Customer Reviews

The Very Best of (Curtis Mayfield)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Song per song, the "Very Best of Curtis Mayfield" issued by the venerable collector's label, Rhino Records in 1997 remains the definitive single CD collection of Curtis Mayfield's post-Impressions career. Mayfield's early songs like "People Get Ready" and "Amen" have become revered classics that are as deeply woven into fabric of American folkways as Leadbelly's "Midnight Special" or Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land." To fully appreciate the scope of Mayfield's career one would have to hear his early Sixties hits with the Impressions plus a quartet of Seventies solo albums, "Curtis", "Roots", the long out of issue "Let's Do Again" and his ubiquitous soundtrack to the movie "Superfly."

Curtis Mayfield, as a producer for the black oriented music label Okeh, gained creative control over his music well before many of his peers at the squeaky clean, image conscious Motown label. Mayfield and the Impressions posed for the album cover for 1968's "This Is My Country" amid the ruins of a vacant building in a Chicago neighborhood plundered by urban renewal. Well before Marvin Gaye fought Motown's Barry Gordy to produce the landmark "What's Going On" in 1971, Mayfield had achieved cross-over success largely on his accomplishments as a socially conscious performer and composer.

He sang in a falsetto that was every bit as winsome as Smokey Robinson's but the purity of the Mayfield falsetto counter pointed his raw unflinching lyrics and lent sense of urgency to his cry for justice. While Smokey sang about joy of a "Special Occasion", Curtis sang about "The Hell Down Below We're All Going To." Mayfield's power was the deeply personal first-person perspective of his lyrics. He directly addressed African American community as both a participant and observer in his musical narratives.

Songs like "Move On Up", "Future Shock" will surprise the casually acquainted, who thought Mayfield's career began and ended with the blockbuster soundtrack of "Superfly" in 1972. The predatory world of junkies, hustlers and drug dealers against the bleak urban squalor of "Superfly" still delivers a knockout blow to the heart. In contrast to today's predatory hip-hop ethic, Mayfield saw the thug-life through the eyes of its victims.

Rhino has, as usual assembled a great CD highlighting the solo works of the late Curtis Mayfield. The trilogy of the Superfly tracks (Superfly, Pusherman and Freddie's Dead) show Mayfield as an observant sociologist. The Makings of You and So in Love show a true romantic. And anyone unmoved by the terrific, surging arrangement and upbeat message of Move on Up should check for a pulse. Curtis Mayfield was a giant in terms of songwriting, musicianship and message that we unfortunaley have too few of these days.

Curtis Mayfield was a musical genius and this CD is a testament to his amazing ability to create powerful, engaging, funky, soulful, moving music. Mayfield is clearly the master of funk and his falsetto vocals are the baddest of bad. I have too many favorite tracks to pick just one, but I will say that "Freddie's Dead" and "Kung Fu" are alone worth the price of this CD. Most of the songs address some kind of moral or social issue and the lyrics are genuinely thought-provoking, not cliched. Some of the songs beg you to get up and dance, while others are meant for closing your eyes and just soaking it in. All of it is GREAT.

This is one of my favorite CDs of all time. If you are even remotely curious about Curtis Mayfield or funk music in general, you have to have this CD. It doesn't get any better than this.

WOW! After non stop listening for almost a year, I've come to the conclusion that Curtis Mayfield is one of the greatest musicians ever to grace the scene. Funky, soulful, insightful, taltented music. Amazing tales and visuals of love, peace, poverty, and inner city troubles backed with beautiful musicianship and stunning vocals. Some of the songs to check out are "The Makings of You"; great vocals and beautiful harp work with the orchestra in the background. "Superfly"; classic song with good percussion and awesome horn work. "Pusherman"; love the vocals in this also very good percussion and excellent guitar and lyric work. "Doo Doo Wap"; straight up funky sh**! What an amazing mark Curtis Mayfield made on music history, experience this music.

Mr. Mayfield is one of the baddest musicians ever. not only with the wicked guitar playing he did but that soulful harmony of his and the brilllance to write so many thought provoking songs.it's not every day that you can not only say soul&genius in the same breath but you can with Curtis Mayfield. things he was saying 25 years back are just as insightful then as now. not only his genius with the impressions but then solo on the classic Superfly soundtrack. also Let's do it again,a piece of the action,Claudine,sparkle.this man's legeacy is very vast.but this cd has jams like future shock,freddie's dead,superfly,etc.. you can't ever say enough about this musical genius.

I hadn't even heard of Curtis Mayfield before this year. At a college party where me and my friend were literally the only people there, they were playing "Freddie's Dead." My 1st thought was what was this? Where's the "real" music? No wonder no one's here. My friend was like u have to feel the lyrics. He's talking about a junkie, about the consequences of being marginalized in society. This appealed to the activist in me and the funky arrangement peaked my musical curiosity. After reading a book that discussed his music, I knew I had to give him a try. I'm so glad I did. This is pure genius! I love "Pusherman" which is also briefly featured in one of my favorite movies Money Talks. Every song is genius. It's one of those rare CDs where I have to here the entire thing from start to finish. All his songs are versatile yet have his own signature style. I especially love that they all have a message. I will be rockin it in my car for a while, turning all my young friends on to some true music. Thanks everybody for the reviews! I'm so glad I checked this out! Peace and love.

If you're Curious about the music of Curtis Mayfield buy this!
If you wonder about the Anti-drug crusader,peace activist,protester for civil rights,who took the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Get "Curtis Mayfield and the
Impressions Anthology 1961-1977." If you can only afford one cd by any Curtis Mayfield LIVE cd. "Kung Fu" and "Future Shock" don't belong on The Best of Curtis Mayfield. Which is why I only
give it 4 stars

This is a great compilation but someone mentioned that the so-called "Diamond in the Back" isn't included. Well, that's because that is NOT a Mayfield song. It is actually called "Be Thankful For What You Got" by William DeVaughn and came out in 1974. It's a common misconception out there, so I figured I'd clear up any confusion. Yes, it's a very good song, but is not Mayfield's. That is all. Enjoy this Best Of.

Good compilation of grooves, but its missing what was in my mind mayfield's best joint " diamond in the back". Anyway, its worth pickin up if u feel the funk. Curtis was the original gangsta in the music industry. When i was growin up in Watts in the late 70's he was big on the block like crack rock. He sung about real issues for ghetto youth and we all overstood what he was about. Curtis, along with Marvin Gaye and Willie Hutch, Made me feel proud to be black in the 70's.

Curtis Mayfield got me with his song Superfly. After hearing that song I was decided to know more from his music. The song has exactly the parameters that you wish to hear in old Soul and R&B. It is cool, groovy and interesting ("antiboring" - what happens very often in this style), it rocks and lives. And so is at least the half of this album. Other songs must be judged in other way, for these are either same tempo but more soft, downtempo or sweet. One song is maybe too sweet for me.
Generally, Mayfield is a really great black composer and his voice grooves anytime.
What I dont like is the design of the booklet. Who (except of supermarket) would use yellow writing in combination of lighter blue?