The Bravest Man In The Universe by Bobby Womack

Released:  June 12, 2012
Rating:  70.91
Genre:  Alternative R&B

I recommend finding this album on Spotify (or somewhere else) and listening to the entire thing.  If you find as much of it interesting as I do, add it to your collection.  Until then, I'd suggest you give a listen to a couple of great examples of what's here:

• The soulful Please Forgive My Heart
• The supercool Dayglo Reflection, featuring Lana Del Ray

There are two story tracks to follow for this album. 

The first is Bobby Womack, who probably isn't well known (except maybe by name) to most of my contemporaries; or me, for that matter.  He will be 70 years old next March and he's been performing since 1953.  (He met Sam Cooke at that first performance with his brothers; and was later recruited by Cooke, when he formed his own label in 1960/61.)  He's toured behind James Brown and was an early inspiration to Jimi Hendrix.  He wrote the song It's All Over Now, which the Rolling Stones made into their first Number 1 single in England.  He Sang back up for Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin and a featured write for Wilson Pickett.  In the late '60s he had his own R&B Chart hits with covers of California Dreamin' and I Left My Heart In San Francisco.  He wrote Breezin' which became a huge hit for George Benson (and the title track for his best selling album.)  In total, he's released more than 25 albums and contributed to countless more.

Damon Albarn convinced Bobby Womack to contribute to the Gorillaz 3rd album, plastic beach.  They became friends and this album, Womack's first in 13 years, grew out of that friendship.  Damon Albarn produced, composed and played on the album.

Damon Albarn is the second story track.  He's somewhat younger (he'll be 43 within a few days of Womack's 70th B-day) and I've already written some about him, since I'm a huge Gorillaz fan, so I won't devote as much space to him here.  He fronted the Blur, created the Gorillaz and was part of the The Good, The Bad and The Queen.  Earlier this year he released Rocket Juice and the Moon with Tony Allen (from Fela Kuti's band) and Flea (from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  He also released a traditional Opera this year.