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 (eleven years ago) link
So in Love is incredible.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Monday, 28 May 2012 15:04 (eleven 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 (eleven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuytQvycLag
― Turangalila, Tuesday, 29 May 2012 00:11 (eleven 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 (eleven 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.
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
"Do Do Wap" was a common pick of mine when I dj'd out. Love that song. I had never heard the Patti Jo one, really diggin' my first listen.
― The Thelonius Monk of nu-ki? (Dan Peterson), Monday, 29 December 2014 19:03 (nine years ago) link
Doo Doo Wap is one of my favourite Curtis songs. Short Eyes is his most underrated album.
He did his own version of Make Me Believe In You on Sweet Exorcist but I think the first version I heard of it was Amerie's cover in 2007.
― Kitchen Person, Monday, 29 December 2014 19:26 (nine years ago) link
Never heard short eyes. Title always weirded me out a bit
― Οὖτις, Monday, 29 December 2014 19:27 (nine years ago) link
I assume he meant something else besides pedophile
― Οὖτις, Monday, 29 December 2014 19:35 (nine years ago) link
the first version I heard of it was Amerie's cover in 2007
same tbh
― The Reverend, Monday, 29 December 2014 20:01 (nine years ago) link
mayfield's records are pretty damn strong until the end of the 1970s, then they start getting soporific pretty quick.
― I dunno. (amateurist), Tuesday, 30 December 2014 00:06 (nine years ago) link
XP - Cusrtis' Short Eyes album is a soundtrack to a prison flick which details how child molesters are treated in prison.
So, yes, it is a pedo reference.
― austinato (Austin), Tuesday, 30 December 2014 00:33 (nine years ago) link
*Curtis'
― austinato (Austin), Tuesday, 30 December 2014 00:34 (nine years ago) link
75th Birthday Tribute event in Washington DC
*Curtis Mayfield tribute with Professor Aaron Cohen and DJ Jahsonic at 11 am Sunday December 17th at the National Gallery of Art East wing Theatre for free followed by movie Urban Soul at 1:30pm
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 17 December 2017 06:15 (six years ago) link
https://www.nga.gov/calendar/lectures/lectures-signings/curtis-mayfield-tribute.html
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 17 December 2017 06:16 (six years ago) link
An interesting presentation. Professor mentioned Mayfield's use of f sharp, and how Hendrix learned some from Mayfield when Jimi opened for him. He played a demo from when Mayfield was 15 and showed a video clip of Mayfield acting in a movie
― curmudgeon, Monday, 18 December 2017 21:52 (six years ago) link
Looking forward to Cohen’s book, although I also need to read that one by Mayfield’s son
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 19 December 2017 16:03 (six years ago) link
Over the years, I've become to really love "Here but I'm Gone". That tune is so lovely, sad and true. It even takes a whole other trip when you consider the circumstances that Curtis wrote and sung it. It is a rare piece of music that if considered, makes you check yourself.
― earlnash, Wednesday, 20 December 2017 04:03 (six years ago) link
Future Song (Love a Woman) slays
https://open.spotify.com/track/3hi078NgfqTvFj98hbECFR?si=tzu63FwrQ6-jDkJX5p824A
― calstars, Sunday, 31 December 2017 01:51 (six years ago) link
Shit is tight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpJtb3rL2SU
― calstars, Sunday, 31 December 2017 01:59 (six years ago) link
HAWTT uncut '72 set from Beat Club:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk4n52qwwlI
Soundcheck from same:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF1uF-28MZE
― a large tuna called “Justice” (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 28 February 2019 23:33 (five years ago) link
absolute perfection.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Friday, 1 March 2019 17:10 (five years ago) link
damn, curtis is so good
― tylerw, Friday, 1 March 2019 17:14 (five years ago) link
inner city blues, holy shit!
― voodoo chili, Friday, 1 March 2019 17:16 (five years ago) link
yeah this set is radical. whole band smokes.
― tylerw, Friday, 1 March 2019 17:28 (five years ago) link
XP IKR Silly me never realized until now how much of a Curtis song it is.
― a large tuna called “Justice” (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 1 March 2019 18:02 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSoULq1pOsEThe Notations - Superpeople
Heard this and thought wow that's the most Curtis Mayfield-y thing I've ever heard. Turns out they were on the Curtom label. Dope song.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Wednesday, 20 May 2020 20:08 (three years ago) link
So classic. I'm no expert or completist, but did Curtis ever sing in anything other than his falsetto?
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 20 May 2020 20:12 (three years ago) link
Tuomas being so dense itt.
― Is Lou Reed a Good Singer? (Tom D.), Wednesday, 20 May 2020 20:30 (three years ago) link
hmm. I mean I'd say technically he goes out of a true falsetto a lot but I can't think of anything that wasn't in a high register.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Wednesday, 20 May 2020 20:32 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOzlCJDPjV0This song has the lowest register vocals from him that I've heard, and he still does a semi-falsetto in the chorus.
― Tuomas, Wednesday, 20 May 2020 20:50 (three years ago) link
Anyone know anything about the Rhino reissue of his first 4 solo albums that happened last year?
― Heez, Saturday, 6 June 2020 02:55 (three years ago) link
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Keeping-Curtis-Mayfield-1970-1974/dp/B07KLS2XDZ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=curtis+mayfield&qid=1591438979&sr=8-1
This one? It is a nice set.
― earlnash, Saturday, 6 June 2020 10:24 (three years ago) link
Yeah that one. Reading some good things
― Heez, Saturday, 6 June 2020 14:01 (three years ago) link
hard to beat that price tbh
― budo jeru, Saturday, 6 June 2020 14:18 (three years ago) link
Looks good, be prepared, tho, that Sweet Exorcist isn't quite as good as the first three. That and his other 1974 album Got to Find a Way are okay, then There's No Place Like America Today from 1975 raises the bar again, but that one is pretty much his last truly good album. The ones after that are still worth listening because they usually have one or two great songs, but his peak creative period as a solo artist was those five years from 1970 to 1975.
― Tuomas, Saturday, 6 June 2020 14:43 (three years ago) link