There's No Place Like America Today

You don't really know this album until you're depressed and listening to it in a dark closet smoking a cigarette

Short but sweet. I really like Curtis and I liked this too but not as much as his more upbeat music. This is definitely not like Move On Up or Superfly, it's more mellow and introspective and somber. Wish I liked it more but didn't leave a big impression on me.

This album gave me something. Still figuring out what, but all I know is that I RECEIVED. 4.5/4

yk what, this is a 4. i liked this a lot. great vibes.

Pre-listening thoughts: I have like vaguely heard of Curtis Mayfield but I still have no clue what to expect here Post/during listening thoughts: this is good. I don’t have a lot to say about it. It all kind of mushed together and maybe that’s cause im tired but who knows. 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nope Fav tracks: So in Love Least fav tracks: Jesus

The was class, funky, jazzy, great stories

Without a doubt, a beautiful voice and some powerful messages. Hard times, having heard the Roots cover was good to hear the original! I didn't actually know it was Curtis Mayfield. Strong album but no super stand out tracks. About a 2.5, but will give a 3

I can see why other people might love this. I don't hate it but I'm never going to listen to this again.

Definitely saving this album, one you can just put on and enjoy front to back, beautiful, soulful and a clean sound

Artiste inconnu. Les morceaux sont plutôt longs et peu variés, avec un rythme assez lent. L'album devient vite ennuyeux. Rien de remarquable donc, et en plus je n’apprécie que moyennement la voix du chanteur. Je n'y reviendrais pas. =>2/5

Curtis Mayfield’s music is like D’Angelo, Childish Gambino, Maxwell, Marvin Gaye all in one. Perfection.

A few bangers, vocals got annoying by the end of it

Fun

Smooth.

the trumpets on 'so in love' were phenomenal

Trodde det skulle bli soft..men det är rätt trist faktiskt. Väldigt lika låtar. Samma lunk och röst på det. Det blir snabbt tråkigt. Lyssnade på Curtis "move on up" som jämförelse, som är mycket bättre. Denna skiva kommer jag aldrig sätta på igen.

Stabilt rakt igenom utan att ha några spår som riktigt sticker ut. Inte lika bra som Superfly, men en stabil trea.

Sweet, soul goodness 😊

Shockingly good!

Some beautiful stuff on here. Superfly was pretty amazing in its context, but I like this Curtis more. He's sweet. Although I might prefer him in a playlist. A half hour of that falsetto starts to get to me somehow, like makes me kinda tense up.

Probably not something I’ll listen to again but definitely didn’t leave me disappointed. Nice and relaxing and a pretty good listen for the morning. Nothing that I hated about it but also nothing really stood out about it.

Good album. Like the funk influence mixed with Mayfield’s voice. 3/5 Might listen again

The music is clean, funky, and grooooovin'. The lyrics were relevant then and much more today. I feel like Mayfield's voice can become too much after a while. A shame, since everything else is there.

Solid funky soul album. Tight drums, groovy bass lines, funky falsettos. A certain vibe for sure

This one was really enjoyable. Definitely a genre I don't listen to much.

A delightful brisk album from a legend.

fire!

Its fine. It's Curtis Mayfield. Good but not the album I would put on if I'm craving Curtis Mayfield (Curtis would be it).

Smooth, rich, dense, creamy, and heavy. Like my favorite peanut butter. Fantastic down-tempo funky soul. A lot of serious themes in here paired with grooves you can't help but want to move to. The horns stood out to me throughout but the instruments all particularly shined to me on "Love to the People".

I have to imagine this was quite a departure for Curtis. I was not very entertained myself. But, I don't like it when established artists try to do something new. So for that I'll give it a 3 star rating.

Mayfield applies his immense songwriting and performing skills to great affect on this amazing album building on themes evoked by the provocative cover. Picking the best song is an impossible task as every track is high-level. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-theres-no-place-like?r=4ztyq&selection=9402aae4-879e-45d8-8173-d73014c42a47&utm_campaign=post-share-selection&utm_medium=web&aspectRatio=instagram&textColor=%23ffffff

Had no idea what to expect and I loved this, will definitely come back. Sounds great.

It was fine. Not a huge funk fan and the song about Jesus was too long and grating. Quite vibey but not really my bag.

Super fly. I don’t know what I liked more, this album or the classic R and B that the Spotify algorithm played afterwards.

I really loved this. Except for the religious aspect. But I’ll keep those thoughts to myself.

Bit same same

Smooth and soulful 3.5

Groovin

The funk - good sounding music. Mayfield's falsetto vocals though - think they're a "no" from me. Not the worst album but I don't think I'm likely to ever want to return to it.

Good lyrics. Good melody. There were a few songs that were catchy and/or spoke to me: Billy Jack, So In Love, Jesus, When Seasons Change. Overall, good vibes.

Just alright. Songs like so in love and blue Monday people were quite good but the rest of the songs just dragged on a bit too long. Some decent rhythms but nothing too extraordinary. Would give 2.5 stars if that was an option on this website but will just stick with 2 since it’s not

feel like i’ve listened to so much music inspired by mayfield that actually listeneing to him sounds a little dull unfortunately….one of the stranger problems of music. still smooth though

This isn’t just premium 70s funk—it’s also still alarmingly relevant. What’s going on, indeed.

One of the top two or three musical voices of the Civil Rights movement. Still important.

I liked the overall vibe of the album, but the falsetto got old after a song or two. Otherwise this would have been a 4.

The problem was the falsetto. The style wasn’t my favorite but it was executed well and was decent

I just don’t like his voice. It’s too high for me. The songs themselves are solid no problems there it’s really just his voice. Really not a fan of that.

so. much. falsetto. after the 2nd song, that was all I heard. couldn't focus on music or lyrics. shame since the first track had a nice, funky, laid back vibe.

Favourite album so far. Laid back and chilled.

Pretty good. I haven't listened to Curtis except for superfly. This was a similar vibe.

Feels like a mournful ode to a country gripped by the turbulent and violent change brought on by the civil rights movement. The lyrics remain relevant as ever in this world of MAGA lunacy; definitely merits multiple listens. It’s far from perfect though, as the whole album instrumentally kind of just melded together. I personally would have appreciated another big hook or two to really grab me.

Ayyy Curtis! Dini Stimm, dini funky Gitarre strings und die lüpfige blasinstrument tönet nach dere Ami-Rock-Phase ja umsobesser! Da hesch mi mit em Cover und em Album-Titel wider schön hinders liecht gfüehrt und han scho angst gha das wird wider en ami-country-overload, aber woni denn gmerkt han das ich din name ja kenne - curtis - hani super freud gha! Und da bini ja froh dis Album kenneglernt zha! Nach em erste mal durelose bini so gflashed gsi und han angst gha dasi bangers verpasst han, dasis grad nomal hinenah gschmisse han. Es isch jetzt ned jede track es 10 vo 10, aber durchs Band hets doch paar Bangers wo i mim Lebe vo jetzt ah werdet integriert sii. "Love to the people" isch sicher so eine. Da chund mini Funkophilität wider uf allllll ihri chöste! und wo sind jetzt wider die halbe pünkt wenn mer sie brucht? Es isch für mich ganz es klars 4.5, aber muns hald abrunde uf es 4i will es 5i hald scho over the top isch. Let's funk it up Curtis you little funker. Da gits vier sprützer chilli-öl uf das grandiose soul-sandwich!

Ah man mis review heds glöscht :( Curtis oh curtis Du hesch mit min tag versüesst. Hüt morge am 6i in hongkong am flughafe ahcho mit mikrige 1h schlaf im gepäck. Louis leve und ich stieged in bus ih und nehmed d 1h fahrt uf eus. Dream. Küste, meer, berge, hochhüser, dschungel, und zmidzt drinne, de lil nedi im ne doppelstöckige bus, de curtis uf em linke ohr und am über kurve slide als wär er im alpamare gebore wurde. Uf all fäll, ich han soulige sound wieder für mich entdeckt, danke app <3 Und falls er mal in hongkong sind, bus&curtis isch empfehlenswert. Happy - over and out 4 roasted ducks für das superschöne album <3 Oder gibi sogar 5 spring rolls?

Billi Jack isch en starche start ih das album gsi und hett mich grad uf alarmstufe "meh als 3 sterne" katapultiert sehr energetisch binich durs düstere sirnach gsteppt mitem bahnhof als ziel leider hend die negste songs nöd mini energie gmatchet und denn bini chli trurig worde und han mit mir im innere grunge uf de zugfahrt nach winit was sölli ezt mache, dem album es 3 geh macht doch kei sinn, döte hetts eigentlich so viel albe drinne wo es 2 verdient hend - tuenich echt zu nett bewerte mengisch drum mini liebe fründ*inne hani mich entschide das das album klar es 4ri bechunt und ab ezt zu langwilige albene fies gsi wird! 4 grossi schritt zum bhf im tg

juhuuu curtis mayfield <3 bin mit höchstpunktzahl-erwartige is album gstartet, im mittelteil hed er mi jedoch liecht verlore, bin aber ehrlich gseit au immer chli abgschweift... au bi dem interpret lahni demnach no chli luft nach obe und spar mer de 5. stern für's nächste mayfield album uf happy blue monday people

Very smooth, but nothing outstanding.

There are kinds of people…. It’s the point of the record.

This album was OK. Not my type of music and not something I can ever see myself listening to again though. Favourite song: couldn’t pick one Least favourite: again couldn’t pick one Album artwork: Cool cover

Of it’s time.

Very good album

Kind of got fed up of the sound of the singing quite early on. Didn’t really do much for me.

Lots of funk and a very smooth sound. However, it is very slow and dull.

Not sure what to make of this one. My overriding feeling is that this isn’t really my bag, too slow and smooth, and that Prince (or the chap formerly know as) must have really really really liked this album. However, I don’t know how to explain it, but it was just really classy sounding, and as albums go it flowed really well. I have respect even though I didn’t like it as such. Must be a 3 then….

Favorite Track: So in Love

Brilliant

Interesting record. Not my favorite, but good.

"There's No Place Like America Today" av Curtis Mayfield vilken alldeles utmärkt framsida! Vad titeln betyder för svarta och vad den betyder för vita i Amerika är annorlunda men på något sätt får han fortfarande med de två olika innebörderna. Det är ledsamhet, gladhet och hopp i detta album. Att det som ligger framför i amerikansk politik inte är något bättre är synd men förespråkar ju tidlösheten av albumet. Ibland kan det vara lite för preachy i min smak men jag kan se det som att det är det enda övergivna amerikaner har till stöd. Hur som helst jag har aldrig varit ett fan av soul. Det höga rösterna och oftast knapp med instrumentation brukar göra det hela både tråkigt och skadande på öronen för mig. Dock denna är lugn och Mayfield använder sin rösts potential sparsamt, instrumentationen tar större plats och det verk med även några intressanta psykedeliska inspirationer som har gjort denna till en av de få soul albumen jag inte blev uttråkad av

Don't know if I just wasn't in the right headspace for this album. I KNOW it's cool as hell, I KNOW it's funky and soulful, I KNOW it has a good and relevant message, but none of the tracks really clicked for me or gave me anything special. The vocals and instrumentals are tight, it sounds good, it just wasn't very memorable.

Incredible as usual - perhaps not his most remarkable album but still a fantastic one

This is why I love the project. I probably wouldn't have picked this one up over one of his albums with the hits, but I thought this was a very smooth and easy listen, and what a voice. It's disheartening that the themes are still so relevant today, even down to the album cover.

Album art is powerful. Songs are brilliant.

I have nothing with Curtis Mayfield (in fact, I do not like his voice at all) and so this was decent, but nothing more.

Er zijn andere albums van Curtis Mayfield die hier op zouden moeten staan (misschien komen die nog). Degelijk album wel, maar om dit nu hier op te zetten... 3.0

Old school, but not so interesting to me. The beginning two seconds of Billy Jack were alright

Enjoyed the first half of this a lot, sort of lost it’s way a little around Jesus, but picked up at the end. His vocals are insane, and most of the topics are powerful too. It’s less ‘in your face’ than Superfly, but still a great pop/funk record made better by his delivery. A strong 3.5

Quite liked it, very 70s soul, sounded like a film soundtrack to me but I think that's because other similar albums were. Curtis has a very good voice for this sort of music, cohesive sound, didn't outstay it's welcome. Saying all that, it's not a genre I'd seek out really. 3.5. but more a 3.

Really nice voice, but the album fell off a cliff around Jesus. Not jazzy or cool anymore, just dull and repetitive. No standout tracks.

Preferred this to the previous soundtrack album we had. The opening track was the best, super funky. I completely understand why people might think this is a great album, but just not my thing. 3

A vibe laced in funk With a voice tender yet strained Ready to face life

..

Pretty good. Superfly better tho

Not bad

Un gran disco lleno de soul, con muchísima onda y vibras sabrosas y unos bajos que vuelven loco. Me gustó mucho.

опять фальцет + (местами христианское) рнб, нет спасибо

A nice album to relax to.

It’s good, but not blow your mind good.

I enjoyed what I was able to listen to, but I do want to go back and finish

That falsetto.

Such a groovy album. Curtis Mayfield has an amazing voice. The first 30 seconds of the album hit so hard but I never quite got that again the rest of the album. I don't have much to say about this album other than it was pretty decent but it didn't blow my socks off.

This album rocks. So flowy, and vibey. Really cool guitar riffs and sick bass lines. I love the social conscious lyrics and themes as well. Curtis Mayfield was a genius.

Yay porn sounds! Dat bass slaps tho. Well, slapped. Hooked with the first song, lost with the rest of it. Here we go with JEEEZUS! And A MEN A MEN!

Only seven songs on this album, overall sounds good. I might be tempted to give it 3.5 stars if that were allowed.

Curtis Mayfield has a distinctive voice. His lyrics and singing of them seemed sincere and from his life experiences. Appreciated hearing this album.

Funky. I like that there are some wind instruments. I like the album cover. I don't like the combo of a high voice and a slow tempo, even if the lyrics are good. Too operatic for me! Tangentially, there are so many artists with songs called 'Blue Monday', including Curtis here, yet there is not a lot of online clarity re: where this term originated. Some say it's from a travel company in the UK in 2005, which is clearly not the whole truth. The dictionary tells me it's from the 1800s, re: sad laborers, and I guess that's the intended meaning here. A term that endures!

A funky album about crime and urban decay in America. You need not look further for the album's themes than its sleeve. I can appreciate its messages, and I can appreciate the music to an extent, but it's not really for me. Fav tracks: Hard Times, Love to the People

Went in knowing very little about this album - but really enjoyed it - beautiful yet powerful vocals and a groovy bass. Solid 4 for me - will listen again.

It's just not my thing at all, but the lyrics are great and I respect the artist's ideals. Fav tracks: Jesus, Blue Monday People

I like it. Very Curtis. His music often reflecting the society he found himself in. Solid Four stars.

Wow. Wenn ich etwas als zeitlos beschreiben würde dann wäre es das. Kopfhörer auf und Augen zu. Wie spannend das Musik 5 Jahrzehnte später solch eine Wirkung haben kann. Das Album zu hören fühlt sich an als würde man einen verborgenen Schatz ausgraben.

Fühlt sich durch die ganzen Samples die man kennt schon heimisch an

Junge Curtis.. wie krass bist du ja. 5 Sterne für Curtis mit seiner Stimme

Very soulful, but not my favorite Curtis Mayfield album.

Started off strong, later songs weren’t as good but still an easy good listen

Curtis Mayfield is a pimp, there's no other way to say it. This is just really good, really smooth 70s soul music - what's not to love? Well, actually, there is one thing: It gets a bit preachy/churchy/Jesus-y at points. YMMV but that annoys me. Enough to knock it down a star? Probably not. I would maybe give it 3.5 stars if I could but in this format, I think it deserves 4 stars because you kind of know what you're going to get going in, and it does that thing extremely well.

I did enjoy the rolling bass lines, but the falsetto singing just got too annoying

Majestic first song, but the rest of the album feels more dull.

Smooth funk, meaningful music, not a lot of variety but solid

Can’t go wrong with Curtis.

I can hear that the music is objectively good and he sings with so much emotion. Still, I don’t like listening to it. The opening track has a nice rhythm and groove, but it goes over for too long. And the less said about the horrible Jesus track, the better!

A mix of really nice grooves and skippable tracks. I like the Superfly soundtrack more.

Chill ash - definitely gonna be listening to some more of this guy!

This just didn't feel that strong to me.

"So In Love" might be the quintessential soul song for me. Something about the horns, the feelings evoked... I can't put into words just how much I love this track. As for the rest of the record, if you can get past the very slow pace and Curtis' unique singing style, you'll find it's a great somber statement that's unfortunately still relevant to this day.

Curtis Mayfield es una figura esencial del Soul y de la música en general. Más allá de sus logros con los Impressions o su tragedia vital, su música tiene un estilo tan reconocible como su voz y compromiso social. Sin Curtis no habría Prince ni el gran Stevie Wonder, tampoco Kiwanuka, Kravtiz o tantos otros. Este es un disco excelente, como casi todos los que publicó. Sus más reconocidos son el debut Curtis y la banda sonora SuperFly pero este There´s a place no tiene nada que envidiarles. Es una delicia de principio a fin. La portada es todo un Bansky antes del propio Bansky. Es obra de Margaret Bourke-White una de las mejores fotógrafas de la historia. En resumen: discazo para disfrutar. Otros discos del 75: Toys In The Attic de Aerosmith, Born To Run de Bruce Springsteen, Down by the Jetty de Dr. Feelgood, debut de AC/DC, Physical Graffiti de Led Zeppelin, Wish you were here de Pink Floyd, That's the Way of the World de Earth, Wind and Fire, Young Americans de D. Bowie, Dressed to Kill de kiss, Rubycon de Tangerine Dream, ABBA de ABBA, Diamonds & Rust de Joan Baez, Zuma y Tonight's the Night de Neil Young, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy de Elton John, Main Coruse de Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band de KC and the Sunshine Band, Love to Love You Baby de Donna Summer, Another Green World de Brian Eno, Ommadawn de Mike Oldfield, Radio-Activity de Kraftwerk, Horses de Patti Smith, A Night at the Opera de Queen, Crisis? What Crisis? de Supertramp, el directo de Bob Marley...

Not my thing.

It’s lovely. There is nothing “wrong” with it. But it lacks that “hook” ya know?

Not for me but appreciate the artist

I am definitely not the target audience for this album. Felt a lot like a gospel album, or that I was at a church service. I've never been a big fan of falsetto vocalising, and it's in abundence throughout. The bass is funky, but that's about the best thing I can say about this album, other than maybe that it was only 30ish minutes long. I understand it's place in music history, so I'll not rate it a 1.

The first track was fire. The bongoes kept me in tune and it was fun listening to that throughout the track. Bass lines were tight, instrumentation in general was tight, loved the track. Second track was okay, but started to lose me. Third track, even thought the most popular track on the album, I wasn't vibing with it and that pretty much persisted throughout the rest of the album. Felt like I was getting preached to and overall not a great vibe. 2/5

pleasant though consistent, i imagine superfly pops a bit more

My man can sing....the album wasn't particularly moving.

Not quite my cup of tea, but I did enjoy it. Can definitely hear his influence on artists like Prince and Lenny Kravitz. I’d rather listen to Prince and Lenny Kravitz.

I dug all of the music. Didn't always love the lyrics but all and all it will be one I return to every now and again.

Complete banger. The hidden gem of this whole thing so far to me. Didn’t really know him but was hooked on the first album. Could hear how he influenced so many through his music as it reminded me of a lot of different musicians.

There’s No Place Like America Today I’d not really heard of this album before, but I thought it was excellent; kind of sad and despairing with a haunted melancholy to the music and lyrics, but all tied together with that sweet, rich, warm voice. Billy Jack feels like the other side of Superfly, the sadness of an extinguished life, while the fantastic When Seasons Change feels like an ode to resilience, with that same sad undertow. So in Love feels like one of the few hopeful moments on the record. Musically I like Jesus alot, with that guitar in the chorus, but its overtly religiosity feels a bit overbearing. Blue Monday People is great, a snapshot of reality and futility. Hard Times tight groove is superb, symbolic of words and themes of hardening your heart in the face of tough times. Love to the People’s hints at upbeatness are cut through by the bleakness of the verses, but amplified by the chorus. The playing, particularly the bass and drums, is absolutely superb. Not overly showy, but tight and precise, augmenting and embellishing when necessary, and letting the songs breathe. I also love the really slowed down tempos, really intensifying the dispiriting themes and lyrics. This really got under my skin over repeated listens, it’s trading of immediacy and optimism for a spareness and a mournful tone working a slow kind of hypnosis. It was a 4 at first but after a few listens I can’t really think of a reason to not give it 5 - it’s a sad and sombre 35 mins of brilliantly played, fantastically sung, anguished mid-70s soul. 🪨🕒🪨🕒🪨

Curtis Mayfield is a national treasure. That is all.

I was surprised by Mayfield's voice, actually. For the longest time we had a Mayfield tribute album, but I don't think I ever listened to it. I didn't realize how high his voice was. There was a bit of a range here, which is always good: funk to jazz to soul. My favorite track was probably "So In Love."" I really liked the horns , they really added a lot to the sound. It did fizzle out a little for me, "Love To The People".... once it was over, I did not realize that was the end. There wasn't a finality to it for me. But all in all, I thought from jazz to funk to soul (and a little gospel, did not care for "Jesus" much) was really good, I liked the range. Solid album for me. Top tracks: "So In Love," "Billy Jack"

Man, I'm loving Curtis Mayfield. Superfly was so funky and this one is so soulful but with funk too. I don't feel like I can rate this album higher than Superfly but I gave that one a 4 even though I thought real hard about giving it a 5. Should've gone with a 5. Maybe it's time to give the man his due. Billy Jack is such an infectious opener - the guitar, the bass lines, the slick keyboard, the funk. And his lyrics kick ass. The irony he was going for in the album name rings true. When Seasons Change is as good as a soulful Marvin Gaye tune. His vocals are awesome and dripping with emotion. So In Love brings a little optimism back - the woodwinds will fill your soul. Jesus and Blue Monday People are no slouches either - different attitudes obviously. But I appreciate how he closes the album with two hard hitting social commentaries in Hard Times and Love to the People - but with hope in the latter. Both with funky edge. Loved this whole album. Love this artist.

Absolutely loved this album other than Super Fly I know little of Curtis Mayfield but this album has beauty and balls and quite simply has no weak tracks. Favorite tracks; Billy Jack, Jesus, When Seasons Change and So In Love. 4.5 stars

Pretty fun. Nice and funky for a friday

bom demais. mais um que o baixo me pegou com força

DELÍCIA ESSE HEIN que pedrada. só baixão de qualidade. r&b na melhor forma, gostosinho e tranquilo.

Good, not my preferred style

It’s good I suppose. I’m not really into the whole sexy-buttery-soul vibe in music, though, so I’m not going to put this on again ever, I think

Smooth operator ... Loved Curtis back in the day, I think I even have this album somewhere ... IDK, though, his voice can get to ya after a while. I know there's some good songs on here, but it's not going to be on my must listen list.

In a sober kind of way, a welcome break from the obscene about of punk albums I've had recently. We all know Curtis, but I've never heard him like this. What's confusing is given the time this was written, I would have expected to have this referenced in the same breath as Marvin's What's Going On. Seemingly an overlooked album (maybe just by me). I read a little into this album and read it described as the 'most sombre funk album created' which seems fitting. A great example of music reflecting the current events, and sadly, some of the lyrics still seem fitting and relevant reflection of America today. Overall, great album, would certainly revisit.

Hard Times and Love To The People are great tracks. Rest of the album is good too 4/5

Classic. 4/5

Kind boring. Typical soul/funk. And a falsetto voice the whole album.

17/11/24 I didn't vibe with this one as much as the others, couldn't fully get into it.

First time with this one. It is funky and soulful, overall a very good listen. I will listen to this again and check out Curtis' other releases. My favorite track is "So in Love".

Loved the first and last tracks - good to listen to more of his stuff.

Wish more of it was like Billy Jack but still very smooth ! Talks about black community struggles.

Not bad; sound was good and smooth.

Definitely a classic soul-type sound.

It had potential, but was much too slow for me

Wer wissen will, warum die Pilzköpfe in ihrer Zeit so eingeschlagen haben, der sollte sich die seinerzeitigen Alternativen - wie diese - hierzu anhören. Soullastiger Leierkästen mit garantierter Einschlafoption. Das Album war vermutlich schon bei der Erstveröffentlichung ein Oldie.

Que porrada na cara em pleno 2024. Apesar de não ter uma música que se destaque de outra, o álbum tem uma qualidade sonora que raramente se encontrava nos anos 1970.

Groovy and good, lots of religion.

Just ok. Smooth voice and music, but not my style.

War okay, aber Lieder zu lang und nichts für Zwischendurch

Wow, this is good. I don’t think I'd heard a single song on this record prior to this, but there's not a miss on here. 35 minutes long, but I could (and did) listen to this for hours. 5/5 Highlights: Billy Jack So In Love

Rating: 8/10

Good Listen, classic sounds.

Surprisingly good album. Social justice references.

Fun and funky. Not sure it's his best however.

Funky. Psychedelic. Bass. Good vibes. SOUL. Tenor. Almost falsetto.

Enjoyed it, cool sound, but it didn’t click for me.

Очень качовый альбом, некоторые битки с оттяжкой - топ опять же, жалко, что не понимаю тексты, но за этот ранний r&b - большой лайк

This wasn't a bad album per se, but it didn't do much for me. I know Curtis Mayfield is supposed to be a soul master, but this album felt flat. If this is his best, then my opinion of his music is diminished a bit. While there wasn't a bad song, there also weren't any stand out tracks. To me, that makes this a fine album to give a listen, maybe even for some to love, but it doesn't make it one of the 1001 albums I should hear before I die.

muy lindo blues

Curtis Mayfield good and politically relevant

No expectations of this. Rather enjoyed it. 3/5

Another great from Curtis. So in Love is a banger

Really enjoyed this one, great musicians, great tunes and great vocals!

Good classic soul. There were a couple songs I didn't love but still very enjoyable overall. Favorite: Billy Jack Least Favorite: Jesus

This album hits you with a mellow groove. It’s simple but powerful, the kind of sound that gets under your skin. The songs are soulful, like Marvin Gaye’s *What’s Going On*, but there’s a rough edge here. The lyrics say a lot without needing to shout. Feels real and unpolished, giving space to feel what’s behind the words.

I wish I was as cool as Curtis Mayfield….

It was okay. I liked the funkier parts. But overall it quickly turned into background music for me.

feels pretty apt to be reviewing this the day before the u.s. election….There’s No Place Like America Tomorrow

Nett aber wenig abwechslungsreich…3/10

I could listen to this all day.

Curtis is one of my all time favorites, and this is one of his best.

amazing album. loved it. 9/10

The cover depicts the social reality of whites and blacks at the time of publication. And the music thematizes the contrast. Unfortunately, it is - at least in part - still relevant today. An important album.

Nice nice.

Ok

First half is incredible, but “Jesus” and onward is pretty bland, even if the production remains very solid throughout.

I like Curtis Mayfield. I think he has some great songs (Pusherman, Superfly). This album was fine, but it didn't really grab me. Nothing stood out especially, but it sounded pleasant as background.

I didn't mind this, smooth yet still funky.

Álbum didn’t really stand out to me until the 3rd song So In Love, followed by another standout for me Hard Times.

I've come to realize any Curtis Mayfield day is a good day.

Pretty groovy, but I can't ever strand his voice for more than a couple of tracks at a time....

Chill.

Curtis is majorly important. This is good. But I’d have gone earlier.

As Easy 5 - again - I want to listen to it again - and to read the lyrics and get to the bottom of what the album means underneath. The kind of obviouysly good / seminal artists I havent prperly "met" before, exactly waht I am here and psuhing past Gooving mellifluous melodious and funky - you slip right into this and enjoy it. BUT.... damn! I cant ignore the power of the cover art. Ever struggled to define "irony" to somone? Show the cover. Explain the maxim of comedy - that if youre going to tell the truth, make them laugh, or they will kill you. Do its darkly comical but no laughing matter. To celebrate hope and prosperity and consumerism while so many starve or labour for poverty wages, and blamed for perpetuating their own disadvantage. Those exceptional and lucky few who rise up were beaten or shot down. So Curtis was taking a risk whenever he spoke out about the black experience, rights, and more. Plenty to chew on for my next sit down with this one, but the sound is delux meanwhile...

I was talking to my 19 year old son, Hal, about how some artists really only have one song. They might build a career around releasing different versions of essentially the same song, but, if the song is good enough, that can be pretty awesome and the basis of a worthwhile career. Is it unkind to suggest that Curtis Mayfield is a bit like that? He has a distinctive sound (funky, string sections, falsetto vocals, sinuous guitar leads, lightness of touch), especially in the 1970s at the height of his powers, as on There's No Place Like America Today. This album is slightly more laid back than, say, the Superfly record, but still distinctly Curtis Mayfield. Which is pretty great. This is a wonderfully listenable album. I recently reviewed Clapton's 461 Ocean Blvd album, which is a similar vintage and similar album (laid back, tastefully arranged and played record from the mid 70s), at least when considered at a surface level. But while Clapton is a poorly sung, soulless and watered-down easy listening album, this album is the opposite. It is beautifully melodic, soulfully sung and genuinely moving album. You can hear how much Prince cribbed from this record. Favourite songs: Hard Times, and Jesus (the gospel backing is really great). It's church, it's street, it's real life. 4.5 stars

I did not use a private spotify session. Curtis brought the funk and falsetto, didn't really get into as much as I thought I would.

Beautiful soul tunes.

“Billy Jack” lays down a steady, funky beat, and the whole album is slow and lush—a good way to deliver social commentary without losing the groove.

Ton of talent

Look, I was born in Toronto. I grew up in Boulder. I live in suburban South Charlotte; not urban Mecklenburg County, we are talking across the county line in Union. And yet, putting this album on puts a pang in my soul to go directly to a car lot, buy a '76 Eldorado, and just drive slowly up and down the street while listening to Billy Jack, either until I die, or until the wheels fall off.

I wasn’t a fan of this (for which Joe might divorce me)

This didn’t do much of anything for me.

I needed this. I needed this album generator to tell me, “You know you like Curtis Mayfield, yet you’ve never listened to a second album by him. Why is that?” Thank you, Daddy Album Generator.

This guy reminds me a bit of Prince without the great guitar riffs.

Hooooo that first song came in with the horns, immediate banger. It’s a 4.5 for me pretty easy, I was feeling this album. Great!

Beautiful voice and really nice sounding album

Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: 🏙️🚗👥👥👥 Produktion: 😲🙂👌 Musik: 🔥😇🙄 Wertung: 🚗🚗(🚗)/5

Super good funk and vibe

The closing track was probably my favourite, overall I really enjoyed this album.

Great voice.

Funky soul, his voice is a bit too high pitch for my liking. Stand-out: Love To The People

better without the jesus song

smooth

Not my thing

Great album. 1. Billy Jack 2. Hard Times 3. So in Love

soul music always hits; favs are billy jack and love to the people

My favorite of his albums to be sure....

Maybe a slightly disappointing listen given what I had previously heard of Mayfield, but overall pretty average for this list. 3/5

I really enjoyed this album. Funky, fresh, low down jazz. Helped improve my mood today. Not as bombastic as the Superfly record, but this was still a treat. Standouts: Billy Jack, So in Love, Jesus, and Love to the People.

His falsetto voice wore on me, but I enjoyed the horn. But not enough to give it more than a 2. I guess I’m just not funky enough.

I really liked the opening track Billy Jack, and in general I love the music in each track. I find the singing/rambling style a bit more difficult to get into. I found that all the songs blurred into each other. Overall enjoyed it but wish there was a clearer stand-out moment. 3.5/4

Just don't care.

What a pleasant surprise. A beautiful and calming album musically, there is a lot of lyrical meat as well. The songs manage to be fiercely romantic while also addressing racial issues which are sadly still relevant almost 50 years later.

Not one I'm crazy about, but a decent record all the same. Favorite song: So In Love

On another day, I might have a different opinion, but today I'm really not feeling this.

Cool funky soul music. Good for back ground feel good music.

MID BUT UNIQUE

7/10, its a good album but it didn't really grab me

great album. I remember really enjoying it but I waited to long to review. I’ll have to come back to this one.

Such an amazing voice and his records all have such a unique sound and killer vibe

Leon bridges could have put out a shitty version of this today. V topical

I would fuck to this album if it didn't put me to sleep

The not-so-subtle subtlety makes this one worth while. I don’t know if Mayfield is capable of sounding not sexy when composing his music. I didn’t want to be turned on, but god dammit I was. For real though, the instrumentation throughout this record is what REALLY does the teasing; giving you just enough to want more without ever reaching the peak you so desperately want it to.

The sounds of Superfly all sobered up, trading street funk fantasies for stark American truths.

3.5/5

A good soul record, with tons of great funk. The guitar, horns, bass, rhodes and collection of voices all ooze. Powerful lyricism on the brutal individual effects of racism. Perhaps doesn’t have the vast strength of Curtis, or others by Stevie & Marvin, but a solid complete album. Favs: So in Love, Blue Monday People, Love to the People 7/10

This passed by pleasantly without engaging me. Im sleep deprived so its probably me, not the album.

Just not my jam. A little too slow overall

Love Curtis. I can't even explain why, it just makes me happy.

gewoon chillen

Curtis, are ya singin' or stranglin'? Is it hip-hop, soul or R'nB? No matter - I dislike all three. And Rap makes four. This is really awful.

This was fine. Not bad! Enjoyable. I was going to rate it about a 4 but after the album finished Live Wire by the Meters came on and showed me music which really is a 4. So this gets a 3.

definition of decent album

Really enjoyed this one, production, songs and performance

My absolute fav is Billy Jack. Jesus and Love to the People are also worht for listening. Soul-funk is not my fav genre but this is a vibrant album.

think i need to listen to more soul

I wasn't aware of this Curtis Mayfield album, although I have several of other solo albums and some of the Impressions tracks. This is a gem, so understated, no heavy production - just pure, raw funky-soul vibes. I love it and have added it to my wants list. Perfection.

thought this was alright! didn't really connect with it much. was too religious for me. preferred superfly

Smooth and silky, chilled out funky soul music. This is actually throughly enjoyable! Powerful lyrics fuelled by the racial injustice he and many other African Americans faced, and continue to face this day. Kind of sad that the lyrics still resonate today.

Blues enjoyed but noy sure I’d listen again Favourite: so in Love 3 stars

Ok, but a little too plain for my tastes.

Haven't ever heard this album. This is a good listen. The music is solid (the horn arrangements in particular are great) and the songwriting is above average. I'm not a huge fan of Mayfield's voice. It works on some songs but not on others. "We Blue Monday people Just trying in a strain"

Not quite as iconic as Mayfield’s debut or Supefly, still one of his classics.

The album is great. I'd imagine it's the middle of the pack of the 1001 greatest albums- it belongs here, but it's not good enough to crack the top 100.

Not as good as I expected.

Ik vond dit minder dan ik verwacht had, vooral zijn zang vind ik wat vervelend. Opzich verder wel funky enzo, maar meer dan dan ook niet. 2 sterren.

Soulful, introspective, and really powerful. I feel like the album would have benefitted from one additional song to round it out, but overall a really interesting listen. The bass lines in particular carried a lot of the songs and kept me engaged. Top tracks: Billy Jack, Hard Times, Love to the People

Very smooth, but the voice is a bit much after awhile.

Old school r&b soul like

Smooth soft funky

Decent, but not as solid as What’s Going On or some of Mayfield’s other albums that aren’t as social issue focused

The Jesus song was a little much. I liked it overall. Better than some other 70s soul that would just be full of 70s cheese that reeks.

Pretty good but definitely not superfly

Solid album. Standout songs: Jesus Love to the People

I don't get it. Why most of the 60s & 70s albums are sooo mellow and chill like the band just had a gallon of cucumber and yogurt before fucking playing. Maybe not my thing, maybe just Shite. I dunno anymore.

Not bad, not my thing

Meh... I barely remember after only one day

Funky

A pleasant but unremarkable soul album.

Funky, aber zu viel Falsett, zu viel religiöses Geseire.

It would be wrong to call this Curtis Mayfield’s “What’s Going On” album as this stands out clearly from the rest with its (not often heard of) “downbeat soul”. Not all music can be sunshine and rainbows.

Wonderful funky beats. Love the base and the singer is fantastic. Lyrics are very critical towards society. Luvin' it

Soulful and funky, love it!

Good album, enjoyed it

All the songs blend together. Some nice chillness to it, but too one-note to maintain interest.

Coming hot on the heels of Nick Drake's Pink Moon, I couldn't help but be affected by the contrast between the two albums. Pink Moon was utterly underwhelming instrumentally and vocally. It never roared. But because everything was sedated, it came across as intentional and understated rather than underpowered. Unfortunately, There's No Place Like America Today comes off the opposite - the music is powerful and funky and propulsive, but the vocal is weak like the skin of a balloon, and it just meant the singing never felt up to the challenge of the songs. Basically the same effect as making Chris Martin the lead singer of a rock band, or worse, an EDM band. Oh, hello Coldplay, I didn't see you there. Anyway, the songs were quite good, but the vocal really lets them down, so it's hard to give this more than 3 out of 5 stars.

im sure this isnt the only curtis mayfield on this list so its cool that the first one i rolled was one that was actually new to me! id need to revisit his other stuff (its been years) but based on my memories id say this one feels less lavish and more precise...no big wall of sound arrangements, but every instrument placed in its own deliberately prominent place in the mix. ig that should give it a harder edge and maybe it does but its angelic as ever anyway,,while he gets a surprising amount of tonal variety out of his songs, the default aesthetic of curtis' voice is a kind of idealistic humanity-wide kindness pushing through the vile evils of an unjust world, of which his only rival is probably stevie. so lovely

could i write poetry to this? n

Good and funky, but not exceptionally good and funky.

It was good, well produced and a cool cover of Hard Times by Baby Huey but nothing that blew me away

Pretty decent album, flows nicely. Doesn't stand out as such, though.

Very funky

Közepesen unalmas, lagymatag, idegesítő vokál. Nem az én világom.

Super fun, love this sound. Always enjoy an American-critique album.

Нейтральная приятная музыка

Pretty dire squeaky vocals on top of bland music. There was nothing memorable about this in any way, which is probably a good thing.

Definitely didn’t hate this! I liked the smooth guitar sound and to a point, the vocals were also enjoyable if not a tad falsetto at times.

This is among my favorite sounds from the 20th century. Brilliantly recorded. Top-notch musicianship. But the lack of melody and uninspired lyrics consign it to being just great background music

Good this

I love the groove of this album. It's so smooth, but you can feel it boiling underneath. Billy Jack is a wonderful vibe of a song hiding much darker lyrics. So In Love felt like a slow soul jam from Prince before Prince was a thing.

Good

Incredible.

For a certain mood. Favorite track: Love to the People

This album was decent

A reference for most of soul and black music singers.

Thank goodness its short. Also, racism! IDK. I listened to it but felt nothing.

Nice smooth listen. Short and sweet, would like to revisit.

Ljúfir tónar frá tónlistarmanni sem ég þekki nafnið á en hef ekkert hlustað á fyrr en núna og ég fílaði það sem ég heyrði. Þetta var alveg mjög gott stöff. Þessi plata fer aftur í spilun.

One of the best parts of working through this list is stumbling across albums I never would've picked on my own. Curtis Mayfield was a name I knew, but I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I’ve never been big into funk, but this album hits different. The grooves are smooth, the production is tight, and the lyrics actually say something. Curtis doesn't sugarcoat a thing—he gets straight to the heart of social issues, and a lot of what he’s singing about still hits hard today. He balances heavy themes with laid-back vibes in a way that makes it stick. Definitely one of the better surprises so far.

I really loved the smooth R&B and it spoke to the soul

I’ve heard of Curtis Mayfield before as an influential soul artist, having heard the title track to the Superfly soundtrack before. Not only is this album emblematic of that style, but it’s a slow burner as he kept the tempo slow and the space breathable for the instruments. Curtis carried a nice sultry delivery to complement his lyrics involving racial prejudice and economic disparity. The only exception is “So in Love” which was a nice funky jam. What does hold me back from outright loving this album is the slower tempo does drag the momentum by the end, and there could have been a little more variance in the songwriting. It’s not bad but songs tend to blend together in places, even for a short runtime. For what’s it worth, There’s No Place is a solid in-and-out adventure for the kind of conscious soul music Curtis was pushing at the time.

Boooooring

I'm immediately interested in this. I only know Curtis Mayfield from Superfly, plus the first track is called BILLY JACK. Great movie hero. More chill than that, musically. "Depression ain't quite just what you promised." - I don't fully understand it, but I think I feel it. I put this album on immediate replay after a first listen. No ragrets.

This is everything I need for '70s soul. Curtis Mayfield is a genius and the only problem I have with this album is it's not longer. It's phenomenal front to back.

if you could go anywhere where would you go

Billy Jack is a helluva strong start to an album but things immediately fell off and don't quite reach that high level again. Overall okay album

It was alright I suppose - I prefer his more uptempo stuff and some of the stuff he produced for other artists

Pretty good listen, but not as good as Superfly.