Surprise, Surprise: Piano/Vocal/Chords
Surprise, Surprise: Piano/Vocal/Chords
Surprise, Surprise Sheet Music Preview

Surprise, Surprise: Piano/Vocal/Chords

Bobby Womack

Item: 00-PS-0012088
Digital Download
$5.99

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Description
The consecutive release in the 1980s of The Poet and The Poet II propelled Bobby Womack to the top ranks of soul music majesty. Now, in celebration of Womack's ongoing career and his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, this songbook makes sheet music for these landmark albums available to music makers.
Titles:
* American Dream
* Games
* I Wish I Had Someone to Go Home To
* If You Think You're Lonely Now
* It Takes a Lot of Strength to Say Goodbye
* Just My Imagination
* Lay Your Lovin' on Me
* Love Has Finally Come at Last
* Secrets
* So Many Sides of You
* Stand Up
* Surprise, Surprise
* Tell Me Why
* Through the Eyes of a Child
* Trying to Get Over You
* Where Do We Go from Here
* Who's Fooling Who

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Additional Details
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 84
SKU: 00-PS-0012088

More about this title

About the Composer: Bobby Womack

Bobby Womack emerged as one of soul music's most distinctive voices during the 1970s and 1980s, crafting deeply personal songs that balanced vulnerability with instrumental sophistication. His dual role as both composer and performer across The Poet (1981) and The Poet II (1983) established him as a major force in contemporary soul, earning him induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and recognition as a songwriter whose work continues to influence contemporary R&B and soul artists.

Why we love this

This collection captures Womack's songwriting at its peak, pairing lush harmonic language with emotionally direct lyrics that singers and pianists can inhabit fully. The arrangements invite both intimate solo performance and collaborative interpretation, making these songs equally rewarding for recital programs, educational contexts, or contemporary music studies focused on soul and R&B composition.

What to expect

These songs inhabit the emotional landscape of romantic reflection, introspection, and the ache of longing. The piano writing grounds each piece in warm, sophisticated harmonic colors, while the melodies invite singers to explore vulnerability and nuance within a deeply soulful context.

Who it's for

Pianists and singers studying contemporary soul repertoire, music educators introducing students to R&B composition and arrangement, and performers building recital programs that showcase soul music's harmonic and lyrical sophistication. This collection serves musicians exploring how personal songwriting and studio craftsmanship intersect in major-label soul music.

How to get the most out of it

  • Pay close attention to the lyrical phrasing; Womack's melodies follow the natural speech rhythm of the lyrics, so honor the text's emotional weight rather than imposing strict metric regularity.
  • Explore the harmonic density in the piano accompaniment. These voicings are integral to the song's character, not mere padding, so let them breathe and support the vocal line distinctly.
  • Lean into the sensuality of slower passages by controlling dynamics carefully. Womack's ballads depend on restraint and space as much as intensity.

How to use it

Position these songs in recitals or concert programs exploring American soul and R&B songwriting, where they can stand alongside other canonical soul composers. Educational ensembles can use individual selections to study soul arrangement techniques, harmonic voicing, and the relationship between lyrical content and melodic shape.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and interpreting contemporary R&B harmonic language and chord symbols
  • Coordinating complex piano accompaniments with vocal phrasing and emotional interpretation
  • Understanding how melody emerges from and interacts with lyrical content in soul songwriting
  • Performing with the rhythmic flexibility and expressive freedom characteristic of soul music

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