Bobby Womack Sings Through Clenched Teeth

IT PROMISED to be, in that time-honoured cliche of showbusiness hyperbole, a 'star-studded occasion'. His publicist said Bobby Womack would be dropping off in the Bahamas on the way over to pick up Mick (Jagger, that is) for the first night of the tour. His record company went overboard about his friendship with Rod Stewart, the Faces and the rest of the Stones, and threw a reception at the Café Royal in anticipation of their presence. In the event only Ian McLagan turned up, leaving the promoter perhaps wishing that he hadn't. Womack insisted that the Faces keyboards-player join his band for the duration of the tour, adding a grandpiano to the promoter's list of concert necessities.