The Poet II

by Jason Elias Though Bobby Womack's in great voice, there's only one major thing wrong with The Poet II: it's an inferior follow-up to The Poet, which successfully executed ideas Womack had been tinkering with since 1979's Roads of Life. This seeks the success The Poet got by surprise. Womack's skill is his pragmatic take on relationships, but on The Poet II his aim is a little off. "Love Has Finally Come at Last" is the first of three duets with Patti LaBelle. The song is OK, but a fan might want to hear him sing all by himself. The duet idea works better on "It Takes a Lot of Strength to Say Goodbye"; it sounds better suited for two singers, and the dramatic arrangement and chemistry between Womack and LaBelle are strong but not that exciting. The Poet II also features some over-produced though skillful dance tracks. "Tell Me Why" is effective and has Womack asking why his relationship is failing and uses his children as pawns when he sings, "You don't have to do it for me/But do it for the sake of the kids." By the end of the album, Womack's lack of winning premises starts to catch up with him. "I Wish I Had Someone to Come Home To" has him sounding a little phony with lyrics like "Ain't no way this lonely man can seem to win." Fans of Womack know he'd think up something to do. The effort's last track, "American Dream," features snippets of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. With its so-so lyrics and plodding arrangement, it just falls apart within the first two minutes. The Poet II is no doubt a good Bobby Womack album, but it is clear that he can do much better.