Brow Beat

Soul legend Bobby Womack has been recording and performing music with the Gorillaz for the last couple years, but he hasn’t put out an album of new songs since 1994. (He did release new recordings of old songs during that time: Back to My Roots and Traditions both came out in the late ’90s.)

But the Cleveland-born singer, guitarist, and songwriter—who wrote the first #1 hit the Rolling Stones ever had, and whose “Across 110^th Street” provided Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown some of its best moments—has gone back into the studio with Damon Albarn, of the Gorrillaz and Blur, and recorded an album called The Bravest Man in the Universe (which will apparently feature a guest spot from Lana Del Rey). The first track hit the Web yesterday.

Albarn’s orchestration is decidedly contemporary, but Womack’s voice is front and center. He still sounds terrific. You can listen for yourself below.