The Bravest Man in the Universe

Album: The Bravest Man in the Universe (2012)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is the title track of American R&B legend, Bobby Womack's 2012 album, which was produced by Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz plus XL Recordings boss, Richard Russell. It marked Womack's first album of original material since 1994's Resurrection.
  • On the face of it, this sounds like a mature man coming to terms with his history, but the song actually dates back to Womack's early career in the 1960s and 1970s. He told Uncut magazine: "I wrote that over 40 years ago. Damon and Richard were shocked when I told them, but it's a case of 'same attitude, different times.' When you tell the truth you never go out of style."
  • Producer Richard Russell has form regarding reviving veteran music legends' careers. He was the man behind Gil Scott-Heron's 2010 set I'm New Here, his first album for sixteen years.
  • Clash Magazine chose The Bravest Man In The Universe as their favorite album of 2012. They said: "It's an album that crowns his career, that bridges generations, genres and technologies, and one that nearly killed him. It's music that affects the depths of your soul, that makes you want to dance, that makes you want to cry."

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