The cavalier soul man whose style was so authentic and effortless was one of the 70s great originals from his spoken confessions to his twangy quiet storm jams he was one of the best singers and guitarists around who was singled out for greatness by none other than his tutor and idol Sam Cooke; continuing on his legacy in some respects. He was a busy boy in 75 releasing three albums, this second of the year is famous for the hit Superstar, it's filled with fuzz guitar as opposed to his usual brand twangy eastern oriental guitar fluttery style that perfectly complemented his rough vocal cords.
Git It is built on a proper hard clavinet beta, fuzzed and compressed to the background while Womack's wah-wah guitar lines entangle all over the track like a restless dog, organs and eventually harmonies soar in too. If you want my love, put something down on it, starts with some floral flute piping up like a jungle jazz call, there is some of Womack's guttural talk while an restrained fuzz guitar is consigned to the far background while harps, strings take up the meat of the mix; but Womack's breathy cracked voice is still the main event.
Medley Interlude #1 features some astounding mix of his clanky funk blues guitar, dazzling harp, and a sped up violin or harp or treated viola, who knows before a solid military drum beat and wailing volcanic fuzz wah guitar takes over the next section called I Don't Know and has a spectacular shredding and as it comes to the fade out comparable to Duane Allman on his cover of Hey Jude a few years back. The hyped up fuzz guitar and sassy backing singers continue on What's your World, Check It Out (this features some great vocal howls from Womack), Interlude #2 features some excellent female vocals so soulful its painful and so powerful as she counters Womack in the fills against a moody backdrop of killer guitar twangs and surging ARP ensemble keyboards; as she climaxes with Womack's singin of I Don't Know its jaw dropping and yet so tasteful. Jealous Love is buoyed by a fonky, buzzed out nasally clavinet sound and criss crossing layers of Womack singing and talking in an evangelical soundscape as organ trickles in and out along with some piano in there somewhere to till the grand vocal swell at the end where multiple Womacks testify! Womack's It's All Over Now is his earned right to record his own song, made famous in the mid 60s by the Stones, this is his raw, reigns off gospel rock version with a subtle Bill Withers guest spot chiming in after every line in a great cameo full of rockin and reelin fever. The album cover is iconic as Womack sits pensively and in supreme power in a very 70s look in wide wicker chair that resembles a throne and recalls the legendary Huey Newton Black Panther photo call.
Superstar still remains one of his finest hits and by far the gem of this jam heavy album, starting with a descending walking pedal steel lick before the simultaneous wash of pedal steel cries, his usual funky blues slide licks, patented harp glissando-es but best of all is the track's superstar; an electric violin. I thought it was a flugelhorn at first, it is played lower during the first verse and chorus, almost like a snake charmers flute, called a Pungi, but it is in fact the quiver of a violin which becomes more apparent as it is oscillated. It truly gives a magical night time serenity to the track and imbues the track with a bright eyed wanderlust, with the pedal steel it lends a distinctive feel to this track and is a shame both instruments barely feature after this track. The caressing violin in it's soothing circular rhythm and the low-key pedal steel washes add a Puff the Magic Dragon vibe as Womack storms home the message about how we are all stars.
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