Reviews (page 12 of 13)
While not as immediate and groundbreaking as his prior efforts were, the muse that Curtis Mayfield willfully followed in this album provided him to continue dishing out wallops as hard hitting and rattling today as it did back in the year of its release. From first glimpse to final listen, There's No Place Like America Today remains a indictment of the reality that allows itself to plague hopes and perceptions. It's not for everyone yet, like most bitter pills, it needs to be digested in order to understand. Favorites: Billy Jack, When Seasons Change, Jesus, Hard Times.
Thought it was a little slow and boring, blue Monday people was alright
Drugi krazek od pana Mayfielda na liscie, a w jedgo dyskografii jest to siodma pozycja z 75, wydaje sie brzmiec o wiele mniej eksperymentalnie niz superfly, nie slychac tutaj cisnacych sie nna uszy sampli, ale nie sposob odmowic czarnego klimatu temu nagraniu, bo jak inaczej okreslic plyte o ktorej jedni pisza, ze w swiadomy sposob porusza problemy czarnej spolecznosci lat 70, a z drugiej strony ktos inny pisze, ze jest to idealna plyta do prokreacji, wiec zdania ekspertow discogowych sa podzielone, ale 35 minut zlecialy przyjemnie, na plejke dodam trak Jesus, bo wychodzi on nawet poza soluwe granie, a dotyka motywow gospelowych
Superbly was better
pela primeira já foi 5, baita groovezao
Some enjoyable funk
This is a fantastic album, the only downside is it being as short as it is. Absolutely love this album. The opening track, “Billy Jack”, is a slow burn intro to the album that sets the mood and that doesn’t let up even going to more thoughtful and sweet “So In Love” and certainly is bolstered by “Blue Monday People”, and the silver lining of “Love to the People” is where the mood seems to lighten somewhat.
Down tempo album that juxtaposes death, love, spirituality and hardship as a depiction of black urban American culture. No stinkers, and 2 absolute greatest cuts of all time with So In Love and his great version of Hard Times.
Nowhere near as much fun as most of his other stuff, all a bit meh
This is some really nice funky groovy stuff here. I like it. Smooth as can be.
Not my jam, but a good album to listen to once
This album is beautiful.
This album is a thoughtful funk/soul exploration of American social issues particularly poverty and racial tension. It is a worthy entry into this particular brand of conscious funk but unlike other albums like Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Goin’ On,’ this album doesn’t stand out as much. That’s not to take away from this album; I found it incredibly insightful and the music had a great groove, but it didn’t resonate with me as much as other examples of this genre.
Great album, beautiful crisp sounds.
I only got to listen to it one time through and while I only liked one song, I was vibing to the whole thing, so I’m giving it an extra star. 2/5
m'ha sorpres gratamente. es freshhh i mola el rollo per ser del 75
An ok funk/soul R&B album that still sounds fresh to my ears today. I've mentioned this before and I'm sure I'll mention it again but there are themes throughout this album that have themes that are unfortunately still relevant particularly about the African American experience in the USA. Best: When Seasons Change Worst: Jesus
Baby making music. I'm now pregnant.
Not my style at all but I can appreciate its relevance.
Ok
Not something I would likely go back to in a hurry but poignant, social commentary is fascinating and his voice is amazing
Groovy, funky goodness...again the falsetto voice thing isn't my personal preference but this was still a great listen! It amazing how such beautiful music can be speaking to such ugly social issues
Ya'll got any of that chest voice? Instrumentally I like the feel of it but I was completely over the falsetto by about the 3rd song. The parts with out vocals were great, but the falsetto just becomes too much. I'm really torn on this rating because as much as the vocals annoyed me, I still really enjoyed the overall feel of the album.
Other than some nice background vocals and instrumentation, this album fails for its repetitive sound and can Curtis Mayfield only sing in falsetto?
Too much falsetto, music was good.
Sublime funk soul jams
This was a step down from the Super Fly soundtrack in my opinion. The tempo's just too slow for the whole album - the songs and grooves aren't strong enough to plod on so long without going anywhere. The guy did have a heavenly falsetto though.
Anything soul/funk is usually perfect for me, but this didn't really do anything for me. Hearing the opener made me think I'd be in for a great political album, but it just kinda fell off. Little bit disappointed. Great vocals, which saves the album. No real stand-out songs.
Great record! I liked the social commentary and instrumentation. I didn't like the random song about jesus
Soulful, impassioned. 4.5
funky but pretty one dimensional didn’t say much
So damn funky.
Sounds a lot like Al Green.
HL: “When Seasons Change”, “So In Love”, “Jesus” A serious but (I think) somewhat optimistic album which leans into gospel. I’m in a grey area where I don’t have much tolerance for evangelism but I love gospel music, so ultimately the spiritualism in Mayfield’s lyrics added to, rather than detracted from, the album’s calls for action. November 20, 2022
Cool stuff.
Good stuff. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.
I can appreciate it as very well done, but not to my taste.
Outside of his debut album I find Mayfield's albums fairly uneven. This one has some really great tracks like the opener and Hard Times but also some really weak ones.. So in Love was a hit but not a fan.
I didn’t realize I’m as much of a Curtis Mayfield fan as I am. That’s the best song about Jesus I ever heard.
Good but a little slow for me. Didn't capture my attention like Super Fly.
This is nowhere near as good as Superfly for me. It's alright, and I do like the funky basslines. But mostly non-offputting, but forgettable.
I want to like this. Curtis Mayfield has a lovely voice, and the guitar/backing band are great as well. But somehow I just dislike the songs. It's a strain to listen to this. I appreciate the message of the album, but it's just not for me. Can't get into it. Maybe I need to try again with it, but for now, it's getting two stars.
Greaat album. "Jesus" and 'so in love with you". intro sounded like he wanted to get people into the LP. What does LP even stand for lol
Voz bonita. Un poco rollo. Diabetes, accidente que le deja inválido ...
Smooth groovin’ tough livin’ Hyvää soulii 3/5
Hemmetti kun eka biisi on kova! Sittenkin ihan hyvää funkkia, mutta ei niiin erityistä. 3,5/5.
En ehkä ihan valtavasti innostunut, olisin kaivannu vähän enemmän joko jatsailua tai menoa. 3/5
First track was nice but then it was all downhill.
Lagom längd på plattan åtminstone. Soft och skönt utan att vara bra.
Curtis! You got it going on!
Love that voice, the funky music and the overall vibe. Nice album.
Not something I’m familiar with but really liked it. Sounded more modern than I’d expect from 1975
Musically, this is nice and smooth background music. Lyrically, this is obviously a very topical album, in keeping with its title and cover art. I've known the original photography for years, by the way, but I didn't know Curtis Mayfield had used it for one of his records. That's quite interesting... That being said, let's address the elephant in the room here: this is no *Superfly* soundtrack. Actually, it's probably two ot three notches under it in terms of sheer impact. And you know what? Even as soundtrack music for a blaxploitation b-movie, *Superfly* could still be pretty topical itself, yet never forgot to slap *hard* in terms of groove or sheer musicality. I understand the intention is obviously different here, and I can still respect it a lot. But if I want to go for smooth and not-so-smooth songs that are addressing topical issues, I'd rather go to Stevie Wonder first. With only ONE track from *Songs In the Key Of Life*, "Village Ghetto Land", or ONE track from *Innervisions*, "Living For The City", Stevie hits a nerve this whole record can't totally hit. At least for me. See also Marvin Gaye's *What's Going On* or Gil Scott-Heron's *Pieces Of A Man* for other musical masterpieces dissecting those "American" themes through laidback instrumentation and songwriting... Number of albums left to review: 748 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 124 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 62 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 67 (including this one)
Smooth with a capital S. Felt seducted with its velvet quality music, only to be told stories about discrimination, poverty and hard times. I didn't find a particular track I liked on its own, but its a good experience overall.
Very nice :)
Boring, sorry. This genre is the epitome of background music for me. I couldn't focus on it even if you locked me in one of those sensory deprivation tanks.
Very Curtis : falsetto singing, pretty guitar chops with wah, socially conscious urban themes and “big picture” love songs about getting on with one another. Nice and sensible. (Apart from the first track) Just not as funky or pop as his better material. 2.5 because I know he’s done better.
Doesn't hit the highs of Superfly, but a decent listen nonetheless.
Kinda love Curtis. He's so authentic and deeply groovy. This album was meditative in its soulfulness
Good soul album. First couple songs were hot.
meh
Damn that was dope. Did not expect that (new to me).
Jesus!
It’s is an ok album.
Short, and sweet
*Track 1) Billy Jack Track 2) When Seasons Change Track 3) So in Love Track 4) Jesus Track 5) Blue Monday People Track 6) Hard Times Track 7) Love to the People *Indicates Favorite Track
This is a good album that I didn't quite like, as it isn't the style of music I generally listen to. However, I could entertain myself to some of the songs.
Подслушано! Занятно но не более.
In my experience listening to this album, it wasn't really anything all that notable. I wouldn't say the songs really sounded the same, but I wouldn't be able to tell you what any sounded like moments after the song ended. Nothing here was bad, but even the song I liked the most, "Jesus", wasn't anything too special. I can see why others may say differently, though.
Loved it. Minimalist and clean and not a note or beat out of place. Perfect horns.
Holy crap with the falsetto, dude. Just quit it. I feel as though I'm forced to give this album a 3 and I'm mad about it. The music is just SO good. But the vocals are just SO awful. Not BAD, per se. Just extremely unenjoyable to the point where I was angry at Curtis by the time the (thankfully very short) album was over. What's wrong with having a chorus in your songs? Or maybe just a hook? I'm so tired of these meandering, no-melody vocals from the 70s. But the music! It's cosmically fantastic. And the lyrics are also just so good. Which means that, even as bad as the vocals are, I can't give this lower than a 3-star review. Even though I want to because dammit with that falsetto.
The grooviest social commentary
Ganska jees men inte lika bra som Curtis & Superfly. Strong 3
Buuuuuu
Well executed soulful tunes with a well defined atmosphere. Just very solid
Bra!
I love some Curtis Mayfield. I didn't find this album to be as fun as Superfly, but then again I don't think that it was supposed to be fun. Overall another great album by Curtis Mayfield 4/5
Similar to Teddy, but slower and more same-y. Concept was interesting,
Never heard any Curtis Mayfield before and thought it was pretty good. Nothing in particular stood out but nothing was one I would skip, either
I don't enjoy the falsetto vocals which made this album kind of tough to get through. Not my cup of tea, pleasant but feels too plain as a whole.
Perfectly listenable. Smooth, funky. But also not really that memorable.
Good groove, a little repetitive.
This album has a great sound, and the only reason I didn't give it a 4 is that it's sooo slooow. There isn't a single uptempo song on the whole record. The opener is at about 90 bpm, which is slow but tolerable for moderate rock, and based on that I expected that'd be about the average, some faster some slower - it turned out to be pretty easily the fastest track. Mayfield's voice is incredible, he projects such power at the top of his range. Although I do wish he would drop out of the falsetto a little more frequently - every time he does it on the record it's to amazing effect, often gives me the chills, but he only does it for a few brief moments. He's clearly the star, and his vocals just make this CD work. The sound is extremely consistent throughout - at times it often feels like a single long song. You've got a fat-and-lazy funk backbeat, heavy wah-wah guitar comping and providing a little color, very light bass, a little organ, a little chorus backing vocals, and the occasional horn. Plus Mayfield's falsetto, and he sticks to roughly the same register on every track. It's a formula that works, but I do kinda wish they'd mixed it up a little more. Overall though I enjoyed it a lot. I don't listen to a lot of soul music, but after this I might.
Strong 3. A good listen, love his sound, but a little too one-note for me. Did not hear any standouts like "Get On Up", but overall fun.
curtis is a king
Enjoyed some of it but not enough
It wasn’t terrible, not something I would choose to listen to again.
Rating: 9.1 Best Track: So in Love
I don’t like his voice but the music is alright
Curtis hefur eitthvað sem vermir sálina mína. Góð kósí-plata.
A lot of soul in this
I love this album! It’s like a musics sushi roll of funk! That smooth sultry voice is the best spicy tuna you’re gonna find and the bass is the unagi of phat beats. Topping it off with the horns coming at you like little masago balls of joy. 12 stars!
Every so often, I wonder why I didn't listen to albums like this in real time. To be fair, I was not of an age to actively choose anything beyond nursery rhymes in the mid-seventies. Still. There was an overlap between Mayfield's active period and my active music listening, and whilst I had head of him and knew a few of his bigger 'hits', I never sought out any of his work until after he died. (this may not be entirely true. Hip Hop sampling opened a magnificently endowed world to me, for which I'll always be greatful). Anyway. Short, dreamlike, with a sharp lyrical undercurrent. Great for Sunday afternoons and the like
tämä on lauantaimusiikki. joku falsetti-r'n'b:ssä ilahduttaa. mutta eipä jäänyt mieleen
Koukuton, ohut, tuntuu kahden tunnin mittaiselta vaikka kestää 30 minuuttia, jne.
When Seasons Change puts the blues into rhythm and blues! So In Love throws back to Stax in the mid-'60s. After an outstanding start it did tail off.
Super smooth and super cool. Not normally a style of music that I seek out but I really liked this. 4 stars.
Curtisiin voi aina luottaa. Jeesusta voisi toki olla vähemmän.
5/10 swimming in averageness
I love Superfly, but this album didn’t catch me.
I like it but I wish I knew more about the era to understand what makes this one of the greatest albums (compared to Mayfield's other work, or other albums in the same time period/genre). I was excited that the album seemed so short with only 7 songs, but they were long.
a little bit boring, a pretty standard soul/r&b song that didn't really inspire musically
Not bad but I prefer the funkier Superfly more
Easy listening and groovy
Billy Jack immediately has my attention with a bass tone that is just a hook machine. This is such a groovable record, So In Love is a laid back R&B track with a pocket so deep you could fall in it. How do these R&B singers get this damn high?! Great minor colors on Blue Monday People. Fabulous album.
6.5/10
Goddamn did this thing suck holy. Each song sounds like one of those sex songs that Chef sings in South Park. Only reason it gets a two is cause it was short and it was groovy ish I guess?
This mf groovy asf
Definitely made me want to fuck someone. Even the song about Jesus, which also really hammered the notion of drinking wine tonight into my head. "Gateway to hell" album. 5/5 stars.
While not as loud or a as bombastic as you would think an album like this would be given the subject matter, the anger is still prevalent. The recording is subline, masterfully recorded and mixed that allows every instrument and voice space to breathe.
Funky. Soulful. Really easy to groove to.
I didn't know much about Curtis Mayfield other than People Get Ready.
Okej
Would be good for a Sunday chill day. Project work
Very good
Some good tunes on there - loved So in love - Love to the peiplet
Great albulm with a good message and unique sound. So I’m love was my facvorite
GOOD CHILL VIBES
Nice mix of funk, soul and blues. I think it might grow on me.
Consistently good, but nothing too special, 3/5 Highlight- "Billy Jack"
Review #1 of 1001 Grooves 5/5 Vocals 3/5 Lyrics 5/5 Motown, 1970s Mayfield sheds light on a persistent struggle for people of color and the working class in general. Content as relevant nearly 50 years later as when this album originally released in the 70s. Impeccable instrumental funk vibes, the vocal style isn't my favorite, but has some high points. Favorite song was Blue Monday People. The album grew on me as it progressed, overall enjoyable listen. 3.5/5 Album art is very evocative, elevates the album as a whole to a solid 4/5 for me. Looking forward to hearing more in the soul/funk genre.
Loved it!
Yeah really liked this. Just some chill funky times
Amazing.
18/08/2022 Curtis Mayfield – There’s No Place Like America Today This album is a great surprise. R&B, funk and soul are styles I don’t listen to too often, but I’m going to start doing it if I can listen to great albums like this one. What a vibe! Everything sounds super smooth, sentimental, and made from the heart. The album is also lyric heavy, so it is worth it to listen and read. A note: as I said, I’m not well versed in these styles, so the review is only based on what I have feel with the songs (not that I’m a professional with the rest, but at least I have something to compare them). Billy Jack – 4.5/5 Incredible way to start the album. Great vibes and feelings, contrasting in a way with lyrics about the (probably violent) assassination of a man. When Seasons Change – 4/5 Again, a song with great sentiment put into it. I maybe like it a little less than the previous one. So in Love – 3/5 This song musically transmit so perfectly being in love. But (if I’m not wrong) the singer is trying to apologize for an affair? I don’t know, I feel like it violates the meaning and feelings of the song a bit. Jesus – 3/5 The song sounds great, but I’m not really into religious preaching. Blue Monday People – 4.5/5 This song does lyrically what So in Love does not, in terms of loving someone. Additionally, talks about the working class and depression. Its music is great too. My favourite of the album. Hard Times – 4/5 Great song with a great message, without frills, very simple. Love to the People – 4/5 Great conclusion to the album too. Great music, great vibes, great lyrics, great message.
As if Prince did traditional soul music. Loved it.
Not being familiar with that particular album, i expected something more "funky-psychadelic". Outstanding sonics and musicianship tho.
Sequência envolvente e muito satisfatória.
Good album and excellent production. I like curtis here and there but an entire album is too much for me. Love the album art
awesome
Adorei, o álbum é uma delícia de se ouvir. Fiquei com vontade de ouvir mais... Melhores músicas: Billy Jack, When seasons change e Blue Monday People
Pretty enjoyable. I liked the smooth somberness of the songwriting and the slick production. Vocals are very emotional and so is the subject matter. Cool mix of styles, from R&B to reggae.
Wish this one had more jazzy or blues notes. A little too gospel for me
Great voice and an easy listen. Favorite: Love to the People
It's Curtis Mayfield.
I very much enjoyed the last Curtis Mayfield the album generated, so I'm quite happy to dive on into this one. That said the album art is awfully grim. Yeah, this is quality funk, as expected, but more downbeat, perfect for an introspective mood. Solid throughout both lyrically and musically, and consistent in tone. Also quite spiritual, which is not really my personal jam. I acknowledge the beauty of the album but it's not the kind of thing I'll reach for all that often though I did let Spotify know I'd be happy to hear So in Love from time to time.
2 1/2
I really liked the first song as an awesome mix of blues and funk but then found the rest of the album extremely disappointing. All the pluck just went out of it and doesn't pick up again until the last song. I like this style, but not this sappy, weak version of it.
Wild/sad that these themes are still so real in 2022. Solid listen.
hmm
Fantastic.
Fairly entertaining nothing truly stood out. One of those albums I’d have to desert to the get the most out of which I don’t have time for. But otherwise good listening.
Soul, funk, blues
Felt like 3 hours
Meh 2/5
Billy Jack - Very funky opening riff. Melody reminds me of Pink Floyd for some reason.
never heard before, lost interest in the 2nd half but a couple of catchy songs in the beginning
Great to listen to such an influential artist who kept making music after his accident that left him paralyzed.
Funky but a bit repetitive for my ears.
I don't think it's Curtis' greatest work; he very definitely has a style and sticks to it, but it's a perfectly decent listen.
Amazing album, and new to me. Love Curtis’ voice throughout, and the backing carried it all along nicely. Not as uptempo as some of his other work, but no less engaging for that.
What a delightful album. It was an absolute joy to discover this. It makes the 1001 project worthwhile. There's a downbeat soul feel throughout. No so much Move on Up, but take a look down instead. Things are happening, and not all of them are good. This is an introspective album from Curtis. Sadly not a lot has changed in America half a Century later. Add in the odd love song, plus THAT voice and you have the perfect album. This is a companion piece for What's Going On. Amazing. And short!
Best Song: Billy Jack. A real soulful introduction to the album, with this current of funk that is disappointingly less-prominent in the rest of the album. Worst Song: Jesus. I love me some gospel music, but the falsetto became a bit too much, and the guitar solo in the middle just felt like Eric Clapton was trying to butt himself into the track, uninvited. Overall: A lovely soul/funk/R&B album. I don't know if I'd heard Curtis Mayfield before, but he has a beautiful voice. I also appreciate that the album is short; at 37 minutes it doesn't overstay its welcome. Perfect for relaxed settings. Music to cook and eat to.
Gillar! Funkigt och souligt. Bandet är otroligt med sina tighta riffs. Curtis Mayfields sång är ljuvligt sexig, men i vissa låtar hamnar rösten faktiskt lite för mycket i fokus, och instrumenten hamnar tyvärr i skymundan. Gillar kanske därför de lite "hårdare" låtarna, med tyngre riffs och mindre skönsång, som 'Billy Jack' och 'Hard Times', medan t.ex. en låt som 'Jesus' är lättare att glömma. Bästa låt: Billy Jack
Great Soul vibes
I know this is one of those great, classic albums, but the truth is I don't love it as much as I'm supposed to. There are a lot of important things this album is trying to say--about Black history, about stories that deserve to be told--but I just didn't quite fuse with the style. Fave track: Billy Jack. wonderful vocals here but it's just not an album that resonates with me.
It's obviously cool, but you have to be on board with Curtis' vocals and I'm not really
My comments are similar to those I left on Bobby Womack. Curtis Mayfield has written and performed some epic tracks that are still relevant 50 years later, but none of them are on this album. I'm certain that the lyrics are well-crafted and socially conscious as always, and I even like the instrumentation, but the music starts to sound tired fast. Robert Christgau gave this a D+. He's a tough critic but that's even a harsh score for him.
I didn’t have time for a proper listen but what I heard was Heartfelt, passionate and soul baring. Billy Jack and So I love were great. First impression is 3 stars but I think when I listen to it more carefully I might find it to be as good as Superfly so I’ll bump the score up another point now.
This is great, I'd only ever heard his hits before this.
Prefs: Billy Jack, Jesus, Blue Monday People, Hard Times, Love To The People Moins pref: When Seasons Change
Curtis Mayfield being Curtis Mayfield. This album has a great funk sound, but what purpose does a generic funk album have on a list of 'Must-Listen-To' Albums?
glad i listened!
Lekker relaxed
Feels like a mid-70s What's Going On. Spending more time here.
Frábær plata.
Definitely a great album, and fantastic recording. However nothing about this justifies a 4 from me, though it is close.
Listened to on 5/9/22 3/5 Favorite song: so in love, Billy Jack Good mo-town vibes but some of it sounded like porno music and I think Curtis was a bit out of his range in a few songs
Absolutely loved it - great new discovery!
I'm at least 10% cooler for having heard this.
Absolutely loved this. Curtis Mayfield was a big listen at Uni, but this was all new to me.
Well... this album doesn't vibe with me at all. I can't relate with any of the songs, even though I can hear the craftsmanship that went into it. Strange, but it happens, I guess. 2/5
2.5
Bonitas raíces del soul
You understand that you're getting old when soul music doesn't sound embarrassing anymore. Sweet! I'm in, deeply.
It was pretty good, if a bit repetitive. I wanted to like it more. Had some high points early on the record and then weaker on the back half.
Bass fader to 10. Wah pedal to max. Sit back and enjoy his soulful voice.
The world is a smooth and terrible place.
boy if he could see it now
Beautiful soulful and funky record. Love the bass tones and the guitar. Great arrangements. Slower than his other stuff I've heard.
Worth a second listen …
Yup.
I dug it. Need to give it another round where I’m able to listen to lyrics closer.
I’m scoring this an incomplete. It really defies an opinion on first listen. I was just sort of meh at first, but then i started to write this note and flipped through the beginning of So in Love and Love to the People. And then listened to the whole thing again. So I have to just say I have to score it with an asterisk and come back at some point. I don’t love his constant whiny falsetto, but everything else is so funky, peaceful, pessimistic… all at once? Really brilliant songwriting.
"Billy Jack" - tune, "When Seasons Change" - silky Honest great Sunday album, gives off such autumn energy, love.
A real discovery, a brilliant album and none of his big hits.
Fun easy to listen to R&B with a solid bassline. Nothing that I personally grasped onto but I still enjoyed it.
god its so smooth
the soul
Приятный, но не слишком запоминающийся фанк/соул. 5 из 10
Pretty good r&b album. A fun listen.
Me sonó igual todo el disco
14th April 2022 Listened in the morning before going to the beach, then for a wander around Newport which was very nice indeed. Really enjoyed this! Smooth as silk yet politically relevant today.
-pretty nice groovy stuff, but nothing to go crazy over -i like the high-pitched backing vocals -not as strong as his "Pusherman" album
Curtis sure was one funky guy
I was expecting something from this album that was not delivered. A bit underwhelming. He must have better albums that this, right?
I feel like Curtis Mayfield had THE definitive soul sound of the 70s. His aesthetic was infectious and caught on like wildfire. Listening to this, you can tell Marvin and Curtis were listening to/influencing each other. This one just got better and better with repeated listens.
Hooked straight in due to that funky bass and guitar, then the vocals come in and daaamn what a combo. Another person I knew the name of but never listened to. I'm in a coffee shop and I can't sit still, such a vibe. Unfortunately none of the other songs hit that high for me, but they were still soulful as hell. Love to the People may be my 2nd fav. This Wiki anecdote is worth noting: "On August 13, 1990, Mayfield became paralyzed from the neck down after stage lighting equipment fell on him while he was being introduced at an outdoor concert at Wingate Field in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York. Afterwards, though he was unable to play the guitar, he continued to compose and sing, which he found he could do by lying down and letting gravity pull down on his chest and lungs." Gotta admire that dedication.
5 freaking stars!
Unreal instrumental, sax solo we’re sick, not fan of ballads stuck between 3 and 4 stars
Good album. Not my favorite from Mayfield.
Easy listening and perfect for the background.
Definition of a 3 Star album: Decent run time, enjoyable up beat music, not more, not less
Was totally unfamiliar with this album and really enjoyed it, despite it being quite short. I hadn't realized that Mayfield penned Baby Huey's "Hard Times" until I heard it on this album. Good listen worth another round.
Funk. Ni fu ni fa.
Dig it. Funky stuff with a unique voice.
I'll get one thing clear. I think Curtis Mayfield is one of the most talented, influential and all-round spectacular artists to have spent time on this blue spinning orb. This album is soulful and magnificent. Apart from Jesus. Despite Jesus, this is still a Curtis Mayfield album and it has to get five stars. If you've given it fewer, you need to give your head a shake.
So much funk. Pretty good
Groovy. 2.7/5.
Very soothing and enjoyable listen.
Pretty jazzy and bluesy. Seemed like a talented chap.
I didn't get the meaning of all songs from this album, but it's one of that cases where a classical is easily recognizable.
Slick, soulful RnB. Every song sounds the same.
This was really disappointing - the last Curtis Mayfield album was an easy 5/5, full of funky disco hits and was a blast to play. This was almost the opposite - it was slow and dreary. It felt like a chore to sit through, even at just 35min. It even had a cringey song about how great Jesus is on it. What a letdown. 2/5.
What you know about Curtis nephew? Slowly stand up from your struggle music
A little slow for my taste
Nice mix of wah-wah funky bass and horns, if a little slow. Standout tracks: Billy Jack Hard Times Love to the People
Un disc que només sobresurt per les seves lletres queda mancat d'una part molt important de la seva essència. No es tracta d'un poemari o un relat, sinó d'una obra musical. No és que Mayfield s'oblidi de l'envoltori, els arranjaments són molt professionals i la seva veu sedosa et transporta per tot el material, però al disc li falta alguna cosa molt semblant a la inspiració
Some funky songs, some chilled out ballads. Short album. Bit God Squaddy on some songs
Curtis Mayfield was a mildly familiar name, but all of the music on the album was new to me. I enjoyed listening to the album, but none of the tracks stood out to me as something that I'll come back to.
listened to some of it...vibes!
Soulful, spiritual. Feels very mature, laid back, but tightly controlled. I'm not particularly spiritual, so I could do without "Jesus", but it's still a great album overall. Favorite tracks: "Love to the People", "Hard Times"
I really liked his voice and the songs are impossible to dislike. Very solid album overall!
Billy Jack and Blue Monday people were the stand outs here for me
Even when it got slow, was still very pleasant listening. Soul music, indeed.
listenable is all I can say
aight
Decent R&B, but nothing that really stood out and screamed "I'm a great album!!" It was just kind of there. I'm not disappointed I listened to it, and I'm not ecstatic I listened to it.
This was nice and chill, but it really did just plod along and I have already forgotten most of it.
This was nice and smooth.
I'd only heard Mayfield's first three solo albums before and, while I didn't enjoy this one as much as those, it was a good listen. There weren't any stand out tracks for me but there were some great grooves and melodies, and this is one that I think will grow on me with revisits/deeper dives into the lyrics
Ca fait un peu musique d'ascenseur
Love Curtis Mayfield. Mellow album.
Decent start, bad end
Groovy, 3
Some nice vibes, I will come back to it 6/10
Like the sound this album has, just not a big fan of his high voice. I wouldn’t return to this album very fast probably.
Billy jack intro de l'album excellent un des soulmen les plus influents et talentueux Le reste de l'album un peu chiant
Ok
Smooth vocals and light funk and soul underscore these tunes to show that there's something lurking in the depths of the US. Best Tracks: Billy Jack; When Seasons Change; So in Love
Good album. A little on the slow side for me
Very different vibe for this next one, particularly after doing them back to back :D Feels very much like the sort of thing that I've quite enjoyed, but will almost certainly never listen to again... I don't know the R&B scene at all, but this is a lovely gentle intro to it, very relaxed in terms of the style of music (even if the first track is about someone getting shot!). Also, at 35 minutes it doesn't overstay it's welcome, only 7 songs too. Not normally a God fan but Jesus is class... Spotify listens suggest a big drop off after the first three songs, but that's not the case in terms of the quality. Tracks 2, 3, and 7 my faves.
The first track is promising. I like it. I'm excited about the rest of the album. The second track is a bit of a let down if I'm honest. Maybe I was too excited, and expected too much? The third track has started well. This is what I'm talking about. Yes. Soul brother. Fourth track starts promising. He needs to start singing rather than talking though, he's not William Shatner ffs. Here we go. I'm not sure tbh, am beginning to worry this album might not live up to my expectations. The fifth track is ok. A step back towards what I like. Sixth track is good, still a chance this could end well! The last track is decent as well. I mean, it's a decent album. I enjoyed it. Nice to have on in the background, or while you're spending time with your gf or whatever. Yeah, nice. But I mean, this is the 1001 albums you must hear before you die isn't it? I feel that there are loads of better albums in this genre that could have been chosen. It'd not bad, but I could have died without hearing it and not been worse off tbh.
Sounds good, not the biggest fan, but nice for the background.
Probablement le meilleur album funk/R&B que j'ai écouté à date. Pas un moment faible.
Liiiiite småtråkigt, men ändå mys. Det är ständigt ljud som är sköna för öronen som spelas upp. Vare sig det är ett blåsinstrument eller en mysig synt som kombineras med Curtis röst så är det inget som känns felplacerat. Däremot blir det lite långtradigt bitvis, lite mycket av samma mysiga ljud som bara går i rundgång. Men så länge man befinner i det modusdär man suktar efter att bara låta något lugnt och trevligt rulla på i bakgrunden så är nog detta sällan fel. Det är "något" genomgående en liten känsla av funk inblandat men det blir som tydligast för mig när det är något högre tempo. Det är något som stärker variationen något åtminstone. Bäst: "So in Love"
Un disco sabrosón, con muy buenos metales y música en general muy agradable. Se siente mesurado, bien pensado y nunca apresurado. Nada malo, pero al no ser un entusiasta del género siento que le falta acción, algún punto álgido.
No es que sea malo, pero no terminé de emocionarme con este disco. A ratos suena como cosas actuales que me gustan (Black Pumas, échenles un ojo) pero nunca llega a reventar.
3.5
if stevie wonder and prince had a love child it would be this album
Very smooth
meh
Funk. R& B
That's a concrete 5
Listened before? N Not much to say about this one. I don’t understand why it was popular. The dude just talk/sings in falsetto for way too long. The music is decent but his voice actually wrecks it mostly. Added to library? N Song added to playlist: So in Love
my initial impression is hippie vibes it has a slow melody, but works for what the genre is. it is an easy album to listen to, very calming the guitar riffs are really good, it reminds me of some old time blues
Stiam doar Move on up de la Curtis. Un album soul foarte placut și scurtuț la doar 35 de minute. Multe elemente psihedelice si de gospel. Linii de bass foarte funky iar vocea subtire si inalta de neconfundat a lui Curtis. O săritură in timp in anii 70 soul ai Americii
Molto funk!
I've never heard this album before today. It's not something I'd reach for all the time, but I enjoyed discovering it. Favorite: When Seasons Change
Very soulful - lots of similar sounding songs
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. Maybe it's just the mood I am in but overall this album fell flat. It felt like Curtis Mayfield by numbers rather than being an essential work
I already had Superfly in this list, and this doesn’t quite hit the same heights, but still excellent. Adding to the rotation.
Solides Soul Album ohne wirklich Höhepunkte.
First half of the albums I was leading towards a 2, the second half is much better and Love to the People is fantastic.
Skön, lite roliga melodier/instrument och politisk. Precis vad man tänker om 1975!
I should sample the drummer.
Too much of a sweet thing.
I went straight to thinking about early Prince where he was much more of a classic soul crooner. It turns out he was extending the spirit of Curtis Mayfield. This record is remarkably well written/arranged/produced/performed. Just like Prince, or Prince just like Curtis, I can feel the desperate yet suppressed yearning of some intense hormones like red hot steel. This also sounds like exactly what gets copied/sampled perpetually in a lot of follow on musical styles. It sounds like a fundamentally solid original.
I find it hard to imagine disliking anything Mayfield did and this is no exception, but nothing in it grabbed me that strongly or really stood out for me.
Smooth and soulful, but the wispy voice and minimalist arrangements start to sound pretty similar after a while.
Three tracks in, and this album just oozes sex and anger, which is an enjoyable mix! The anger is masked behind the gorgeous arrangements, and is mixed with a hope that maybe we can do better in future. It's certainly lyrically ambitious. It's really good - but falls short of five stars for me. You know when something is so perfectly done you stop noticing it? Like good aircon or a comfy bed? This is the same - it's so musically tight it becomes hard to focus on the songs. A little bit more rawness and it'd be perfect. If that makes sense!?
5/10
This was all right. I was eagerly expecting a pizza delivery from a mustached delivery man that I simply don't have cash to pay for do you accept any other forms of payment? while listening to this album.
Good guitar, mix of race/religion topics.
Smooth, slow, and soulful (as you would expect) doesn't sound like a particular exciting combination. Thankfully Curtis remembered to order some funk to liven it up. There are plenty of chilled vibes, in a good way.
Great musician, great voice but an unexciting collection of songs with no real stand outs to move or excite you.
Maybe I just wasn't feeling this genre today. But I do enjoy this type of music.
IMO not Mayfield's best work, but it's hard to beat 70s Soul/Funk. That album cover is the shit, however.
Al ver el título de este álbum no esperaba mucho, sin embargo lo subestime demasiado, tiene canciones que son buenas y otras que solo son canciones.
Amazing album. Great mix of music, lyrics, commentary, and Mayfield's classic vocals.
The voice is wonderful. Gentle, rich, warm. Lyrically curious, with a meandering nature. The music is quite wonderful; the flow through the whole album makes it seem like an extended jam session, with the focus moving from instrument to instrument. Totally relaxed and yet tight and on the groove.
Funk and Jesus!
long album as his voice never leaves the same single tone but was good
Not for me :)
I've never heard this album but Curtis Mayfield is awesome and this album is too.
Lade jemanden zum Essen ein, verwöhn diese Person, leg sie flach - hier ist dein Soundtrack; on repeat. (Tipp: nicht auf die lyrics hören) 2.0
Hab’s nur so nebenbei gehört. Es löste nicht sehr viel in mir aus, und mein innerer Banause war stark und wollte sich immer einfach Move On Up wünschen. Naja, auch nicht so schlimm jetzt. 2,4
Heeft een paar goede nummers maar je moet er maar van houden
So much wah-wah pedal, this is some funky guitar. Really high-pitched voice, reminds me a bit of vocalist from The Heavy, but if he was really going as high as he could. Very soulful album, had it on the background but didn't really pull me in too much. I'd be willing to bet there are quite a few babies that were born because of this album.
Curtis Mayfield is a musical and poetic genius who is not afraid to push a few buttons.
Pretty good R&B album. None of the songs really separate themselves but the whole album flows nicely. The mellow funkiness with the horns and drums makes this a good smooth listen. 7.3/10
I don't know where Mr. Mayfield got his information, but Jesus definitely did drink that wine, drink that wine, drink that wine. Anyway, this was smooth as hell. Best track: So in Love
Voz bucólica. Toques blues.
Irgendwie möchte ich das gut finden, weil es soulig und funky ist. Leider hören sich alle Songs gleich an und das wird auf die Dauer echt öde. Aber: Jesus! War KEIN Hustler. Wer hätte das gedacht?!
So. Good.
A warm, embracable album, quite odd from such a politicised disc. Indeed, the juztaposition between the bitterness of the lyrics and the smoothness of the music works rather well. I was not persuaded, however, by the song Jesus: is religion really the most reliable panacea? It didn't really work on What's Going On, and it doesn't really work on this. Also, perhaps a little too short? Curtis Mayfield already had a fistful of classic albums, so he could afford himself a little space to experiment and indulge. Still, a solid album by a true great.
It's the same case as with electronic music - it's impossible to make bad RnB/Funk album.
Bit religious
Really enjoyed this, will pickup the vinyl
OK but not really my cup of tea