Bobby Womack: Survivor's Soul Echoes in New Album

Bobby Womack has released his first album of original material in 18 years, a significant comeback produced by Richard Russell. This new work features collaborations with Damon Albarn and includes guest appearances from Lana Del Rey and the late Gil Scott-Heron. The album opens with a sample of Womack's mentor, Sam Cooke, speaking about an older singer's deeper understanding of life. Womack, now 68, is presented as a survivor, having overcome numerous personal challenges, including drug addiction and cancer, as well as enduring significant loss throughout his career. He sees his return as a way to honor soul music icons who passed away prematurely and to ensure they receive due respect. Womack's distinctive voice, marked by a life of experience, imbues his music with raw emotion, conveying swagger, pain, and ecstasy with equal measure. His work aims to speak for those who may have given up, like Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson, and to set the historical record straight for these legendary artists.