I still don't understand why Marvin Gaye and Barry White are still more popular in the collective subconcious.
― Moka, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 18:46 (fifteen years ago) link
uh way more hits?
― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 18:48 (fifteen years ago) link
hey tuomas: http://www.jr.com/product/music/pm/_357438/
JA singers idolized Mayfield more than any other singer. There's a preponderance of Mayfield covers that is out of proportion to Mayfield's popularity in other locales, including America.
― Granny Dainger, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 18:55 (fifteen years ago) link
extra classic for all the weird low-key extra-curricular curtom stuff, writing songs for the fascinations (girls are out to get you &c) and stuff.
― schlump, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 18:58 (fifteen years ago) link
The Honesty album is pretty good from the 80s. Dirty Laundry and What you Gawn Do are nice picks.70s stuff classic of course
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 19:18 (fifteen years ago) link
Thanks for the info, I guess I was being way too dismissive upthread.
As for Mayfield vs. White or Gaye, I think the quality Mayfield's recorded output started to become quite uneven in the mid-70s (despite singular gems hidden in almost all of his albums), and he never managed to make a proper comeback later on, like Gaye and White did. Also - and in no way am I dismissing Gay or White here - I think Mayfield was less interested or less capable of composing obvious hit material. If you listen to his 70s solo albums, most of the tunes on them are rather complex both musically and lyrically, with not that many clear hit tunes on them. I guess he did try a more populist approach in the late 70s and early 80s, but by then he was pretty much behind his time already.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 19:39 (fifteen years ago) link
In a cafe in Glasgow recently, I heard a long version of Crutis Mayfield's "Give me your love", which was great, but I don't know where it comes from. Does anyone have any idea?
― Keith, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 19:49 (fifteen years ago) link
i know that danny krivit did a long edit of sisters love doing 'give me your love'
barbara mason did a version too that was probably disco-length
― joe 40oz (deej), Tuesday, 14 October 2008 19:57 (fifteen years ago) link
(video above is not the krivit edit obv)
oh and mayfield did produce the sisters love version
― joe 40oz (deej), Tuesday, 14 October 2008 19:58 (fifteen years ago) link
Hmm, maybe what I wrote above is a bit too simple. Obviously he was able to write hits in the 60s, when he was still with the Impressionns. But during the 70s his hit potential seems to have grdually waned, either by conscious artistic decision or for other reasons. I would say, though, that not too many of his 70s tunes are as immediately catchy as "People Get Ready", "Choice of Colors", "Keep on Pushing", "We're a Winner", "This Is My Country", etc. (And I don't mean to say that his 70s output is either better or worse than the Impressions stuff, just different.)
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 20:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Deej, whilst there are a long list of things that are amazing about that clip, it's not the thing I heard, which really did just sound like Crutis Mayfield himself, but longer. I do wonder though, as I can't find any reference to it. A disco version sounds great though. I will have to look for that.
x-post
― Keith, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 20:04 (fifteen years ago) link
The first three solo albums- Curtis/ Live! and Roots are flawless. From here Superfly was patchy and i haven't heard anything else from the 70's. Is there anything else from this era which is also good? He also wore cool clothes. He managed to be 'conscious' and 'organic' without being yukky. I think he just had the knack for writing good songs which combined with that voice made for heaven. The Impressions were just as good. I think the reason he wasn't as big as Al Green/ Barry White/ Marvin Gaye was because he didn't sell himself as 'sex' like the others did- and he wore glasses. Not to take anything away from the Reverend and Mr Gaye.. (but maybe just to take a little away from Barry White who I thought was all husk and no song.)
― Hinklepicker, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 06:25 (fifteen years ago) link
all husk and no song.
all rong
― joe 40oz (deej), Wednesday, 15 October 2008 14:06 (fifteen years ago) link
Back to the World, Got to Find a Way, and Sweet Exorcist are all good albums. BTTW is probably my favorite of the 3.
― Granny Dainger, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 14:14 (fifteen years ago) link
but shit man if you think Superfly was patchy, who knows what you'll like.
― Granny Dainger, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 14:15 (fifteen years ago) link
Back to the World has a brilliant A side, but the B side is kinda weak compared to that.
― Tuomas, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 14:16 (fifteen years ago) link
"Back to the World" is great, so much so that the guy i gave a loan of it to ten years ago still hasn't given me it back!
― Ich Ber ein Binliner (Tom D.), Wednesday, 15 October 2008 14:20 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.discogs.com/release/800885
Would you think getting this collection is a good choice? I already have more than third of the songs on various albums, but it's on sale for 25 euros, which doesn't sound that expensive for a 4 CD collection, and I'm not sure if I want to buy all of Mayfield's late 70s and 80s albums just because they may contain one or two great songs.
― Tuomas, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 14:31 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.discogs.com/release/507590
Also, has anyone heard this remix album? Is it any good?
― Tuomas, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 14:35 (fifteen years ago) link
Usually I'm not at all puritanical about this things, but it does seem kinda blasphemous to do a Club Remix of "People Get Ready".
― Tuomas, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 14:36 (fifteen years ago) link
― I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO (Colonel Poo), Wednesday, 15 October 2008 14:39 (fifteen years ago) link
There's No Place Like America Today is my (as well as a few friends') favorite Mayfield album. "So in Love"!!!
― Patrick South, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 15:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Curtis, Curtis Live, Roots & Superfly is a heck of a run of albums. I spent the weekend listening to all four a few times and they are just perfect. Curtis Mayfield had just about the perfect sound, it was funky, fuzzy and driving yet laid back, lovely and melodic at the same time. That is not an easy combination to pull off.
― earlnash, Monday, 14 June 2010 02:24 (fourteen years ago) link
Curtis Live is probably one of the top ten live albums ever -- so good.
― tylerw, Monday, 14 June 2010 03:40 (fourteen years ago) link
The Impressions, "The Young Mod's Forgotten Story" is CLASSIC.
― silence is a rhythm too (Turangalila), Monday, 14 June 2010 06:57 (fourteen years ago) link
Mods'
Does he deserve the "god-like" status attributed to him
Curtis does (he's up there with Ellington as far as I'm concerned), and so does his bassist, who I've gathered was Joseph "Lucky" Scott, no?
― hope this helps (Granny Dainger), Friday, 3 September 2010 18:10 (fourteen years ago) link
This thread made me very happy.
― Mule, Saturday, 11 February 2012 12:58 (twelve years ago) link
Can't understand how anyone could diss Curtis Mayfield. I even like his 80s stuff, like Dirty Laundry
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Saturday, 11 February 2012 18:53 (twelve years ago) link
Good lord, who could dislike Curtis Mayfield??
Me, I love most of it - but Curtis and '75's There's No Place Like America Today are my favorites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvSfeanNFIM
― chromecassettes, Sunday, 12 February 2012 02:44 (twelve years ago) link
Curtis, Curtis Live, Roots & Superfly is a heck of a run of albums. I spent the weekend listening to all four a few times and they are just perfect. Curtis Mayfield had just about the perfect sound, it was funky, fuzzy and driving yet laid back, lovely and melodic at the same time. That is not an easy combination to pull off.― earlnash, Sunday, June 13, 2010 10:24 PM (1 year ago)
― earlnash, Sunday, June 13, 2010 10:24 PM (1 year ago)
― Only the RONG Survive (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 12 February 2012 06:03 (twelve years ago) link
Is there a concert length video of him from the early 70s anywhere? I've only come across isolated single tracks from OGWT and a couple of US various artists shows.
Plus Curtis Live is the only live audio full length that I've come across from the 70s. think a couple of 90s shows have appeared but I prefer the original era.
To add to comment earlier in the thread I thought he was in the middle of a major comeback when a lighting rig fell on him. The Wag Club type crowd of 80s/90s hipster/mod types (I'm thinking Acid Jazz-type folks) seemed to really like him and I think it was crossing over a bit more mainstream if I remember rightly.
There is a pretty good bio dvd on him called Movin On Up which is interspersed with performance videos. Must rewatch it. But from what I can recall of looking at it before you can't isolate the performances from the narrative and I don't think they're full performances. Hope rewatching proves that wrong though.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 12 February 2012 10:44 (twelve years ago) link
I could be wrong but I think many of the performances are lip synchs fromn memory - hence disappointing.
― Hinklepicker, Sunday, 12 February 2012 20:07 (twelve years ago) link
I liked him live when I saw him in the old 930 Club on F St in DC, in hmmm, the 80s or 90s.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 13 February 2012 14:59 (twelve years ago) link
are those Impressions albums worth picking up, or should I just stick with a comp? there are so many of them and I imagine many of them are just vehicles for the singles. but, maybe I'll be surprised?
― frogbs, Thursday, 22 March 2012 19:26 (twelve years ago) link
The Young Mods' Forgotten Story is beautiful. Get it.
― Turangalila, Thursday, 22 March 2012 20:09 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_9Xy2JF1vo
― Turangalila, Thursday, 22 March 2012 20:10 (twelve years ago) link
if you're not doing anything else today you might listen to There's No Place Like America Today and groove the fuck out to a genius piece of music
― cosi fan whitford (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, 25 May 2012 18:28 (twelve years ago) link
So in Love is incredible.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Monday, 28 May 2012 15:04 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah that whole album is perfect, my second of his favourite after the debut.
― Kitchen Person, Monday, 28 May 2012 18:39 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuytQvycLag
― Turangalila, Tuesday, 29 May 2012 00:11 (twelve years ago) link
― cosi fan whitford (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, May 25, 2012 2:28 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yes! been doing this a lot lately
― horseshoe, Tuesday, 12 June 2012 23:52 (twelve years ago) link
This is totally otm.
― Only the RONG Survive (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, February 12, 2012
Was listening to these on a long car ride this weekend. Great stuff
― curmudgeon, Monday, 5 November 2012 16:00 (eleven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi6DDa5cVMU
― j., Monday, 5 November 2012 23:24 (eleven years ago) link
'Back to the World,' 'Got to Find a Way,' 'There's No Place Like America Today,' 'Sweet Exorcist' and 'Short Eyes' never get enough props. Somebody needs to make those albums easily available. Mayfield is definitely my favorite soul artist.
^this. I picked up vinyl of 'Let's Do it Again' OST, produced by Curtis with Staple Singers on at least one track. Also recommended.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 6 November 2012 01:58 (eleven years ago) link
How did I previously miss "There's No Place Like America Today"? Had seen it, but never listened till last night on Spotify.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 November 2012 15:34 (eleven years ago) link
I think it may have been one of the first of his lps I heard about since it was on the mid 80s NME best 100 lps of all time list if I remember rightly. Took me a lot longer to get my hands on it and I really need to give it another ear soon. Iconic cover.
I have most of the solo lps up to about '75. Really need to grab the 2fer cd of Sweet Exorcist/Got to Find a Way and could do with a new copy of the s/t lp Curtis. Think my last copy is in pretty naff state.
Still wish there was more performance footage of him around.
― Stevolende, Tuesday, 6 November 2012 20:12 (eleven years ago) link
How had I never heard this before?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy56BvFDgEE
― MaudAddam (cryptosicko), Monday, 29 December 2014 14:13 (nine years ago) link
this is the shit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sBQPVnKO_Y
― The Reverend, Monday, 29 December 2014 18:50 (nine years ago) link