Superfly

Dated but Supervibe! Under-rated guitarist and singer.

Fantastic album.

This is very good. Funky. Heavy. Great music. A high 4 rounded up to a 5.

Curtis is a genius. My vinyl copy has a few skips (1) but it's still a no skips (2) album. Also, this reminded me that I have an Impressions compilation I haven't listened to in ages that is also great.

A fantastic album

I got this one back in 2024. Here is my review: Loved it. The instrumentals, the grooves. I love how jammy everything felt, and how cohesive one song to the next feels. The lyrics are sharp and pointed.

This has to be the greatest Soundtrack ever.

9/10 This is an album that I return to on the regular. It’s one of those records that is kind of hard to separate from its legacy, being such a massive influence on soul and soundtracking music during the 1970s, as well as a keystone in the development of hip-hop through being extensively sampled. The thing that jumps out to me the most on this record is how much the groove of each track is shared out among the different instruments. Often the main drum beat will be a fairly simple rhythm, but layered over that are a broad range of instruments, bass, guitar, strings, horns vocals, all of which contribute to the rhythm in their own way to create this shuffling, evolving groove that is so much more than the sum of its parts, and is often impossible not to move to. There’s also balance here, with those dense rhythmic combinations making way for more subtle moments in which the groove, while still impeccable, steps slightly away from the spotlight and lets the harmonic richness of the orchestration take the lead. Curtis Mayfield is on top form with both vocals and lyrics, with his vocal work being so well delivered with swagger and style, while embracing a brevity that ensures that the music is the star, while getting his personality and message across in a deft, yet sharp way. He touches on themes of poverty and its effects on drug issues in society in a way that is counter to the more neutral tone with which this and other blaxploitation films tended to deal with such matters. Returning to the music, it’s important to recognise that Curtis not only sang on this album, but wrote and produced the whole thing too. He had help with the arrangements of the brass and strings, but that was just assistance and all of the actual composition came from him. Those lush orchestrations are a great achievement for a guy who couldn’t read music, and the balance that he gets in the mix is sublime. One final word on the musical content of this record has to go to Master Henry Gibson on percussion, who brings an edge of mania to proceedings with his intense and groovy performances. I absolutely love the rhythmic contributions he makes, in some places subtle, in others frenetic, and this record, alongside the Incredible Bongo Band, is my go to for showing that bongos don’t just belong in hippie drum circles. As a whole, there are the occasional lulls where we dip into work that is (justifiably, as this is a soundtrack) a touch more ‘background’ than the rest of the work, but by keeping this to a tight runtime, Curtis masterfully sidesteps most of those issues to create an endlessly engaging, hooky and soulful record that’s worth revisiting time and time again. Little Child Runnin' Wild - The vibe of this is so good. From the rolling bongo work of Master Henry Gibson to the superb string arrangements that dance beautifully between pizzicato and legato sections and the laid back swagger of Curtis Mayfield’s vocal, every part contributes something great to the track. I could name any number of the instrumental performances in there to be honest, because it’s so well orchestrated and balanced. It’s stuffed full of feeling, and has a solid groove to it too. It’s not necessarily the best song on the record, but it kicks things off and sets the tone incredibly well. Pusherman - More fantastic percussion here, it’s a swarming, shuffling cloud of beats that create an edgy feel, but it’s all kept tied down by the beat from the drum kit. There are some great riffs and hooks in this too. Things feel slightly unclear in places, but it’s a really effective technique when Curtis brings it back together through the tighter chorus sections. Lovely stuff. Freddie's Dead - Again, some really great hooks here, and some more fantastic beats, with a focus more on Morris Jennings’ drum work, but still ably supported by the percussion work. There are more cool 70s soul strings in here that just conjure that cinematic vibe that tie this in perfectly to its soundtracking role. Mayfield’s vocal again has a laid back swagger to it, but speaks with purpose and intent too. The orchestration is full, but well balanced and the production is again top notch. So much groove, so much rhythm, but all really well presented. Junkie Chase (Instrumental) - A lovely slice of soundtrack work now. It really conjures up a vibe and mental image of a typical 70s blaxploitation film. It’s only short, but again, it’s really well put together and incredibly evocative. Give Me Your Love (Love Song) - The way the groove passes between the instruments during the into of this track is wonderful. It’s a great example of how much rhythm can be constructed by a complete arrangement, rather than just the percussion work. The bass on this track is lovely, and there’s some really nice guitar work during the instrumental sections too. It’s nice to have a track that focuses primarily on instrumental work, but also dips into vocal sections here and there too. As with much of the record, the vibe and groove here is of the highest quality and while the hooks aren’t quite as forceful as they could be, the vibe just sweeps you along. Eddie You Should Know Better - Gorgeous strings, gorgeous horns and a slow, subtle groove that’s impossible not to move to. This has another great drum performance from Jennings and some lovely, understated pieces of guitar work that add so much depth and ear candy to the track. Mayfield’s vocal is of great quality too. This was brief, but excellent. No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song) - This track is probably one of the first ones that feels more like a pure song, rather than a track that is doing double duty as both soundtrack and song. Again, it’s so strong rhythmically that it’s impossible not to move to. The combination of strings and horns here is excellent, and there are a really nice selection of hooks that pop up from different instruments and then just disappear away again to make way for something new. The sax solo is so much fun, and manages to balance itself really well even while it sits beneath Curtis’ lovely vocal. And he’s right; it sure is funky. Think (Instrumental) - Things take a more sombre turn now and, while there’s still good groove, it feels like the focus here is more melodic. There are some really nice motifs, particularly from the clarinet (? or oboe?). It’s a lovely piece of soundtracking work and there are a lot of highlights from each of the instruments, from little flute trills, to runs on the bass and guitar licks that just flick in and out of focus. It’s not the highest intensity track, but it’s harmonically rich and pretty lovely, regardless. Superfly - And why not close with a soul masterpiece? The bass line is great, the insistent intensity of the groove is so good and the loose, laid back guitar work just adds a subtle edge of chilled swagger to things. Curtis saves his best vocal hooks for the finishing line too, with that “tryin’ to get over” hook hitting every single time. As with much of the album, it’s hard to write about this in brief, because there’s so much going on, all contributing significantly to the vibe and groove of the track. Suffice it to say that this is a masterpiece of orchestration, groove creation, production and hook writing within the context of a broader piece. Brilliant.

C'est trop bon pour être juste une soundtrack.

This just ruled.

I really enjoyed the album. I listened to it throughout my shift! It was my first time using this site and i definitely would not have known about this album otherwise!

This is a great album. It's dark, tonally consistent, with glimpses of brightness that break through the harsh reality of the story it's telling. I think the musicianship on this particularly stands out. It's well produced and layered - I can hear everything that each member is doing. This sticks out specifically on the instrumental Think, which is probably my favorite here. Superfly, Pusherman, and Freddie's Dead are all great as well. I think it's a great album, a highlight of the blaxsploitation genre it represents.

love it. looooooooove it.

Really fun and funky album

The man.

This album is so good, it's hard to grasp that it's a score/soundtrack to a film. The title track is peerless.

On the Mt. Rushmore of people who did NOT need to go this hard

Absolute classic.

SÍ a todo. La percusión, el bajo, las guitarras, las cuerdas, los vientos y sobretodo la voz. Normalmente lo que me gusta de las bandas sonoras es que relaciono canciones con momentos e imágenes y eso es lo que me llega a transmitir algo, pero en este caso es increible como puede funcionar perfectamente como algo individual sin necesidad de haber visto la película (que ahora quiero ver, por cierto). Todas las canciones son mi favorita, pero si tuviera que quedarme con algunas serían Little Child Runnin' Wild, Freddie's Death y Think.

LOVE IT SUCH A VIBE

Such a great album. Freddie’s Dead and Super Fly are absolute classics.

little child running wild, 9/10 pusherman, 8/10 freddie’s dead, 8.5/10 junkie chase, 9/10 give me your love, 8.5/10 eddie you should know better, 8.5/10 no thing on me, 8/10 think, 8.5/10 superfly, 9/10 freddie’s dead theme, 9/10 superfly single mix, 8.5/10 like gaye’s troubleman, only a bit worse than that. will have to watch the film now.

When to listen: strutting. It’s got substance, it’s got style, it’s a great freakin album.

Nóżka chodzi, dusza tez

Moody, expertly crafted, I love it.

I think this is pretty much exactly what it was supposed to be and what it needed to be. I don't really have any informed take on exploitation films but this soundtrack has to be one of the prime examples and it's a genre that gets parodied often but not earnestly emulated which makes this stand out to me. I think its worth hearing

Sexy cool smooth like silk his voice the vibe of this album is fantastic. I love it its got soul and blues and it just stands out.

His falsetto very much feels more "easy" in this album than in *There's No Place Like America Today*. *America* came up first in my list and I said at the time that I thought he was stretching his range, or his range had shortened slightly by that late and hearing this makes me think I was probably correct. He doesn't sound like he's straining at all. There is nothing at all about this album that is a strain to listen to like the last. There is no better way to summarize my thoughts on this album other than: Overall score: 10/10 Would I listen to again: Absolutely. Songs into the playlist: The entire album except *Eddie You Should Know Better*.

This album is super fly

Perfect

2 words: Superb album 5/5

One of the best damn movie soundtracks you'll ever hear. Solid 5 Stars.

It’s a 10. Well, it’s the magnum opus I was hoping for after how much I enjoyed “There's No Place Like America Today”. Just an incredibly tight 37 minutes that never once loses focus of the story it’s trying to tell & the emotions it’s trying to capture. I’ve never actually seen Superfly (& I suspect it may not be as good as its soundtrack), but Curtis Mayfield’s work here makes me want to. That is the funkiest set of tracks about cocaine use in the inner city that I think I’ve ever heard. It also might be the only set of funky tracks about cocaine use that I’ll ever hear, which makes it a miracle that Curtis knocked it out of the fucking park here. Great lyricism across the board, some excellent production work for 1972 (the way the orchestra blends with everything else is stellar), and Curtis’ vocals give off a sense of inevitable despair that he’s constantly trying to overcome. He never adds much grit to his voice, even when it would be warranted, and I think that’s a great choice. If he ever got a little too gruffy, I think it wouldn’t fit with the vibe of the album. It’s meant to give off an air of confidence despite all the self-doubt contained within, and that control makes each track more potent. I really don’t think I have to say that much more; just put on some headphones, make sure you’re listening to both what he’s saying & just how rich the instrumentals are, and let the fastest 38 minutes of a movie soundtrack put to tape superfly by. I really, really enjoyed it, and it more than earns its place on the list. I’m glad it lived up to the expectations & its place in both the rap zeitgeist & the cultural zeitgeist. Everyone’s sampled this thing, in ways I didn’t even realize (see: Eminem interpolating “Pusherman” or J. Cole using “Think” for Nobody’s Perfect), in ways that I hope we see on the list, & in ways I hope to encounter in the future. It feels like a timeless record that needs to stay in the public consciousness. It’s a 10.

écouté le 10 juin sur l’île

Super and Fly.

5/9

No skips. An absolute funk masterpiece.

God that fucking slapped. Perfect album

Dark, groovy and mysterious, this soundtrack is truly one of the greatest examples of a film score standing alone from it's attributed movie. Mayfield's a virtuoso of many talents and his contributions to this record are impeccable. Down to his falsetto, the anti-drug lyricism, and funky guitars and bass. This record is a 70's funk time capsule in the best way possible. The title track and "No Thing on Me" are the highlights for me. A very good listen.

A stone cold classic. Love this.

exactly the kind of album i would likely never have discovered without this website. smooth, groovy. i'm still vibing after two consecutive listens. will definitely listen to this again

Great start to the week. Maybe I'm just not in the right circles, but man do I feel like Curtis Mayfield gets left out of the conversation too much. There's a trend of r&b and hip hop being very cinematic (sometimes to a fault imo, at least lately) and it feels like it began with him, Isaac Hayes, Donny Hathaway, etc. If you go through the blaxploitation wiki page and check notable films, you'll see a crazy list of top tier musicians that contributed to these films and married film/visual story with their music and a lot of the soundtracks are GOOD. Like, really good. Better than the movies most of the time. And this one is no exception, essentially a flawless album full of sociopolitical concious themes that still ring out in the present, which is sad but impressive for its longevity. If you've never heard any Curtis, the line from the Impressions up to this point is so cool. Hearing the sound evolve while keeping certain familiar aspects. I recommend going through the whole discog. Curtis Mayfield loves taking the B section to the m4, and so do I. 5 out of 5.

very well done album

Such a good album. Funky, great vocals and lyrics.

One of my favorite albums ever. I bought this in a dollar bin when I was 27 because I knew I liked Curtis Mayfield, but I didn't expect it to be a daily listen for the next 5 years of my life. Everything on this album is perfect, but especially the orchestration and arrangement. Curtis Mayfield discovered a whole new kind of ghetto chic language with this album and you can still hear its resonance today. Also, I have a fond memory of getting very stoned and watching Superfly (the movie), which is not really a great film but it nonetheless feels totally immersive because the soundtrack is so incredible.

the fiveiest five to ever five

pretty fly and pretty snazzy the layering imo brings it to a 5.

I think this is more of what I wanted out of that Isaac Hayes record. But instead of lengthy and deep opuses, we get single-ready soundtrack material with a man who sang in a higher register. Then again I'm comparing this album to Hot Buttered Soul and not Shaft which would make more sense. Who am I kidding? I see Mayfield and Hayes in the same field as progressive soul pioneers, so of course I would compare the two. My basic word: Superfly is really good. But frankly, I am exhausted right now, so stay tuned for my further analysis when I get Shaft on this site. Whenever that will be (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)

Cool and chill.

put this thru your earbuds// your radio speakers = instantly feel badass

I think listening to this on a Saturday evening really helped the listening experience. This thing is funky, fun, and fitting of a soundtrack for a Blaxploitation film. Would gladly listen again.

Despite being a film soundtrack this is still incredibly relistenable. Incredible album. The drums, the brass, the bass, the vocals, everything is soulful and sounds crispy as hell. This is political and gets its message across without relying on cheap rage.

I'll be adding personally next album

I used this as the soundtrack to a school project.

'Kind of sad / Kind of mad / Ghetto child / Thinkin' he's been had.' Reason why this record doesn't just hold up but continues to astonish is that Curtis keeps it real deal simple. 'Ain't I clean? / Bad machine / Super cool / Super mean.' This is the ABCs of ghetto life, ghetto networks, ghetto tragedy, & ghetto death, setting the groundwork for hip-hop realism that would come onto the scene a decade following, e.g., 'The Message.' 'Ain't nothing said / 'Cause Freddie's dead.' Sonically, it's a blast, the soundtracking aspects yielding cinematic frames for details that ought to be visualized to begin w/. It really has become a classic of the American arts, & I have yet to see the movie. Optimism too: 'I'm so glad I've got my own / So glad that I can see.'

I bought this soundtrack many years ago on cassette at a truck stop in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Truck stops are great. So is this album.

One of the albums that I’ve been doing this project to discover. Never heard of the album, the film or the artist and not my usual listening, but it doesn’t put a note wrong. Vocals smooth as silk and powerful lyrics. Also from Chicago and I doubt my favourite Terry Callier album will show up here, so 5 it is.

I’ve listened to this album 100 times and it never gets old.

Full disclosure, I own this album. But it's great to have it push it's way to the top of the rotation list. Every track is a classic. Impossible not to get into the groove of each track. And that voice... A slightly festive 5*

GOD

FUCKIN SWEET.

Better than Coldplay

Hard

Fire <3

When I listen to this, it infuriates me to no end that every single person in my vision is not also walking to the tempo of whichever song I'm listening to. GOD the STRINGS!!!! Haute fucking cuisine.

Soulalicious

Good soundtrack got a feel for the vibe of the movie without having seen it. Real soulful.

Smooth silky vocals. Experiences of inequality layered over up tempo beats. Instrumentation is perfection - the keys, brass, percussion. Vibey. Groovaayy.

Coolest thing I’ve listened to in ages. Love his voice

I don’t see how anyone could dislike this album. Smooth from start to finish. Excellent.

Essentially a soul funk concept album, that somehow seamlessly doubles as a movie soundtrack!

This was a cool album. I could get more into Curtis Mayfield. I think he has one of the smoothest voices ever. 9/10

This is really cool. Incredible voice with immaculate arrangement. Interesting subject matter. What's not to like?

curtis was experimenting w this one fyah tho

The funkiest and freshest motion picture score to set your soul ablaze.

Masterpiece. You know all these bass lines. Sometimes you just need that funk and you dont even know it!

Love Curtis. Yeah, this is a great album. It really is. I think I have to give it a 5. The album, not the movie. And that says so much.

Amazing album! Now I have to listen to it.

это мое первое знакомство с черным соул фанком и я потрясен, я думал послушать одну песню, но затянулся и послушал целый альбом на одном дыхание. the one ритм и жирный бас заставляли меня непроизвольно танцевать.. я реально весь альбом танцевал у себя в комнате. и я никогда так круто не импровизировал а вокал криса мэйфилда это нечто, высокий тонкий и продирающий до души и история самого альбома и текста сильные

First time I haven't seen the word 'boring' in the keywords from reviews. Groovy, soulful, deep and with real cinematic flair. The vocals are so smooth and the instrumentation is constantly engaging and interesting. Love the percussion on Pusherman and the orchestral layers draped over the record. Short, punchy, great.

Exceptional. Classic. Love.

What a legendary soundtrack.

Senti como se estivesse comendo uma salada de frutas, belo instrumental e vocal no álbum

Supergood. Had me from the opening moments. Deserves many a re-listen. Fav tracks: Little Child Runnin Wild, Pusherman Saved a song: Y RYM: Y (#580)

Si en algún momento quiero enamorar a alguien del jazz, del groove, del r&b puro; ya tengo la herramienta perfecta. Su primera canción, absolutmente todo que ver.

10/10

Curtis Mayfield is heartbreakingly underrated. Apparently blaxploitation movies were basically vehicles for funk musicians to make records. Pusherman is the most lighthearted song ever about a drug dealer. Freddie's Dead is the most overrated song on the album. My college roommate my freshman year loved Curtis Mayfield, and this album specifically, and he sucked. That may have put me off this for a while. Give Me Your Love (Love Song) might be the spiritual forerunner for all porno music. I love it. Curtis Mayfield loves using the harp in his music. I really like this album. Closes with the Theme for the movie, bold choice.

Lo instrumental me pareció sublime, tan Que hace totalmente difícil de encasillar en algún genero.

Love this one

God I love this record.

Beautiful

So good to get this after some of the dirge being handed put: the Cure followed by Supertramp. This has everything thag the prevoous lack; musical depth, great singing and soul.

it's a beautiful masterpiece all the tracks are at the same level it's not produced in a magnificent way it never gets boring you want it to end and it's of a quality at the level of what's going on by marvin gaye which is the masterpiece of soul both the lyrics and the productions at the same level

Never listened to the full album before, Pusherman remains my favourite

Very good, funky.

Right up my alley

cookin. impressive delicacy on the vocal delivery, and the band is absolutely in the pocket. bass is particularly fun.

Damn, what a soundtrack. Solid, top to bottom. 4.5/5

Es un una onda jazz de Nueva Orleans que te dan unas ganas de bailar y leer al mismo tiempo. La canción que se titula igual que el álbum diría que es mi favorita

9/10 I love how groovy it sounds while having such deep lyrics, Curtis Mayfield has such a beautiful voice. Also I'm kinda blown away that it's a soundtrack album because the storytelling is great on it's own.

wow. Masterpiece

Beautiful stuff

no one does falsetto like curtis mayfield. chattanooga's own lucky scott on bass really shines throughout. tbh the film super fly is a blaxploitation classic but i think this soundtrack holds up better than the film itself. it's arguable imo whether or not this is mayfield's best solo work but it's certainly what he's most remembered for, and it's not hard to hear why

About as cool as an album can be. Damn.

Now I wanna go through every blaxploitation movies soundtrack. Amazing and so cool.

What else to say - this is a classic of its genre and overall. Despite being a soundtrack album, this stands on its own without the film as context. Curtis' orchestrations are always outstanding, and this is a highly entertaining listen.

odlican

Pusher man is an all timer song

Good

that’s what i’m talking about!!!!

One of my favorite artists, so I made sure to listen with discernment to make sure it’s really five stars. It is.

Sweet funky jamz

This one is an easy 5/5 for me. Incredible album from start to finish. The music is fantastic, the basslines are smooth and deep, and the whole record moves with this effortless groove that pulls you in immediately. What really stands out is the storytelling. Every song paints a picture, and you can feel the streets and the ghetto atmosphere in every part of it. It’s soulful, honest, and full of character. Favorite tracks for me were Little Child Runnin’ Wild, Pusherman, Freddie’s Dead, and Superfly. Each one captures a different side of the story and the groove of the album perfectly.

Iconic, timeless, lives up to everything they say. -the piano runs in superfly are incredible -cool how simple some of the arrangements are, clearly influential they are in how familiar it feels after never listening in its entirety before

The greatest soundtrack ever.

Not sure I've ever listened to this album. Of course it's great. Curtis has a voice like no other. A little bit more repetitive (literally so) than I was expecting but I think that was the format and it was all great. Take me to the vinyl bin!

Is it legal to have this much soul?

All one song

Funky town

Very funky and cinematic

Great album!

Groovy

music is love

Great album

Orchestral 70s soul but with a deep groove and a dark underbelly. Curtis was an inspired choice to score this blaxploitation movie but i'm sure nobody expected quite how good this would be! Thematically on point, socially conscious and deeply funky, it inspired the future of movie soundtracks with it's gritty realism and brilliant storytelling.

so sweet

Absolute fuego

fuck yeah

Relajante, alegre y tranquilo. Me gusti bastante.

Sounds like most of the late 60's and early 70's funk and soul music. It's an amazing album! Quintessential 70's music!

'Ah, kids, remember the time when the soundtracks were better than the actual films?'

Funky! Likes: little child runnin wild, pusherman, Freddie’s dead, no thing on me, superfly

This is a soulful man. The way he covers such gritty topics in a smooth and beautiful way you sometimes forget the songs are about drug dealers and pimping. The instrumentation on this album is beautiful and soulful and some of the baselines have a a funk like feel to them. His vocals are beautiful and th way he effortlessly sings in falsetto that’s soft and smooth really pairs perfectly with the music.

Instant 5

Twas cool and groovy

Hell fucking yeah that was really cool

This was my 666th album from this list. Here I am thinking it will sound like hell, but instead I had hella fun listening to it! Beautiful grooves, great percussion and horns and vocals and everything. Just so groovy and fun. And it's a perfect length, enough to not get bored of it and just have a very pleasant experience. This album put me in such a great mood, I loved it.

For a couple of years, I have been listening to "Pusherman" and absolutely love it; Mayfield's voice and that smooth bass make for one of the funkiest tracks to ever exist. This will be the first time listening to the album in full. Straight away with "Little Child Runnin' Wild" I fell in love. The synth keyboard and drums, the introduction of that funky bass, the strings whistling in and the smooth entrance of Mayfield's amazing vocals... just simply incredible. "Freddie's Dead" reverbed bass, clicks and brass bring the same funk with a different flavour; the album is consistent in it's quality the whole way through. There wasn't a single track I disliked. If that's not deserving of the full stars, I don't know what is.

This album was great. One of the best so far. Lush, smooth soul, with deep, thought-provoking lyrics. The album hits on many heavy topics, such as drug dealing and death, but never sacrifices the quality of the music to tell its story. I’ll be returning to this, no doubt, and everyone should hear this album.

10!! I lika de songas!!!!

Album Review 064 Superfly by Curtis Mayfield (1972) Rating 5/5 Possibly the best soundtrack and also funk/soul album of all time.

>>>>>> the Beatles What are we even talking about here? One of the best songs of all time (Pusherman) One of the best theme songs of all time One of the best scores/soundtracks of all time Simply one of the greatest and most enjoyable albums of all time

This album was definitely music to my ears. A better combo of message and funk cannot be found. I put “Pusherman” on my Generator playlist but it really could have been any of the tracks.

Really loved this album. Great performances all around. Stand out tracks were Pusherman and Freddie's Dead. Will probably come back to this one.

Very fun jazzy listen with many great songs. Crazy that this is a movie soundtrack. Would listen to this album voluntarily :)

10/10 no notes

banger after banger after banger. kind of perfect. i love music that sounds a little sleazy and this album nails it. i should watch the movie now

Yup, always liked this type of music. Funky and groovy

Awesome!

Incredible album. Easy five stars

Another album that I never heard before, but have heard all the songs in the periphery via movies, commercials or hip hop remixes.

That was great and pretty funky.

8.7 Favourite: Pusherman Least favourite: No Thing On Me

Beautiful album. I´m not a soul music big fan but It's so inspiring.

A fantastic antidote to the utter shite I’ve been put through lately. Pure class

A brilliant soundtrack album. At the time, Curtis only made brilliant records though. It feels like he should be talked about more regularly in the same breath as Marvin and Stevie. This was his biggest success but his first two solo albums should be in the 1001.

okay amazing

A BANGER! Everything about this album is fantastic.

Certified un-skippable track list. One of the best soundtracks of all time that outshines the movie. It’s not even considered a soundtrack anymore…this is a Curtis Mayfield classic with conscious & soulful lyrics, and smooth, catchy, funky music. He also has to be one of the more underrated, not talked about guitarists of all time. The inspiration this album had on rap/rnb music in the decades to come shows how well it stands the test of time.

This album evokes a time, place and entire movie genre. The fact that it’s a film soundtrack but yet works as a studio album will have no doubt influenced Quentin Tarantino. Never has the underworld sounded so stylish and groovy……

Really good soul music, Mr Mayfield has a very smooth voice

Highlights: - Little Child Runnin’ Wild - … Pusherman - Freddie’s Dead - Eddie You Should Know Better - No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song) - Superfly

A soundtrack where the songs tell the story incredibly well. Great lyrics, fantastic musicians playing great soul/rnb, and excellent vocals.

Love old R&B blues stuff. Great album and good intro to a new artist

Mmmmmmm baby, Mr. Mayfield. God. Damn. Superfly is super fly. Soulful, funky, smart, and poignant. Pretty freaking hard to beat.

Super fly!

Really enjoyed this from start to finish!

<3

An absolutely incredible album. The jazzy elements combine perfectly with the soul feel of these songs, and Curtis’ drug focussed lyrics balance the upbeat sounds with a dark undertone. I’ve not seen the film, or fully dived into the meaning of the lyrics, but I’m more than happy to just listen to this one on repeat and enjoy it. Favourites are little child running wild, pusherman (I absolutely love those drums) and no thing on me

Some amazing, smooth 70s soul.

Eine der coolsten Platten aller Zeiten. Das ist mal ne richtige 10/10. Muss unbedingt irgendwann mal den Film sehen. Ist bestimmt herrlich trashig.

Imagine how good this would be if it wasn't tied to a being a movie soundtrack. Full of great songs here, even the instrumentals make for a pleasant listen. High points are Pusherman, , Freddie's Dead, Little Child Runnin' Wild and the title track for me. Curtis Mayfield is an excellent song craftsman and he elevated this random blacksploitation movie to something still listened to half a century later. Super warm and groovy.

How is someone allowed to cook this hard on a soundtrack? Was already familiar with ‘Pusherman’ and ‘Superfly’, however the rest is just as groovy. Truly excellent stuff. ‘Freddie’s Dead’ and ‘Pusherman’ the standouts for me.

Before Listening: Curtis Mayfield sounds familiar, looks pretty funky and soulful. Excited to give it a try. During Listening: feel like I’m listening to the blueprint. Very palatable and easy going, while also being thematic. I wish Mayfields vocals shined a little more through the sound. Had to give it a second listen because I wanted to hear it more. After Listening: I get all warm and fuzzy thinking about this listen, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s strattling the line of 4.5 to 5 stars. Will absolutely return to this album. Before listening: 0/11 songs saved After listening: 2/11 songs saved

The production on this album is really beautiful. So smooth! Vocals are like melted butter, I could listen to this all day. My highlights were: Pusherman, Think.

4.63

Luv dit! De instrumentals zijn zo goed. Mega aanstekelijk. Wat mij betreft de beste manier om een big band in te zetten. En dan met Curtis' zwoele stem erbij, veeg me op, neem me mee, doe een dansje. Ps. Ik wil meer handdrums in muziek!

Damn man, het is dat ik echt letterlijk niet langer kan staan dan 3 seconden maar hier wil je toch gewoon sex van gaan hebben. Het is tijdloos meesterwerk, funky groovy en lekker gewoon.

The best soundtrack ever

You have the right to remain sexy 😮‍💨 I love when musicians are just good at their instruments and I love when that comes through especially in a lil funky number like this one. HOLY SHIT I LOVE SOUL

Smooth and enjoyable listening experience. Love the bass lines and the sound of the bass.

Loved it!!

Instrumentos muy upbeat soul y jazzy, suave coz con ritmo y tonos agudos en partes, various tipos de tambores un saxofone que ese feeling como de tranquilidad y como flow en las canciones, sinfonia clara

amazing amazing amazing! Every time I get a recordación of a Curtis album I am always blown away and amazed🤩

Little Child Runnin Wild - 5/5 Pusherman - 5/5 Freddie's Dead - 5/5 Junkie Chase (Instrumental) - no rating Give Me Your Love (Love Song) - 4/5 Eddie You Should Know Better - 4/5 No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song) - 4/5 Think (Instrumental) - 3/5 Superfly - 5/5 Average score: 4.4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This music is full and vibrant.

Super album

Holy moly

So fucking soulful, heartbreaking and joyful, and above all gorgeous. Highlights: Pusherman, Freddie's Dead, Superfly, No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song)

Nice

Стильно і хітово. Заслужена класика

great start. amazing vibes. listened while doing homework so i didnt get to listen to the details but it got me in a really good mood. 10/10

Funky, soulful, smooth. I ran it back as soon as it ended and it stayed just as fresh 🔥

I am already a Mayfield fan. I love this album. It's fabulous.

I'm not a soundtrack guy, I don't get the appeal of listening to music that is completely out of context. Obviously, there are exceptions. The Harder They Come leaps to mind. Superfly occupies its own realm, not so much a soundtrack as it is a concept album inspired by a movie with a completely different ethos. The film is cool with what's happening but Curtis is here to tell you they're wrong, and why. He turned an exploitive piece of garbage film into a staggering work of genius. Superfly is not just the best ever soundtrack, it's one of the best albums ever made by anyone in any genre. 10/5

Easiest 5/5 I've ever given. This album is phenomenal.

A stone cold classic. Pure funky greatness from one of the master composers of the genre.

Отлична запись, шёл и почти танцевал.

Fun and funky

tusk

My system was peaked out rockin’ Pusherman on the way to work.

Badass soul

First listen

I've never seen the movie, but if the soundtrack is like this, the movie must be just as good.

It means something special when I smiled as soon as I saw this was my album of the day. The title track and Freddie's Dead are on my go to list whenever I'm sharing new tracks with people and I want to impress them with my taste and preference because they present everything you could ever want from a music taste, style and intelligence and unending amounts of smooth and cool. I've never seen the film but I ultimately believe soundtrack albums fall into one of two categories of creation; a soundtrack made with the film in mind or the soundtrack for a film. This is very much the former, it flows like an album should and is incredibly cohesive for what a lesser musician would've just made a checklist of themes. The idea of a concept album as a soundtrack is so obvious and yet still genius, and so underutilized while this is a very clear sign that it should be done more. The music itself is stellar, I think Curtis Mayfield is massively underrated in his work and anything he did that is popular should only be more so. The production is incredibly clean, the feel is smooth and unyieldingly tight so much so that 43 minutes will pass before you know it. Best songs: Superfly, Freddie's Dead and Pusherman Worst song: N/A (will only really be used when I think a song actively takes away from an album) Rank compared to everything else so far: 2/9

Classic funk sick soundtrack

This is one of the greatest soundtracks of all time, end of story. While it's a shame it has overshadowed the film—which is also great—you can't argue with what Curtis Mayfield created. "Pusherman" is one of the great songs of this era, which is saying something considering all the legendary stuff that came from this time. This rules, the end.

I really can't get enough of this album. Isaac Hayes may have come first for Blaxploitation soundtrack genre. Marvin Gaye beat Mayfield to the politically conscious soul concept album. But for my money, Curtis Mayfield blows them both out of the water with "Superfly". There's so much happening on this album. The entire story is laid out in the lyrics, eliminating the need to watch the film for many people. The music is just incredible. It's layered and contains so much variety. It avoids the common pitfalls of popular artists doing movie soundtracks where the music sounds too much like a typical film score. Even "Shaft" had this problem at times. But "Superfly" functions primarily as an album, only relying on traditional film music sparingly. It's a difficult balance to achieve, as commercial music can be distracting within a film's context. The variety of percussion and strings, along with the beautifully smooth soul music really captures the listener's attention throughout. Mayfield also manages to keep the lyrics grounded in the story, which gives the album a strong focus. "Superfly" was hugely influential among a lot of different artists and genres and I'm definitely not surprised. I've already listened to it four times over and will definitely return to it in the future.

Incredible

super five .

No skips, start to finish. "Pusherman" is my favorite, but this is a perfect album and I love it all.

Apparently this is one of the few soundtrack albums to financially outperform the film which inspired it. It didn’t hurt that the singles Superfly and Freddie’s Dead were such huge hits. It’s also, along Marvin Gaye’s album What’s Going On an example of that relative rarity, a soul concept album. Mayfield always sung his consciousness and here he firmly links drug addiction to urban poverty and has no truck with glamourising the pusher. This could easily have been all about the music or all about the viewpoint but neither dominate; rather the soul feel fells like it’s the only way the package could have been delivered. Perfect early 70s funk soul.

Oozes coolness

awesome album. i felt like i was in a 70s Pam Grier "Foxy" movie. not a bad tune on it. we all heard the great song "Superfly" but the one that stood out to me was "Pusherman". two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Classic. Unparalleled. Love this.

Never seen this movie before. Despite that, this soundtrack is amazing! Especially love how the guitar and bass sounded.

What a great way to start my week: by listening to this album. I don’t even know what else to say. The way the instruments are played, his smooth, soothing voice… I actually had to stop what I was doing just to feel it. This is what I call music.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this album as much as I did, it's not something I would normally listen to, so I thought I'd be bored, but I genuinely liked it

Superfly is a real soul/funk/bigband album. This is probably one of the greatest concept albums I've ever heard, Curtis voice harmonies so well with the lower sound segment. The instrument focuses mainly on percussion and great baselines, trumpets and strumming guitar taking over when Curtis is absent. This great work of layering makes it unbelievably easy to listen to, and something for everyone during a late night wine or beer drinking, or a slow morning. No matter the circumstances, there is a 100% certaincy for "today I will take the world" energy. Enjoy

Soulful, and perfectly executed album. I will add this one to the list of eclectic deep cuts when I want to listen to something different. I put it on twice today, expecting that some of the charm and novelty from the first listen would wear off by the second time I gave it a go but I enjoyed it just as much. It almost looses a point for being a soundtrack album and at times feeling like it was trying to stay to hard in the mold of the theme of the movie, but if was pulled off so well I didn't mind.

Classic and amazing, ain’t nothing like Superfly!

Goated

This is just so good, lush arrangements and deep heartfelt lyrics. Very enjoyable and I keep playing it over the past few days since it was assigned. No filler, just wonderful music that holds your interest throughout.

CLASSIC!!!!

Fuck. Yes. Enough said.

This was super cool, I really liked the lyrics telling the story about the drug dealer and observing these issues in the community. It's told with a real smooth and funky soul sound. Loved it

nice!

A very powerful record.

9/10

If pressed I would probably say Curtis Mayfield is my favourite musician of all time. The Impressions and the first 5 or so solo albums he made are all perfect to me. Listened to this on my stereo full blast while reorganizing my soul CDs today. Undeniable

Iconic soul and funk.

Took some warming up to. Such a nice niche vibe of soulful lyrics and calm composition. Sleek 70s soul sound

Fantastic album! Haven't heard this in a while, so happy it was in the queue.

Cooles Album, konnte mich echt aufmuntern, als ich in einem negativen Mood war. Nice positive Vibes.

Loved it

Classic. The thing that strikes me is the grit.

Damn, cocaine makes for great subject matter.

10:10 a classic classic soundtrack This album was the soundtrack to a blaxploitation film starring Ron o’Neil and directed by Gordon parks junior. The album is my favorite Time line 1972 great albums: the seventies was a time of progressive music. The music pushed the boundaries of space and time. So many good albums came out at that time, a lot to be excited about from Jim Croce to Yes. These include- Wars” the world is a ghetto” Genesis “foxtrot” Allman brothers “eat a peach” Frank Zappa “wake/jawaka” David Bowie “the rise and fall of ziggy stardust” Stevie wonder “talking book” Yes “close to the edge” Fela kuta “Shakira” Jim Croce “you don’t mess around with Jim”

Simply amazing. RIP to the Gentle Genius. The album goes so much deeper than the flick it was made for.

Great

Nothing on Me et Freddie's Dead sont deux chansons que je connaissais pas et qui sont des pépites !

Normally not a fan of falsetto whiny high pitched voices in soul music, but wow do the instrumentals and lyrics compensate. Listened to it twice in a row because I couldn’t get enough, and spent the trainride home reading his biography. Fascinating person who wrote some fascinating music. If some good music with some great societal critique isn’t worth 5 stars, I don’t know what is.

Every song was perfection.

Mayfield is a genius, known for his politically relevant songs before this instead of being overt he uses the lives of characters in an exploration film to explore the same ideas. And it’s funky!

Very super fly

uma vibe incrível, com certeza um achado que vou continuar ouvindo futuramente.... me recorda os jazz que se escuta pelas ruas de noite, sentimento inesplicavel

The falsetto gets a little annoying after while but I'm still giving it a five.

This album blows my mind. Mayfield was a musical genius!!

I’ve had this for years and loved it. Like Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man” soundtrack as well as film music by Isaac Hayes and Quincy Jones, there’s something about that mix of soul hits and incidental music that makes these albums wonderful and somehow timeless.

This soundtrack makes me want to watch the film again.

I only knew one song by Curtis before listening but I loved this album. Especially the drums and bass and deep lyrics.

A top rated soundtrack album from the 70s. This LP is filled with smooth RnB grooves. Freddie's Dead and Superfly lead the way on this iconic album

Quite simply, this soundtrack is great blend of funk and soul. It's too early in the morning for me to think of anything more though, so I will leave it at that.

Loved it

Groovin'! J'avais hâte de tomber sur du soul/funk, excellent album!

Bring back the movie soundtrack!

I love this movie!

Very cool album here. I haven't seen the movie, but the album makes me want to see the movie. There is so many unique sonic aspects of this and other funky soul albums. I'm not very informed on the history of funk and soul, but it does feel very iconic in the formation of that sound. It feels musically and instrumentally, very very crisp and well orchestrated. All the songs on this album are good, 2 or 3 were great, and I really enjoyed the instrumental "Think" which seemed pleasantly out of place.

Love this album but I'm always going to give high marks to 70s funk. One of my favorite genres of music and this album does not disappoint. Pusherman alone makes this a great album but add in Superfly and Freddie's Dead - how can you not give it a five

Great Album and sparked a lot of related artists in the day.....Quincy Jones, Herbie Handcock to name a few

A classic and immaculate soundtrack. 5/5

One of the greatest soul albums of all time. Not only is the music fantastic, but it’s the social commentary that really brings this entire album to another level. The songs are catchy and attention grabbing, and just make you listen to the message he’s trying to spread.

God listening to this makes you feel so cool. 5/5 Best Song: Pusherman

Rustig en goed. Lekker om naar te luisteren.

Soul + funk es una combinación increíble. Me hace feliz escuchar estilos que no suelo escuchar y aprender un poquito más de historia de la música.

Banging. The way I swaggered into work after this should be a HR violation. Love it.

Funky, full of social commentary, and ever so relevant. Super fly is a phenomenal soundtrack, arguably one of the greatest sound tracks of all time. Freddies dead, No Thing On Me, and Superfly are master classes in funk, making this record a landmark

This album fucks hard

I had fun with this one, what a banger! Seriously not a bad track on here! Smooth, soulful and groovy from start to finish. Really enjoyed Mayfield's buttery vocals in Little Child Runnin' Wild over over that funky rythym and massive horn section.

Classic Funk from a glorious age in music!

Amazing. Wonderful, deep, thought provoking and beautiful. The statement "the album was a surprise hit that record executives felt had little chance at significant sales," is one that hurts my ear balls. How did they listen to the same album i just heard and think, naaah?!? Great album to start the week with

Totally love this album and had to listen to it twice! His voice is like honey!

It might be a film soundtrack but it does not need the film to work brilliantly.

I'm pretty sure I saw this movie back in the early 80s, but I've never sat down and listened to the soundtrack. I'd put this up on the same shelf as Marvin Gaye's *What's Goin' On.* They're both great explorations of the scene in the early 70s. Now that I think about it, they would probably make a great double album together.

This record has been called the Black Sgt Pepper’s. There’s not really a direct comparison, but this record is just as important in the cultural landscape. It’s effect on Soul, Funk and Hip-Hop is monumental. This record kind of blew my mind and set me on the path to discovering more and more soul music (this record along with Al Green’s Greatest Hits). An undeniable classic. Still haven’t seen the movie.

this was actually fire i was considering adding some of these to my playlist because they slap hard icl 🔥

This is the hundred ninety first album I’m rating. I’ve only listened to Superfly before. Adding to my Playlist - Little Child Runnin’ Wild, Pusherman, Freddie’s Dead, Junkie Chase, Give Me Your Love (Love Song), Eddie you Should Know Better, No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song), Think, and Superfly. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Superfly - This makes me think of Diamond is Unbreakable. All in all I liked 9/9 songs. I’ve listened to two Curtis Mayfield albums and they’ve been some of the best ever.

This doesn't feel like an album; it's a whole soundscape, a cinematic experience. You don't even have to "like" all the songs; they just take you somewhere that only they can take you.

A classic that still holds up. Man imagine hearing Freddy's Dead for the first time in 1972.

Não conhecia este álbum e ainda não vi o filme (honestamente, acho que a única música que conhecida do Curtis Mayfield era o Move on Up) e ADOREI!!! Que vibe, que ritmo, que boa onda, que tudo!

What an awesome little slice of soul. Super clean, punchy, expensive product. Great playing. Tastefully put together through and through. Interesting lyrical themes.

Funky Soul

Incredible record - concept album, adaptation almost - feels like a complete story. Instruments are perfect, vocals so smooth. Minimalistic funk sound with percussion and a strong atmosphere throughout.

A perfect album of funk and soul. It’s concise and it gets across its messages successfully. Every song on the album is a work of musical genius. The lyrics provide a look at the struggles of the poor and drug addiction and selling. The album is tied together with recurring lyrical themes such as the title character, the “Pusherman”, “junkies”, and “The Man”. The last 3 tracks do so much to tie everything up, with No Thing on Me functioning as a sort of thesis statement, followed by Think, an instrumental that allows you do what the title tells you to, think. Finally, the title track lends a nice wrap-up to the album. 5/5

Production, vocals, instrumentals, songwriting…all great. Will buy on wax.

Amazing social commentary. Amazing music, amazing vocals. All around amazing.

Own it

This is one of the best soundtracks Ive never listened too before. What an amazing album. Funk, slow, intrumentals, fast songs. Simply a touch of every flavor song order was perfect. Producing was superb.

I'm dancing, I really like this, I like the softness of his voice, with the relative calmness throughout some songs, mixed with slap in your face instrumentals. The subject matters are interesting, just really well done. I can't believe this is a movie soundtrack.

incr

Insane banger! Just realized I haven’t even seen this movie yet - wtf! But I did see the remake in theaters and it was great… also a great soundtrack… More songs should announce their subtext like No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song) does. Third Eye Blind could have called it Semi-Charmed Life (Crystal Meth Song)

this was one of my first CDs and just some of the absolute most badass music ever made... i absolutely loveeee this era of orchestral soul music with the nasty ass horns. btw i legit think this and curtis are two of the best albums ever... just undeniably cool

Align with the time, but relevant still today. I dig it.

I love this album so much. The opening track is so lush and rich. He was on fire! I’m almost afraid to watch the film because these songs work perfectly as stand alones.

A brilliant beautiful album.

What a hell of a man and an album

So tight

So cool, just so cool. "Pusherman" might be the coolest song ever made. This is what you want when you're after an album with a social justice lens. The music can also be good! 5/5.

Very pretty fun album; kind of wish it was more varying in the tempo, but I've liked it enough

I've always loved this album.