time and space.

Growing up in a household where jazz music jams were a staple diet on Sunday mornings though more often, whenever the want to play presented itself, it was inevitable the name "Bobby Womack" would eventually circulate in the session discussions between my step-father and the multiple others that use to float in-and-out when sounds started resonating off the kitchen walls and toe-tapping could be felt under-foot and the concussion of saxophones and clarinets could be felt in the air throughout the house if not in the air outside. (Perhaps the best of times, from a life I'd much rather forget) It was through these jam sessions and discussions that I eventually picked-up and developed my own musical interests. My interest in Bobby Womack, however very limited, stemmed from those whenever jazz jam sessions.

Having only heard snippets of Bobby Womack music through the early 70's, my liking for musical things Bobby Womack, essentially began with the soundtrack album "Across 110th Street".... hah, to this day I have never seen the 1972 movie release! I think I'll make every attempt to rectify that sometime soon.

Across 110th Street the soundtrack contains excerpts of original dialogue intermittently spaced with arrangements from Bobby Womack and composer/conductor JJ Johnson. I like the composition of music tracks coupled with movie dialogue. As someone who has never seen the movie (yet), the composition holds a narrative of it's own, like the movie playing in my mind.

It's a soulful, jazzy and funky motion picture soundtrack in an obvious 1970's style. With five of the 18 tracks filled with the (only slightly gravel pitched) impassioned and emotional voice of Womack doing his stylish and soulful thang as only Womack can do. That gravel pitched voice, is for me, part of the attraction to the music Bobby Womack pens and styles. Perhaps because in one form or another I can partially identify with the passion and pain in his voice, in his songs, in his music. There's a relationship between what he sings about and the direction from which he sings about it, like a fact of life being shared from the perspective of his own experiences.

1. Across 110th Street (expired)
2. We Thought We Were OK (Original Dialogue)
3. Harlem Clavinette
4. If You Don't Want My Love (expired)
5. Punk Errand Boy (Original Dialogue)
6. Hang On In There (Instrumental)
7. The Man (Original Dialogue)
8. Quicksand
9. 150 Rounds (Original Dialogue)
10. Harlem Love Theme
11. Sick and Tired (Original Dialogue)
12. Across 110th Street (Instrumental)
13. Take The Money (Original Dialogue)
14. Do It Right (expired)
15. Hang On In There
16. If You Don't Want My Love (Give it Back)
17. This Is The Police (Original Dialogue)
18. Across 110th Street, Pt.2

Official website: bobbywomack.com