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Track Listings
| 1. "(Don't Worry) If There Is A Hell Below, We're All Going To Go" |
| 2. The Other Side Of Town |
| 3. The Makings Of You |
| 4. We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue |
| 5. Move On Up |
| 6. Miss Black America |
| 7. Wild And Free |
| 8. Give It Up |
| 9. Power To The People |
| 10. Underground |
| 11. Ghetto Child |
| 12. Readings In Astrology |
| 13. Suffer |
| 14. Miss Black America |
| 15. The Makings Of You |
| 16. "(Don't Worry) If There Is A Hell Below, We're All Going To Go" |
| 17. "[Don't Worry] If There Is A Hell Below, We're All Going To Go [Single Version]" |
Product Description
Review
Since the early '60s, Curtis Mayfield had been proving to the world what a great commercial writer he was. Not only churning out hits for his own band, The Impressions, he'd also scored serious chart action with acts like Major Lance, Jan Bradley and even Brian Hyland. But while his pop soul credentials were immaculate, he'd also been carving out a name as black music's premier exponent of songs that mirrored the civil rights movement in the USA. By 1970 this strand in his music had morphed into Black power consciousness, and his first full foray into tougher territory came with his first solo album, Curtis.
While he was still ostensibly with the Impressions when he recorded Curtis, the music he laid down was a different beast entirely. Rather than the smooth pop of his former band, he chose a grittier funk nand psychedelic edge with which to deliver this missive of consciousness-raising. Recorded at a time when, as Curtis himself said: ''...people stopped wearing tuxedos...people were getting down a little more'', the album, encouraged by his manager, allowed Mayfield to spread his wings and experiment a little more.
While the juxtaposition of strings, harps and throbbing backbeats may well have sprung more from his lack of musical education, the results were startling. Mixing contemporary issues about racial pride and civic responsibility (Miss Black America, Move On Up) the albium was a heady brew of realism and danceable grooves. Only boasting one hit ((Don't Worry) If There's Hell Below We're All Going To Go), Curtis still sold well and opened up Mayfield's career to the extent that he shook off the chains of commercialism once and for all (he left the Impressions for good the following year), becoming a spokesman of his generation. --Chris Jones
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Product Description
CD =Remastered 1970 Album + 9 Bonus Tracks=
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album takes as it's inspiration the social and political issues of it's era. During his time with the Impressions, Curtis Mayfield had long supported the Civil Rights movement, and on his first solo album he gives full rein to his sense of injustice at the way America was in the 60's. This album was released in 1970.
That does not mean the message overwhelms the music - far from it. Mayfield had one of the most inventive approaches to Soul, and that is on display in all it's glory on "Curtis". Starting with a spoken intro over a conga driven groove, "Don't Worry..." challenges you up front with racial insults, before settling into it's funky stride. Slower in tempo, but equally hard hitting, "The Other Side of Town" chronicles ghetto life and these show Mayfield at his best, both musically and socially.
There's more Funk on "Move On Up", a well known track, here in it's full 7 minute form, and there are more positive messages on "....Darker than Blue" and "Miss Black America". Turning to matters of the heart, the mid tempo "Give It Up" regrets the passing of love, while "The Makings Of You" has Curtis celebrating the love of his life.
This expanded edition also includes bonus tracks which are worthwhile for the way they give a picture of how Curtis developed his music. There are demo versions of tracks on the original "Curtis", tracks which would appear on later albums in their finished forms (Underground) and Ghetto Child later became "Little Child Running Wild" on "Superfly"
Curtis Mayfield was a musical genius, and although his later output would be uneven, this is one of at least 4 essential albums from the 70's that he wrote produced and performed. It is well worth your time and money.
That does not mean the message overwhelms the music - far from it. Mayfield had one of the most inventive approaches to Soul, and that is on display in all it's glory on "Curtis". Starting with a spoken intro over a conga driven groove, "Don't Worry..." challenges you up front with racial insults, before settling into it's funky stride. Slower in tempo, but equally hard hitting, "The Other Side of Town" chronicles ghetto life and these show Mayfield at his best, both musically and socially.
There's more Funk on "Move On Up", a well known track, here in it's full 7 minute form, and there are more positive messages on "....Darker than Blue" and "Miss Black America". Turning to matters of the heart, the mid tempo "Give It Up" regrets the passing of love, while "The Makings Of You" has Curtis celebrating the love of his life.
This expanded edition also includes bonus tracks which are worthwhile for the way they give a picture of how Curtis developed his music. There are demo versions of tracks on the original "Curtis", tracks which would appear on later albums in their finished forms (Underground) and Ghetto Child later became "Little Child Running Wild" on "Superfly"
Curtis Mayfield was a musical genius, and although his later output would be uneven, this is one of at least 4 essential albums from the 70's that he wrote produced and performed. It is well worth your time and money.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Musicman
Format:Audio CD
After all if you read many reviews within this site, it won't be long at all before you see that word used. And used and used and used...
But there are a handful of people for whom the monicker is entirely suitable. In fact if there was an even higher superlative than that to bestow upon an artist then Curtis Mayfield is one of the few whom it should be used to describe.
Blazing a trail for so many who were greatful to follow him - to walk through the doors that he opened - Curtis dared to talk about the social issues of the day - particularly those affecting black people in America. But the beauty of this album is that the music does not suffer because of it - in fact if you wanted to be ignorant enough you could love this album without knowing anything of the message Curtis was trying to get across, simply because the songs are so good.
Personal highlights include the swiring carousel-like 'Makings Of You' which is indicative of Curtis's unique approach to making soul music - all strange time signiatures, tubas, harps, and various other instruments you wouldn't necessarily expect to associate with genre, the Beautiful 'We The People' and of course the astonishing album version of 'Move On Up', which pounds on for over seven minutes and still makes you want to re-start the track as soon as it's over.
To finish, I can only use another very over-used word to describe this wonderful - classic.
But there are a handful of people for whom the monicker is entirely suitable. In fact if there was an even higher superlative than that to bestow upon an artist then Curtis Mayfield is one of the few whom it should be used to describe.
Blazing a trail for so many who were greatful to follow him - to walk through the doors that he opened - Curtis dared to talk about the social issues of the day - particularly those affecting black people in America. But the beauty of this album is that the music does not suffer because of it - in fact if you wanted to be ignorant enough you could love this album without knowing anything of the message Curtis was trying to get across, simply because the songs are so good.
Personal highlights include the swiring carousel-like 'Makings Of You' which is indicative of Curtis's unique approach to making soul music - all strange time signiatures, tubas, harps, and various other instruments you wouldn't necessarily expect to associate with genre, the Beautiful 'We The People' and of course the astonishing album version of 'Move On Up', which pounds on for over seven minutes and still makes you want to re-start the track as soon as it's over.
To finish, I can only use another very over-used word to describe this wonderful - classic.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A. Miles
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
There aren't really that many absolutely faultless records in the history of pop music: 'Curtis' is one of them, with the great man at the height of his musical and lyrical prowess, mixing heavy social comment with beatiful love songs, cutting-edge funk arrangements with gospel influences. After you've bought this record you'll be seriously angry with yourself about all the years you didn't own it. I certainly was.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Curtis
Great artist with lots of great tracks. This came on time and was packed well. I would recomend this cd.
Published 4 months ago by genie
4.0 out of 5 stars
His first solo album
Curtis Mayfield had established his credentials as a member of the Impressions, both as a writer and performer. In addition he had established a reputation as a producer. Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2007 by Andy Edwards
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this record.
You really should own this record. From the unstoppable rumbling bass opening of (Dont worry),this album is consistently excellent. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2006 by joseph bass
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heavyweight Champion
Curtis' first solo album. Funk, blistering polemic and sweetness abound. As writer, producer and singer his only equals are James Brown and Stevie Wonder.
Published on 29 Sep 2005 by B Moraes
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