I was listening to a Curtis Mayfield compilation CD and was really impressed by the quality of the songs. One song I used to skip 'Keeps Me Loving You' I think it's called I listened to and it's a great song. I don't think Curtis gets the respect he deserves as a singer, musician and also as a songwriter. His music was also very social commentary based like 'People Get Ready'. Anyone else a fan of Curtis's music and is there any CD's you recommend, preferably a boxset if one is available and other songs you recommend.

thetimefan said:

All I have of Curtis are a greatest hits package of the Impressions and his first three solo albums, and I love it all. I personally think his first solo album is his masterpiece, though the ones after it are almost as good (Roots and the Superfly Soundtrack). Curtis (the title of his first solo album) is majorly shafted in the scheme of things specifically in comparison to What's Goin On. As great as What's Going On is a social-consciousness R&B concept album, Curtis is a much better album musically and lyrically, and Mr. Mayfield had more actual creative control (Marvin was not the main writer of most of the material on What's Going On), and it came out earlier too.
[Edited 5/26/05 0:03am]

I was listening to Curtis Mayfield the other night. Mine is a "Best Of" compilation.

"Kung Fu", "Pusherman", "Superfly", "Freddy's Dead",.....etc.

And "Future Shock" is one BAD ass jam!
[Edited 5/26/05 0:46am]

"We The People, Who Are Darker Than Blue"...

is his masterpiece....

GOD BLESS Curtis Mayfield.....

vainandy said:

Exactly. With classic cuts like that, my man you can't lose.


"Superfly. You're Gonna Make Your Fortune By & By. And If You Lose, Don't Ask No Questions Why. The Only Game You Know Is Do Or Die."
[Edited 5/26/05 1:26am]

My mother used to play "CURTIS-LIVE" over and over. The version of "Makings Of You" on there will bring tears to your eyes. Curtis influnced everyone from Jimi to DeAngelo to Pharrell (so he says)...a true legend.

SPYZFAN1 said:

No question. He influenced the artists you mentioned as well as Rapheal Sadiqq.

"if there's hell below...we're all gonna go....AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!"

I absolutely LOVE 'Trippin' Out'

Hotlegs said:

Exactly -- for an example, If you listen to Mayfield's guitar in the intro to the instrumental, "Think" (from Superfly), you hear the direct line of influence from Curtis to Jimi (check out Jimi at the opening of "Little Wing") through to Raphael Saadiq and others...

What album is billy jack on?

13inchshoe said:

From the "There's No Place Like America, Today" album...

funkpill said:

Thanx Funk

The early live album is my fav but everything he's done (including all of the covers) are just masterpieces. The depth of his lyrics, the beauty of his meolodies and the genuine nature of his personality just leave me in awe with every listen.

Lenny Kravitz should be bitch smacked for ripping off Curtis songs and calling them his own throughout his career.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Yeah, I grew up on Curtis. "Curtis Live", "SuperFly". But MY two faves by Mr. Mayfield is "Curtis" from 1970 and "Sweet Exorcist" from 74. Those albums are out of this world, to me. I still listen to these to this day.

Slave2daGroove said:

Yeah, Lenny has biten off of Curtis quite a bit.

Curtis is quite simply One of the Gods.

My favorite Curtis cuts:

w/ the Impressions:
Gypsy Woman
Keep On Pushing
People Get Ready
We're A Winner
This Is My Country
Choice of Colors

Solo:
The Makings of You
The Other Side of Town
(Don't Worry) If There's Hell Below We're All Gonna Go
Move On Up (notice how Toyota is using this to sell cars now
Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey)
Stone Junkie
The entire Curtis Live LP
Beautiful Brother of Mine
Underground
Get Down
The entire Superfly LP
Can't Say Nothin'
Kung Fu
Sweet Exorcist
Mother's Son
Billy Jack
Ain't No Love Lost
So In Love
Do Wap is Strong In Here
Short Eyes/Freak, Freak, Free, Free, Free
I'm A Fool For You

Productions:

Aretha Frankin's Sparkle soundtrack
The Staple Singers Let's Do It Again soundtrack
Gladys Knight & the Pips Claudine soundtrack
Mavis Staples' A Piece of the Action soundtrack --'Til Blossoms Bloom'

blackguitaristz said:

Lenny is not the biggest offender. Pharrel really needs to smacked.

funkpill said:

And it's out of print

13inchshoe said:

It can be found...Keep searching.....

funkpill said:

True especially in some of those record/CD exchange places. Shit, that's where I check.

funkpill said:

Will do.Someone had 1 on amazon for 25 bills.too rich for my blood

brothers.... sisters....niggas..... whiteys....jews....don't worry.....if theres hell below....we're all....gonna go.... go... go... go... ahhhhh!!!!!

This is the only one I have. The Curtis Mayfield Story boxset was just a little too much and patchy for me.

I was visiting someone and heard this cd that was just mind-blowing! When I asked what it was it was Curtis's New World Order (released in 1996). I went out and found it the next day and it's one of my favorites! He re-did "We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue" on it, and it includes "Ms. Martha," and "I Believe In You.

13inchshoe said:

If you're looking for it on vinyl,
seek out a used record store, then go to the cheap bins...
You might find it for a dollar...

NewPowerSista said:

That record is...

...not really mind-blowing in my opinion.

Novabreaker said:

Oh my goodness; I guess I'd better change my mind!