Customer Reviews

Sweet Exorcist/Got to Find a Way

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

 

 

Although I don't find this album quite up to par with CURTIS, ROOTS, BACK TO THE WORLD + SUPERFLY, this album is definitely high on my list.
Or put it like this: There were a lot of great soul singers out in that era, but Curtis was one of the few who had his own distinct sound and style... style of writing, singing, performing...
even producing and engineering (really fat sound.)
So although I don't think this album is as strong as some of the others (he seems a bit on auto-pilot on this one) it still has him way way way ahead of the game as compared to any of his contemporaries.
- - As for this album, a heads up: although it is indeed funky, it is also somewhat mellow...
Curtis always had a bit of a reggae splash/sweet soul vibe in his mix... and though most the album Curtis the Poet is feeling mellow... offering what one might call very "herb friendly" grooves... (as in basil, oregano and whatnot...)
Anyway, be forewarned: this mellowness might be a turn off for some more hard core funkateers expecting every track to have more of a boogie down quality (say like KUNG FU), however, I will say that the album has grown on me... and I now realize that while Lionel Richie might have been the king of the smooth storm...
Curtis Mayfield was the master of slow yet funky jam...

All in all, my appraisal is this: If you already have CURTIS, ROOTS, SUPERFLY and BACK TO THE WORLD, go for this... if not, get the first four first... (note: The cover art to this album however, always made me keep it within reach of the turntable even though I knew I'd be in for a better experience if I grabbed the others.)

I love this two albums for a variety of reasons, there's the expected fabulous lyrical & music compostions and vocals as only curtis could give us. But, I found his guitar work on this album to be some of the best he ever recorded and the tracks on these 2 LP's are some of the most aggressive and funky he recorded in this his heyday. You have a fully confident artist giving us the state of affairs as he saw it and why not?

Curtis was truly in tune with what was going on around him and had a pulse for not only the times but for the pulse of the people. You have a wonderful blend of dispair, hope, sadness, joy, chastisement and uplifting of the soul. These are 2 of my absolute favorite ablums as they make me both think, dance and reflect. At this time, Curtis's "Curtom" Records was in full swing and he had a host of artists was both writing for and producing. All the more reason these 2 albums are so impressive.

Mr. Mayfield was truly the "Prophet and Poet" of the movement in the 1970's but he also had a fun, sensual and playful side that comes across in many of his albums. He always made you stop and actually think, he was the ultimate "storyteller" and could grab and maintain your attention with each track. I thoroughly enjoyed these albums and I'm one who believed he released some of his most telling and personal material after the masterpieces of the early part of the decade (Curtis, Curtis Live, Roots & Superfly).

Like all great artists, Curtis went through a variety of transitions in his Hall Of Fame Career, from the Impressions to his long and incredible solo material, He takes us on a wonderful journey of growth, love, reflection and deep and profound thought. He is one the few artists to ever truly transend a particular era and is an artist for all generations and era's. May His Precious Soul continue to Rest In Peace.

Two great records on one CD, listened to them both at separate times to absorb them as separate records.

Great tunes on both and his backing band is amazing as usual. Do not hesitate to buy this even if you've only heard pusherman or superfly.

It's a shame that Curtis is not here anymore and there's that melancholy that pervades his albums now, RIP Curtis Mayfield.

I'VE BEEN PLAYING THIS CD ALOT TO GET A FEEL FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN HIS PREVIOUS ALBUMS. THERE REALLY AREN'T ANY REAL GET DOWN AND DIRTY DANCE TRACKS ON HERE, BUT THAT'S OKAY. CURTIS STILL DEALS WITH THE SOCIAL ISSUES THAT PLAGUE THE WORLD(I THINK HE WAS THE MOST RELEVANT ARTIST OF THE 70'S AND HIS GROUP, THE IMPRESSIONS WERE THE MOST RELEVANT OF THE 60'S) AND LOVE. MY FAVORITE SONGS ON HERE ARE "SUFFER", "MAKE ME BELIEVE IN YOU"(THE BASSLINE REMINDS ME OF FREDDIE'S DEAD), "LOVE ME"(RIGHT IN THE POCKET),"CANNOT FIND A WAY" "MOTHER'S SON"(THE BASSLINE IS WICKED ON THIS AS WELL), AND HIS BIGGEST HIT ON HERE "KUNG FU". I HAVE CURTIS' FIRST 5 ALBUMS AND I PLAN TO BUY HIS OTHER ALBUMS SUCH AS "THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE AMERICA TODAY" AND OTHERS. 4 STARS.

The Music was classic Curtis, It had his poignant soul stirring rhythm and his deep and relevant social themes.