The Womack Sisters
I’m not a particular fan of public transport. It never runs at times when I want it, it’s often late and it doesn’t start just outside my front door. However, recently I caught the train back from Bramhall to York mainly because I could briefly alight halfway and visit a great vinyl record shop in Huddersfield, Vinyl Tap. I didn’t have any particular purchase targets on my mind but I found Millie Jackson and Anita O’Day albums and there was something playing over the sound system that caught my ear: a new album from the The Womack Sisters. If you’re remotely aware of popular music history then Womack is a very famous surname in soul music.
The three sisters are the daughters of Linda and Cecil Womack (Womack & Womack of Teardrops fame) who had their own performing career but were mainly songwriters or producers. If that heritage isn’t impressive enough then Linda’s father was Sam Cooke and Bobby Womack was Cecil’s older brother. These sisters grew up steeped in soul music. This their first long player didn’t come easily and they describe their back story as ‘a grind’. They’ve certainly paid their dues and had to wait for their break. This break eventually came on the Daptone label that specialises in throwback soul with the co-founder, producer and song writer Gabriel Roth. He has two Grammy Awards for his work. He produced, arranged, wrote or co-wrote the songs. Whilst the vocals are strong, front and centre here, Roth varies the arrangements that keep the whole listen interesting, varied and of the period. The sisters had a large input into the sound and feeling of the record and they talk of the collaborative nature.
The result is a classic soul album that feels like an authentic 60s effort; this is what caught my ear. There are very few younger artists making soul albums today, frankly, the very mention of the genre has you reaching for Stax, Tamla Motown, Southern Soul or something else old and dusty. The sisters sing together on every track with one or the other taking the lead. If one of the sisters isn’t singing the others harmonise or fill in on backing vocals. The instrumental backing is sympathetic with a full band and brass, if necessary, allowing the voices and the very catchiness to capture your attention. Occupations, they took, before music took over included taxi driving, old age care and cleaning jobs especially if the work could be completed around studio time. As a consequence the opener Chauffeur was informed by their driving jobs but mainly the lyrics are ‘boy meets girl’ themes from a female perspective. I liked the whole record but highlights are I Am Your Season… “you really need me throughout all the years”. This is straight Sam Cooke, imagine A Change Is Gonna Come as regards arrangement, pace and the phrasing. My Sisters And Me reinforces that their bond is unique and unbreakable. I thought this had the Gospel vibe of The Impressions. However the show stopper and complete ear worm is the Latin tinged (with a tinny yet wonderful organ) “If I Let You” that’s playful yet a little coy.
The joy of randomly finding a new great record is unbeatable and this is a definite musical highlight of the year. Back to the future?
