Bobby Womack

This Soul Brother two-fer pairs Bobby Womack's mid-'70s LPs for Columbia, a period that heralded a shift from the earthy deep soul sensibility of his previous records to a slicker, more sophisticated approach in step with the changing sound of contemporary R&B. Somewhat surprisingly, the transition not only proves seamless, but in fact 1976's Home Is Where the Heart Is looms as Womack's most compelling LP in some time -- though recorded in both Muscle Shoals and Los Angeles, it's to the album's credit that its disparate parts fit together like a well-oiled machine. Womack's wonderfully gruff vocals adapt well to the warmth and elegance of songs like "How Long," "Something for My Head," and "One More Chance on Love," and he performs with a passion and focus absent from his final United Artists efforts. The 1978 follow-up, Pieces, pairs Womack with producer Don Davis, applying a dancefloor-ready sheen to an otherwise mellow soul aesthetic that consciously evokes the singer's earliest efforts. The material is inconsistent, however, and the album instead proves most notable for its guest stars -- erstwhile Motown great David Ruffin turns up on the energetic "Trust Your Heart," while Candi Staton joins Womack for the lovely ballad "Stop Before We Start." ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide