Understanding (Bobby Womack album)

Understanding
Studio album by Bobby Womack
Released	March 30, 1972
Recorded	1972
Studio	American Sound Studio, Memphis, Tennessee Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Genre	Soul, funk
Length	35:31
Label	United Artists
Producer	Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack chronology
Communication (1971) Understanding (1972) Facts of Life (1973)
Singles from Understanding
"Woman's Gotta Have It" Released: April 22, 1972 "Sweet Caroline" Released: July 27, 1972 "Harry Hippie" Released: December 1972

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[2]

Understanding is the fourth studio album by American musician Bobby Womack. The album was released on March 30, 1972, by United Artists Records. Womack recorded Understanding in Memphis, Tennessee, at American Sound Studio and in Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. At Muscle Shoals, he utilized top session players, including drummer Roger Hawkins, guitarists Jimmy Johnson and Tippy Armstrong, bassist David Hood and keyboardist Barry Beckett.

The album reached No. 43 on the Billboard pop albums chart and No. 7 on the R&B albums chart. One of the key songs from the album, "I Can Understand It", has become a soul classic and was a major hit for New Birth the following year. The song was also covered by Womack's brothers The Valentinos (Curtis, Harry and Friendly, Jr.) with production from Bobby. The brothers sing background on the original version. The album version of "I Can Understand It" became a huge club hit in the northeast underground soul and gay clubs prior to the birth of disco. At that time, DJs skillfully played the cut directly from the album. New York City record stores began selling the album briskly when they noticed a highly diverse customer base buying Womack's music.