R.I.P Bobby Womack

 

The music world lost one of its few remaining truly iconic voices  as the legendary Bobby Womack sadly passed away on Friday the 27th of June.

At 70, Womack had spent decades of his life on the outer fringes of mainstream success, earning him credibility as an incredibly hard-working artist who may have been better known for his work as a session musician. You may have heard his criminally underrated instrumental work on some of your favourite records without ever knowing it.

From an early point in his career, Womack was up against it. Coming from a gospel background in an industry where it was losing its edge and appeal, he found success hard to come by. After pairing with Sam Cooke, Womack found some success in the charts as part of the Valentinos: a group with his family who were advised to move from gospel by Cooke himself. Interestingly, it was during this period that he wrote It’s All Over Now which was then covered by The Rolling Stones and taken to the top of the UK Chart. The lack of recognition like this for Womack’s work is sadly synonymous with he majority of his ouput in over 50 years in the business.

After the death of Sam Cooke, Womack grew close with his widow Barbara and went on to marry her just three months after Cooke had been laid to rest. What followed was the toughest period in Womack’s career as he was routinely booed in concert, beaten up by his brother-in-laws and fell out with his own family over the doomed marriage.

“I was ostracised from the music community aged 21 when I married Sam Cooke’s widow. After 45 years, I feel like Damon has welcomed me back in,” said Womack after working with Damon Albarn on his most recent album, the sublime The Bravest Man in the Universe.

Recognition was hard to come back for Womack until the release of a covers album in 1968 which included versions of the classic California Dreamin‘: a track which would later be used in the British indie flick, Fish Tank, and bring the recognition back to it that it deserved. If you ever wanted an example of a cover being superior to the original, you need only listen to this.

Four years later and the superb Across 110th Street was released, leading to Womack’s biggest ever hit and another revival when it featured prominently in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown.

Womack garnered a reputation as a wanderer in the years to come with many strange genre changes (country R&B, anyone?) and collaborations that never quite landed until 1980 when Inherit the Wind found some success but in the two decades afterwards, the music by the struggling soul singer’s only recognition was as samples for rap tracks from the likes of 50 Cent.

Damon Albran may be hated by many but he should be loved equally for his work in reinvigorating the flagging soul legend’s career, much like Rick Rubin had done for Johnny Cash in the early noughties. As guest vocalist on many Gorillaz tracks, particularly Stylo, Womack earned himself a spot in the limelight once more. Womack’s resurgence was certified with the previously mentioned The Bravest Man in the Universe in 2010 from which the accolades poured in and rightly so. Opening track Please Forgive My Heart is one of the most affecting ones you are likely to hear and the collaboration with Lana Del Rey on Dayglo Reflection is also worthy of your attention.

Rest in peace, The Last Soul Man.

Celebrities say goodbye to Bobby Womack

5 Essential Bobby Womack Songs

5. California Dreamin’
4. Across 110th Street
3. Please Forgive My Heart
2. Lookin’ For a Love
1. If You Think You’re Lonely Now

Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.

Editor-in-Chief