There's No Place Like America Today

Awesome instrumentals, loved all the percussion in the background- fav tracks were probably When Seasons Change, Billy Jack, and Blue Monday People (also loved the vocals)

Undeniable. Greatest intro so far with Billy Jack and a definite replay

A really solid soul/funk album.

Loved the instrumentation, great messages. Mixed feelings of the vocals, sometimes great sometimes not my cup of tea.

This is bringing back memories from when I was in my school's jazz band one year. I'm obsessed w the way each instrument is used. It's just so classic jazz. I love it sm. My favorite part of the album was definitely the instrumentation - the horns, the bass guitar, and how they're all used. I very much enjoyed this album.

so soulful, really had a good time listening to it. the jesus song kinda freaked me out a bit, but other than that i had a good time.

god i love curtis so much. not my favorite project of his, but he’s a revolutionary. he tells it like it is and sounds like he’s holding nothing back. sexy but bleak!! great stuff

3.5. Quite enoyable but ultimately fairly forgetable, songs kind of blended into each other. Billy Jack probably the highlight

Not Mayfields best album but still a great example of his funk-soul.

I mean it's funky

Secret masterpiece 🔥

While I am thrilled to see that Curtis Mayfield is on this list I can't believe either his eponymous debut album Curtis or even SuperFly isn't the go to choice here. This album is a solid 3 where the two previously mentioned are 4-5 starts easily.

Timeless

This is such a smooth album, every song is so good. I'm looking into buying this on vinyl and will be ripping it to disc so I can listen to the album regularly. None of the songs stood out in particular to me, but certainly none of them were boring.

Jag är lockad att ge en etta, för jag känner verkligen ingentiiiing av det här. Men det är inte aktivt dåligt, bara kompetent. Bara otroligt tråkigt att lyssna på

I only had a chance to listen to it twice but I really liked it. Although I still think it’s a bit monotonous, luckily not too long. Will get back to it to give it a more in depth listen

Beautiful album. A few songs on there I was very familiar with, but it was great to put them within the context of the rest of the album.

That’s another 5, I’m sure.

I don’t know. I got too far into my own head about it. 3 I didn’t know any Curtis Mayfield albums going into this but my expectations weren’t high. We have come across a number of the big names of 70s soul and funk courtesy of the Generator - Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Sly and the Family Stone, War, Marvin Gaye - and it’s all been acceptable stuff. Always musical enough to command respect, never interesting enough to me to earn any particular admiration. Curtis Mayfield’s album was a real surprise then because I was bowled over by some of this, particularly So in Love and Jesus. Those are both song titles that promise very little beyond the generic but I was, from first listen, mesmerised by both. There is a musical discipline to the arrangement of the songs on this album that stands it apart from much of the other material we had encountered so far in this genre; more considered composition and less of decent musicians funking around at will. The horns and strings are used relatively sparsely and the lines well judged and powerful in effect when they appear. But the main distinction of There’s No Place Like America Today is the top lines. Mayfield is blessed with a beautiful, characterful singing voice. Equal credit should go to his melodies I think. There are some striking choices in there; an instinct for harsher blues orientated lines that pop nicely off the sweetness of the other music. I liked this a lot. 3.5/5

2/3. He obviously has a great voice, and the instrumentation on this is so groovy. Love the really clear and pronounced rhythm sections, the funky synths, and Billy Jack really stood out to me. Other songs will probably grow on me, but there are two or three songs that kinda just dragged on for me.

All in all, an enjoyable time was had here. I wasn't sold on the vocals to begin with, which very much sit in a higher register and have an airy, breathy quality to them on occasion, but I was able to come around to them quite quickly. The instrumentation here is compelling enough - funky, groovy playing interlaced with tinges of soul. It's very much a "vibe" of a sound. The album probably does peak early throughout its first half, but the drop off in the second isn't a seismic one. This was on the precipice of getting four stars - but perhaps just not quite memorable enough to justify a purchase.

Funky

perfection

Looks like I've found my long-awaited 4-star album. It's been weeks since I had one. "TNPLAT" is an easy listen, with no duds. The bookends of the album are the best tracks. My only complaint is that the songs sound the same. 4 stars for "There's No Place Like America Today".

The only Curtis Mayfield I’ve listened to before was his self titled, so this should be interesting! The album cover is phenomenal. I actually remember having to write a little essay about it in fourth grade English class. Sadly, I don’t have time to write an in-depth review, but I will say: -Awesome production -Impressive vocals and instrumentals -The opening was really good and fitting -No songs really stuck out to me but as a whole the album felt cohesive -I’m torn between a 3 and a 4. I think it’s a three but I also don’t think I really listened as closely as I normally do. I’ll go with a 3, however, because I think that the fact I zoned out while listening is a testament to the fact that it wasn’t mind blowing. I’ll say 3.5 here though and I’m willing to change my mind with another listen. -I do love the lyrics. They’re very passionate and I liked how he threw in a religious song. -The closer was also really good. -Overall, nothing absolutely blew me away, but it was good and I enjoyed it.

Un sonido funk con una voz muy soul para un disco muy reivindicativo

This album starts like a seventies porno, then moves into a more soulful groove. I found it sonically thin. His falsetto is thin and the band are mournfully compressed. I didn’t enjoy it. The only thing I really like about this album is the cover, which hits harder than the somber music itself.

eh

Not my cup of tea

A standard Curtis Mayfield album that sounds like all of his other work from the time.

OOOOOOOOOOOO I LOVE FUNKY ASS ALBUMS THIS IS JUST 35MINS OF JUST VIBES. if i had 1001 albums just like this i wouldn't complain

Compared to Superfly, his more reserved voice while highlighting his musical ability is just less enjoyable listening experience. While the funk elements are still neat, the toned down elements suck some of the life out what could have been another great album. However, this style does suit him but not to my ears.

funk de los 70, muuuy tranquilo, black music, de fondo

Great album, will listen again.

not as good as Superfly but it's still Curtis and we love him

It’s good, it’s stylish, it’s got good composition. But it’s quite a run of the mill soul album for me. Nothing about it is surprising nor really elevates it; it is what it is. Much preferred superfly that felt like it had some bite to it, even if hid behind some tongue in cheek-ness.

Recording is very clean which I like and its punchy base sound. I dont think the backing music is particularly exceptional though. Its rolling but repetative. OK it has a unmistakeable funk / soul vibe and the pairing with the vocals / wind instruments is pretty optimal sound but its a bit slow on the transition for me. It does allow the little details to shine in songs like "When Seasons Change" its very deliberate and slow with neat micro sparkles. Ultimately not my taste. I would not turn it off but certainly middle of the road for me.

The album sounds excellent musically and production-wise. I really like the cool, slow, soul. It's super easy to listen to and I was really enjoying it, despite the sometimes over-the-top falsetto. I say "was" because the track "Jesus" was such a shitter that it nearly put me off the whole album. As it is, I think its nice illustrative album of a point in time but not one for my general listening. One track was very cool but a whole album became a bit grating.

Great record. This is a 3,7

I like the music, but the vocals were not strong enough. 3 stars or C+.

Oh I'm groovin

Not the best Curtis album, but still really great. Instrumentation is second to none.

Nah 2 stars

(72/100)

What a banger. Reminded me of some Grateful Dead but jazzed up.

Album No. 0081 on my list. “There’s No Place Like America Today” is the second Curtis Mayfield album on my list. My first was “Superfly”, which I enjoyed much. That is somewhat less the case for this album. I just found the songs somewhat less interesting and a little repetitive to be honest. I did enjoy the groove however that is present in every song on this album. Curtis Mayfield is just really good at that. “So In Love”, and “Hard Times” will be added to my playlist. 2/5 stars.

I liked it, not peak Mayfield

like the production of all the songs. I think i am biased against the song "Jesus" Just cause of religious trauma lol of presenting the solution to the world's ills coming back to religion. But other than that i think all the other lyrics resonate with me about the hard times happening at that time, of feeling like some outside circumstance boxing you in to a hard life. Think ill give bonus points to the album cover, it's pretty good statement even despite the lyrics themselves not being particularly politically proufound themselves. Bass consistently good throughout and really funky and groovy throughout without the songs overstaying it's welcome. Think would give 4.5 stars if I can just because of my bias against the song "Jesus" but will round down to a 4. Reserve the 5 stars for like really standout albums i enjoy all the songs from or that my loved songs trounce any songs i am so so on.

A beautiful album

I don’t really understand playing music while having sex, but this feels like the stereotypical album to play during sex. I love Curtis Mayfield but I don’t really know why this album is on the list. It’s good but it’s not essential. I think his self titled album would’ve been a much better pick.

Absolute Langeweile

Nochmal: Nettes Hintergrundgedudel, aber mehr auch nicht.

Hier fehlen zwar seine Alltime-Hits, aber dennoch eine unglaublich konsistente Sammlung an Soul-Funk-Bangern.

Hat mir richtig Spaß gemacht. Gut & einfach anzuhören.

Finde die Songs alle einen Ticken zu lang um die Spannung pro Song aufrecht zu erhalten, dafür passiert zu wenig. Aber grundsolide 3.

Funky and horny

Great album, really well recorded.

- I feel like there’s a lot of social commentary I’m missing here - So in love is so good!

funky smooth tunes

So in Love. When Seasons Change. Blue People Monday. All solid tracks. Nothing really jumped out at me.

Did not expect the genre based on the album cover but was pleasantly surprised. Great vocals from the artist.

I wasn't familiar with most of this album, but Curtis Mayfield is always great. I really enjoyed this, and will likely listen to it again. It's amazing how it sounds like a modern throwback, if that makes sense. It was ahead of its time enough at the time that it came out that now people are trying to achieve this sound as a throwback. The production sounds like crisp, modern techniques to try to sound like mid-70s production.

Good 70s funk

Pretty decent, some challenging and expertly portrayed themes throughout. Slow, moody and atmospheric when compared to Super Fly. I like the gentle grooves, the strings and the emotion which is amplified by his falsettos. It's thoughtful, soulful and silently devastating. A good listen.

I mean, it's not bad per se, but it's just so tiring. This is the black equivalent of all those similar-sounding white blues-y psych rock bands. Just do something different!

I'm told this is iconic album, and I can readily believe that it is for many people. For me, I can't get by Curtis Mayfield's voice, which always strikes me as annoying. No doubt my loss.

the bass in this whole album is awesome. I don’t know why but it’s really hard to articulate why I like these songs, but they put me in a good mood 🙂‍↕️ some of the r&b on here was really nice too. Everything just feels so smooth and chill but also technically good which I appreciate. Fav songs: so in love, love to the people

A real treasure of a record, mixing Curtis’ smooth blend of soul and funk with a more introspective look at current events. He takes a new angle with each song, approaching politics, romance, gospel and brotherhood with equal care. This is a real lovely album with a lot to enjoy and only dips slightly at the end.

Vocals remind me of Prince.

Pretty decent album. Funky stuff

This was OK, easy to listen to. Nothing to write home about.

Meh

ok i guess....

nice one, like it, very much Curtis Mayfield like.

A lot of soul

Great album. Very similar to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” - similar sound and social undertones to the lyrics.

Funkyliscious

I suspect that all Curtis Mayfield is good Curtis Mayfield. So far, that's been the case, and this is no exception. He was definitely going for something bigger here than what I think he achieved, but an enjoyable listen. Regardless, and better than most things you would come across on this list or anywhere else.

Kinda boring tbh

This is a great album. I can hear how much of an influence on Prince he is through some of the early tracks. Short but effective.

Fantastic

Mayfield in this era just could not disappoint! Love to the people was a highlight for me, but the entire thing is just wonderfully soul and funky. Interesting lyrical content too

I love the album artwork here, it's really provocative and is the highlight of the album for me. The music is good, Curtis just has a really delicate voice that doesn't always do it. The song jesus is incredibly annoying and preachy. All around good though. 3/5

Best Track - "So In Love"

I really liked this album. Supercool 70s soul. This album defines the difference between generic soul music and music that’s totally hip. The band is impeccable, as are the song arrangements, and the production is completely crisp. The lyrics are rooted in their time as well, which I enjoyed. If I have one minor negative comment it’s that I prefer a soul voice in the mid-range but can occasionally reach falsetto, whereas Curtis’s voice lives in the high tenor/falsetto range the whole time. But that’s just a small thing.

aronou, me gusta ese bro pero no las onda de este en especial

Not a soul expert by any stretch, but I really enjoyed this. Multiple listens, great grooves and heartfelt vocal performances. 3.5

It was alright

predictable

Das war gaaaaar nichts

Schön entspannt.

"Superfly" von ihm finde ich richtig stark, in "Curtis" habe ich bisher noch nicht hinein gefunden. Dieses Album feiere ich. Absurd gute Backing Band.

very good

Solid enough album. Had some good grooves, but that's about it. Mayfield is rightly regarded fairly high, which I totally get, but this album just kinda felt good, not great, and not fantastic. It's a good 3/5, not a meh 3/5.

Didn’t have as much fun with it as Superfly, but an awesome laid-back record. (with some strong and sadly still relevant lyrics)

This was such a funky and fun listen. I can see myself revisiting for sure. I recognize the song Hard Times from other artists sampling it. Nice to listen to an older Chicago artist while downtown.

“So in Love” makes all of my Best Of All Time songs lists whenever I make one. It doesn’t really play any different in context and I wonder how much of this album was a bit of a grab bag for him? The rest of No Place, like a lot of Curtis, feels contemporary in its lyrical focus (although removed just enough to make it universal), didactic even. He employs both recent and older soul music sounds - either a master at work or again, filling out an album with material he had been working on for a minute. As on other records, he uses a bare bones, confessional vocal technique and that kinda gets to the challenge I have with a lot of Curtis records: sometimes I go to soul to chill out, sometimes for uplift, sometimes as the soundtrack to my day, and I don’t need someone in my ear preaching things so plainly. So it goes...

Not the best of Curtis Mayfield. There were a few highlights like "so in love" but overall not the best from his catalog

Now this is what I was hoping for from this project - an album I’d never heard (and would be unlikely to listen to unprompted) from an iconic artist! Sadly, I don’t much care for it. It’s much sloooower than I was expecting, and um….mushier? And his voice, though excellent I’m sure, is a hard sell for me.All in all, it’s well done but not my bag. Man.

122/1089 This album was so soulful. very much a joy to listen through. I think proper appreciation would come with some more listens but for now it was good. faves: Love to the People, Blue Monday People, Hard Times 64/100

I enjoyed my time with Mr mayfield today. I thought the narrative/lyrical content of this thing was top notch. It was groovy on top of that so what complaints can I have really? For a multitude of reasons This made me reflect on to pimp a butterfly and I think there is some comparisons to be made with era and genre in mind as a the big divides. The only thing holding this back from a 5 is I don’t know that I’m at a place where I feel like I need to buy this.

Classic 1970s funk and soul. Full of strife and hope. You can hear the future of Vandross, D'Angelo, many others through it.

Short and sweet.

Banger

Good

Mellow

Chill album for a relaxing drive into work.

I really liked this album. A mix of soulfulness, sadness, spirituality, love, and much more. Loved the funkiness of the instrumentals and the vocal delivery by Curtis Mayfield. Favorite songs: So In Love, Blue Monday People, Love to the People

Solid 3, quality music even if it's not totally unique. At this point in the project anything with a modicum of depth gets at least 2.

Decent album. It's not a genre I listen to very often, but this was good.

I liked this one more than I expected. Kinda bluesy.

An enjoyable listen but not particularly remarkable either 3*

Bit of funk. Mostly R&B.

Liked a few of the tracks, Billy Jack was definitely the stand out

Fine, a bit funky but still a bit slow for me.

Love this. I'm really into the soul/funk right now and this is just the perfect archtype of that. Sound is great and lyrics are deep

Does this guy only sing in falsetto or is that his real voice? Either way he’s an incredible vocalist. The songs are vibes and I like the minimalist percussion (is that an intelligent thing to say? Me sais pas).

i mean why

Solide

Slower pace than what I usually prefer but once I accepted that I heard a fantastic record. No wonder people sample mayfield so much.

Soul!

Great album from a genre I don't listen to enough. Favorites are So in Love and Hard Times

Look - to give this album 2 stars seems harsh. But the songs all sounded the same. Nothing was that great/ the Blue Monday one was best. Perhaps the lyrics are poignant but I don’t really pay attention. Sorry, Curtis.

Great Songs: Billy Jack, So In Love, Blue Monday, Love To The People Good Songs: When Seasons Change, Jesus, Hard Times Mid Songs: Bad Songs:

This guy jams

Was genuinely struggling to like this much on the first listen, but it grew on me second time round, appreciate the political and social commentary, probably a 3.5 to ⭐⭐⭐⭐, the last two songs "Hard Times" and "Love to the People" stood out to me, and the cover art is great👍

Really good. What a wonderful voice Curtis has, the grooves are super laid back too.

Curtis Mayfield is one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time and this album proves it. Soul and funk at its best. Music with a message.

HORRIBLE.

unmemorable

Pretty fun. Great players

Lovely production and great song writing but lacked any killer tracks

R&B is definitely not my thing but this album impressive.

Lyrics of the time that echo today

Never listened to this guy before and was pleasently enthrawled with his sound. Some great funk, soul and tunes. Overall brilliant sound, and still felt new and fresh 50 years (wow) on. 9/10

I don’t think I need to hear this again. I’m sure it’s ok, but it definitely wasn’t my normal jam nor what I wanted to hear tonight.

Best Song: Hard Times I disliked this about as much as Curtis Mayfield disliked birth control. The dude had 10 kids. This just isn't my type of music. 3/5.

While I didn't enjoy this album quite as much as "Superfly", it's pretty awesome, so I'm awarding it five stars.

I haven’t explored Mayfield as much as I should have. Pretty good album for the most part.

Some good songs on here, all new to me. Only 1 I didn't really care for.

Buena musica para singar

I’m really bad at listening to Soul, but you can hear that this one is a gem in it’s genre. Sounds really good on vinyl probably.

Mayfield definitely has better albums, but this is still very cool and super poignant

Soul. Not for me thanks

Groovy as hell

Curtis rules. Not a moment on this I didn't enjoy, but does not hit the same highs as Superfly. Hard Times was originally written by Curtis for Baby Huey and recorded 5 years earlier. That version is good if you want to check it out. While you're there listen to Running by Baby Huey (sick song). Album was produced by Curtis. Titled "The Living Legend" even though Bay Huey died before it was release, will never understand that.

Might be violating my own rule giving this a 5 because it doesn't have any HITS. But I just can't get enough of the vibe. The heavy grooves and sensitive falsetto. Defines the genre without quite transcending it. Doesn't matter. SMOOTH.

Curtis Mayfield is a sweet discovery for me on this list. Im appreciating his styles more and more Lengthy tunes here, but an album that is worth the time and attention. Billy Jack and Love To The People were my favorites

Good stuff. Soulful and real. It's both full and at times sparse. It's got a certain intimacy that's comforting, the musical elements feel present and close. Very well played throughout, tight and locked-in while still quite emotive. Mayfield's falsetto sits right on top like a silky ribbon wrapping it all up. Second half seems to get gradually more street and gritty from "Blue Monday People" onward. Good stuff for sure.

Inte lika bra som annat jag hört från honom. Lite tråkigt

not my thing. ok though

Chillig

Tykkäsin, voisi tulla lisää Kurtisia. 3,25/5.

Always happy with a brass section.

Good soul album

Groovy

Love Curtis in general, though this didn't especially grab me — I think because we've happened to be served a fair lot of 70s soul in our first few records. Will return to it another time.

Curtis Mayfield is one of those big name artists I haven't found time to get to. I don't normally seek out soul music, and have been slacking in the funk department, so this is a good time to learn more about the Gentle Genius. There's great musical instrumentation on this album, coupled with Mayfield's famous soul-inflected voice filled with raspy cries for a better life, whether for America's soul and/or for a better tomorrow. Some songs here I don't really vibe with, but I can feel Curtis's messaging in tact. An important album for sure (equally important artist) although it's not my cup of tea, I don't regret hearing it like a few albums I've heard so far. tl;dr: it's neat.

solid 70's funk.

Second time this site has given me "the Gentle Genius" of soul. I'm really growing to appreciate it, and I'm learning a lot about how Curtis Mayfield was integral to the Civil Rights movement and its aftermath. Besides the jams being solid, slickly produced and catchy as hell, social awareness and introspection runs through every moment of Mayfield's songs. It's more than just great music, it's a socially conscious lesson every time as well. A must listen for every American who cares.

Mayfield has a knack for luring the listener to his serious message with his funky grooves and soulful falsetto. Only Marvin Gay comes close. 4/5 #212

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Billy Jack With the exception of a 6 minute song about Jesus, this album was okay. Pretty soul-y and easy to listen to. Short and sweet, which is nice. Definitely not as good as Superfly.

RnB Musik aus den 70ern. Ist ok zu hören, aber nicht meine Art von Musik. 2/5

Surprisingly never heard this one. I love his first three records but this one is much slower, funkier and dark. Sounds great too with a focus on the bass guitar for most of it.

Another example of a name I recognized but apparently had no idea what he sounded like, because I was pleasantly surprised by this smooth, sexy, funky soul music.

super funky and laid back

Not his best album but still pretty solid. But too much jesus for me though.

Three wah tracks on Billy Jack: it is so choice. Pure voice. Incredible musician and social commentator. I hear the influence on Prince all over the place. One of many five star Mayfield albums.

Loved this first-time listen. Opening "Billy Jack" and the sincere "Jesus". Favorite was "Blue Monday People". The cover art is brilliant.

Pretty solid album. I'll say 2.5 - round up.

Cool baby

This has some soul!

Pretty funky stuff

Ok

Swing!

Curtis version of What’s Going On. But more cutting.

Lwk ts album hits differently while doing murder mysteries

3.5/5

This is a very relaxing album, contrary to the subject matter of most of the songs. Just not the type of music I'd want to relisten to. 2/5

Får ikke den rette følelsen. Vokalen ligger for høyt og blir fislete uten varme og dybde. Ikke så spennende låter heller.

Lovely production. Great mixture of funky shit and really soulful love ballads that are equal in hitting the sweet spot. Reverb-y guitar sound does a lot for that. Love you Curtis

Very nice album. Love the jazzy solos, the blues guitar, a great voice. Not the best author in the genre, but definitely in the top. Perfect for a rainy day at home.

Ok. ★★

Solid little album from Curtis. The production is woozy and psychedelic, but the vocal performances feel a bit... shy? It's solid and smooth, but what keeps me from loving it is that I know he can do much better.

Kult album! Særlig første låt

Curtis Mayfield is another one of those artists that your favorite band is a fan of. He was known but for some reason never was huge. He has better albums than this but you can not deny his talents on this album. The cover goes so damn hard. Yet some of the songs fell flat for me. Jesus just didn't hit for me. Yet Blue Monday is on my playlist now, as is Hard Times. It's a great album even when it doesn't do it for me. I will be listening to his entire discography again now.

I think you either love Curtis or he does nothing for you. I'm the former. This one is kind of low-key throughout, but still something about it gets under your skin.

Well, 50 years on and what a fitting title! This album is wah wah, is funk, is tenderness. If I slip into a Flight of the Concords perspective, it can get a bit funny, the falsetto. But it’s got so much heart and groove. High pitched voice became a bit much throughout and felt tense listening at times. But overall good message, feel and groove. Probably won’t listen again

The only other record I've had from Curtis Mayfield so far was Superfly and although that was fine, I am really happy to have a non-soundtrack album from him. I think he deserves that for sure. From the first bass notes of this record I can tell I'm going to love it. Funky guitar comes in, vocals begin. This is going to be a good one. I love the grooves, and all the instrumentation is really great. Super laid back vibe that I could listen to all day. Jury's out on the vocals but they aren't off putting and fit well. Then there's a weird song about Jesus for some reason. It loses points for that. Write all the songs about Jesus you want but I feel like there is a different genre for that and it's oddly out of place on a mainstream record like this. The record is a too short, I was sad it ended. And that's the mark of a good album I think. I don't think this is the best early funk/soul record but I do really like it and will probably play it from time to time. 3.75/5

Shit. Dagen efter er den glemt. Husker følelsen af at det var lidt tam, men den er ihvertfald forgetable.

Det er meget sjældent at Soul musik rammer mig. Dette album var ikke undtagelsen til reglen

I love Curtis Mayfield’s silky voice. This album is political and impactful but it is a little one note. I enjoyed it thoroughly but I also have come to find through this that I love soul.

2.4

Billy Jack // When Seasons Change // So in Love // Blue Monday People //

Laid back easy listening but nothing really grabbed my attention. Meh

Absolutely amazing

bello! l’unica roba sono le canzoni lunghissime che un po’ mi rompono

no likey, but ok as background noise

Люблю Чай кертис

I normally like R&B, but this was too sleepy for my tastes. Maybe good to put on in the background while the Mrs and I are enjoying some "mommy-daddy" time though...

Prettty good

Soft, warm, soulful.

čista trojka

I love that so nostalgic

1970s smooth soul… classic sounds.. falcetto vocals… an album I really enjoyed 4 stars

Eg lige funk! åg eg lige Curtis! Men var ingenting som fenga og var mye halleluja og jesus, sjøl om eg ein disippel, har ekje heilt sansen for denslags musikk. Beste sang: So in love

The smoothest of smooth soul. So good, but hard for me to pay attention to. 4/5

Wow, heard of Curtis Mayfield but had no idea what he was about until listening to this album.

I've said it before, but I'm not really into soul. With that disclaimer out of the way, I did enjoy this album. Curtis's voice is quite unique, almost falsetto, yet breaking into quiet screaming at times. That, on top of music that verges on funk and blues at times, makes for some enjoyable listening. Especially liked the song "When Seasons Change".

I don’t listen to Curtis Mayfield enough

Day 59 Really liked the first track but nothing else really held my attention 3/10 Highlight Billy Jack

liked it. should’ve been 3,5 but they don’t have the 3,5 option

"When seasons change and we begin to pass September A lot of scars that kind of scare you to remember" That's right folks, the NHL is back.

I liked it but it didn’t grab me.

4/5

It was good but nothing stood out too much on first listen

A good Soul album from a great artist.

Great vibe, need to listen to more Curtis Mayfield

Spoko, nie spodziewałem się że tak przyjemnie się będzie tego słuchać

boring and and this jesus song was annoying

Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood today. I love Curtis Mayfield. Political and social commentary with a heavy dose of funk - right up my alley. The first track, "Billy Jack", started things strong, but then things got mellow and seemed to stay that way. I don't mean this as any sort of slight on Curtis, but it was just a bit too much of the mellow for me.

It was funky ... it was cool ... but I will probably never listen to again.

very smooth

Building on „what’s going on“, preceding Prince. Enjoyable end to end. Phantastic voice. Great vibes. How come I never heard of Curtis Mayfield?

I liked his voice, pretty nice music

Great start, but not consistently great

70’s AF

Solid middle, particularly Blue Monday People.

Good motown album. I was listening while in the jazz and Motown heartland of Detroit so it felt fitting. Interesting addition to the rotation - to be honest not my vibe entirel. But I respect it So in love the best song on the album. the baseball style organ being played with the brass was very nice sound

Ear Therapy… hate Jesus though

4.43

Very good

I appreciate the music but it's not my cup of tea. CM's voice is a little too high for me. That's it. A solid 3 and maybe should be a 4 or even a five. If the sound engineers turned up the musicians in the background more, it could have been better for me.

I really like Curtis Mayfield. Great album. Didn’t love it as much as the song ‘Move on up’ so gave it a 4.

Not my favourite Curtis Mayfield for sure.

A bit slow and "wah-wah" guitars for me, but some undeniably great tunes.

Well…

Interesting, tight album with a terrific voice.

Album was definitely funkalicious, what a tragic backstory

Ah, Curtis Mayfield. Born in Chicago, and I always think of the Saul Bellow line: "I am am an American, Chicago born - Chicago, that somber city - and go at things as I have taught myself, free-style, and will make the record in my own way...". Died, much too soon, and ten years after that terrible accident, in some place called (glances at the rest of the group) Roswell, Georgia. What a musician.

loved this

Pre: love funky soul, have listend to other Mayfield and the 1st song but not the rest Post: great album, love the horns and grooves , fav track was so in love

Not bad. I prefer his earlier works but I had a good time with this one.

Rv

insane cover

9/29/25. Love Curtis Mayfield, this album is so much fun - feel good with also great messaging and commentary. To this day, Curtis is underrated in my book.

Soulful and soothing. Good stuff

soft but grooovy

Funk. Pure funk with a distinctive voice.

I liked the music on this one more than the vocals. The high singing (falsetto?) was too persistent for me. I get that it's a signature part of his style, but I prefer when he doesn't overdo it. The songs themselves were pretty good, though not particularly memorable. It's a solid, pleasant listen. Just not sure it's anything more than that. Overall: 2.7/5

90/1001 :: War - The World is a Ghetto Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 8 Listen before you die: Yeah I don’t know if I’ll really ever listen to this again but I should. This is a damn good album. This is real soul.

Enjoyed this! Love his style. Good times.

This is a pretty solid and cohesive recording. I enjoy this version of Hard Times but it doesn't quite hit as good as when Baby Huey did it. This is one that could go between 3 and 4 stars for me personally. I don't have any real nits about it but I will have to put it on a few more times.

Altså det er ikke Curtis eller Superfly, men det er Curtis Mayfield, så det er ganske fly. Mye mer laidback soul enn de tidligere nevnte, og selv om jeg foretrekker Mayfield i Curtis-modus, fucker jeg med dette også. Perfekt for en regntung høstdag.

Perfekt å starte dagen med

Dette er en masterclass i tilbakeholdenhet. Nydelig

2.8.

Cool bass. Interesting lyrics. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

Such a good ride

A classic, a legend.

It's not Superfly but it is Curtis Mayfield in free form stream of consciousness mode and worth the listen.

Very enjoyable listen. I have never listened to Mayfield before. His voice was great and the production was awesome. Guitar and drum sounds were a joy to listen to.

Two strikes against this album: the songs could each be 2-3 minutes shorter, and Curtis insists on using a whiney, annoying singing voice. The album's a 2.

Funky and classic Curtis Mayfield but no real standout hit to be found here. The album’s message is still relevant — which is depressing more than impressive. It’s short and to the point — and a nice listen — but I just don’t see myself returning quickly.

Very annoying

nice enough

I had high expectations because I loved Superfly so much, but I didn’t like this as much. The pacing, that was just awesome in Superfly, seemed off here, I guess? I’m not sure. Cool album cover tho.

Just an absolute delight for a beautiful fall Friday. 4/5

Billy Jack is such a vibe.

Fun.

4.2/i didn't take a good look at the album art before listening and i thought this would be mid. i was pleasantly surprised. i guess that was the point, wasn't it

Groovy, funny, sensual. 3 or 4

One of the better albums I've heard here. Might become one of 5 star ratings but I am not sure anymore. It requires more relistens for sure.

Y'know, the album my group got right before this one was LCD Soundsystem's 'america dream,' and I had to restrain myself from making any... Topical-as-of-this-writing commentary. "Oh-ho, the American dream? Let me tell you...!" You ain't come here for that. I ain't come here for that. I'll spare both of us. This album hardly has any relevant commentary of its own anyway, far as I can tell. CUT TO: the following night. And what does the Randomizer spit out at us? A lil' record by the name of 'THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE AMERICA TODAY.' If you can't guess what **this** album is about... Like, I'm surprised the Randomizer didn't just flash up a double dog dare for me to get political up in this muhfuh. It's kind of unavoidable if you wanna deal with this album's subject matter — I mean, what, you're gonna try and be apolitical about 'What's Going On' next? Gimme a break. But, y'know, how 'bout this: just for my own sake, I'll avoid any RECENT recent events. Right? Is that fair? Lemme jus' talk about 2025 as a whole if I hafta talk about it all? OK? Good. So anyway, Curtis Mayfield! I presume that this album is to him what HOT BUTTERED SOUL is to Issac Hayes — specifically in that it's the album of theirs on this list that isn't a blackploitation soundtrack. Though unlike Issac Hayes (and I'll admit this up front), I kind of had no idea who Curtis Mayfield was until I saw that he'd also done SUPER FLY? So, it's not a good sign right off the bat, I'd say. But, hey, SUPER FLY is one of the greatest soundtrack albums of all time (and I'm not just parroting the consensus here). So, if he can pull that off, who's to say he can't handle his own 'What's Going On,' huh? I mean, let's be fair and not compare this to 'What's Going On.' Curtis Mayfield is not Marvin Gaye, and this album is sure as heck not 'What's Going On.' That is **not** an album you'd wanna try and compare yourself to. But even if you remove it from your mind all together... I gotta admit, I wish I liked this more than I did? And let me be crystal clear: I liked this album a **lot**. My issue (ultimately a small one) is that... I expected it to be bigger? Like, it's maybe just a bit more relaxed than I thought an album with a title like 'There's No Place Like America Today' would be. Certainly, if anyone in 2025 was gonna make an album with a sarcastic title like that, it'd be big and **pissed**. Like, come on, Curtis — talk to 'em! I know you can use hard language: I've heard you sampled on "Jesus Walks". But maybe I'm spoiled by other 70's soul. Even putting Gaye aside, when I think of 70's soul, I'm bound to think of Issac Hayes and his larger-than-life psychedelic soul, or Stevie Wonder's transcendental funk soul. Certainly, I'm spoiled by Stevie's political tracks. "You Haven't Done Nothin'"? "Village Ghetto Land"? "Living For The City"? What tunes! What commentary! It's still a high as hell standard to hold anyone to. So, lemme more meet Curtis where he is. 'Coz even if the music on this album isn't as big as I'd want it to be, it's still smooth as all get out. Curtis has a great voice, and it pops out over these instrumentals — which are also great, I should say! These instrumentals ain't no Funk Brothers work (maybe they're a bit **too** tight for their own good?), but they do well enough for themselves and then some. Love that chill groove thing they got. The album's a good time all around. In the grand scheme of 70's soul protest album, this one obviously lives in the shadow of the Big One over there. Taken on its own, however, it's far from bad. If you like your protest music silky smooth, this wouldn't be a bad one to stop off at. And either way, you're bound to hear something that's... Sadly still all too relevant today. Boy, you sure do love when nothing fundamentally changes, eh? America: still ain't no place like it. And that's my political commentary for the night, folks! Hope you enjoyed it! I'll be here next week!

So funky, yet so relevant. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Just some strong socially conscious soul here from Curtis Mayfield, who I’ve heard of before, but apparently never actually heard, even with how famous his name is. I know the “Superfly” soundtrack is on the list, and I’m definitely looking forward to whenever we get that. For this album though, it does take a little bit of time to really find its groove & messaging – “Billy Jack” is a solid storytelling opener, and I did like it, but the sense of progression feels really slow, and the instrumentation feels kinda stagnant. “When Seasons Change” takes those issues and arguably makes them worse; it’s the weakest track here, by far. I think the instrumentation is just too simplistic for the vibes it wants to capture, and without a compelling vocal hook to pick that up, the track just feels like it’s only giving half effort into both. The lack of focus in a lot of the lyrics didn’t help either; I get the “be thankful if you can sustain yourself” thing it’s got going, but it switches from someone who can and someone who can’t, and there’s not really a cue to tell when it happens. While it does touch on the themes the rest of the album carries to a greater degree, as a sort of torch-bearer to introduce them, it’s a rather flat track. However, once “So in Love” begins, something about the whole album fully changes; his vocals get more confident, the instrumentation finds more of a groove, and the lyricism gets tighter, more precise, and everything really clicks into place. “Jesus” might be a little long, but it’s got the same sort of religious approach Stevie Wonder took for a lot of his stuff, and that extra idealized version of Jesus works for me, even if my faith is beyond shaky. It helps that it’s groovy. From that point, the album slides out on a 3-track look at the mixed sense of community present in the world at the time; “Blue Monday People” is basically just a far more effective version of “When Seasons Change”, with a nice sense of coordination & hope behind it. “Hard Times” is a flipside of that, tackling the racism that’s still beyond prevalent then (and now), with even a cruel twist of another black man holding Curtis up. “Love to the People” is basically just a “yeah, everything kinda sucks, but I’m not giving up” track, and it’s a good sense of positivity to close the album on. All 3 are rich with the instrumentation & vocals (especially in the guitar / bass), and they work in a good harmony. The singular “bad” track here is enough to pull it down to a 4.5 from a flat 5, but it’s an easy bump back up. I just thought this was a good album, and while it did take 2 tracks to really get going, I think the album wouldn’t work without them. They just needed some work, that’s all. Overall, I’m just glad I listened to some Curtis Mayfield now. If the “Superfly” soundtrack is supposed to be his magnum opus of sorts, then I’m definitely excited for it. As far as this one goes, it’s an easy bump to a 5.

Come on now. One, I can’t believe there’s actually 2 Curtis Mayfield albums on this list; and two, that I get them both in about a week? Unlike Superfly this album has no redeeming hits, just weird repetitive mumblings.

Мені подобається більш фанкі супровід Мейфілда і його голосу він теж пасує більше, як на мене. Приємний альбом, є очевидний хіт у вигляді So in Love.

Кьортіс Мейфілд це американська легенда. Я люблю таке інколи послухати, соул, мотаун оце все. Стильна музика, звісно ж з політичним контекстом. Не можу сказати що прям фанат саме цього альбому. Але знов-таки, це те що я люблю включати вранці на вихідних. Поставив би 3.5, але оскільки не можна, то все ж 3 буде.

вау. There's No Place Like America Today, це правда. мені здається, єдиний цікавий погляд на америку залишився саме у темношкірих митців, бо погляд нейтів амеріканців дуже далекий від того, чим є америка зараз, а всі інші просто дратують або втомлюють. дуже приємний альбом.

Undoubtedly a classic

Definitely some beautiful music. Having come from a Christian cult, I have an intrinsic problem with gospel lyrics, but I can still appreciate the genre with respect to its contribution to modern music. I need to spend some more time with Mayfield to form a more nuanced opinion.

60

Usually, when the album ends, Spotify's algorithm utterly spoils whatever groove was happening within a song or two. But not today-- turns out the AI digs 70s funk. This makes me feel a little less hopeless about the future.

This is the sort of music I normally like a lot and Superfly, the only Curtis Mayfield song that I can recall hearing before this album is great. There's No Place Like America Today, just does nothing for me though. It's too mellow to be funky and too funky to be mellow, it sits in a halfway house position that doesn't really work.

I respect Mayfield, but this stuff is just not for me. I was able to put it on in the background, but that was about as much as I could handle.

There was a lot of good music on here, but it was ultimately kind of boring. Didn't rise to the level of great, but still a solid album to listen to once.

A nice change of pace but probably not something I would listen to again

- This was an incredible listen, so smooth and calming - An absolute RnB classic from this era - The voice of Curtis is amazing - a stand out would be “So in love”

king curtis! popular opinion woulda put his 1970 solo debut here, but i like it when the lesser known albums are included.

5 che cazzo gli vuoi dire

Le mie palle appese scese squagliate sbisciate smollate il peggiore fino ad ora

mi e piaciuto devo dire, anche abbastanza, però a tratti un po’ lento Voto: 3.75

Ho avuto un po' di vibes stile prince ma non so se ho delirato, in generale interessante ma non mi ha colpita particolarmente

Um álbum que não impressiona. A principal crítica que faço a este estilo de música é a valorização excessiva dos vocais, em detrimento da parte instrumental, que sempre traz músicos competentes que são, invariavelmente, relegados ao segundo plano. Aqui temos algumas insinuações que revelam a qualidade dos teclados e metais. Disco mediano!

Pleasant surprise! Slick as hell

Soul, Funk, sehr schön

Yeah it's fine. Nothing special. 2/5 stars.

Some pleasant songs

Meh.