Roads of Life

Roads of Life
Studio album by Bobby Womack
Released	1979
Recorded	1979
Studio	Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Sheffield, Alabama, and Magic Wand Studios Los Angeles, California
Genre	R&B, Soul
Length	38:42
Label	Arista
Producer	Bobby Womack, Patrick Moten, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Bobby Womack chronology
Pieces (1978) Roads of Life (1979) The Poet (1981)

Roads of Life is the twelfth studio album by American musician Bobby Womack. It was released in 1979 by Arista Records. It was dedicated to his late son Truth Womack (January 27, 1978 – June 2, 1978). The album was Bobby Womack's only album for Arista Records. It reached number 55 on the Top Soul Albums charts.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul	[2]

The Bay State Banner noted that "most of Womack's ... session choices are California jazz men whose preoccupations are far from the vernacular vamping you hear in progressive disco boogie or the baroque elegance of such Chicago soul dreams as Tyrone Davis and Peabo Bryson songs."[3]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Roads of Life"	Bobby Womack, Cecil Womack	5:28
2.	"How Could You Break My Heart"	Bobby Womack, Patrick Moten	5:17
3.	"Honey Dripper Boogie"	Bobby Womack	4:51
4.	"The Roots in Me"	Bobby Womack, Leon Ware	4:49
5.	"What Are You Doin'"	Bobby Womack, Cecil Womack	4:29
6.	"Give It Up"	Bobby Womack, Cecil Womack	4:39
7.	"Mr. D.J. Don't Stop The Music"	Bobby Womack	5:17
8.	"I Honestly Love You"	Peter Allen, Jeff Barry	3:50

Personnel

• Bobby Womack - lead vocals, guitar
• Cecil Womack, Howie McDonald, Jimmy Johnson, Larry Byrom, Reggie Young - guitar
• Anthony Willis, Bob Wray, David Hood - bass
• Eddie "Bongo" Brown, Jack Ashford, Jimmy "Bebop" Evans, Roger Hawkins - drums, percussion
• Barry Beckett, Patrick Moten, Randy McCormick, Tim Henson - keyboards
• Ben Cauley, Charles Rose, Harrison Calloway, Harvey Thompson, Ronnie Eades, Wayne Jackson - horns
• Melissa Manchester - guest vocals on "The Roots in Me"
• Pat Hodges, Denita James, Jessica Smith - backing vocals
• Leon Ware - vocal arrangements

Charts

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Top Soul Albums[4]	55

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions[5]
		US R&B
1978	"How Could You Break My Heart "	40

References

1. "Roads of Life - Bobby Womack | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
2. Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 367.
3. Freedberg, Mike (14 June 1979). "Soul Dog". Bay State Banner. No. 36. p. 14.
4. "Bobby Womack US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
5. "Bobby Womack US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-08-30.