The Poet

As the 1970s shifted over to the ‘80s the sound of soul music changed, and Bobby Womack changed with it. Already a 20-year veteran of he R&B scene, Womack had proved himself one of the genre’s most adaptable players, able to respond to the current sounds of a given era while maintaining his soft, vulnerable touch. Certainly, this perseverance has a lot to do with the fact that Womack has always written his own material, and The Poet is no different. Even though the 1981 LP embraces the urbane funk championed by then-newcomer Luther Vandross, Womack’s soft touch and jazzy chords come through on “Secrets,” “So Many Sides of You,” and “Lay Your Lovin’ On Me.” While Prince and Rick James had created a rage for dance songs like “Stand Up,” ballads were Womack’s strong suit. “Just My Imagination” and “If You Think You’re Lonely Now” are not at all hindered by the modern production techniques, and both songs sit comfortably alongside the classic deep-soul tracks that first brought Womack acclaim in the late ‘60s.