Album Preview: Bobby Womack ‘The Bravest Man in the Universe’

I am as excited for Bobby Womack‘s June 12 release of The Bravest Man in the Universe as any album of the summer.  The release is Womack’s first album of original material in 18 years. The album was co-produced by Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz) and Richard Russell. It will be released on XL Recordings.

Earlier this spring, legendary funk bassist and longtime friend Bootsy Collins broke the news that the soul singer is in the initial stages of a fight with colon cancer, saying via Facebook: “JUST SPOKE TO OUR FRIEND BOBBY WOMACK. He Wanted You All to Know That He Loves You & Thxs for the Prayers. Docs Says He Is In 1st Stage of Colon Cancer, He is Very Up Beat About His Future, we laughed & joked before we hung up. Thxs Funkateers, we will get him Back on the One!”

It’s hard to believe that the man responsible for classics like “Across 110th Street”, “Woman’s Gotta Have It” and “Lookin’ For a Love” considered himself forgotten and inconsequential just a few short years ago. His return to relevance began in 2009, when Womack was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Around the same time, Albarn and Womack connected to collaborate on a track called “Stylo” for Gorillaz’s third album Plastic Beach. The song also features a guest appearance from Mos Def.

In a trailer for the album featured below, Womack explains “When Damon called me, I had lost that desire. I had lost my confidence. And when people sayin’, ‘Oh man, it’d be just amazing to cut with you.’ I said, how do you know that? You listenin’ to that record. That record is old man. You ain’t even seen me.”

Call it swagger. Call it confidence. Call it drive. Call it what you will, but after the release of the title track and first single “Please Forgive My Heart” we can be sure of one thing – Womack has his groove back. Don’t sleep on The Bravest Man in the Universe. Pre-order your copy via XL Recordings. Celebrate the resurgence of one of soul’s strongest voices.

Track Listing

1. The Bravest Man In The Universe
2. Please Forgive My Heart
3. Deep River
4. Dayglo Reflection
5. Sweet Baby Mine
6. Stupid
7. If There Wasn’t Something There
8. Love Is Gonna Lift You Up
9. Nothin’ Can Save Ya
10. Jubilee

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Written by Rob Peoni