Complete A- and B-Sides: 1961-1968 [Import]

The Impressions (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 2010)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Fontana Int'l
• ASIN: B001SYXD1A
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,705 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2009 two CD set that collects, chronologically, one of the best runs of any '60s group, Soul or otherwise. Many use the word genius with a wild abandon, yet surely if there is one who deserves to be labeled as such, and who rarely is, it is Curtis Mayfield, a unique man in music. Mayfield was gifted with the pipes of an angel and took the rafter-raising spirit of the church, with its uplifting and hopeful message, and combined it with an indelible songwriting craft to create sublime spiritual Soul music that carried his sermons of civil rights and equality to the masses. Listening to his group, The Impressions, on this selection is a truly spiritual experience: it's like witnessing the birth of Soul over and over again. From the eerie, atmospheric 'Gypsy Woman' in 1962, Curtis Mayfield's gorgeous falsetto floats over a collection of all-time soulful greats, including US #4 hit 'It's All Right', the civil rights anthem 'People Get Ready', and Northern Soul stomper 'Can't Satisfy'. Universal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars thanks, curtis, April 24, 2010

By 

smurdge - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Complete A- and B-Sides: 1961-1968 (Audio CD)

This 2 cd set collects some of the most transcendent, breathtakingly beautiful singles ever made. Grow Closer Together, Sad Sad Girl and Boy, I'm so Proud, People Get Ready, Too Much Love, It's hard to Believe... these songs glow like angels- they each come with their own halo. Curtis Mayfield is sometimes compared to Smokey Robinson- a brilliant songwriter & producer who sang in a high voice. His lyrics tend to be less clever, more direct, sometimes even a little clumsy ("sweeter than the taste of a cherry so sweet.."), but that just seems to heighten the sincerity and meaning. Sam Gooden and Fred Cash, the other two Impressions, add a perfect mix of doo-wop and gospel harmonies and an occasional lead. You get the feeling that this was truly a group and not Curtis Mayfield and two anonymous guys. And the arrangements by Johnny Pate, too brassy or schmaltzy, seem more creative the closer you listen. And not least, there's Curtis' guitar playing - listen to the guitar breaks on People Get Ready. It almost seems to be a contradiction that music this flawless can be so filled with life and meaning, but there it is.

Being that all The Impressions ABC Paramount A&B sides are here, there are some let downs- the cover of the 5th Dimension's Up Up and Away is kind of sad- but there are 60 songs so a few misses mean nothing. Most of the set is in stereo, which means most of the selections are not actually the original mono singles if you were to be picky, but the sound quality is fine, and sometimes the stereo is a beautiful thing. The pizzicato strings in It's Hard to Believe seem to shimmer around the room like stars in the sky. The next time someone says to you "nothing's perfect" play them this track. Apparently one thing in this world is.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NOW THIS IS MORE LIKE IT!, August 6, 2010

By 

Salayo Brown "REAL SMOOVE" (LINCOLN, NE. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Complete A- and B-Sides: 1961-1968 (Audio CD)

RECEIVED MY COPY OF COMPLETE A & B SIDES THE OTHER DAY. VERY SATISFIED WITH IT. FAR BETTER THAN THAT CURTIS MAYFIELD AND THE IMPRESSIONS MILLENIUM COLLECTION(AMAZON, I NO LONGER OWN THAT CD, GAVE IT AWAY TO MY MOTHER). BESIDES MY FAVORITE CUT BY THEM("I LOVED AND I LOST"), THE OTHER CHOICE SONGS ON HERE ARE "GIRL YOU DON'T KNOW ME"(I FOUND MYSELF REPLAYING THIS ALOT. I LOVE THE BEAT AND THE LYRICS.), THE MOTOWN-ESQUE "SINCE I LOST THE ONE I LOVE"(I PLAY THIS ALOT AS WELL), "MEETING OVER YONDER", "YOU'LL WANT ME BACK", "I LOVE YOU (YEAH)", "GET UP AND MOVE"(VERY MOTIVATIONAL), "NEVER COULD YOU BE"(THIS SONG LETS US KNOW WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT), AND THE BOOM SHACK-A-LACKA FUNK OF "WE'RE ROLLING ON". I SEE TODAY THAT AMAZON HAS ONLY 1 LEFT IN STOCK, GLAD I GOT MINE WHEN I GOT IT. PEACE.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressions! Nuff said., June 6, 2010

By 

program director "FNSTRadio.com" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete A- and B-Sides: 1961-1968 (Audio CD)

Immerse yourself in some of the finest soul Chicago ever produced.

Great writing, great harmonies, songs delivered from deep inside, this is what Curtis, Sam and Fred brought to the table.