Family Spirit
| Family Spirit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Producer | Womack & Womack (as Poetry in Motion) | |||
| Womack & Womack chronology | ||||
| ||||
Family Spirit is an album by the American musical duo Womack & Womack, released in 1991.[1][2] "Uptown" peaked at No. 79 on the UK Singles Chart.[3] The album was a commercial disappointment.[4]
Production
[edit]Many members of the Womack family contributed to the making of Family Spirit.[5] "Keep On Climbing" was inspired by the duo's gospel roots.[6] Some songs address world issues and societal concerns, while others describe rural and urban living.[7][8]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| The Buffalo News | [10] |
| Robert Christgau |  [11] |
| Record Mirror | 6/10[12] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
| Tulsa World | [13] |
The St. Petersburg Times wrote that "Cecil and Linda Womack do not play by any musical rules, especially the ones that say black musicians are supposed to work within certain styles."[14] The New York Times concluded: "Linda and Cecil Womack probably don't think of themselves as pillars of the outsider-pop community. But that's what they are after seven years of crafting extraordinary love songs with singular grooves."[15] The Washington Post opined that "the lyrics resemble the questioning, pondering tone of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, and the music has a similar jazz-influenced, open sound."[8]
The State determined that "the Womacks make a sort of garage funk with a message."[16] The Buffalo News deemed the music a "sound that is both bluesy and earthy."[10] The Tulsa World stated that the Womacks "explore loneliness and an almost desperate search for togetherness at a time when most pop songs dwell on sexual power games."[13]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Family Spirit" | |
| 2. | "Uptown" | |
| 3. | "Refusal" | |
| 4. | "Living in a Different World" | |
| 5. | "United in Paradise" | |
| 6. | "My Dear (The Letter)" | |
| 7. | "Blue Jean Baby" | |
| 8. | "Danceworld" | |
| 9. | "Keep On Climbing" | |
| 10. | "Lonely Island" |
References
[edit]- ^ Hiltbrand, David (Jun 17, 1991). "Song — Family Spirit by Womack & Womack". People. Vol. 35, no. 23. p. 21.
- ^ King, Wayne (Jul 11, 1991). "Recordings — Family Spirit by Womack and Womack". Rolling Stone. No. 608/609. p. 109.
- ^ "Womack and Womack". Official Charts. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Cecil Womack". Obituaries. The Daily Telegraph. 5 Feb 2013. p. 25.
- ^ Simms, Greg (May 31, 1991). "Recordings on Review". Go!. Dayton Daily News. p. 15.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. pp. 783, 784.
- ^ Perrone, Pierre (11 Feb 2013). "Cecil Womack". Obituaries. The Independent. p. 44.
- ^ a b Himes, Geoffrey (21 July 1991). "New from Soul's Queen and Godfather". The Washington Post. p. G8.
- ^ "Family Spirit Womack & Womack". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ a b Allen, Carl (May 24, 1991). "Pop Music". The Buffalo News. p. G32.
- ^ "Womack & Womack". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ Ashton, Kevin (30 March 1991). "Womack & Womack: Family Spirit". Record Mirror. p. 15.
- ^ a b Widner, Ellis (November 15, 1991). "'Family Spirit' Womack & Womack". Tulsa World. p. 16B.
- ^ Snider, Eric (14 May 1991). "Alternative Top 10". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1D.
- ^ Miles, Milo (2 June 1991). "The Womacks' New 'Family Spirit'". The New York Times. p. A31.
- ^ Miller, Michael (May 17, 1991). "New Releases". The State. p. 14D.