There's No Place Like America Today

nice, chill. cool. idk what to say

Good listen! really enjoyable

A fine listen. Nothing remarkable, but I enjoyed most of it while it was on

So pivotal in music history!

Great album, very chill and relaxing

Souligt och funkigt men också lite för smörigt

I really apperciate the vocals, that is probably the strongest part of the album. Curtis Mayfield can sing. The first half of the album did not captivate me as much as the mid to endpoint. I was about to give up on in until I heard So In Love, and that song alone pulled me back in. It gave me the strength to finish the album, and i am glad i did.

The first song really hooked me and felt very Reggae. It might be that that beat originally came from here but I just associate it with reggae. There were a couple good songs in here I could see listening to again. Would definitely pick up the vinyl if I saw it for a good price. Also *falsesetto* "Jesus"

Love Mayfield, not my favourite. 'Jesus' was a downer for me

Great writing. Not a style I really like but he can put together a complex song.

A good album that stays consistent and sounds good throughout. The cover art is cool too

Enjoyed

So incredibly forgettable. I don't know, it was just really hard to pay attention to.

Pretty quality but also kinda too much of the same at times

Great vibes

Not my style but I could see myself cruising to this in the 70's.

big fan of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions, but hadn't listened to this album before. hip and groovy as comes with the territory but the priority is on lyricism, emotion and ballads. religious themes and Mayfield's crisp falsetto emphasize pain, longing and desperation.

Can't remember a single thing about it and I had it on loop yesterday, that cannot be good. Oh, falsetto all the time... bugged me

Ok, very funky but mellow. Makes sense. The breathy semi-falsetto feels like it was very inspiring the Jackson sound. Ok now we got some Ray goin' on. I think I'm more of an instrumental person in the jazz and jazz adjacent genres. Spoken word kinda makes me check out a bit. I feel like I can recognize that its well done but not my thing.

Amazing!!!

So in love = amazing track

Very funky, but also very slow.

Lyrically great. You can definitely understand the message that is being conveyed through the words and feel to each of these songs. The falsetto vocals get a bit too much. And honestly, it hinders my experience with it. As I loved the music and the words... But when they're sung in a way that doesn't land in my ears the right way, it's hard for me to fully appreciate the whole piece. Open to listening to more but probably wouldn't seek any further.

quality funk. you can definitely hear his influence on modern day acts such as black pumas.

I remember Dire Straits. I remember The Stooges... I listened to this in between and have zero recollection. Must have been a banger.

This just bores me.

Rooted heavily in 70s funk, sounds and feels very much of the era. It definitely captures a mood and puts you in that place, solid album.

Not bad, I enjoy soulful music and the guitar and horns used by Curtis Mayfield really spoke to me, there were songs I didn't enjoy however. Notable songs for me: Billy Jack So In Love Did not like: Jesus Blue Monday People

I've been really excited to listen to this album ever since I saw the cover. I've loved the socially conscious albums of the seventies that I've listened to so far, and after enjoying Winter in America, I thought this album would be right up there with it. Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy this album as much as I thought I would. The music and lyrics were good, but I think the slower tempo of the songs wasn't what I expected, and it threw me off. Thankfully though, I was able to listen to it a second time, and I appreciated it more on that second listen. The blend of funk and R&B was really unique and beautiful, and it complimented Mayfield's falsetto singing really well. The political messaging still didn't resonate very strongly with me, even on the second listen, but the album still had a unique and rich sound.

Heard before: some I just love Curtis Mayfield. That’s it really. And along with these sweet pure soul tracks is one of the best album covers so far. Reading up on the history, it’s a recreation of a photo from the 30s, even though it feels so 1975. Which begs the question : despite all the nominal progress, has anything really changed for the Black community in 40 years? These songs tell the stories of folks like the ones in line on the cover, difficult lives in the city with no prospect for change. But unlike some other songs and stories like this, it doesn’t feel hopeless. It’s a challenge, but Mayfield’s narrators are not giving up; they are looking for ways to keep the faith. Things that should change just won’t, so these people are looking for way to spread love and light nonetheless. Also, he’s one of my favorite singers, from his soulful tenor to his lilting falsetto. I really love this record; I just wish there were more than seven songs! Top tracks: Blue Monday People, Hard Times, So In Love

Curtis Mayfield isn't something I typically listen to, but it still sounded familiar in places. That speaks to the influence this album has.

Smooth! My dad loves Curtis Mayfield but I've never gotten around to listening to him myself until today

Oooh yeah, du doux funk dans mes oreilles ça me met bien

Funky, sexy, interesting

Very, very slow and mellow... Very smooth but not for me. Might be ok for background date music 3/5

Loved it. Funky and soulful

Solid tracks and had a nice funky vibe. Felt poignant to today with its message about America

3.5/5 soul baby-lyrics ring true today even. Big fan but not a 4/5

Not my normal style of music but was a good listen.

- There's something interesting in the sparseness of this. But, it also has a tendency to drift. Kinda aimless.

Funky maar tikje voorspelbaar en daarmee wat saai (track 1, Billy Jack). De rest verder gescanned: maar dit is 'elevator music' : nietszeggend ik zou morgen niet kunnen zeggen dat ik dit album geluisterd heb. Te nietszeggend.

Great

Listened in the yard on my koss headphones, sounds great

boring

Initially I liked it. The first few tracks were very pleasing, and the funky R&B with social overtones in the lyrics were well done. As the album continued, I lost general interest. The vocals of Curtis Mayfield (although excellent) became repetitive to my ears. Glad I listened, but probably won't listen to the full album again. Granted I didn't give dedicated attention to the lyrics that I would upon a third or fourth listen through.

N2l

It was aight. May revisit someday. No track particularly blew me away, love the album art.

Not into it but the title and album art is satirical

Considering this is a genre I would never set out to listen to I actually enjoyed this

Fuck me this is great. Unexpectedly so.

Love it

Real funky, I enjoyed

Discount Jefferson Airplane

Klasse

Not as good as Superfly, but it’s still super funky, still great social commentary, and, most of all, still Curtis. What more can you want?

So damn good. Curtis was at the top of his game when he made this.

Beautiful album! I love this guy's music. While it's just a smidge beneath Superfly, still very good music! 8 out of 10

A short but very good album. Love the vibes here. 3/5

Smooth, but I think I liked the instrumentals more than the vocals.

Amazing album. I genuinely loved it. Chill, somber yet feel-good, slow album full of groove and soul and spirit. 5 stars easily.

Groovy, but slow

In just the right mood for that! Nice

4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this. Funky and catchy. High pitched voice sounds a little gospel/soul at times. Standout is "Jesus".

Really great. Beautiful at times without losing its funky core. Curtis Mayfield has a knack for making cool music.

possibly the only time i’ve felt sad while listening to funk, which is a really impressive achievement by mayfield

It's kind of funky but also boring

Mayfield was a master. This is smooth and funky and I will return to it.

An unbelievably sexy album, subtle, unparalleled, perfect.

Everything Curtis touched was gold. Definitely one of my favorite funk artists. This record in particular was much more mellow than some of his other efforts. It's honestly a nice change of pace for him, and doesn't overstay its welcome. The backing band is fantastic as well.

Good. Wouldn't buy. Pusherman amazing.

I have heard of Curtis but never listened. I enjoyed the album but was not exactly my cup of tea.

Totally not my genre!

Solid album. Not Curtis Mayfields' best work and personally it is barely top 5 for him because Superfly, Roots, Curtis and New World Order are all better. Still though it is Curtis Mayfield so it is good. It does have some songs I really like "Billy Jack", "So In Love", "Love to the People" and "When Seasons Change". I think my biggest problem with this album is the lack of variation between his vocals in the songs. All the songs feature relatively similar intonation and vocal tone which sort of makes some of the songs feel like copies of each other. Like all other Curtis albums the instrumentation throughout is immaculate and to me it really carries this album especially during some of the more dull tracks. Because of the instrumentation it is still like a 7.5 but his vocal performance on this album is like a 5.5-6 due to the monotony of it.

ok

Superfly!

Rating: 3.0

Heel nice

Okay, just not my style of music.

I do like a bit of Curtis Mayfield, although this album was a much softer chilled sound than the previous Superfly album. Would be happy to let this album play if it was already on.... but I would still be looking to select Superfly on the play queue.

His voice grates on me a bit, it's good music but I struggle to listen to an entire album before I get sick of him.

Much slower than I expected. Great lyrics.

Ik kende het album al, maar nu echt goed naar geluisterd. Heeeeel goed 10/10 would listen again

So fucking smooth

3,5

good funky riffs and vibes but with every song sounding a little the same and the average length of 6 mins its got a few good ones. billy jack and hard times stoood out to me

While I'm always down for some Curtis Mayfield, I hadn't heard this record in its entirety before today. It's good, though some songs blended together for me in the mid-to-back half.

Prima vibe, maar een beetje inwisselbaar, al die nummers.

Ik heb het wel helemaal uitgeluisterd, maar vond het best wel veel van hetzelfde.

Ik hou enorm van de Curtus-vibe. Heel fijn album!

Heerlijk! Funky!

OK. Not Curtis Mayfield's best work. Not sure why this is on the list. There are better selections.

Didn’t finish it, was fine.

It's a very funky, very 70s album. Not what I usually listen to, but nice enough to have playing in the background.

Brilliant in parts

Each individual aspect (the vocals, the production, especially the bass) was great, but put them all together and it didn’t leave any kind of blended impression.

No standout tracks in particular but I had a good time just basking in the lush sounds. It has the feeling of a protest album but not against anything in particular, just the 70s being a bit shit

Some songs are cool for a chill playlist, some skips

8/10

Today's album takes a hard look at the state of America for the African American population in the 70's (rampant racism, poverty, crime) and puts it on display. Sadly, many of the issues brought up on this record still ring true today. Even the album cover tells a story. African Americans standing in a poverty line, being overshadowed by a large billboard which depicts a happy white family. This album is much more stripped down than the Curtis Mayfield that I'm used to. It isn't the fast paced, danceable music that was featured on albums such as Superfly. This is much more reserved, and dark. It is very similar to Marvin Gaye's album What's Going On. This album starts with the song Billy Jack, which has some amazing bass grooves throughout. Overall, a very different, but very culturally important album today. It is super heavy, and hard to digest, so I don't see myself listening to it much in the future, however the message is super important, and I'm glad I listened to it today. Favourite songs: Billy Jack, Jesus, Love to the People Least favourite songs: So In Love 3/5

Good, but nothing up to standards of Hell Below on it

Very groovy, very nice. A little bit repetitive

Listened to There's No Place Like America Today on 8/17/2023. My Top Songs: Billy Jack and So In Love. Underrated Song: Love to the People Overall Album Rating: 3/5 Additional Notes: Curtis Mayfield's voice is amazing and the audio quality was incredible on this album. Great relaxed vibe throughout the album. Toward the end of the album songs can get a little repetitive in terms of pace and tune.

Sounds like it could have been the soundtrack to a 70's XXX film.

This lulled me with its indulgent murk of exquisite sounds, but by the end I’d forgotten what had come before: it’s a mood piece with few hooks, a lapidarist’s perfectly useless object.

So In Love and Hard Times are pretty good, rest movin' on down

It’s got Mayfield’s crisp funky grooves with his signature sultry falsetto, but this album is no Superfly. Strong start kind of goes off the rails with the Jesus song. Not really any standouts here

I really wished I didn't hate Mayfield's singing voice so much, because the funky instruments & lyrics are absolutely phenomenal. Favorite track: Hard Times

The perfect length for an album.

-----REDACTED----- with arms outstretched i pray to thee; prostrate, penitent, beholden, surrendered, most just and omniscient merciful god, whence thine own will thy list was render'd, we pledge thee daily our listening time, praise be forever to the dime, i know its just a silly magazine but i find it frankly a bit racially patronising that nme would place this as number 373 on their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. its not critically recognised, its not historically or culturally significant, and its certainly not even anywhere close to curtis mayfields best album. the whole album is incoherent, although vaguely musically pleasant. i guessed that it probably wasnt even the best album to have come out that month - turns out it wasnt even the best album to have come out that day. (https://www.albumoftheyear.org/1975/releases/may-05.php) why didnt they pick superfly? -----REDACTED-----

Fanger tidsånden fra 70-tallet NYC. Cool!

Another moody and depressing soul album by Curtis Mayfield. Great p-funk inspired grooves between the bass lines, squeeling guitar, and consistent drum beats. His vocals are high-noted and pessimistic, putting a lot of emotion into the topics of race and religion. He's done better in Superfly, but he's strong here. It's straight soul. There aren't any catchy choruses, but I can groove to all of it. Very short, which I appreciate. With just 7 tracks, they all fly by, especially since they aren't too loud either. "When Seasons Change" sometimes strays away for seconds but goes back to the original formula. A lot of these tracks feel like jam improvisation with how consistent the tracks are around central themes but go off the grid to maintain interest. I can't say anything blew me away like his other albums, probably due to the lack of hooks. Only lame track is "Jesus", but it's not bad either. I hate soul tracks that try to be a sermon. Everything else was enjoyable. No crazy instrumental solos or hard-hitting moments, but it does what it does well.

Thoughtprovoking R&B Funk album "Billy Jack" (black man being gunned down) "Jesus" "Hard Times" "Love To The People"

I loved this album! Not sure if there was a song I didn’t like. Ended up listening three times.

Good background music

Very chill and groovy. Not something I would purposely put on, but I can see how some would really appreciate this.

It's funky and cool, not a super engaging listen though.

Not my style but decent.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO lets get funky :)

Only track I loved was Hard Times. Mayfield is a great lyricist and that's the highlight of his music The funky/soul is template background music.

Its somewhat interesting lyrically, and I think he talks about masturbation alot, but inspite of this its largely samey and pretty dull. Doubt I'll listen too again

This was interesting but not retuning for more

Funky. It's alright

Incredible. No skipper

Curtis is dope maar dit viel wat tegen eigenlijk, beetje te smooth en niet genoeg groove

Mi canción favorita es Billy Jack.

Eh I kinda forgettable but it went quite quickly and it was all good 3/5

A very good album with some great funk and heartfelt singing. I particularly liked the first and last songs.

This one kept my attention. I like the funkiness and the coolness.

I really thought I was going to love this one but then it was a lot of falsetto singing about Jesus? Good but maybe not great.

Groovy and funky and topical... was short enough I listened to it 4 times in a row and by then I was totally on board!

Familiar with Curtis from his self-titled and Superfly, both great albums that i enjoyed more than this, though there isn't really anything wrong with this either. It's pleasant to listen to, some great grooves, but overall just kind of breezes past me after finishing. Probably worth another listen in the future, but overall just a solid album that i don't regret having to listen to at all. 'So in Love' especially was a good listen.

Not his best album but damn good

i don't live in america so whatsoever

3.5/5 nice jazz/funk for background

Beautiful album. Really enjoyed Jesus and So in Love. 4/5

Nije loše, ali nekako mi ne sjeda koliko sam mislio.

I have so much fondness for Curtis Mayfield. He's truly underrated and not lauded nearly enough for his funky cool creative genius. He's the kind of artist I mention in passing that people shrug off in a "I don't know him" way that is so unfortunate to see because he's a treasure trove of emotive funk soul and OG R&B music with a deeper message. And that album cover! It perfectly conveys how artificial and ethically bankrupt the "American Dream" actually is and says so much about the disenfranchisement experienced by Black Americans. Whitey is thriving and doing so off the backs of hardworking immigrants and minorities struggling to eek out a base level existence, ah yes, that American Dream! What a wonder it is!

This, on the other hand, is good cooking music.

I think I was supposed to like this album but it kinda bothered me. He spent the entire album singing one octave too high and it created a sort of disconnect. I felt like I was waiting for his balls to drop the whole time. The lyrics were quality but there was so much that came out before this and even around this time from the same genre that was done better in terms of vocals and musicianship.

Originally a 3, second listen bumped it down a notch

C+ Billy Jack - 3 When Seasons Change - 3 So In Love - 3 Jesus - 3 Blue Monday People - 3 Hard Times - 2 Love To The People - 2 This was disappointing. I expected a lot more.

2/5 Best: So In Love Worst: Jesus

Not unpleasant but dated and not something I will listen to again

Curtis slows it down a little here to address societal issues that still exist almost fifty years later. Thanks for trying, Curtis. The music here is as lovely as ever. His voice is smooth as butter, the instrumentation soulful and funky. And his lyrics are as beautiful as they are poignant -- tales of coping with the world you find yourself. Sex and drugs, love and hate.

Fairly boring

pretty decent but doesnt stand out

Cooles Album-Cover.

I like the overall sound and message. The songs have a very similar rhythm, which gets repetitive.

Prefer Superfly, sorry but this was a pale imitation. A lot slower and groovier which is good for a while but this is a lot shallower too. However I still like the vibe and the lyrics are still tight and punchy.

Psychedelic soul done to perfection. I don't even mind the falsetto singing. Favorite song: blue monday people

This is my first album and it's a nice start. It's not the most astonishing album I've ever listened to but it a solid album

6/10. Nice, but didn't exactly drive me wild. Cover art's a solid 10 though.

I could listen to this album end to end multiple times in a row. 9/10

The ideal time for me to listen to this album is on a Sunday morning during the fall with the windows open while playing this on my vinyl record player.

Billy Jack is the easy standout here, but, overall, a highly enjoyable slab of soul and funk.

it's decent enough, chill! but didn't blow me away

It's OK, some songs seem repetitive and bland. Will listen to again in future

Smooth grooves. I like Billy Jack, and So in Love. Jesus sounds like "cheeses" to me, so makes me smile.

Smooooooth, very smooth - I like this slowcore soul! I think more listens could possibly bump this to a five. Fave track - "Billy Jack" is a fantastic intro track, and I dug "Love to the People" as a closer, too!

This was just okay. It was a little slow for my tastes. I'd never listened to Curtis Mayfield before (other than on "Astounded" by Bran Van 3000) so it was good to do that today.

1970's soul/r&b/funk. Pleasant enough but not earth shattering - no "Move On Up", or "Superfly".

A very good album yields depths with repeated listens.

Much more mellow and soul driven than Superfly, a great listen. There's a lot of character and emotion pushed out through the album. So In Love is a Curtis Mayfield song it turns out. Love finding older originals to newer covers and comparing and contrasting through this project

Solid overall but lacking some dynamics in the arangements.

Alright

Nao conhecia as musicas desse album mas Pursherman e Superfly sao excelentes.

A pleasant listen throughout, no standouts but doesn't get dull. Good job Curtis.

I must have a soft spot for anything vaguely Motown. Another great record.

Re@l S0lid Stuff

He defiantly has a great voice and next level falsetto, the funk is on point and would listen to again if the mood struck.

Evident reggae (and jazz?) influence (good). Instanteously excellent with first song 'Billy Jack'. This is about a black man being shot. First impressions: 4 stars.

Really starting to get into more Curtis mayfield and this album is a very good introduction. Not quite like the other songs I’ve heard such as Superfly and Pusherman, this album had more of a spiritual feel to it. Nether the less, I enjoyed it very much

Awesome record curtis was incredible

Sorry, this was just annoying to listen to. Gave me a headache as well. I don’t really get why anyone has given it a good score. I liked the first 30 seconds. Not for me

Funki. Would listen again

Fun! I knew about Mayfield but haven’t dug into it. Might consider raising this with more listens.

Nice, slow-tempo, funky stuff to chill to in the background.

Great vocals

Think I got pregnant listening to this

Kult

entré emboladísima pensando que iba a ser algo completamente distinto y quedé FASCINADA. preciocísima música, 9/10

- Incredibly groovy and funky - Little slow but I could deal - 2.5 but rounding down

- Love me a horn section - So in Love got me feeling some type of way

4.25

Smooth. don't mind this. 4 stars.

Humm yeah ok.

I liked this, and may give it another go sometime, but it didn't grab me. He's a fantastic singer, obviously, but there was a groove rather than songs that stood out.

3/5 Prince meets Barry White. This was an odd album for me. Musically it was pretty good, and easy to listen to, but there was something kinda annoying about it. I don't know. Meh.

I'm not sure where to start... I really don't like falsetto singing so this album was probably never going to be my new favourite jam. It was mercifully short but given it's reputation and the "importance" of what's being said, I didn't connect at all. Maybe because I am not a black American living through the 70s. I really hope there aren't many more contributions by this artist, not sure how much more I can listen to someone sounding like their balls are getting constricted the whole album.

tropppppp smooth, j'aime ce style et je vais le faire jouer plus souvent que je peux y penser en backgroudn probablement. 4.25

this is my second curtis mayfield album on this list. the first, superfly, was a notable soundtrack. while i enjoyed superfly, his there's no place like america today was more elevated. there's a considerable amount of funk on this album, and damn mayfield makes it so easy to listen to. funk is the most dominant, but mayfield incorporates jazz and soul, too. mayfield alternated between romantic songs, including religious undertones (and overtones, considering there's a song straight up called "jesus"), yet he begins and ends his album speaking of society in the mid-seventies. as a result the album comes across as grounded. but what's most important is that in the final song, mayfield makes a point to say, "i'm not givin' up, this little pride." the light-hearted songs don't distract from the message, which is hammered home by the album cover. as a prince fan, i can say some of these songs sounded like they could be from prince--in lyrics, in vocal range, musically. i almost always say that prince did or could it better, but i cannot in good conscious say that here. 4.5, rounding up.

Such a funky, easy to listen to album! While it was easy to listen to, Mayfield does not shy away from hard topics here, seemingly unafraid to use his music as a platform to comment on the social issues of the time. I really love the statement of the album art as well -- it is this demonstration of the juxtaposition between the "American Dream" and what Black people were facing at the time. It's a statement that is still relevant today. This album, and Curtis Mayfield in general, is a great inclusion in this project because he's an example of an artist that was really quite gifted in many ways (he wrote all the tracks on this album), but who went largely unrecognized by a wider audience (namely, white people). And yet, his music is still as relevant today. There's no time like the present.

🥴

Very funky but slightly repetitive

Bloody hell. Ok. So this is why I started this. Artists I've heard of and obviously know a couple of hits, but never really explored. My generation loved Prince, but this feels like his origins story. Singing style was obviously very influential. Song structure is very unique but will also be very familiar to Prince fans, soulful doesn't seem to do it justice. Beautifully elegant, smooth and engaging.

Funk. Ni fu ni fa.

Voz bonita. Un poco rollo. Diabetes, accidente que le deja inválido ...

I found the music lacking. While it was a solid R&B album, the songs didn't pull me in. Not really sure how to describe why, as I love funk and R&B. Might relisten in a month or two to see if my opinion changes.

cozy. sometimes I extra remember that i almost never really listen to the lyrics. I wonder what he's saying

Beautiful intersection of gospel, funk, and R&B. Curtis's soft voice is silky and soft as a cloud. I especially like the groovy tunes with the fat bass and guitar riffs. A tad too slow and Jesusy for a 5 though.

First song is great. The lyrics remind me of "I Can't Die" by PAO, a commentary on African American death in America. It sounds like the modern band Blank Pumas draws inspiration from Curtis Mayfield as well. A few songs in and it's been filled with emotion the entire time. I'm feeling it. After a while the constant falsetto started to get old, but it was at least done well.

Whoa, that bass line from the get go. Ok I see you. Curtis Mayfield has some other bangers, I think this album had some deeper meanings that I did not pay too much attention to, damn work.

Those first few moments of the album - I thought we were going to reggae land. This was a good listen, but i got tired of the nonstop high falsetto vocal. I needed a break and a grounding that never came. But the instrumentation was dope.

Smooth n groovin. Plus incisive lyrics, a little humour, a lotta character. Didn't feel a huge distinction between the tracks but that was almost a plus for the easy flow of it all. Will definitely be coming back. Fave track: So in Love

I think my mood depended on my listen of this. First listen through I was walking through the park on a sunny afternoon and really vibing with it. Next morning I re-listened in the car with some bad weather in some heavy traffic and found it a bit tedious at times. I was a fan of Mayfield before hearing of this but this particular record was new to me - there’s an undeniable groove you get hooked into, and he has pipes. A pretty to very good album here - Three and a half. Fave track: Jesus

👍

dope

Great album

kinda finding his feet but some crackers

Great album, quite short too so bonus points lol. Jokes aside, the funkiness of this record is perfect. I definitely like the livelier songs on this album but still overall definitely deserves a 5 Saved tracks: Billy Jack, Blue Monday People, Love to the People, Hard Times

Mellifluous, smooth voice. Nice groove. Admirable political slant. Not digging the ‘Jesus’ track but a decent album overall. Great ending on ‘Love to the People’. We should all subscribe to that: Little bit of brotherhood Guarantee it can be good for the soul

I liked the rich, warm sound of the horns and strings, with the more staccato guitar/bass/drums. The whole album made sense in the context of the cover.

I was taken in by the first two tracks. In fact, I was really struck by the first in that it made me realize something we know, but damn, in 1975, the threat of gun violence was a real thing — clearly more in urban, black communities, but enough that it was the topic of the opener on Curtis Mayfield's ninth release. After the most recent school shooting yesterday — well hell... I should probably check the news to make sure there hasn't been another — it's a reminder that this issue has threatened us for decades. So yeah, that struck me as relevant and unfortunate that the issue has only expanded and exploded in the years after this release. We suck. But then the album slid into a repetitive vibe that it couldn't seem to climb out of. Starting with "So In Love" and then into "Jesus," which I wasn't a huge fan of for myriad reasons, the album just kept getting less interesting, mostly because of a lack of dynamics or progression. The falsetto vocals, the similar song structures... So yeah, promising but ultimately boring. Too bad.

I thought this was cool, though not great. The grooves were there, but the songwriting didn't quite do it for me. But I look forward to hearing more from this guy.

The timing of this album title with today’s mass shooting.. Curtis Mayfield’s whole vibe always hits hard and smoothe.

The album was alright. The songs are consistent in tone and feel. I wouldn't say there is any one song that stood out over the others. I probably wouldn't pick this album to listen to again though. It is better than a 2 not really a 3, but I will round up.

I respect Curtis Mayfield as an artist but I'm not fond of the songs he does in falsetto. This album is interesting but I can't see myself listening to it over and over again.

Classic jams. Glad I listened. Will listen again.

Not bad, just not my thing.

One star for Curtis Mayfield’s amazing falsetto, but that’s all I can manage to give. It’s like warmed-over mid-morning funk leftovers.

Great album. Blistering take on racism

Really like his voice and him the sound I dig.

Nice solid listen. Enjoyed my time with this smooth pretty album

A classic! It is obviously brilliant but it is never going to be my go to. Total respect for this album and glad to listen.

Lyrically I enjoyed it, but the melodies are so bland, it's kind of boring to listen to it. 2.5/3

Jackson Pollock: Awesome start. Yeah Billy Jack rules, reminds me of a few modern day rnb fussions (anderson paak). I like this. Jesus sounds good but lyrical content can kinda fuck off, very repetitive. Blue Monday People. Okay this is surely a 5. Favs: Billy Jack No: Jesus Overall: Very unique vocals and cool instrumentation, its a low 5 but a 5.

I can dig it.

This was a great album that sent me down a path of terrific songs.

Funky and soulful

4.5 - “Subtle” is not a word I’d often use to describe funk music but Mayfield pulls off that sound with his blend of signature falsetto and aching guitar voicing. I especially love the thee back-to-back tracks “When Seasons Change”, “So In Love” and “Jesus.”

A strong album, but not as classic as Curtis or Superfly. So in Love is a standout.

So In Love is just straight up panty soup. One of the loveliest songs I had ever heard. Billy Jack and Jesus were also good songs IMO. I actually enjoyed this album more than Superfly. This album was closer to a 3.5 out of 5 for me but I rounded up just because of So In Love.

It sounded very empty, like there wasnt much going on. Wasnt a fan of the vocals either

Smooth, dreamy, beautiful

Chicago soul, socially conscious, civil rights, blacksploitation

Very nice 70's vibe.

me ha gustado mucho ... algo había escuchado de Curtis , pero desde luego ahora ha tomado otra dimensión

honestly the beats and the lyrics are really good; but the tempo,something about it makes me kinda want to strive for more. I like the songs except for one which is the usual. I think I'll give it an 8/10

Fantastic. Funky, instrospective, sensitive, soulful. Beautiful songwriting and authenticity.

I would listen to this in outer space probably

I was really enjoying this album up until the point where I was forced to listen to a gospel song. It was one of the better religious songs I've heard, but still, there is no better way to kill my good than to start singing about Jesus. The rest of the album was phenomenal, not his best work as it did get a little repetitive, but still very enjoyable and I liked listening to it. 3/5

6/10 This is my first album I have listened to by Curtis Mayfield, with this almost being an introduction to the genre soul (apart from a couple of LOVE albums) I thought it was a good record with many pleasant instrumentals however from the Album cover I hoped for a bit more of a social commentary about the harsh reality of life as an Africa American at the time. Hints of this appeared in Hard Times but it didn’t appear to be a continuous theme throughout the album. This isn’t a huge problem but it was disappointing especially when considering that I did feel any song stood out as a stand alone BANGER. Favourite songs: Hard times When seasons change Love to the people Overall, the album was decent but I can’t imagine I will be revisiting it anytime soon unlike other soul albums like LOVE-forever changes

okay sound, reminded me a little of Prince

Mmmh

Really liked it, Funky

A voice that is strong and fragile at the same time - I've always loved Curtis, but hadn't come across this album before.

Some nice funk and soul. 8/10

Never listened to. Curtis Mayfield before but I quite enjoyed this. Good mix of funk and soul.

Some songs alright. Somehow all of them feel like they are 7 to 10 min long...even when they're really onyl 3-5. I guess i find them repetitive.

Brilliant. Sort of heavy but also really beautiful. Loved every song and listened to in repeat the whole day. I just wish it had been longer!

first listen fantastic funk

I'm so partial to this sound. Is it because I was predominantly a bass player? Maybe. Well, Probably. The groove, the soul, the smooth falsetto vocals... This is very akin to the New Orleans funk music that is in my bones. I could listen to Curtis Mayfield every day for a long time without an issue. I'm so in love with this sound.

Pretty good overall, really love the funk, but I can only listen to so much of that high-pitched singing.

Three. Everything's a three unless I am especially moved (in either direction).

I’ve never heard funk that’s this laidback and relaxed. The music has some funky licks and beats but it’s closer to the soul of Marvin Gaye or Al Green then Curtis Mayfield’s own “Superfly.” The music is beautiful and puts a spotlight on Mayfield’s voice.

I agree, there's no place like America today. What an album cover. Love the bass guitar on the first track. Song is a bit of a downer though and hit me in one of those "damn im not in the right mood to completely enjoy this" experiences. Unfortunately the second track continued with a similar level of energy than the first. Track 3, "So in Love" was really great though. Lyrics are really incredible, I love the starting lines "So in love You do so many things with that smilin' face". No immediate rhyme necessary, and it's just this wonderful little introductory description of a noted element of the writer's love for someone else. I love it :) The album is only 35 minutes and it really went by quickly. I think I didn't really fully enjoy it as much as the average listener did though so it's a 3/5 for me.

Pretty chill. Didn’t enjoy Blue Monday People.

Very good! Smooth as. Really liked So in Love especially

Pleasant

I feel like I say this a lot but there's just not a ton of artists on this list that I know. I didn't really know what to expect from this but I love the guitar in the first song a lot. I didn't really love the religious song but that's because I'm not religious. The vocals were really good though!

Na blue monday people se baš osjeti utjecaj na lambchop iz nixon faze

Curtis

ritmo y melancolía soothing flow

Take em to church, Curt

Just fine. Another fine release from Curtis. Lacks the appeal of Supafly, but I'll give it a 3 as well.

Hearing Prince in this. Dig it.

Groovy but not my kind of music - 2

not bad, pretty chill, I liked it

I'm a sucker for a good falsetto and the music is nice too.

Thought it had potential but dragged a bit.

Got boring quickly with it being the same pace throughout... background music

Alku oli ihan viihdyttävää menoa, mutta loppua kohti taantui. Viime aikojen paskoista erottuu kyllä positiivisesti, mutta eipä tämä silti pääse likimainkaan kolmosen-kerhoon.

Ihan hyvä, mut tuntu ku ois kuunnellu yhtä ja samaa biisiä koko ajan

Really liked 'so in love'

I don’t mind funk, but this album falls under that “all the songs sound the same” umbrella. Nothing to die for here.

Meh

Funky, soulful - a good nice dose of Curtis Mayfield without too much fanfare and straight to the point. A lot of record in this list should take a page out of this album’s book.

This is why this book (and this project) exists. What a standout record that I'm really glad to have discovered. Curtis Mayfield brings the funk in a way that's just as fresh in 2023 as it probably was at the time of release - while being thought-provoking and interestingly, still relevant to today. Musically, it reminds me of Childish Gambino's Awaken, My Love!, which is a sound that I'd always wish we had more of. Super glad I found what I'd been looking for. Standout tracks are Billy Jack, So In Love, and Jesus.

this album is a masterclass in funk minimalism; does so much with so little when it wants to and then switches it up and fills the mix. no matter what , it works. Best tracks: Jesus, so in love, love to the people

great sound. seems like it also could've been recorded much later. a sound that seemed to define the music industry.

good vibes, interesting horns and stuff w old timey vibe but different

Didn't show curtis talent

Slow paced and smooth soul with a touch of funk. Like many other albums it's not bad but not my taste.

I've listened to this album a lot of times before. But stuck on the record again today.

Not,my style of music but I can see the reason it’s on this list.

Curtiiiiis

Very cool soul!!

Curtis Mayfield may not be the flashiest singer out there, he may not be the most memorable, or the most awe-inspiring, or the most emotional. But what he brings to the table, is consistently great music. You know what you're getting with a CM record, it's gonna be groovy, it's gonna be chill, and it's gonna have an insightful and honest sociopolitical message, but it'll never be heavy-handed or sanctimonious. Curtis Mayfield is reliable. He's the Toyota Corolla of music. He's the Nokia phone of music. He's gravity personified. 4 rolls of duct tape out of 5

i LOVED this album. such nice instrumentals and killer consistency throughout. definitely going to become a staple in my normal listening

Everything from Curtis Mayfield I love and this album just makes me love him more. I was first introduced to him with Superfly (highly recommend listening) so this is just more of a reason for me to like him.

As someone who enjoys Curtis Mayfield but haven’t heard much outside of some of his songs, this was kinda a surprise for me. To be honest I was disappointed that the album wasn’t as dramatic as I expected, but I understood why. This is a pretty intimate record, and I really liked the tenderness on here. There were moments I felt weren’t as moving as they could have been, but when it connects, it really connects. Faves: So in Love, Billy Jack, Jesus

Solid tbh

so funky baby yeah

2.5

nice album

I didn't realize that bad ass soul music like this was still getting made this far into the 70s. Curtis Mayfield is a fucking national treasure.

Favorited “So in Love”.

I wish his voice had more variation, silky as It is

Vraiment sensible au message social. Même la chanson au thème plus religieux m'a rejointe par son parallèle avec la vie de la réalité de la population noire. Belle voix et beaux arrangements funk

ok