There's No Place Like America Today

Indeed there isn't Curtis, indeed there isn't.

Hell yes

Nice sounding album. I liked the beginning of So In Love a lot. Lyrics seemed to be a is of political and love songs. High 3.

Excellent soul music with a politically aware message.

Amazing album cover and incredibly well crafted music. That opening track was funky as hell by the end but took some time to build. This must have been a huge influence on D'angelo.

I hadn’t heard of Curtis before I thought the album sounded alright nothing special but nice to listen to

Anything with name of Curtis Mayfield envolved = 5 stars

Started off really promising with "Billy Jack". Just too many slower songs sung at a falsetto... it just didn't hold my attention very well.

What a joy to learn a new album from an artist you love. This record builds on Mayfield’s classic formula, with his falsetto voice filtered through a gentle phaser, backed by excellent horn harmonies and a laid back funk-soul rhythm section. But compared to some of his more famous recordings, this album shows a lot of restraint, with slow builds and some really minimal arrangements (listen to the drums on “When Seasons Change” or the gradual layering in “Blue Monday People”). I loved the whole album and could probably name-check every track, but “Jesus” and “Billy Jack” stand out as favorites.

Just....smooth. Mayfield is a great writer and an even better singer. This is not his best work nor his most critically acclaimed, but it's still quite touching and leaves the listener thinking of racial injustice but also love...

Smokin.

Excellent in the morning to have a calm moment with great sound

A message in the lyrics but the music, meh

Love how solid of a listen this is. Didn’t think I was in the mood for soul music today but that just goes to prove how much I fucking know.

Doin' crime. Wastin' time. Drinkin' wine. Talkin' bout Jesus baby.

Mega słabe, murzyn coś tam śpiewa

Curtis Mayfield - There's No Place Like America Today. 1975 Album Art: The juxtaposition of the imagery of the album cover is telling even before you listen to the album. Think it is a complimentary piece of art to ponder while you listen to songs on Mayfield's album. The Album: To us, this is a soul, rhythm & funk album with a deep religious vein running through it. While not religious we could appreciate that religious soul preached by Mayfield & enjoyed those almost southern style church beats going on, particularly in Blue Monday People & Jesus. Favorite(s): Blue Monday People So in Love

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Twas a vibe.

I thought this album was fine, but nothing really stood out to me. The music was good, and he has a great voice, but I just can't see wanting to come back to this record. I wanted it to be better, but it just wasn’t it for me.

I’m excited about this one. I love me some Curtis Mayfield, and in looking at the song titles, I don’t really see any I recognize. Probably because I’ve only really listened to one Mayfield album in my life, and that's Super Fly, which was the soundtrack to the movie. Super Fly is a better album than the movie, but the movie is pretty badass. My favorite Blaxploitation movie is either Black Caesar or Hell Up in Harlem, which is the sequel to Black Caesar. Fred Williamson stars in both. James Brown did the soundtrack for Black Caesar, was supposed to do it for HUIH, but the movie studio rejected Brown’s music to go with Motown and Edwin Starr. Brown would later release what he had planned for the HUIH soundtrack as his album called The Big Payback. Which I’m certain is better than what Edwin Starr did on HUIH. But I’d have to listen. DIGRESSION! One other interesting digression: the cover of the album is based on a photograph titled "At the Time of the Louisville Flood." The photo shows a sign that says, World’s Highest Standard of Living and under it, There’s No Way Like the American Way. Under the sign is a line of people waiting for Red Cross relief during the 1937 Black Flood, in which 70% of Louisville, Kentucky, was underwater. Track 1 is Billy Jack, and this album is already the best thing I’ve heard in years. Just super funky to start. I love Mayfield's voice. One of the greatest falsetto’s in music. Oh, Lord, here are the horns. This song is so good. “Ah, can't be no fun, can't be no fun To be shot, shot with a handgun Body sprawled out, you without a doubt Running people out, there on the floor Ah-ah, bad bloody mess Shot all up in his chest, shot in the chest One-sided duel, gun and a fool What a way to go” Beyond being a musical genius, Mayfield was a poet of the streets. Such a great story and such a great jam. This is going to be one of those albums I don’t want to write about. I want to sit and bask in the funk. Track 2 is When Seasons Change and it’s a slow jam with that great Mayfield falsetto. Beyond having a great singing voice, Mayfield can play the guitar as well. Lots of nice guitar add-ins as the song goes on. And there’s the horns. The song is about how the world is cold and times are hard, but you have to look inside to find the strength to go on. “Praying to Jesus – make me a little stronger So I might live the life – a little bit longer So many changes – going in and out of my life How can anyone survive When everybody's been made a sacrifice." Great song, depressing, but great. Track 3 sounds a little more upbeat. It’s called So in Love. It was a single off the album, and I think I have heard it. Man, they have a nice church organ added into the mix in this song. It sounds so good. This music makes me happy, if you can’t tell. Track 4 goes to church, as it’s called Jesus. Mayfield treats this song less as a funk jam and more like a hymnal. You can feel his sincerity as he sings “Maybe the words I say is just another way to pray I don't know Don't think that I'm any saint 'cause I can't do nothin' for you I only asked of you just as I got to do myself Look into your inner self, only you know how to be free If you wanna grin, let it smile Feel a little happy, go on and dance a while Can nobody play down God's lovin' child 'Cause when the spirit hits you you got to move” Great, almost reverent guitar solo in the heart of this hymn. Mayfield was big on inner strength, and many find that strength with the help of Jesus. He’s not a saint he says, and we know, but he’s not pretending to be. Track 5 is Blue Monday People, and it’s amazing how many songs from 50 years ago can still resonate today. We’ve only got each other as a people. When we fight amongst ourselves, those with all the wealth only get wealthier. “Depression ain't just Quite what you promised Won't you mister be honest Acting like a child Sometimes we get wild Right when the loving is strong We don't want to get along Don't have to listen to me One day you may see We Blue Monday people” Just a powerful song. Again, this song isn't as funky as the other songs on this album. It's treated as a slow jam. Mayfield wants to make sure his message is heard. Track 6 is Hard Times and I know I’ve heard this. It was the B-side of the other single from the album, Love To the People. It feels like it was written today. Mayfield may have been a prophet, or more like we haven’t learned anything over the last 50 years. “Cold, cold eyes on me they stare People all around me and they're all in fear They don't seem to want me but they won't admit Thinkin' black on black Strange creature out here havin' fits From my body house, I'm afraid to come outside Although I'm filled with love I'm afraid they'll hurt my pride So I play the part I feel they want of me And I'll pull the shades so I won't see them seein' me” This song is so good. The whole album is great. Track 7, the last song, is called Love To the People, and it was the second single off the album. This song is probably the most uplifting song on the album. Mayfield is asking the world to come together and love each other. Brotherly love will thaw the coldness of what seems like an uncaring world. Wikipedia acts like this album is nothing special. There isn’t much information on it. I think it’s a great album of its time, with things to teach us still today. Curtis Mayfield was brilliant, and it’s just a shame his career was cut short in a way. After being paralyzed in an accident, he still made music, but couldn’t play guitar. But what we got from him is some of the best music ever recorded. Listen to this album, if for nothing else, than to just bliss out on the funk.

Nice I guess

Love to the People is a groove!

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Decent. Less likely to revisit this vs. some of the other 70s Soul/R&B albums I've listened to so far.

Not very interested in the Soul genre, still a solid album though.

👎🏻

Incredible album. Just the album cover alone is cause for you to really take in everything about this album, and it has the songs to back it up. Billy Jack, Jesus, Hard Times, and my personal favorite, Blue Monday People, are all incredible examples of the type of political, soulful mastery across this album. 9.3/10

I'm not totally sold on the idea of political porno music

Great album, I didn't know about it. Now I know where Prince got his licks from. haha

This is not my genre but I can appreciate it (and the album itself feels extra prescient right now)

Is album art a bad reason to bump my rating up a star?

Great album artwork. This sounds a lot like Awaken, My Love! (i.e., Redbone) by Childish Gambino, and neither are exactly my thing, but I appreciate what they've got going on. Hard Times was a really enjoyable song lyrically, it expressed similar sentiments you hear on Good Kid Maad City but with a different tone.

The album art drew me in. The songs that capture political turmoil in the 1970s (and still resonant today) kept me locked in.

très bon 4+/5

Been about 20 years since I listened to much Curtis Mayfield, there was always a sharp line for me of love vs hate his different tracks.. ‘Billy Jack’ was my favorite but many others here I didn’t like very much. Really enjoy the groove. Overall 2.5/5, gets the bump from lacking half-stars

6/10 uno menos.

Album of a lifetime. Crazy good, amazing, no skips, tells a story about a country, about a culture, kicks music ass and changes your view on life and music. Would love to say I was left speechless, but on the contrary, I never want to stop recommending this album

Me gustó. 👍

Musically, it was great. But not a memorable album.

Soul buenon

7/10 no es para nada mi onda pero banque me gusta para ambientar

Beautiful, sad music

Thissssss kind of passed me by im sorry to say. I love Curtis Mayfield, maybe I just love the hits, I’m sorry! 3.0/5.0 Best Song: Hard Times

It’s enjoyable, but it’s nothing special to me, the songs are all pretty similar, it’s not the best Curtis mayfield album by a long stretch.

Funky background music, really helped me lock into my uni work

Billy Jack - 4/5 When Seasons Change - 3/5 So in Love - 4/5 Jesus - 3/5 Blue Monday People - 4/5 Hard Times - 4/5 Love to the People - 5/5 Average: 3.75/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this doesn't come close to topping Superfly, but i suppose it's an alright album nonetheless. the last track was well done enough to score up a little more generously than usual

'So in Love' really quite beautiful - I'll be coming back to that one. 'Jesus' also good! - There's a care and slowness about this album that I'm enjoying so far

Enjoyable to listen to. Not necessarily my favorite album but I liked it.

5/10

Fine, but not really my thing

Jazzy, funky, fun. It isn’t something I would’ve thought I’d like but I was bopping along, and even singing along with one I listened to a couple times

Smooth, funky, kinda painful and sad. Relevant and up to date 50 yrs on. Just a good listen. 4 Star. Why do great listens like this fly by in less than 40 mins, when I have to slog through 2 hr albums of chore and boredom.

Man is a legend

made me feel

Yes lawd

Tbc

Cool and funky, mellow soul from the People Get Ready guy. Not too shabby a start to a Sunday morning.

I get that this has historical significance, but from judging it in 2026 as an album it's nothing but Mayfield sing/speaking over a backing track for 35 minutes

Lovely album. 5/5.

A little boring. Didn't finish it.

Ok album, nist special. Ima Marvin Gaye normie music vibe. 6/10 Najbolja pisma: So in love

amazing.. the instruments, the vocal and the lyrics hit my soul every single 10 seconds. its like when you walking in the grass field with smell of pre-rain but also have the vibe of some industrial like london in the 19s

Groovy, but not sure how much I really enjoyed it.

This was so much funnnnn! 5/5

Favorites: Billy Jack, So In Love Least favorites: Jesus, Hard Times Rating (out of 10): 8/10

Vähän Prince-esque mut tylsempi ja enemmän gospel. Groove on mukava mut ei jaksa kuunnella.

3.5

Groovy and fan. 7/10

Wow. I didn't know that in 70s there were music this cringy. His voice just annoys me. Is it for "fun" or it is how it is supposed to be?

I like more upbeat Curtis Mayfield, but this was something I've never heard. It's interesting and sad that issues he discussed in 1975 remain the same in 2026.

Its neat that I have 7 albums left to listen too (omg last week!) and the list the still provides a five star album.

"How can anyone survive when everybody's been made a sacrifice?"

I really enjoyed the higher pitched voice, made it special to me. As other people said, still crazy relevant

interesting but didn’t hook me

I thought it was a pleasant listen, strongest tracks to me being Billy Jacks, So in Love and Love to the People. I just thought it was missing an out and out classic track to raise it up. I've got it at a 3 right now, but there's the potential for a 4 in future.

So In Love the highlight and a strong finish but doesn’t reach Superfly levels.

So in Love 🐐

Just love the Curtis vibe. 7.5 Fav track: Hard Times Least fav: Blue Monday People

This is a pretty great album by an influential artist. The story of Curtis Mayfield's injuries though is just tragic. Now you know why Van Halen had the “no brown M&Ms” in their concert contracts.

Really funky and fun. Really happy to have had a reason to listen to it.

Funky and fun and sexy. What it lacks is something with a bit more of a hook that would keep drawing me back to it. As it stands it’s somewhat forgettable.

Curtis fucking Mayfield. Despite some of the darker depictions of America at times in this album, this shit is MY feel good music. Billy Jack is such a captivating opener. I wouldn’t say this is near being his best album, but it was a fun ride. I enjoy the concept of the album and this stuff still hits today.

CURTIS MAYFIELD! Wow I can literally hear the influences to modern singer this must be one of Gambinos biggest influences. I heard this one 5 times so in love is a beautiful song and I feel so in love

This was a pretty fine listen. Lots of groove, soulful voice, good tunes.

gorg very soulful

Opening with what I would call a slow paced disco vibe. Did not like that groove at all. Some parts were okay, a few were likeable, but not my thing. Best I can do is offer up a 2.

Interesting

Pas mon vibe, Curtis...

J'aime toujours la soul, mais Superfly me semblait vastement supérieur. Ici, on est plus dans l'introspection, c'est plus doux, les arrangements sont plus simples. C'est bien mais moins marquant.

Too crashy

3 out of 5. Very relevant album to today's America. Otherwise short and sweet.

Soul food.

Hugely appreciate this guy and his wonderful voice. This didn’t disappoint. Powerful lyrics and warm melodies combining in a really special album special topped off with a great album cover taken from the famous photo by Margaret Bourke-White.

Hell yeah

3/5 - very groovy but too slow and samey for me. The vocals started to grate on me about half way through

So funky Love the opening track. Like this a a lot. Solid rhythm section back there and really cool guitar and brass. Great voice. Strong 4 stars

I liked it

I need more Curtis Mayfield in my life. These albums possess a certain amount of cool, funk, and gospel that takes you right back to the 1970's no matter when or where you listen from. I love it. There's No Place in America is right next to Superfly. Top tracks: Billy Jack, Jesus, Hard Times

Soulful as hell. Don't worry, Curtis! Since the release of this album, America has ironed out all of the harsh realities of economic hardship and inequality, racism, etc. Albums like this are no longer necessary, since we've gotten figured everything out.

It's really strange that there are only two curtis mayfield albums on this list and neither of them are Curtis. This one is still pretty damn good but is not quite as seismic as his initial run. This one is a little sadder and slower than much of what came before. Favorite Tracks: Billy Jack, When Seasons Change, Hard Times

funky asfff. wtf re buena primera impresion me encanta lo sonidos asi funkysticos, esos synthessss con las baterias, esa especie de minimalismo, en sentido de que todo tiene su lugarsito y habla poco pero habla cuando tiene que hablar. FUCK, love at first sight. Likes: TODAS

curtis does it different

Excellent album de soul, je dois me pencher sur ce style !!

Soul is definitely not my cup of tea but I can recognize this is good and well executed. I'm torn between giving it 3 or 4 stars because I do believe it deserves 4 stars; problem is I was saving 4 stars for "things I'd keep a physical copy of" (even if it's something I think it deserves 3 stars but I like the genre / artist anyway) So.... it's tricky

As with the previous Curtis Mayfield album on the list, the smooth sexy style isn't entirely my cup of tea. But this is clearly great, love the anger and the political message, and the style is growing on me.

Undoubtedly Mayfield has a polished voice. Not one note out of place but these songs are strangely emotionless. A lot to admire but not a lot to love

My favourite song of this album is "Jesus"

FINALLY SOME FCKING MOTOWNz. this shit fucking is a masterpiece. he was literally so sick with it here, would deffo listen again. and again.

Heard Before? Nope. Notes: - I'm happy to live in a world where vocals like this get coded as masculine. Oh lord, give me the voice of Curtis Mayfield. - Was not expecting a full-bore gospel soul number. for me, a pleasant surprise. - potentially the driest, most spacious production I've ever heard, perfectly fitting with arrangements that thrive on restraint. - love the hand drums! - seven patient, drawn out songs that nonetheless take on a wide variety of moods and themes. impressive. Verdict: Supremely soulful, yet not a note out of place. Tight but with serious flair, like some sweet 70s bell bottoms. Listen Again? Oh yeah. And I've already queued up Super Fly.

Billy Jack is a jam of an opener. When Seasons Change is so soulful. An enjoyable enough ride straight through. Maybe not as captivating as Super Fly, but solid no less. I think this falls along the high 3 low 4 boundary for me.

Little morning soul. Short album, no complaints there. No real standouts.

Another absolutely funktastic filled album for a straight 35 minutes. Albums like these will never cease to be awesome

Damn Billy Jack is so soulful. If this keeps up we got another 5 on our hands. Unfortunately didn't keep up completely, but still very solid and a great listen.

3.2 2x great sound. catch up 2/9

Enjoyed this one!

Anhörbar! Aber doch eher zum Nebenbeihören im Homeoffice.

Hate his high voice. Great music though!

Not a huge fan of da funk, but man, da bass on this one is massive and worth +1 star at least...

This album its keep up-to-date. America... Great lyrics and a good vibe like a sunday morning.

not impressed. The last song was really good, but the rest of it just felt so..... repetitive. Boring. I was cleaning while listening to it and STILL I was bored out of my mind with it. Not for me.

Curtis Mayfield's style is undeniable. His voice is rich and silky smooth. I had only listened to Superfly prior to this album, and I am at a loss as to how consistently good Mayfield is. I owe his discography a listen. Fantastic album!

8.5/10

This vibe is chill AF. 😎

Curtis is so overlooked todaY

Blown away, thought it would be some soft core elvis presley ripoff, no clue it would be funky gold

While I'm familiar with some of Mayfield's work (Superfly, Curtis Live!, Curtis) it's nice to go through another entry to the catalog.

This the only Curtis Mayfield album from the 60’s or 70’s that I don’t already own or have heard, and I gotta tell ‘ya, it’s now my favorite! You can feel the Sly Stone influence in every song. It’s beautiful, sad, but still optimistic, and slinky funky. Listened to it twice today, and ready for more.

Me encantó, ese jazz, ese blues, esa voz.

I saw Curtis Mayfield and the album name/artwork and knew we were in for a banger.

Amazing pull for February 2026 in America. I listened to most of this album walking around downtown, and it was a perfect urban walking experience. No one can blend gritty political lyrics with slinky, sexy, ice cold funk like Curtis Mayfield. Previously I was only really familiar with his album Roots, which is phenomenal, and this one got close to the highs of that album, but didn't quite take it over the top for me. I think it's missing one big anthem and it would be an all-timer. All love for Curtis, this is gonna be a 3.5/5 from me.

groovy spotify said "you might like this: sad soul" 3 stars

Ilus ja mõtestatud soul. Aga siin ei ole ühtegi sellist meeldejäävat lugu, millepärast ma seda albumit hakkaks uuesti kuulama. Üldiselt mõnus kogemus, 3.4/5

It took a real listen in the afternoon to realize this beautifully embellished gem is a strong political piece of work. It's thoughtfully crafted to make ears understand a message. The vocals are beautiful, understandable, and accessible. The entire project feels this way, and this is where I appreciate the artistry, because this is Curtis Mayfield in near complete control over an effort, bringing us something technically and emotionally solid. The biggest thing that happened with this listen was my appreciation for the artist. The album itself has such intense stories and messages that regular play won't be my thing. I bring it down a notch because of this, but I raise the same bar for its exquisite use of music to prove a message. At the same time this album is a nod to the soul connoisseurs so they have a trophy album that doesn't need to be flashy. This is not an album I'd previously heard, but I have a strong bond with the trumpets on Love to the People. I took myself an hour trying to figure out where I'd heard it before. In the end, I'd heard it sampled on one of my favorite Brock Berrigan efforts, Daily Routine, the track is called Cruise Control and it takes advantage of the funky trumpets feeling happy and alive. This album deserves to be heard, even if you don't end up liking it. 3.8/5

В целом мне ток вокал не нравится так прикол

Ticks all the boxes - short album, great songs an political artwork

Glad this one came up. A glaring omission on my part.

Smooth stuff. I think Billy Jack is my favorite Curtis Mayfield track of them all. It’s got everything, wacka wacka guitar, snare drum pretending to be shots fired, slick lyrics, Curtis’ voice, top draw brass season half way through 👌🏼

Absolutely relevant and required listening

Strong 3

I’m not crazy about the song Jesus, but that’s not to say it’s a bad song, I just don’t love Jesus. Every other song here was great!

This is socially conscious, silky, sexy, smooth Funky R&B with some danger to it. This isn't fun, experimental weirdness that you get with P. Funk & what not. Horns are nice & so is the organ.The Blues influence is very present. i hate my brain. All I'm picturing is The Cryin' Man from Sliders singing these while sobbing. Especially on Jesus. It's unfair that my brain went there because this is pretty good. Cryin' Man is a slight parody of the cliche gimmicks that sometimes Funk & R&B artists used to have. I think its the high pitched voice that Mayfield uses often is what's doing it. Billy Jack & Hard Times are the standouts. Album cover is nice composition of what America thinks of itself & the Reality of America. 3

Really can't decide about this one. One moment I really like it, and the next I don't!

First listen. First track, loved it. Not as big a fan as when things slowed down, but loves the guitars and bass and the mood. And I didn't realise Hard Times (which John Legend and the Roots covered) was well, a cover. It was great here too.

forgive me father for i have judged an album by it’s cover. again. this was incredible. it reminded me so much of childish gambino, though considering this one came way earlier, you can tell how much of awaken my love is based on this album. loved it.

Curtis Mayfield has a lovely voice, the instrumentation is minimal but pleasant, sometimes it feels like he's trying a bit hard, but overall it works nicely. His guitar work is funky and the rhythm section keep the songs on track. His lyrics are strong and he addresses a lot of issues, which I like. I think my issue is that none of the songs felt like they were incredible. Nothing made me sit up and go "wow" which I half expected with albums in this list that I enjoy. This one was just good, not spectacular.

Funky, sexy y genial.

I understand why this album is on here, but ultimately it’s not for me. Everything about it was aggressively “fine” and it all ran together.

Smooth

Very cool

Have to be in the mood for this

I enjoyed superfly but this is way more boring

Curtis Mayfield is fantastic, I have loved his Superfly album for years. He's funky and soulful.

Zapravo kul album, mekan je i ležeran, bukv može da se sluša bilo kad i bilo kakvoj prilici 4,5/5

za lagano nedeljno jutro ideal

Sublime. Such a good time listening to Curtis Mayfield. I think I’d still put Superfly above this but it’s a 3.5 from me, rounding down tho

General thoughts: On first listen, this felt like an easy-to-listen thing, but I couldn't really grasp much of what makes this album great. It was on subsequent listens that the soul got into me. The production values of this album are insane, Abbey Road-level kind of record fidelity. The battery sounds so crisp and clear, with funky basslines, and that guitarist can literally make a guitar weep omfg. The instrumentation and arrangements are insane, everything feels in place but free of movement at the same time. The soul roots + spices of Funk + falsetto singing feels soo modern, the ambiance is really similar, less pop but almost as urban. I've never heard plain soul like this before, and it was overwhelming at first; it's just so much raw emotion through every front. The almost cracking voice wasnt of my liking at first, but I started to get into it in subsequent listens. His lyrics -and maybe even his singing- are like hearing an American pastor talking lol. This may be a thing with Soul as a genre, but songs can feel absent of structure, slow, and with no clear payoff. Which isn't bad per se, and under a bad execution, it could be tiresome, but this is not the case. Actually, the songs I liked less are from the second half (5-7), which feel more like safe bets outside of the canon. I think it was a good decision to make the setlist short, cause there's little to no variation, not much exploration, just a giant soul blast. That, for me, is a requirement for an album to transcend; for a shorter songlist, I can keep a blind eye on this regard. Overall, the album experience is really enjoyable; it's clearly produced with a lot of love at the risk of sounding chessy. Musically, the album is very thigh, conceptually not so much, which is kind of a shame having such a powerful cover. Outstanding song(s): Jesus, So In Love Weakest song(s): N/A Cover: A genius rendition of the 1937 photograph "At the Time of the Louisville Flood". The message is clear, the contrast between the America projected to the world and the reality of the black community. Amazing usage of artistic resources. Real rating: 4.36 *Re-rated 30/09/2026

Ooh! Another R&B album. This is honestly a great album for today. Short, with some interesting musical ideas, but nothing too too out there. I also really like the album cover. The first track, Billy Jack, has a cool baseline. I also like this guys voice. It was a very easy song to listen to! I like this album so far as it’s slower paced, but not in a way that makes me check how long is left in the track. I liked when seasons change slightly less, but I can’t really pinpoint a reason why. On the other hand, I absolutely loved So in Love! The horns were spot on. I notoriously hate spoken word tracks, but I honesty loved the beginning of “Jesus”. Unfortunately it didn’t hold that intrigue for me. I’m not religious, so it’s hard for me to get into something with religious subject matter. I appreciate the artistry though. Blue Monday was a good track! I liked how this one picked it up a little bit but still kept the vibe of the album. Hard Times kept with the vibe. The closer, Love to the People brought in the guitar which I thought had a nice groove to it. This really summed the album up for me! Overall, a pretty good album! I’m really learning to appreciate the R&B albums through this list. 7/10, 4/5 ⭐️. I hope I get some more like this in the future. 25/1089

Another conscience laden soul album in the wake of ‘What’s going on’ - consistent, funky and stylish. It was a great period for a defining voice of that era.

That album cover deserves a 5 out of 5. I am weeping over When Seasons Change as I listen to this album and read what is going on in our nation today. (Minnesota). Indeed, sadly, there is no place like America today. Not much has changed in this last half century plus. Musically: The combination of horns and strings and keyboards and percussion adds dimension to the lyrics and delivery. Mr Mayfield's voice is so smooth, though it isn't my favorite vocal delivery at times. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Not all bangers but I love this album

Oof. But also yes. Had me at funky bass and horns.

Jazzy , chill , I like it :3

Un solide Mayfield, plus retenu. Je vais ré-écouter certain.

C'est correct. Ça sonne pas rien qu'à moitié par exemple.

The only flaw this album has is that it's too short! Great funky-ness

Very slow and soulful. This may not turn my ear on first listen, but this is the perfect vibe in this genre. Add on top some smart, insightful lyrics on race and self-worth and I'm bought in. Uses some cool elements to make a slow song groove, and doesn't feel repetitive at all. Teetering between 4 and 5. 4/5

Muy bueno

I enjoyed this. I listened on my walk to work and it was a great easy listen musically. The lyrics are heavy and I really like that juxtaposition. I liked blue Monday people the most I think. I do think a lot of Curtis mayfield’s music can sound quite similar, but their story telling is of a high quality, so it feels justified. I would give this a 3.5 if I could.

This is an album I enjoyed. Atmospherically great while still being lyrically interesting and keeps things interesting. I think you could play this in any situation and it would go down well. Something Matt Goss would wax lyrical about.

This was a feel good album for me , so in love & when seasons change are my two favorites of this album.

Look, I’m not always going to be able to summon the appropriate headspace for whatever album has been selected for me to listen to. I’m sure I’d find a lot of value in this on a different kind of night, but UGH FUCK ALL THIS FALSETTO AND WAH PEDAL AND MEANDERING LYRICS. “So In Love” was the only tolerable song, but even then I was “So Damn Bored”. Aspects of other songs were fine but never added up to anything other than “cool horn line to slightly improve this annoying nonsense” or “nice bass line holding together this tiring ramble.” Again, probably a better album than I’m giving it credit for. But my grouchy ass is giving it one star.

Perfectly appropriate soundtrack for the current American hellscape.

- Billy Jack er et masterpiece - Hans vokal er virkelig smuk - Godt budskab, selvom det er noget over albummet der ikke er vildt sammenhængende for mig? Men det er ikke fordi det er en dårlig ting - Blæserne er on point - Kendte ikke til ham før jeg hørte albummet, men skal da til at høre mere

escutar esse álbum fumando um cigarro usando um casaco de pelo com certeza melhorou a experiência!! muito bom definitivamente vou escutar mais curtis mayfield

funky & soulful! really nice and easy to listen to. probably 3 stars for me since i don't know if i will go back and seek it out, but it was good

Nee, niet zo leuk. Te goddelijk. Te veel wooooo in z'n kopstem. Houd ik niet van

Damn that's good

Interesting, the 70's was an amazing era

Nice album, chilled

Good 3. This is super nice.

This is one of those moments where I realize how despite being an avid music fan who is always listening to something new, there is still music out there that I’m seriously missing out on cause frankly I grew up a white kid in suburban America. Needless to say I missed out on a bunch of soul and blues music. Well thank god this album finally got to me cause it’s genuinely a fucking sick album. It’s probably my favorite blues album now (not that I know that many true blues albums) there’s so just so much in this album not just amazing instrumentals and singing but also so much that’s unquantifiable, it just has so much soul. Genuinely I don’t know what rock I’ve been living under but I’m so happy to see the light.

It's got a great vibe, though being entirely unfamiliar with Curtis Mayfield outside of Move On Up and Pusherman it was a lot more chill than I expected.

Favorite Track: Blue Monday People

Pretty good album. It took me a minute to get into it because it's not the kind of vibe I'm craving right now. I kinda want to hear loud, somewhat angry and sad stuff rn, and this is kind of the opposite of that. It's good at being that tho. My favorite was probably "So in Love", very vibey, very cute! I'm not sure I'll come back to this too often, but I am glad to have heard it. I'm pretty sure this is one of Hozier's influences, and, wow, I really hear that here. 4/5

Fun but a tad boring. High 3

Perfect

V rámci rnb to musí byť ozaj skvostný album, ale mňa to nebavilo.

Mitt første møte med Curtis Mayfield. En politisk og sjelfull stemme på det tidlige 70-tall. Åpningslåta har en eksepsjonell groove. Dessverre lever ingen av de påfølgende sangene (kanskje foruten Hard Times) helt opp til dette nivået, til tross for at helhetsinntrykket er nogenlunde greit. Jeg lyttet til hans debutalbum Curtis (som ikke er en del av dette prosjektet) etter å ha lyttet gjennom dette, og ved sammenligning kommer dette ganske svakt ut. Det blir dessverre to stjerner. Top 3: Billy Jack, Hard Times, So In Love

One of the musically chillest soul/funk albums I've listened to. Lyrically it's filled with social commentary. It's a great listen, not a mindblowing one, but a great listen nontheless. A strong 4/5

Not as familiar with this album as I am with “Superfly”, which I dig. This album has the 70’s sound of love with a conscience. Gone too soon.

I liked it, felt funky

Slow and airy for a thirty minute album. Nothing really grabbed me and forced me to take notice. Glad I listened through it, but don't think I'd find a reason to put it back on.

A really great album instrumentally, I just love slow funky tunes. The vocals turn out to be a little too much after a couple of tracks though.

Classic slow lovemakin' funk, with wah-wahs and clavinets...but Mayfield's high falsetto vocals just don't quite click for me. He's clearly passionate about his vocals, but the high range doesn't work for me. I can hear how it influenced Prince, though I never liked his falsetto work much either. Killer band, great grooves, but the vocals bring it down a notch for me.

This one might need more attention to appreciate. As backdrop to light work, a lot of the tracks sounded the same, and I wasn't able to really listen to the lyrics.

I couldn’t find my way into this.

I enjoyed listening to this on my morning walk. A bit repetitive but pleasant enough. When it finished autoplay went to Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes and James Brown. All three were much more interesting to my ears. Rating 2 stars. Best track - hard times.

Just a bit bland, the whole album is a similar shade and whilst it's not offensive to listen to, it's just a bit middle of the road

This was fine as background music.

Bangers front-to-back. Great politically and religiously motivated themes. Billy Jack is such a great intro track

Activist things like this usually PMO

Enjoyable R&B/soul record.

Very soulful

what a vibe

I'll never get over how jarring it is to hear a protest album in 2026, only to realize it came out 51 years ago. A lot of Mayfield's songs hold true today. This album is really a keystone of the genre, one that still influences artists today. My favorite song was "Billy Jack."

Incredible voice. Loved the originality.

Great for a Friday evening!

This is a pretty cool album

it was great listening to other music genres but the songs weren't really apealling for me

3,1 - Hört sich locker leicht weg, es bleibt aber auch nichts wirklich hänge. Die Texte sind sehr kritisch, mit etwas mehr Schwung wäre es ein tolles Album. Highlights: Billy Jack, So in Love

Wow, if this weren't true for today in America. What a great title track. Practically anything he does is 4+ stars.

Funky and mellow grooves, falsetto singing, all very reflective of the year I was born. Lots of socially relevant lyrics to the times. One very Jesus forward song, which I dig.

Nice

visste ikke om denne??? bra album

Not bad. You know, aside from all that Jesus bullshit.

I love his voice but there’s not enough variety for me. Only something I would listen to in the background.

So far I haven’t been disappointed by a good album cover and title. Not quite a 5 for me but there’s good stuff in here.

Pure funk.

A great soul album. Loved it.

Lovely funky soul

Conscious funk. I like it.

Alors je ne m’attendais pas à un album de soul/funk ! C’était bien cool, mais je connais pas assez bien le genre pour bien commenter.

4.2

I am a fan of Van Hunt's music and I can see where he gets a lot of his sound from. There are times I feel like I could have been listening to Van Hunt's self-titled or some of his later work. I preferred Superfly to this one, because There's No Place Like America Today is sleepier and more downbeat than the Superfly soundtrack. I think I expected more funk than I heard on this one. A good album and worth a listen for those who want to hear another side of Curtis Mayfield. The music was very soulful and while there are only 7 songs, it does not feel like Mayfield has overstayed or understayed his welcome on any of the tracks. Enjoyed it but also tough for me to get too excited about. My favorite songs are: Billy Jack So In Love Jesus Hard Times

Was this written for a 70s porno? Not for me but it grew on me slightly.

This was such a welcome sound after several days of hard rock and metal. It starts off so confidently with Billy Jack, When Seasons Change, and the best track, So In Love. Things get derailed with a 6-minute song about Jesus that really doesn’t go anywhere. The band never does anything that interesting for the rest of the record and I ended up a little disappointed. I’d probably return to tracks 1 and 3 again, but the rest didn’t leave me feeling like this was a great album. It did make me interested to hear more music I like in the same vein, so that’s a win overall.

Cool

Melodia assolutamente fuori dai miei desideri.

I loved. So comforting and warm.

Ok

This dude’s bass sounds like when you shake a piece of laminated paper and I love it. I actually just discovered Mayfield not that long ago but hadn’t listened to this album yet. I feel like the energy dropped as it went on, but the first half was excellent and the second was really good as well. I’m putting it at a 3 for now but want to relisten soon.

The concept of the album is powerful and Curtis communicates it effectively. The music is a bit stripped down and serves to set the mood. For me, Curtis’ voice is decent but the falsetto tone is a tad redundant at times. 3.1/5.0

Yeah fine, nice album for in the back while doing stuff. Nothing too special though.

When to listen: feeling like funk. Very enjoyable listen

ååååååååååååååååååååkey // herregud dette liker jeg!

My rating 3.3

This stank just like America today!

Nice Discovery!

So Groovy

a little boring

My initial thought upon listening to the album today is "how does anyone not like, or even love this?" It was funky and soulful and sexy and serious. I suppose maybe if someone is an avowed atheist they might not agree, but even then you could shake your ass to the song Jesus and ignore the lyrics. Clearly I enjoyed this album very much. I loved his singing throughout, and there wasn't a song I found disinteresting at all in some way or another. Standouts for me were Billy Jack, So in Love, and Love to the People, but again the rest were very good rather than awesome. That's one hell of an album cover too. Fifty years later and sadly nothing's changed.

I really enjoyed this. The funk groovy music, Curtis' soulful singing. The parts I loved were great, the parts I didn't care for were whatever.

Not bad, pretty chill.

The rhythm is really sensual and nice

A classic

Funky and smooth album, but it’s pretty one note all throughout. A bit uninteresting for most of its runtime.

Funk so funky you could eat it with a spoon. A beautiful voice so charged with feeling. But the lyrics. From the man who wrote "People Get Ready" and "Move on Up" we get things like: Can't be no fun To be shot with a hand gun Or When cupboards are bare Our love we can share Truth is not the whole question What is the answer you hide? Or Every time we kiss It's such a pleasant taste Or this pearler Our love is your confession That we're in love. It's just not very good. 4 for the music 1 for the songs

When underrated artists are discussed, Mayfield should be mentioned. I’m not sure whether he was an influence on Prince, who I think was one of the few musical geniuses of my lifetime, but I hear it. Mayfield’s sound is distinctively cool; his music is socially conscious and still relevant today. This might not be Superfly, but it’s still great.

super fun and i love the instrumentals!!

Phenomenal. Can’t believe I’d never listened to this before now.

I liked this and can't believe I hadn't heard it before as its a genre I enjoy. Added to listen again list.

Pretty decent album, very funky at times and chill and smooth at other times, a good blend. I liked this one. Standout Songs: Billy Jack So in Love Love to the People

I loved how smooth and jazzy this one was, with a gospel twist. Favourite track: Love to the People

Not my general jam, but it's Curtis Mayfield, so it was still damn good, not super familiar with the dude so it was nice to hear more. That cover and title are also amazing.

Maximum soul, minimum funk.

Bum chicka wow wow

Not my style

I really liked the instrumentals and the way they sang in the songs Less of a fan of the religious songs by that's just me Favs were 1 2 3

I haven’t got much to say except that I liked it and it’s a very chill album to listen to when you’re in a jazzy mood and just chilling with your book and what not. 5/10

I was expecting "Pusher Man". This is quite the change of pace. "So in Love" deserves more spins

it’s an interesting genre almost hip/hop and r & b but in a blues way. he sounds kinda like childish gambino. i liked a few songs but wouldn’t revisit most likely, overall 6/10

Great album. Suitable for reading, working, and drinking wine.

Really liked it at first, but that voice started rubbing me the wrong way as it went on. Kind of a shame. It seemed like I was actually going to enjoy this a lot more than I did.

Three stars, enjoyable and the music is pretty solid. I’d listen here and there if it came on, the progressive messaging a the time was interesting

Masterpiece. The songs, the lyrics, the voice, the arrangements

Cool vibe.

He kinda cry sings. Has some good songs but to me the singing seems un genuine and a niche performance.

Good stuff

None of the songs I have heard before. Strong album however.

Curtis can do better than this

mid asf bro

As soon as I heard the first note I melted because of how smooth the guitar and drums were. I fell in love with Blue Monday People, it’s very relatable and honest. This is an album I’ll be adding to my collection.

Undeniable voice/player in soul music.

this is such an amazing album, loved every song on it. i rly do jst love soul music of any kind, i don’t think i could ever get tired of that genre. such a great album

The instrumentals were the highlight for me. The arrangements feel thoughtful and atmospheric. That said, the vocals are where I lose interest. Curtis Mayfield’s voice and delivery just aren’t my thing here; they were a bit grating. I wasn’t a fan.

Average with skip

Favourite Songs: Billy Jack

Curtis doing what he does best, great laid back funk.

Excellent soul music!

Soulful and rich, this album isn't Mayfield’s best but it's a good listen. Top tracks: "When Seasons Change," "Blue Monday People," "Billy Jack"

--Billy Jack...capital f Funky --When Seasons Change...preachy --So in Love...easy listening cheese. classy, expensive cheese --Jesus...not my bag lyrically but it's pleasant --Blue Monday People...I can't help but feel like this is similar to but a still a step back from Superfly --Hard Times...okay, this is a return to form. funk with some grime --Love to the People...strong finish. I feel like this record is a 3.5. Superfly is a 4.5. I usually round down

This shit got a GROOVE, loved it

His seventh album. Soul / Funk. Some nice lyrics combined with an introspective tone and soft funk vibes. A nice album.

Not bad, but not as good as Super Fly. Music was great, but Mayfield's falsetto kind of gets tiresome after a while

it’s alright

love it, mayfield's music was synonymous with 'cool' when I was growing up.

Super funky

I already love this record, but it's nice to be reminded how great it is. The music is a muscular, brooding, slow-burn. Funky as you could wish for, but at the pace of a more traditional soul record. Curtis's voice is incredible. The songwriting makes me feel like I just learned something about the human condition by imbibing this with my ears. The whole record makes me do that appreciative Patrick Bateman "ooh" from the meme. This a faultless, my friends. 5*

I liked "Billy Jack" and "Love to the People". The other tracks I found a bit boring, but not bad. The vocal style got a bit old as the album went on, I would have loved some variety in there. 3/5.

One of the albums, I don't understand they are in. Somehow it seems to be an important soul album.

Couldn’t get on board with this, I liked the instrumental but struggled to enjoy the vocals.

Classic Christmas album

Good music, unnecessarily wimpy soul voice

One of the most soulful albums out there, best listened to on repeat

Przyjemny, spokojny album ale nie taki który bym słuchała cały czas

Chill and soulful but never really gets out of 1st gear.

Curtis Mayfield is one of the greatest soul vocalists of his era, no question. The album cover alone sets the tone. Strong use of color and genuinely impressive illustration work. It feels intentional and confident, not decorative. The album itself is very good, though it does not reach the level of Curtis or Super Fly. A few tracks fall short, most notably “When Seasons Change,” which feels undercooked and lacks momentum or character. That said, the record delivers plenty of quality elsewhere. “So In Love,” “Blue Monday People,” “Billy Jack,” and especially “Love to the People” are smooth, relaxed soul cuts that play to Mayfield’s strengths. The more gospel-leaning material, like “Jesus,” will divide listeners. I get why some people bounce off it, but the vocal approach works for me. Gospel phrasing and harmonies always earn extra points in my book, and Mayfield handles that style with conviction. Overall, this is a strong album from an artist with an absurdly high bar. Not his best, but still well above average. 8.5/10.

gooey pond sludge funk first three tracks very very good short but impactful and meaningful art/lyrics very enjoyable

дуже хорошо, чудовий вокал жирненька гітара прям каеф

There’s no doubt that Curtis Mayfield has a good voice, and the quality of production is also very nice. I don’t connect to many of the songs, though. So in love is the standout song for me.

It was OK but I can definitely see why it was on the list