Facts of Life
Bobby Womack · 1973
34 min · 10 tracks · rhythm and blues
Soulful melodies intertwine with reflective lyrics, showcasing Womack's passionate delivery and deep emotional resonance.
Top tracks — play these first
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Nobody Wants You When You’re Down and Out Start here — This track encapsulates the album's theme of vulnerability and hardship, highlighting Womack's soulful vocal delivery against a backdrop of poignant instrumentation.
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I’m Through Trying to Prove My Love to You — The emotional weight of this track showcases Womack’s ability to blend heartache with catchy melodies, making it a standout moment on the album.
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Natural Man — With its infectious groove and heartfelt lyrics, this track exemplifies Womack’s skill in merging personal storytelling with universal themes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends soulful melodies with introspective lyrics, showcasing Womack's vocal range and emotional delivery.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow, soulful track that sets a reflective tone, followed by a series of mid-tempo songs that maintain emotional intensity.
- Womack's vocal delivery varies from smooth and melodic to raw and passionate, particularly in the chorus of 'All Along the Watchtower'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo reflective moments
- soulful melodies for introspection
- poignant storytelling in every track
- easy listening for afternoon relaxation
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy tracks
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Solidified Womack's position as a key figure in the soul genre after previous successes.
- Themes
- vulnerability in hardship· personal storytelling· soulful reflection
- Career context
- Released on June 8, 1973, 'Facts of Life' marked Bobby Womack's transition from a hit-making artist to a deeply introspective songwriter. Following the success of his previous album 'Understanding', this record showcased his evolving artistry during a time when he was navigating personal and professional challenges, including setbacks in his career.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Al Green· Marvin Gaye· Otis Redding
Tracklist
- 1 Nobody Wants You When You’re Down and Out Start here 2:59
- 2 I’m Through Trying to Prove My Love to You 3:51
- 3 If You Can’t Give Her Love, Give Her Up 2:49
- 4 That’s Heaven to Me 2:53
- 5 Holdin’ on to My Baby’s Love / Nobody 3:13
- 6 Fact of Life / He’ll Be There When the Sun Goes Down 6:21
- 7 Can’t Stop a Man in Love 2:24
- 8 The Look of Love 3:35
- 9 Natural Man 2:48
- 10 All Along the Watchtower 3:21
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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