Bobby Womack Home Is Where The Heart Is

Bobby Womack's move to the Columbia imprint 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 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. ~ Jason Ankeny

• Genre: R&B
• Format: Vinyl