Customer Reviews

The Music and Message of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For lovers of classic Soul music and Crutis Mayfield and the Impressions in particular, this DVD will make you dance in the streets!

Reelin' in the Years, unlike many producers of music documentaries, actually "get it" and know that fans who care enough about an artist to buy such DVD's want to the see COMPLETE songs, and this DVD delivers in that fashion as did their previous excellent Otis Redding set.

This DVD mixes rare interview footage of the underrated King of message-oriented Soul Music with recent interviews with his widow and his fellow Impressions Sam Gooden and Fred Cash (Jerry Butler is mnetioned, but does not appear). The surviving Impresssions have aged well and they share some interesting anecdotes. One in particular involves producer Johnny Pate (who also appears) talking the guys out of recording the original lyrics to the Curtis classic "We're a Winner" (the finished song was banned by some pop stations in 1967 for supposedly being inflammatory) and Joey Bishop having to intervene to allow the guys to sing "Choice fo Colors" on his show in 1968. These songs lyrics are deep, but any controversy will escape those under 45 who are used to more strident stuff.

The vintage videos are indeed interesting. At a time when James Brown and Jackie Wilson's histrionics and manic gymnastics on the stage brought the houses down, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions were not big on choreography, but the lyrical content of the songs were such that audiences would actually sit quietly and listen to what they had to say before applauding (as is seen in the "We're a Winner" clip from about 1967). In "This is My Country," soon-to-be star Clifton Davis begins the tune with a powerful poem celebrating the relevance of CM&TI's lyrics in articulating the concerns of Black America (note Fred Cash trying to cover his coughing during Davis' poem). Too bad this doesn't (yet) appear on any record.

The sets involving the songs from 'Superfly" (post Impressions) are interesting to compare with his previous work. During "Freddie's Dead," Curtis's band smokes (the conga player in particular), although fans of the original may miss the horns and strings that define the tune. Haters of Blaxploitation films and the effect they had on Black youth of the day (the Gangster rap/minstrel shows of the 70s) will be pleased to learn that Curtis also hated the film and wrote the music to show the true tragedy of the drug lifestyle that "Stupidfly" celebrated.

In either case, it's a history lesson with a beat that you can dance to. Buy it, learn, and enjoy.

Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions didn't just make music, they sent

great sounding and universally useful social messages and it's no exaggeration to say their records were the true heart and soul of many a disc collection. (Just mention the name Curtis Mayfield and a deep warm feeling arises in nearly anyone who has ever heard and been moved by he and they.)

This splendid DVD overview of Curtis, Fred and Sam was long overdue. In addition to welcome video footage including Germany's legendary Beat Club,the Joey Bishop show, "In Concert", some corny Dick Clark staging and much more we get to witness Mayfield's impact be given a proper and fitting perspective from those who were there.

Hearing the Curtis story from the mouths of his wonderful wife Altheida, surviving Impressions Fred Cash and Sam Gooden, Andrew Young, producer Johnny Pate and musicians Carlos Santana and a revealingly impressive Chuck D we learn of ths history, impact, and driving force behind the sound on both the personal and macro levels. And as many of us have always known,that driving force was Curtis's deep love for not just music but for humanity,which,through composition he aimed to bring together.

Bravo to the director, producers and interviewer for this labor of love and gift to fans and will be fans. The gospel of Curtis and company is one that,even now, could benefit our world.Plus his music had a beat..and you could dance to it-even when you danced,as sometimes evidenced here, horribly!

I recently bought the DVD documentary on Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions.This is my favorite soul group of all time.In the 60's I think that they were underrated because their music bordered on spiritual;it was very romantic at times;the group did not dance;and they were a trio,unlike many groups which were quartets or larger.When we were about 12 years old a friend and I snuck back stage at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina with one of those huge picture books that you could buy at the door.We had a little bit of luck and found Curtis Mayfield chatting with Jackie Wilson.We got their autographs and shook hands with Fred Cash,Sam Gooden, and the Brooks Brothers.What a night that was!Curtis and Jackie were very appreciative of our audacity, and gracious.I will never forget that experience.

This DVD is the greatest that I have seen which captures the prime,essence, and appeal of the Impressions.Their harmonies are dynamic.The sound is wonderful and Johnny Pate's arrangements are still stirring and make you move.A big plus is to see the impact that the Impressions had on the Civil Rights movement,which is reflected in a series of interviews with Andrew Young.

There are over 20 performances;lots of background interviews with Curtis'charming and lovely wife,Altheida, Santana, and with Johnny Pate,the gifted and long time arranger for the Impressions and later for Curtis when he went solo.It would be nice to see all of Curtis' children and perhaps hear from them.I have no complaints about this DVD.I

hope they make another one so I can see "Gypsy Woman"and a number of other hits that are missing,performed.There are several versions of Gypsy Woman on UTube,but no Impressions.I would also like to hear or see Jerry Butler perform the early songs written by Mayfield and an inclusion of Curtis Mayfield's music from movie scores other than Superfly, such as Claudine,Sparkle,Uptown Saturday Night,and Get on the Bus for Spike Lee after Mayfield's terrible incapacitating accident.Many people may not

appreciate what a prolific writer Curtis Mayfield was.A great talent!!!!

I've got to disagree with the most helpful critical review. Interview footage with Curtis Mayfield? Fascinating. Extremely rare interview with legendary arranger Johnny Pate. I could have listened to him for 2 hours. All available footage was there. For songs where there was none, I wish they would have put them in with photos a la Kevin Burns, but this is the best documentary on the Impressions and on Curtis Mayfield, period. 2 hours of it. I could have checked it out of the library across the street, but I had to own it, it's that good.

Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, and Jerry Butler, THE IMPRESSIONS, made some of the most monumental music ever recorded. No, they didn't have the explosive dance steps of the MOTOWN groups,like THE TEMPTATIONS,THE MIRACLES, OR GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS , or non MOTOWN groups like JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES , or LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS... but , they didn't need them. They didn't scream and shout , and drop to their knees on stage...but , they didn't have to. That's not what THE IMPRESSIONS were all about. They were about dignity..the music, and...the MESSAGE. They had a story to tell, and a message to relate ...and dance steps would have only detracted from that message. They were the first group to address REAL, TOPICAL ISSUES that affected You and Me .... and they did so YEARS before the so- called protest singers of the mid to late sixties, years before the Norman Whitfield/ Barrett Strong-produced songs on THE TEMPTATIONS,years before MARVIN GAYE'S classic "WHAT'S GOING ON",years before GAMBLE & HUFF. They were THE THINKING MAN'S SINGING GROUP.

THE IMPRESSIONS took a real risk in doing this... for some artists, this would have been career SUICIDE. But the Sixties were a very turbulent time in America, and they felt the story had to be told. Violent protests in many cities , inequality, and racism affected millions. The songs and music of CURTIS MAYFIELD & THE IMPRESSIONS addressed these issues, but did so in a dignified way that encouraged pride and peaceful change...not violent reprisal. Their music was the soundtrack of our lives. It is with great anticipation, then, this new DVD finally arrives : " MOVIN ON UP...The Music and the Message of CURTIS MAYFIELD and THE IMPRESSIONS". One of the ALL-TIME great vocal groups, led by one of the ALL-TIME great songwriters in music history. Featuring ALL-NEW interviews with Original IMPRESSIONS members SAM GOODEN and FRED CASH (who discussed the history of the group starting in Chatanooga, Tennessee and Chicago ,Illinois...along with taped vintage interviews with the late CURTIS MAYFIELD,along with interviews with his widow, ALTHEIDA, CARLOS SANTANA, and others, this great new DVD includes classic 60's footage of the IMPRESSIONS, finally realeased after sitting in the vaults for over 40 years, along with several performances of CURTIS after he went solo in the early 70's. Also several special features and bonus performances make this DVD a MUST BUY !!

Now,for the gripes.

I think that , as with the MIRACLES' Motown DVD,There should have been more classic IMPRESSIONS performances,along with the CURTIS solo performances.THE IMPRESSIONS , like the MIRACLES , HAVE HAD OVER 50 CHART HITS. Where were the video performances of "GYPSY WOMAN", "FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE", "TALKING 'BOUT MY BABY","I'M SO PROUD","KEEP ON PUSHING","FOOL FOR YOU","AMEN", (which is sung only as part of a medley with "WE'RE A WINNER"..."AMEN WAS THEIR BIGGEST HIT E V E R ....why wasn't the FULL SONG included ?}, "I'VE BEEN TRYING","YOU MUST BELIEVE ME",the post Curtis Mayfield million- selling hit; "FINALLY GOT MYSELF TOGETHER", and "WE'RE ROLLING ON"? These songs were among THE IMPRESSIONS' BIGGEST HITS...but , they're not included. Granted , the "REELIN'IN THE YEARS" COMPANY may not have the rights to all of these performances...some are sitting in the vaults in local stations where the Impressions performed on various local and regional 1960's "dance party" shows,ie: LLOYD THAXTON , HY-LIT,the Cleveland-based UPBEAT..from which their performance of "CHECK OUT YOUR MIND" was lifted,two other Cleveland-based TV shows, "JERRY G. AND COMPANY" ...(hosted by D.J.Jerry G.Bishop), and THE KEN HAWKINS "WORLD OF SOUL" T.V. SHOW (hosted by KEN HAWKINS, Cleveland's number one R&B disc jockey in the sixties),CASEY KASEM'S "SHEBANG",and others...but this may be the ONLY time that an IMPRESSIONS video compilation appears...so still,it would have been nice to have seen those performances as well. also, interviews with Original IMPRESSIONS lead singer , JERRY BUTLER, and the other original members, ARTHUR & RICHARD BROOKS,(if still alive), would have been nice, and also the shining moment when CURTIS , accompanied by fellow IMPRESSIONS SAM, FRED , AND JERRY BUTLER, was inducted into THE GRAMMY HALL OF FAME. in ...but overall, REELING IN THE YEARS,and UNIVERSAL did an excellent job in compiling the history of one of the MOST SUCCESSFUL, MOST IMPORTANT GROUPS IN MUSIC HISTORY,, THE INCOMPARABLE IMPRESSIONS !! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!

Movin' On Up is a great DVD. You won't see better clips of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions from their prime period from 1965-1973, both in quality and rarity. Interviews with band mates Fred Cash and Sam Gooden and Curtis' wife, along with interview clips of Curtis himself circa 1987 help round out the piece. This disc is a collector's dream, but might not be the best introduction for the casual fan. Yes, it's far better to have the complete performances in the best possible quality. (With bonus footage, the disc runs nearly 180 minutes, not the 60 listed by Amazon). But unlike Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes or The Temptations (other artists that have gotten the RITY treatment), Curtis has not, to my knowledge, had a major biography written on him. So this DVD leaves a lot of empty spaces for the uninitiated. There's plenty of testimony as to why Curtis was so important in his time are mentioned, but it's not really illuminated on. Yes, he borrowed from the church, created Civil Rights anthems and owned his own publishing and record label. However, one of the biggest omissions, in my opinion, is the effect the Impressions had on Jamaican music, specifically Bob Marley and the Wailers. Without "People Get Ready," there is no "Redemption Song." While this is an excellent DVD, there still, however is room for a truly definitive doc on this genius of soul. Keep up the good work, Reelin' In The Years. Keep raising the bar on Music film reissues.

I have been waiting for a definitive chronicle of the life and works

of the brilliant Curtis Mayfield, and here it is in spades!

This is a 2 hr tour-de-force, which does both the music as well as the story behind

the music of Curtis Mayfield, and his pivotal vocal group The Impressions, much justice!

Bob Dylan himself admitted that there are only two true "American Poets"....

Curtis Mayfield & Smokey Robinson. (I concur!)

A young Curtis Mayfield emerged on the R&B / Soul musical scene at the same time

that a young Bob Dylan was making his mark in folk/rock.

I have often said that Mayfield was indeed "The Urban Bob Dylan"....

But even though his music and lyrics coincided with the 60's civil rights struggle,

as well as spoke for the late 60's and early 70's black american aspirational call to MOVE ON UP,

Curtis Mayfield's music was transcendent of that, and all inclusive of the plight of humanity!

In this documentary, they speak with people like former civil rights activist and

Ambassador Andrew Young, who says that Curtis Mayfield was embued with the same spirit of hope as MLK.

That is high praise for someone who actually was a confidant, fellow activist, and friend to Dr. King.

Also, there to share their stories and rememberances firsthand are the surviving Impressions,

Sam Gooden & Fred Cash, along with Curtis Mayfield's window Alameida Mayfield...who all give great

insights and humor into the mind, life, and work of this true genius, who inspired the likes of Bob Marley,

Sly Stone, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and many other great artists

who valued their lyrical content as much they did their musical content.

Curtis Mayfield's work was the chronicle of the black experience at a very pivotal time in history.

Also on hand to give insights are the great Carlos Santana, Chuck D. from Public Enemy, and many other

important people and artists who worked with, or were inspired by Curtis Mayfield's work.

THIS IS A MUST HAVE DVD, if you are into the music of a man and a group that defined a generation,

and inspired many in future generations. Kudos to REELIN' IN THE YEARS Entertainment for a great job

at putting this all together! The remixing and remastering of the music of Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions

catalogue for this documentary is nothing less than spectacular!---It jumped right out of my speakers.

Great rare live performance vingettes as well. Just a 5-Star DVD All The Way!! ***5 Stars**

Definitive C.M.&The Impressions, could not have asked for a better anthology of the classic group. Clearly Curtis Mayfield was one of the premier writers, performers and,in his own way, spokesman for an era.

Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, and Jerry Butler, THE IMPRESSIONS, made some of the most monumental music ever recorded. No, they didn't have the explosive dance steps of the MOTOWN groups,like THE TEMPTATIONS,THE MIRACLES, OR GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS , or non MOTOWN groups like JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES , or LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS... but , they didn't need them. They didn't scream and shout , and drop to their knees on stage...but , they didn't have to. That's not what THE IMPRESSIONS were all about. They were about dignity..the music, and...the MESSAGE. They had a story to tell, and a message to relate ...and dance steps would have only detracted from that message. They were the first group to address REAL, TOPICAL ISSUES that affected You and Me .... and they did so YEARS before the so- called protest singers of the mid to late sixties, years before the Norman Whitfield/ Barrett Strong-produced songs on THE TEMPTATIONS,years before MARVIN GAYE'S classic "WHAT'S GOING ON",years before GAMBLE & HUFF. They were THE THINKING MAN'S SINGING GROUP.

THE IMPRESSIONS took a real risk in doing this... for some artists, this would have been career SUICIDE. But the Sixties were a very turbulent time in America, and they felt the story had to be told. Violent protests in many cities , inequality, and racism affected millions. The songs and music of CURTIS MAYFIELD & THE IMPRESSIONS addressed these issues, but did so in a dignified way that encouraged pride and peaceful change...not violent reprisal. Their music was the soundtrack of our lives. It is with great anticipation, then, this new DVD finally arrives : " MOVIN ON UP...The Music and the Message of CURTIS MAYFIELD and THE IMPRESSIONS". One of the ALL-TIME great vocal groups, led by one of the ALL-TIME great songwriters in music history. Featuring ALL-NEW interviews with Original IMPRESSIONS members SAM GOODEN and FRED CASH (who discussed the history of the group starting in Chatanooga, Tennessee and Chicago ,Illinois...along with taped vintage interviews with the late CURTIS MAYFIELD,along with interviews with his widow, ALTHEIDA, CARLOS SANTANA, and others, this great new DVD includes classic 60's footage of the IMPRESSIONS, finally realeased after sitting in the vaults for over 40 years, along with several performances of CURTIS after he went solo in the early 70's. Also several special features and bonus performances make this DVD a MUST BUY !!

Now,for the gripes.

I think that , as with the MIRACLES' Motown DVD,There should have been more classic IMPRESSIONS performances,along with the CURTIS solo performances.THE IMPRESSIONS , like the MIRACLES , HAVE HAD OVER 50 CHART HITS. Where were the video performances of "GYPSY WOMAN", "FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE", "TALKING 'BOUT MY BABY","I'M SO PROUD","KEEP ON PUSHING","FOOL FOR YOU","AMEN", (which is sung only as part of a medley with "WE'RE A WINNER"..."AMEN WAS THEIR BIGGEST HIT E V E R ....why wasn't the FULL SONG included ?}, "I'VE BEEN TRYING","YOU MUST BELIEVE ME",the post Curtis Mayfield million- selling hit; "FINALLY GOT MYSELF TOGETHER", and "WE'RE ROLLING ON"? These songs were among THE IMPRESSIONS' BIGGEST HITS...but , they're not included. Granted , the "REELIN'IN THE YEARS" COMPANY may not have the rights to all of these performances...some are sitting in the vaults in local stations where the Impressions performed on various local and regional 1960's "dance party" shows,ie: LLOYD THAXTON , HY-LIT,the Cleveland-based UPBEAT..from which their performance of "CHECK OUT YOUR MIND" was lifted,two other Cleveland-based TV shows, "JERRY G. AND COMPANY" ...(hosted by D.J.Jerry G.Bishop), and THE KEN HAWKINS "WORLD OF SOUL" T.V. SHOW (hosted by KEN HAWKINS, Cleveland's number one R&B disc jockey in the sixties),CASEY KASEM'S "SHEBANG",and others...but this may be the ONLY time that an IMPRESSIONS video compilation appears...so still,it would have been nice to have seen those performances as well. also, interviews with Original IMPRESSIONS lead singer , JERRY BUTLER, and the other original members, ARTHUR & RICHARD BROOKS,(if still alive), would have been nice, and also the shining moment when CURTIS , accompanied by fellow IMPRESSIONS SAM, FRED , AND JERRY BUTLER, was inducted into THE GRAMMY HALL OF FAME. in ...but overall, REELING IN THE YEARS,and UNIVERSAL did an excellent job in compiling the history of one of the MOST SUCCESSFUL, MOST IMPORTANT GROUPS IN MUSIC HISTORY,, THE INCOMPARABLE IMPRESSIONS !! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!

I bought this DVD not knowing what to expect, but as a huge Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions fan, I decided to pull the trigger and order it. Wow! It's like 3 hours long or something, which is fantastic! You get excellent interviews, plus many full performances (all the songs performed in their entirety, not just snippets). There is a ton of bonus material in the form of interviews and live performances as well. It covers the impressions as a group, plus touches on curtis' solo performances. I highly recommend this DVD for any fan.