I have never heard a Curtis Mayfield album before, so I don't really know where to start. Someone told me to start out with Superfly, a greatest hits compilation, or his debut, Curtis. I am thinking about buying his debut first because after reading many reviews like the brilliant one found here: http://www.inkblotmagazin...Curtis.htm , I think this is certainly the most obvious and best one. What do you Curtis Mayfield fans think of the album?

Does anyone have anything to say about this album?
[Edited 4/22/06 21:21pm]

You could start at Curtis or Superfly,which ever you chose, it's a good choice.

You can't go wrong with those two. My vote goes for "Curtis" though. It captures his original style at its best. The instrumentation is very unique too.

"Curtis" is a great LP, but also try to find "Black Exorcist" and "Curtis Live".(INCREDIBLE piece of work). You'll hear the influence that he's had on Jimi, D'Angelo, Pharell and everyone else in R&B.

There is no such album as "Black Exorcist", it's called "Sweet Exorcist".

timely thread. last weekend i finally got into Curtis Mayfield. i listened to him all weekend. i have a compilation with a few live tracks and studio ones and a compilation of The Impressions. never understood what took me so long.

great stuff!

I'm also wondering about getting into the 20th Anniversary Edition of Superfly, but I think I'm going to order his self-titled debut today!

Then you should check out "There's no place like America today"!
/peace Manki

'We The People, Who Are Darker Than Blue' is my favorite...





'Other Side Of Town' is another classic...

Definitely a must have. Over the years I've come to prefer Superfly slightly, but between that, Curtis and roots is a very tough choice. Don't Worry (If there's a hell below we're all gonna go) is such an incredible song, as I've said a million times, my personal pick for best album opening ever. Other side of town is so righteous and yet solemn, makings of you, wild and free and miss black america are just beautiful. We people who are darker than blue is the peak of the slightly ghostly funk Curtis was the master of and Move on Up is the kind of song you can just lose yourself in as it passes you by (only Stevie's "Another star" even comes close to capturing the same effect, at least in terms of 70s soul)

Curtis Live!

My bad.."Sweet Exorcist" is correct. "Black Exorcist" is the old Richard Pryor skit.

There is so much incredible Curtis available that it is difficult to know where to start. All his 70's albums are a must so is most of the Impressions stuff. Trying getting some of his unreleased stuff as he was a prolifics writer there is a nice compilation called Curtom People