Superfly

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

while not as earthshattering to me as Curtis, this soundtrack certainly earns a spot in the highest echelon of "movie soundtracks known more than their source film". not that i'm uninterested in checking Superfly out, far from it, but this is one of a handful that gets treated like a "real" album. yeah no i really liked this one! wonderful title track. deserves to be one of the 1001? yes!

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.

Son las 6 y pico y no se me guardó la reseña...... 3,5/5 pero le pongo un 4 porque no conocía a este señor (ni la peli) y ha sido un buen descubrimiento. Mi fav la de little child o superfly

Think, Superfly y Eddie sa matao me han gustado mucho. La canción de la cocaína me ha decepcionado, supongo. En resumen lo he escuchado a gusto y disfrutado, pero al terminarlo ya no me acordaba de nada. Buena música de fondo.

LOVE IT SUCH A VIBE

very soulful and funky, curtis mayfield never dissapoints !

Heavily enjoyed the album

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

Famous album. Never listened to it before. Great performances -- beautiful vocals, tight band, fantastic 70s funk sound (amazing sound at times). But the songwriting. Not memorable. Sprawling, loose compositions ... some people seem to like that sort of thing. I need some tighter structures. I get bored, can't find anything to grab hold of. In the end, this becomes an exercise in creating killer background music. Which I guess is a way of saying, the key word here is Soundtrack.

Very enjoyable. Pusherman is a masterpiece. Give Me Your Love was a delightful surprise. I don't know that I would listen to this particular album again but it did remind me of how great Curtis Mayfield is. I love the energy. It feels like an actual band playing together. After the production style of 1980s Dire Straits, this felt particularly welcome.

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.

Neue Reise in eine ganz neue Musikwelt. Was meine Mutter wohl als Geschwurpsel bezeichnen würde, ist für mich voller Seele, voller Power und wird aufgrund der präzisen Produktion nie langweilig!

Funky tunes

8.5 / 10

Funky, smooth, and well, super fly.

An unexpected and smooth album. I'd definitely listen to this one again.

Maybe I’ve just heard it too much

Loved some track and the overall vibe of 70s jazz (purcussions) and the soul of music is lovely

REALLY enjoyed this. Definitely will be coming back to this one. Just groovy and fun listen.

Funk Lite™️ which is a fun vibe but movie scores are kinda boring when you’re not watching the movie… it’s like you’re missing something (because you are)

better to watch the movie alongside the soundtrack too. curtis is definitely one of the flyest african american singers of the modern century.

Smooth, calming music. I didn't listen closely to the lyrics, but it was good.

another one i'm happy to listen to again. great, great score

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

Favourite Track(s): Pusherman, Superfly Funky ass sounds. Overall, I think the film soundtrack structure (or lack thereof) works against the cohesiveness of the album as a singular, discrete body of work. But happy to hear more Curtis Mayfield beyond 'Move On Up'.

Superfly come Curtis Mayfield

Nóżka chodzi, dusza tez

Not that great, some decent hits. But most of the tracks on the album are bland.

ikke min sjanger da.. kan høres litt filler ut innimellom

some good songs, I might even add a few. but overall not my thing. I wouldnt choose to play the album again

ambient and relatively acoustic, funky and laid back, quite beautiful at times

Moody, expertly crafted, I love it.

5.Superfly (1972) - Curtis Mayfield (7.11) Little chuld runnin wild 8/10 pusherman 7/10 freddies dead 7/10 junkie case 6/10 give me your love (love song) 7/10 eddie you shouldve known better 7/10 no thing on me (cocaine song) 8/10 think - instrumental 7/10 superfly 7/10

Preferred this to the other Curtis Mayfield album. It's still not something I can see myself revisiting though

A fun listen, but would rather listen to it with the movie.

Such a fun record, so funky and full of soul. I've listened to this album so many times but have never watched the movie. I should really do that.

..

Smooth Fave track: Superfly

For a motion picture soundtrack, I found this to be a little one-note. Still smooth as. 3.5/5

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

Plenty of funky bass lines and flared pants super style. Almost like big Bond vibes at times, with the rapid fire horns. It's pretty cool, definitely a retro sound by now but still has a hipness to it. I should see the movie. Wish his vocals were a bit more forward in the mix and I don't think his falsetto is particularly strong.

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.

This is a vibe; I liked the parts with the full orchestra in particular.

Groove ok

Groovy funky not mind blowing

Before listening to this, I know the album pretty well? I've got a specific tie into this from family. My stepfather used to listen to a lot of Motown and soul and sing along. Maybe it's just a consequence of where I am, but that made this one really hard to listen to for me. I know all these songs, I can tell the music is good, and some of the hooks are really catchy, but I really can't escape that feeling of being in the back of a car and remaining quiet. I dunno. I guess this one will sit in "albums that I used to enjoy"? This one might just be something I appreciate but don't enjoy as much as I remember now. Oof. Oh well, onto the next :). I'd be lying if I said that Superfly still isn't a wonderful album, and the songs were all incredible though. Overall ratings: Album Rating: 65/100 Familiarity Rating: 4/5 Favorite Song: Junkie Chase Most Famous Song: Pusherman or Superfly Least Favorite Song: Pusherman

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*.

I quite like this one. It really does feel like the most 1970s thing to ever exist. The tracks are smooth, relaxed, confident and cool. Listening to it as an album, the themes here tend to feel a bit repetitive. However I won't mark it down for that - it can be forgiven as I believe the songs are intended to be scattered around a film? And not played back-to-back. I've not seen the film to be certain though. I enjoyed Think the most - it stands out from the others. Not to say the others are bad by any means.

Okay, now we're talking! This is considered the blueprint for the Blacksploitation soundtracks, and was one of his best solo works. This is a huge album, and so much better than the No Place Like America album. Also much easier to listen to in my opinion. I'm more familiar with some of the stuff on this album, but never fully listened to it. "Little Child Runnin' Wild" GREAT start to the album, soul, smooth, and just so emotional with strong lyrics and the instrumentation is great, perfect way to begin without a really grating falsetto. "Pusherman" Falsetto is back, but... it's not as grating as later, this feels SMOOTH, and is dropping a great feel and sound for the movie, while standing on it's own two feet. The fact that the album is more driving and up tempo really helps with his voice and style. "Freddie's Dead" First single off the album, and the biggest hit, yes bigger than the title track. And just the GROOOVE... oooh, I love it, everything about this just makes me happy. "Junkie Chase" (instrumental) Funky action soundtrack piece, WOW those brass hits, and the wah-wah guitar... it all goes together so beautifully, it's just a brilliant piece and you can just picture the kind of chase scenes it would underscore. "Give Me Your Love (Love Song)" Slowest track so far, a solid breather after Junkie Chase, and still so stunningly funky with the bass and percussive piano chords. It just keeps moving while being a nice change of pace. "Eddie You Should Know Better" And this is even slower, this points towards the more soul feel of There's No Place Like America, and this is more orchestral feeling, deeper and richer. But this is now too slow, we need to pick back up again after this. "No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song)" Backing beat is picked back up in speed, with a spoken word stat that is high range, and then when the singing starts back into falsetto, starting to grate a little. But SO smooth and nice for the track. "Think" (instrumental) Oh man... the oboe. This is just such a good 70s jazz piece, it feels like something the Not Ready for Primetime Players (SNL's band) would play to close out a night. It's Just a vibe, and with just the right hint of meloncholy. The oboe is what sets it apart, it's not the sound you'd expect on a piece llke this, and it just makes it so much more elevated! "Superfly" And the second single, and title track. SO funky, SO energetic, so *70's* This is one anyone that knows this era knows, and for good reason. It's also VERY much the model for title tracks for Blacksploitation films, compare it to Shaft (which came out a year prior) and the similarities in the styles are obvious. It's just fun, if VERY much of it's era. Overall thoughts: FUN! I mean, it's dated in style, and feels a little exploitative and stereotypical in places, but it not only succeeded at what it was attempting to do, but became the standard for it. This is Curtis's best solo album, and the whole thing is just a blast. Two great singles, and really what I was talking about in There's No Place Like America on how good he can get. Favorite Song: Think Least Favorite Song: Eddie You Should Know Better Album Rating: 8.5/10 Familiarity: 6/8 Would I listen again: Oh *HECK* yeah. This is fun in all the right ways, and the instrumentals are just so damn awesome they set my creativity off! VERY fun!!

OK, this is a *lot* more like what I was expecting yesterday when I put on the other Curtis Mayfield album. I’m not especially familiar with the soul/funk genre, but this one’s more like what I think of in the genre, and the whole thing just feels more… summery? I found myself really getting into a lot of the tracks here, and unlike on *There’s No Place Like America Today*, I can absolutely see myself listening to this album again. The most obvious difference that stands out in Mayfield’s singing in this case is that he seems to be using more of his vocal range, not spending nearly as much time in the higher register that seemed almost hesitant and wispy at times on the later album, particularly in that album’s “Billy Jack”. All of the lyrical songs here feature Mayfield giving it his all, delivering another message album but seeming almost more sure of himself and the strength of his statements against drug use, drug sales, even engaging with the business, with The Man. The A-side opens with a thesis statement in “Little Child Runnin’ Wild”, directly calling out the way that drug use destroys families, pulls people apart, keeps the already poor stuck in a cycle of poverty. This is immediately followed by “Pusherman”, a first-person ode to the life of a drug seller, that draws attention to the façade that hides the uncertainty and fragility lurking underneath. This leads into “Freddie’s Dead”, a flat refutement of even that façade of the Pusherman, pointing an accusing finger at how the drug sellers pull others into their orbit, and just drive them to their deaths in the street. The side ends with an uptempo instrumental track that sounds like exactly what it claims to be, a “Junkie Chase” scene through the streets of the inner city and lets the orchestral aspects of this album’s band show off. It’s an enticing end to the side, to say the least. The B-side comes up in a more mellow manner, a smooth bassline that gets your head bobbing before the horn section jumps in and heralds Mayfield’s love song for this album, “Give Me Your Love”, a promise to stay by his lady no matter what. It’s followed by an outright roasting of the pusher life, “Eddie You Should Know Better” directly calling out how getting into that lifestyle makes you into the kind of person that nobody should be idolising, that everyone knows will turn on so-called friends when it’s a threat to the bottom line. The beat speeds up again for “No Thing On Me”, a song that focuses on the way that keeping your head up high and staying out of the drug game altogether helps you keep your hope and stay out of the spiral of destruction that only drags everyone around you down with you. It mellows into “Think” after that, a wind-heavy instrumental track featuring, of all things, an oboe; this is perfectly placed in the album, a slow moment to focus on what you’ve heard before, the arguments against taking the too-good-to-be-true easy way out of poverty when it just serves to push everyone else deeper. Why go for drugs when you can have your own innate natural high? Better to stay clean and clear. And this leads straight into the title track, “Superfly”, a finale that directly lays it out again: If you get into the selling game, you’re more likely to end up dead than making it to anything like the American Dream. Better to do things the right way. I come out of this with a much greater appreciation for Curtis Mayfield than I was left with after *There’s No Place Like America Today*. There’s more to grab onto here; the message is just as potent as the later album, but the wrapper is more approachable if you’re not familiar with the genre. Solid 8.5/10 for me on this one.

This album is super fly

Veryyy smooth

I enjoyed this much more the second time. Funky, fun, and didn't need to understand the movie context to enjoy it, unlike other soundtrack entries in this list. Rating: 8/10 Favorite Song: Think, Pusherman

Beautiful and rich and amazing. Every tone is so good, guitar and strings and BASS are huge highlights, along with Mayfields singing of course. Iconic ah soul record

Some good ass music. Yeah.

Perfect

2 words: Superb album 5/5

Really loved my time listening to this one. I figured it was about drugs, and when I looked up that it was released in 1972, when music about drugs (or the bad side of it) wasn't that common, I found that very cool. Really liked the instrumentals a lot too.

70’s soul/funk at its best. Curtis Mayfield is one of America’s most underrated songwriters.

Perfectly fine music to have on in the background, but nothing got me too excited

Sounds from the 70s but doesn't feel dated often

1. uuild - 2 2. man - 1 3. dead - 1 4. junkie - 2 5. love - 2 6. knouu - 2 7. thing - 2 8. think - 1 9. fly - 2

I expected this to be just another soul record, which I’d find pleasant enough but a bit dull. I’m not sure if I was just in a good mood, or whether this album was actually good. I found myself enjoying this quite a bit, with its interesting compositions including strings and brass. Add to that the smooth vocals and some nice dry drums, and you end up with a fun listen. It does sound like a soundtrack, but I mean that in a good way.

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.

I'm a huge Curtis Mayfield fan, but I wasn't the biggest fan of this one. Still a 4/5.

Bangers

This album was smooth. Not as engaging as I thought it might be. Ok to have on, but not something I'd really seek out. 3/5

Fine. Falsetto. Groove. I get it, but no Marvin Gaye with the lyrics...

Mega!

Faves: Pusherman No Thing On Me

Ja, Curtis Mayfield heeft echt een geweldige stem. Opzich al bekend, zn vorige album was mn grootste kritiek: Erg kort album... Muziek is echt heerlijk, het is gewoon echt een heel erg goed funky album. Is het 5 sterren? Ik denk het toch net niet, maar mijn god wat heeft deze man een dijk van een stem. Het album is binnen no time voorbij, maar eigenlijk verveel ik me geen moment. Ik denk dat ik binnenkort maar eens een deep dive ga doen in zn discografie, want wat ik tot nu toe heb gehoord is echt geweldig. Besef ook even dat dit een soundtrack is van iets he? Hoe goed moet die film dan wel niet zijn... FAVO: Little Child runnin, Pusherman, Freddie's dead, Superfly

écouté le 10 juin sur l’île

Soul with some sophistication. Curtis isn’t crying about heartbreak, he laments it, but ultimately he’s telling you his worth and he’s better without you if you aren’t along for the ride. Well I am, all the way to the iconic Title Track. Pusherman, Freddie’s dead and Eddie Should Know Better (whose instrumentals have inspired so many other modern songs) are other highlights. The music is nothing short of sexy.

Super and Fly.

nice and jazzy, soundtrack album that actually sounds like an album experience. My favourite Curtis album, 9/10. first listen tracklist ranking: 1. Superfly 2. Freddie’s Dead 3. Pusherman 4. No Thing on Me 5. Little Child Running Wild 6. Think 7. Give Me Your Love 8. Junkie Chase 9. Eddie You Should Know Better

So soulful, love the vibes. Occasionally don't love the vocal style.

Fun, sometimes

Soul James Bond. It starts off well. But gets kind of lacklustre in the end.

I liked it, my favorite was think- solid 4!

Labai geras, lengvas klausytis

5/9

Fine album.

Great soul / funk record. Still have not seen the movie "Superbly", but love the classics on here. Highlights: "Pusherman" and "Superfly"

No skips. An absolute funk masterpiece.

Pretty good. Definitely brings to mind Van Hunt's first two albums (which obviously came later but I heard first.)

soulful, introspective, groovy, funky, fly. the vibe, love all the instruments - the brass, guitar, percussion. and the danger? through storytelling. fave songs probably pusherman & think - instrumental.

super album

Love iiiiitt!

Phenomenal soundtrack

Rv

Funky sound with a Curtis Mayfield having a great voice. However, the album doesn’t quite resonate with me. Was a fun listen but don’t know if I would any songs to my playlist. Overall a 3/5

Immaculate vibes. Definitely needs this on vinyl. It was perfect to listen to during work 😁😁👍🏻👍🏻

Feels like I should be in a dimly lit diner in 1970s NYC, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee that’s too bitter while rain lightly taps the window

Feeling Funky gotta watch super fly now. Pusherman is my favorite song in the album. 4/5 I’d play league of legends while listening to this.

Solid album really liked this one super funky

Super funky I loved it. Homeboy was using every percussion instrument at his disposal in some songs and it worked. Add in that funky guitar and sax and I'm a happy camper.

this mf was fire, groovy as hell. maybe it's a little bias because it's the first one but I really enjoyed this. folks are sayin the movie doesn't even live up to how good the soundtrack is

God that fucking slapped. Perfect album

Pretty groovy start to the album but the rest is just pretty repetitive and not too interesting.

silky smooth

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.

Eh! Groovy but not my fave.

bu beyfendiyi ilk defa duydum ve filmden de hiç haberim yoktu. bence güzel bir albümdü in general ben beğendim

Funky and fun

Me encanta el funk que propone, sin embargo si tiene un peso narrativo bastante marcado.

Meh not for me

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

This is the soundtrack of a pretty poor film and almost comes off as self-parody. I can't think of a reason to listen to it.

Perfectly fine album.

This was kind of annoying and I wanted it to be over for most of it. Maybe I need to watch the movie to like the album more.

this ruled.

some killer soul music with a powerful message. the blaxploitation film it's written for doesn't deserve this soundtrack. i thought the tracks dipped in quality around the middle but it started and ended with strong, engaging stuff. favorites: little child runnin wild, pusherman, freddie's dead, think, superfly

I liked the brass (I can’t tell if trumpets or horns) sort of music I could sleep to

Certainly a classic of it's time. Not much here for me other than the title track which is great.

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.

I did enjoy some tracks, but im not listening to this again

Memorial Day morning stroll sounds. Felt pretty good.

This has the same issues as the last Curtis Mayfield album. While the music is good, it meanders A LOT, barely developing in some songs. Additionally, his vocals leave a lot to be desired. 2.0/5.0: Disappointing.

very well done album

9 songs Not any particular song I would return to, but the album as a whole was quite enjoyable.

Honestly makes me want to watch the movie just to see how this great soundtrack fits with the movie. Catchy funky rhythms with a lot of interesting and immersive details. 7/10, Favorite Song: Pusherman

So, we're not doing soundtracks unless we do a soundtrack? Cool. I suspect there are some notable omissions. Star Wars by John Williams? That omission would be criminal as there have been - *checks notes* - ZERO classical music representation. But I'm getting distracted. Smooth like butter, funkier than ten-day-old socks, and cooler than the other side of the pillow, Mr. Mayfield delivers.

Laid back. Good album.

Must be the first movie OST on this list and absolutely worthwhile to listen to! Not sure if there will be any more movie work here, but this album stands on itself as one of the greatest funk albums of all time clearly. At least 4 stars for sure

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

2/5 Favorite Song: Superfly

Little Child Runnin' Wild - 3.5/5 Pusherman - 3.5/5 Freddie's Dead - 5/5 Junkie Chase - 3/5 Give Me Your Love (Love Song) - 3/5 Eddie You Should Know Better - 3/5 No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song) - 4.5/5 Think - 2.5/5 Superfly - 3/5

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.

cool as hell

Love the instrumentation and arrangements. I’m less into the genre, though I can appreciate the talent. 7/10

Some great bass playing on this album.

Baller

Enjoyed this one. I have never seen the movie, but every song invoked a scene that I could imagine in my head, so Curtis Mayfield did a great job with creating a connection between you and the music. Extremely enjoyable.

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)

Its not bad, it just made me feel like i was watching a movie, without the movie, it makes sense since it is a movie soundtrack, but it still made my brain very confused; some parts of the songs felt like they extended too much, as if it was part of a scene that wasn't there, it felt incomplete, also not much of a fan of the singing, but i did enjoy this album a few moments along the way.

I liked it. Good background music for studying. Not really my style tough

Cool and chill.

Tiene cositaaaas. Muy rico, hasta ahora el soul más adictivo.

One hit wonder

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

Fun in a movie but not my jive to just listen to an entire album.

The whiplash of drug-and-crime heavy songs right to Curtis Mayfield's conscious R&B songs can be startling, but overall I thought this was much more enjoyable than the other album we had by him. 3/5

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.

Smooth, funky, consistent front to back. The story flows and I don't feel like I need to watch the movie anymore (no wonder it was more successful than the film itself).

6.5/10

Great damn album for a good ass movie!

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

Enjoyed this one pretty vibey kinda giving disco

Classic

Only knew Pusherman before the listen but knew I liked that. Glad I listened to the whole album. Soulful, funky, fun.

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.'

Heerlijke soul-funk

wel funky 3.5

Kei leuk en toffe overgangen ofzo… ik had ni eens door wanneer het een nieuw nummer was (mogelijks skill issue van mij)

not my style

Favourites: "Pusherman" and "No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song)"

This album is a cool vibe, better than the Shaft soundtrack, but Curtis is the foreground Curtis Mayfield album you need.

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.

I thought soundtracks were verboten? Maybe only if they're various artists? Anyway, this is okay, nice vibe, but very of its time.

Absolute banger, one of my all time fav funk albums

Really great early 70s sound, with Pusherman and the eponymous track being the stand out moments. I see a few listeners commenting this made them really want to go and check out the film that this soundtracks. I couldn't disagree more, from what I can gather it's a fairly unremarkable blackspoiltation film, and this stands as a great piece of storytelling in its own right, which if anything transcends the film which admittedly I haven't seen .

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.

This is one of those albums where, while listening to it, you enjoy what you hear in the moment, but after a few minutes pass, what you've heard is completely forgotten

Always enjoyed Curtis Mayfield, nice to listen to an album start to finish. Solid 4/5 for me. (9/10)

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

I listened to this album as I drove across Glendale to recover a computer from mom's house, then I finished it the next morning. I was delighted to see this album start with Pusherman, a song which Seth has made me very familiar with! That gave me a good sense of expectations for what this album had in store, and that was a lot of incredibly funky soul music with plucking guitars and synth stabs on top of an orchestral bedrock. Traditional African percussion drove quite a few of the songs here, contrasting with Mayfield's beautiful falsetto voice. The cinematic story of this album comes through clear in the lyrics, leaning fully into its identity as a soundtrack album and allowing its story to lean into a theatrical vibe. There is a rapid, manic energy to many songs across the album, creating a hazy atmosphere as if you're on a drug high. When it comes to how much I enjoy each individual song, the vocal rhythms tend to be the make-or-break factor for me, as sometimes they just don't stick. The instrumentals tend to get freer and more sprawling when they don't have to worry about vocals over top of them, creating a larger-than-life atmosphere. I have not seen Superfly, but I can see it in my mind clear as day. This album is a camp, over-the-top performance that simply can't accompany grounded or boring scenes; it must be the soundtrack to a bombastic and explosive film experience, because that's exactly the feeling it injects into my veins. Highlights: Pusherman, Freddie's Dead (Theme From 'Superfly'), Junkie Chase (Instrumental), Eddie You Should Know Better, No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song), Think (Instrumental), Superfly

Upbeat schmooze

I was not familiar with the album nor the film. I'll now watch the latter. Soulful and funky, a great collection of songs which obviously tell a story.

Smoooottthhhhh

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*

Super smooth listening. Not a super standout album but you can’t have a bad time listening to 3.5

D.A.R.E. to be funky. 3.5.

The blasting funky beats with the soft vocals of Curtis are a combo on par with PB and chocolate

Love the vibes and horns on this album. Thinking caught me off guard but became my favorite.

the superfly was indeed super fly i am gonna have to definitely watch the movie this is a soundtrack to, mainly bc it was just so slick and soulful and fun. some of the basslines in here are actually killer, and the instrumental only tracks were also very funky! he was going ham on those keys. highlights: freddie's dead (theme from superfly), give me your love, no thing on me (cocaine song), superfly.

Funky bass riffs

Solid, "No thing on me" was nice. Kinda curious what the movie is about.

Big fan of Curtis. This album as some gems but some of the soundtrack filler kind of loses me.

GOD

Very funky soundtrack. Lots of groove

Hell yeah. Great album. This has it all. Funk and grooves and a cohesive message that’s important all while being a soundtrack. Incredible.

Funky, soulful, with a social message. Makes me think I should see out the movie this is meant to be a soundtrack for. But it stands by itself, taking you back to the 70s ghetto, filled with pimps, drug dealers and poor people trying to get ahead.

Iconic songs, but a fairly uneven album.

This album is just fantastic. Not something I would think to pick up (though I know I’ve heard all of it before), but exactly what ai needed to listen to.

Bumpin

Thought this album was really lovely. His voice is gorgeous, the music is great. I liked the lyrics and I also liked the instrumentals. There were some moments where I lost interest, but overall it was a nice soothing listen with some good emotional moments. Fav song: Freddie's Dead Least fav: Give Me Your Love (Love Song)

Love the general feel of soul albums. This one is a very easy calming listen, it’s nice. Specific rating - 4.1 Fav song - Freddie’s dead Least fav- Give me your love (love song)

I've not seen the film Superfly and I was quite confused about what the scenes that go with some of the songs could possibly look like (but in the film at least Freddie's dead is instrumental, which makes sense). The soundtrack doesn't need the film to be wonderful and entertaining. The music is gorgeous and I really enjoy his voice. Favourite song: No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song) Least: Eddie You Should Know Better

FUCKIN SWEET.

This is my first time listening to this kind of music and I really enjoyed it. Reading the lyrics made sense in relation to the time they were written. I also feel the rhythm and music itself reminded me of another artists I like.

Little Child Runnin' Wild - 8/10. Great brass lines, slick beat, excellent lyrics and very good singing. Pusherman - 9/10. Smooth and slick. Great bass riff. Almost a Steely Dan level of a smooth song about a terrible person. Freddie's Dead - 9/10. More slick music about an awful person. Junkie Chase - 7/10. Cool. Gimme Your Love - 7/10. Very good. Eddie You Should Know Better - 8/10. Awesome beat and music, and the lyrics are good, too. No Thing on Me - 8/10. Great tune. Think - 7/10. Very nice. Superfly - 10/10. Awesome brass lines, funky beat, great beat, and top-notch from beginning to end. No notes. Overall Rating - 4.06/5 (8.11/10). Full-on 70s Soul, and I'm absolutely here for it.

Pretty iconic

Better than Coldplay

Day850 - super cool. pusherman is my favorite in the album

Me lo esperaba mejor para ser este tipo

Pretty fun - Would buy vinyl

Hard

Reminds me of Aphex Twin. I will not elaborate any further.

Fire <3

It's a great vibe. Listened to this on a Sunday morning and it fitted perfectly.

One of my faves yet

He is so cool. Pusherman and the title track are classics, the rest was great funk music but I felt like I was missing something by not seeing the movie. The arrangements and orchestration are sick. The snare drum sounds fantastic. 3.5

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.

i love this album so much!!! glad to have a reason to relisten. title track and pusherman have always been favorites but i was really rocking with freddie's dead too this time around

on this Super sunday™️ i'm feeling SUPAFLY SUPAHOTFIRE BABYYYYY (but im not a #dapper). i really should listen to more curtis mayfield. and/or the impressions for that matter. nonetheless let's get active. the best soul records always have a way of making me feel like i'm in the liminal kitchen/living room (not calling it open concept, go die in a fire) of some relative's place. i'm on a warm beige leather couch with a tv island stuffed to the gills with physical media directly across from it. there's a coffee table with various accoutrements and a kitchen with *insert one of many blood/non blood older relatives here* cheffing meat pies, bofrot, and various nibbles. we're in the go between state of a multi hour mealathon holiday and some form of football's on telly. i'm surrounded by people who don't know me and yet understand. maybe some brown liquor. maybe a dark guinness. maybe a heineken to mix it up. it's homely in a way. despite the horrors seeping in there's still love. and if it's ever too much i can always go play jeopardy on the basement wii. anyways i liked the album. the line "you didn't have to love for me" hit me in a place i probably have to mention to a HIPAA bound professional. freddie's dead is a top 300 song of all time. lmao hi snoop. every fuckfake crackerzoid on this website who understands what "bitches in the bed" means here but make it so TPAB and later glory run kanye albums happen to be "most controversial" can kick fucking rocks. 4.4-4.7.

Great!

Soulalicious

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

Really wonderful soundtraaaack! Wooohooooo!

He has a nice voice and music is very smooth overall but my attention wandered.

Was fine to have on in the background but I can't say I feel compelled to listen to it again, or watch the movie.

288/1089 this was a fun and groovy album, some really nice choices were made and it flowed very well Give Me Your Love was a BIG stand out for me faves: Give Me Your Love, No Thing On Me, Freddie’s Dead 74/100

7/10… funky soul / motown / *1972

I felt like I was on a hippie cruise ship or in a french jazz club. Really my cup of tea but a bit overstimulating.

heard super fly in an uber once. liked that. i’m really feeling this today. chose to listen to this on a walk. good idea. not really taking notes. just vibing.

Pusherman is a hell of a single, but the energy of the rest of the record was pretty impressive also, especially for a soundtrack. This project probably benefits tying itself to such a dramatic script, it gives Curtis a lot of room to work on music for the sake of visuals. Sometimes the words don't even matter, but you need them, so you throw in something like Give Me Your Love. I guess in the end I'm just impressed with the overall production of this record. The deep dive went DEEP today, I ended up watching the movie and tying together the Doggystyle references, which just earns all these lore points for Curtis and Snoop. The experience has made me feel even more positive about this album, but I gotta be honest with myself, I probably won't listen to this again. I added a few songs into my library, but the mood for this well executed funk cheese isn't predictable for me, I wouldn't bet on putting it on again, though I admit spinning this one has been fun today. I'd buy it. 4.2/5

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 already know and love this album. It's just so good. All the soul, all the funk, all the cool. Pusher Man is one of the greatest and most iconic tracks of all time.

Second day in a row with Curtis was a surprise, but at least this is super fly.

I like the slow descent. I favor the second half of the album, the more mellow songs.

Groooooovyyyyy

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

Really fly, but super?

An energized sound that fits a 70s police chase scene and evolves beyond the ballad theme of 60s Motown; the writing provides social commentary that gives the music much more significance than a typical Motown ballad, something Mr. Mayfield, I'm assuming, helped pioneer.

Oh yeah, this is slicker than owl shit. As well as being slicker than owl shit, this is a remarkably effect concept album, After hearing so many increadibly dense, convulted and head-in-arse concept albums/rock operas by prog bands through this generator (Looking at you Genesis), it's so refreshing to hear a story told in a clear and concise way. Amazingly done from top to bottom.

have 2 admit i haven't seen the movie. my favourite song is "freddie's dead" but i honestly prefer the fishbone cover bc i am a #childofmytime. got to "superfly" and bolted upright like WAIT. beastie boys sampled this. didn't know that!

it emanates good vibes

An album I am familiar with, but have never listened to in its entirety. Soul classic.

Mr encantó, re relajado y la trompetista esa buenísima

Honestly a pretty fly album. Never listened much to funk and soul but this was easy listening. Will add the movie to my bucketlist

Oozes with style and rhythm. There are some really outstanding bass lines on this one. Favorite track: Pusherman

I don't have a lot of thoughts about this album. Smooth, I guess. Didn't make me feel much.

It's very staple soul and funk. Nothing special.

This is fun, funky, Blacksploitation music from the 70's. There's not anything outstanding here, but a good representation of the genre. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a

A fun and funky album! I like the range between serious topics and bouncy music

Great album fully of funk, dynamic and rhythm

Old-school seventies social commentary jazz/funk. Personally I wanted a bit more energy to it.

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

nice enough

Cool

love finding albums like this through this list!!

Very nice but very much of its genre. Great playing and great groove though.

This is the perfect album to play on the way home from work dont ask me why

Lowkey kinda swaggy tho

Я понимаю всю значимость этого альбома для культуры в целом, но фальцет Кертиса очень раздражает.

Good but probably won’t listen to again

Liked the groovy vibes. Didn't like the singer's voice that much, it felt a bit forced.

Decent funk/soul album. "Superfly" is the best one for me. Good listen.

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

4.5

Saw like 10 copies of this at the record store I was at while this was my album of the day. Very fun, but doubt I'll relisten for much beyond Pusherman

Album #133 Curtis Mayfield: Superfly More 70s soul, never a bad thing, also never something I can get too excited about. This one was quite interesting in its lyrics, definitely a lot of political messaging, which gave it some substance over its contemporaries. Instrumentals were nice, and the vocals were good, but I'm not sure I’ll be itching to return to it. Best Tracks: Superfly, Pusherman, Give Me Your Love Worst Track: No Thing on Me Score out of 10: 7

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

Some great songs about some heavier topics. Really enjoyed the music.

Cool as you'd expect from Curtis.

curtis was experimenting w this one fyah tho

One or two fun songs, but ultimately, what are we doing here?

This is one of those albums that's objectively good but I just wasn't feeling today. Maybe I'll give this one another listen at a later date but it just wasn't meant to be this morning

Now, I've never seen Super Fly but if you showed me a picture, I'd know who he is. What's intriguing to me to is the soundtracks on this List. Why are two of them Blaxipolition movies with Shaft & Super Fly? The most modern is 1999 Virgin Suicides by Air. Prince's Purple Rain & Beatles' A Hard Day's Night are music movies. What makes these Soundtracks stand out? Would Daft Punk's Tron: Legacy show up in a later edition? Or what about the soundtrack to The Graduate with Mrs. Robinson? Why these & not others? Great soundtrack. Soulful funky & awesome. Standouts Pusherman Freddy's Dead Superfly 4

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

This is a favourite genre and a favourite artist. Super Fly is a brilliant track. The rest of the album is not such an amazing standard but great to listen to it in full the same.

Oh, to be a crime fighting, karate chopping police officer in the 70s.

джазовые элементы хороши

Is there a better title than 'No Thing on Me (Cocaine song)'?

Funkadelic

Quite a 1970's vibe. Not that it's a bad thing!

Really fun soundtrack, proper sleezy in a good way

I'll be entirely honest with you about halfway through this album I figured out it was the soundtrack for the movie of the same name, which I didn't know existed, and read the film's Wikipedia plot summary on the bus, meaning I phased out for a significant chunk of the album's second half. Oops. Perhaps I should go back and relisten to it before adding a score that will be 1) publicly viewable and 2) affect this album's standing for potentially years to come, but I'm going to make the BRAVE decision to plough onwards in ignorance. We've all done it (no seriously we've all done it, I've seen some of your reviews, shame upon us all!) what parts of this album did settle in my brain were groovy to say the least, the album has a real coolness to it. Apparently the soundtrack did better than the film, which with Freddie's Dead and Superfly itself I can believe, some killer tracks on here that flew as singles. Some other songs did not grip me as much, and I do have to at least acknowledge the fact I could phase out for a great chunk of it shows not the whole album is deeply gripping, but I might come back and give it the time it more properly deserves, but soul isn't hugely my thing so I think this score would be the same even if I didn't get engrossed in the goings-on of Youngblood Priest (Hell of a name you got there pal, your parents must have panicked at the last moment) across three different films and two actors.

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

Insufferably funky soul. I’ve never seen this movie, which may be why I slightly favour the earlier studio albums over Superfly. But that slight favouring amounts to minor percentages of stars, not full stars.

As far as original soundtracks go, this is all-time. As far as albums go, this is enjoyable without being mind-blowing

"I should listen to more funk music" - me, after listening to funk music.

Completely out-laps its corresponding album. Genius!

otimo album! soul de qualidade e um som refinadissimo do inicio ao fim, trazendo uma tracklist bem diversa e dificil de desgostar. 9/10

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.

Pretty groovy and chill, I didn't pay close attention to the lyrics though; I just liked hearing some funky music.

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

Wow, there’s so much to love about this timeless album. Curtis Mayfield’s singing is smooth and gorgeous, and the instrumentation is lush, funky and rich. This was the soundtrack to the Blaxploitation film Super Fly, but it holds together beautifully both as a studio album and social commentary. The arrangements are layered in a way that makes the music feel so rich and deep. Just really satisfying, moving and soulful.

Good

meh

Give it fly

Not my favorite Curtis album (shoutout Roots) but definitely influential and significant from a sonic perspective. Blending funk/soul and soundtrack in a seamless blend. 4/5 from me.

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.

This was really quite good - I'd have to be in the right mood to listen, but if I am, it's solid.

Exceptional. Classic. Love.

Fantastic. Superfly and Pusherman are all time funky classics. This only loses a star because I feel the instrumentals come off too much like part of a soundtrack and aren’t so great to listen to on their own

Solid album with nice elements of funk and soul. It's hard not to compare it to the other Blaxploitation soundtrack album I already got, Shaft. While I liked Shaft more than this one, they still had a similar vibe. This one does have less filler than Shaft as it is not a double LP. Won't hunt for this, but if I came across it for cheap, I'd probably pick it it up. Favorite Track - Superfly Least Favorite Track - Think (Instrumental) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Very cool and smooth sounds with dark and gritty subject matter. Also liked the instrumental tracks.

Ok. ★★

What a legendary soundtrack.