Superfly

Pusherman is 🔥

Just a truly fun album to listen to.

this album is so delicious, it’s fun but also chill, I could listen to this doing literally anything and have a great time

Groovy! Lots of songs have been sampled….big impact with Beastie Boys.

Fantastic soul and funk album from the early 1970s. A classic for sure.

One day I will see the film but regardless this is still one of my favourite soundtracks

Damn this was tasty. Some fine funk from a master. What a talent Curtis Mayfield was.

Yeah it is an awesome soundtrack. I feel 3x cooler than I am when I listen to this. 9/10

Classic Curtis, banger

OK loved this. just so chilled with layers and layers on the music. Despite never listening before knew so many hooks from modern hip-hop, not just samples either, pretty much entire tunes.

A great funk album. Curtis, Isaac, Marvin, Stevie. There’s your Mount Rushmore of funk. This album is probably enough to warrant Curtis inclusion.

I had this album on cassette for years. Great driving music. Eventually I picked up a cd copy. And only in the last month I somehow managed to find the vinyl in an op-shop for $1.00. The cover was battered & the record was filthy, but elbow-grease did the trick. Sounds great. And what a great album. As they say, way more successful & popular than the flick it came from, which I have to say I’ve never seen. There is only one track that you hear & think - yeah that’s soundtrack music - the beautiful instrumental Think, totally unlike the funk & soul on the rest of the album. But, like all the rest it’s written by Mayfield - such a talent. Interesting that Johnny Pate is listed as the “orchestrator & arranger”. He was a jazzman who had a big hit in the 50’s with Swingin’ Shepherd’s Blues. He would go on to produce B.B.King’s Live At The Regal LP(1964), regarded as one of the greatest blues albums ever recorded, so he had plenty of form when he got involved here. Highlights : Pusherman, Freddie’s Dead & the title track, but there are no duds here. The softness & quality of Mayfield’s voice is one of the highlights, as is his songwriting. The lyrics certainly tell a stary.

A super funk classic. Lush arrangements, super funky rhythms, Curtis' beautiful vocals. A far better album than the film probably deserved.

With a voice smoother than a baby dolphin's belly, orchestration that's subtle enough to not be overbearing, but still unmistakable in it's distinct sound, Curtis Mayfield manages to craft an album that is both timeless, and distinctly of it's time. CM could sing the phone book here, and it would be a masterpiece. He could sing 5. 📙📙📙📙📙

VERY funky, obviously i'm automatically in love. such great bass and brass. so many faves!!!

The funk instrumentals are a highlight for me. Really pleasant no-skip album.

Funky and awesome

Great

The GOAT of 70s blaxploitation soundtracks, and up there with the best movie soundtracks of all time. Oft imitated but never bettered, every track on here is iconic, and just about all have been sampled by almost everybody in hip hop. ‘Super Fly’s’ legacy remains immense, both musically and culturally and it’s funky as all hell.

OG funk. Love it.

Amazing

Great album. Groovy, funky, lots of hard and fast tracks with catchy hooks, and smooth transitions into strong instrumental ballads throughout the album. Superfly!

Curtis Mayfield will always be classic.

Classic

simply stunning

Brilliant, nothing else to say abut it.

Love it, listen to it all the time!

Super Fly is super fun. Jazzy engaging album capturing an era. Made me want to watch the movie

What a fantastic album.

Chance the Rapper AND Beyonce samples from this one. So good.

Top 5 movie soundtrack of all time Curtis Mayfield created an album you could actually listen to without 2/3 being filler and mood creation tunes The songs stood on their own.

This is an absolutely perfect album full of amazing social commentary. I’ve had a lot of ‘70s R&B and funk, but I was still so excited for this one because of its reputation as one of the all-time greats. Needless to say, it did not disappoint. If you told me this wasn’t a soundtrack, I’d believe you - the songs go so perfectly. Some of my favorite songs are the instrumentals - both ‘Junkie Chase’ and ‘Think’ add a bit of variety to the album. Of course ‘Freddie’s Dead’ is the best song; a great cautionary tale.

Never heard this before. Love it. Absolutely fantastic. A perfect recipe of groove, funk, rhythm and a silky smooth voice. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding

I didn't think I'd ever heard of Curtis Mayfield before until I heard the song Pusherman. Curtis Mayfield is a soul/funk artist who was once a member of the Impressions, before branching off and doing his own thing. He was integral in the pioneering of funk, and was also one of the first soul artists whose lyrics told stories of the pride and struggles of the African American community. This record was recorded for a movie titled 'Superfly' which dealt with the issues around ghettos and drug use. Some hard hitting topics on this record. Curtis' music tells a story like no other. Every song on this record is awesome! His guitar playing is stellar, and the inclusion of brass instruments and Latin-influenced beats makes him stand out amid his counterparts. Overall, a phenomenal record today. One I will definately listen to again! Favourite songs: Pusherman, Superfly, Little Child Runnin' Wild, Freddie's Dead (Theme from 'Superfly') Least favourite song: if forced to pick, Think 5/5

Yeah, love a bit of Curtis and this is pretty much the shit

Wow! Great album! Loved it, although some songs have a 70s feel, obviously. Rather mellow and smooth going. Mayfield’s voice is nice.

HOT DAMN a perfect little album to work to. I hope to score something as funky as this one day

It's absolutely ace. Coolest sounding album on the list. Only has two great 'songs' per se (Pusherman and Superfly) but the overall feel is great too. Even makes suburban Birmingham feel cool.

this is what 5 stars sounds like. listened to this back to back last night, finding new layers to enjoy each time. going to be listening to this a whole whoooole lot this year.

This album sure is funky!! A masterclass in funk/soul music that aged extremely well! This album is so bitchin' groovy, these songs amaze me every time! Super catchy songs, nice guitar licks, solid bass and drums foundation and a great orchestration overall, check check check check! The thing that blows my mind, how this soundtrack really tells you everything about the movie, you don't even need to watch it anymore. One of the greatest records by Curtis and one I love dearly! Favorite lyrics: - We're all built up with progress. But sometimes, I must confess. We can deal with rockets and dreams. But, reality -- what does it mean? - Must be something' that's freezin' his mind. That has made him, through greed, so very blind. And I don't think he's gonna make it this time. - Darkest of night with the moon shining bright. There's a set goin' strong; lotta things goin' on. The man of the hour has an air of great power. The dudes have envied him for so long. Key tracks: Little Child Runnin' WIld, Pusherman, Freddie's Dead (Theme From 'Superfly'), Give Me Your Love (Love Song), Eddie You Should Know Better, No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song), Superfly 9,5 out of 10

Lush, gorgeous. Very bright and uplifting. Good in-between of funk and soul. Curtis really did have the cool, didn't he? Favorite tracks: "Superfly", "Pusherman", "Freddie's Dead"

Everything about this album just fits. The name matches the sound. The cover art matches the vibe. Never heard of this one before, but now it’s easily up there.

An intoxicating journey of funky good time tunes. Top notch musicianship and artistry on display here. Curtis Mayfield has an unforgettable voice, his soft and honey sweet delivery is always so soothing to my ears. And all of it is delivered in a tight 36 minutes! You get a hell of a lot of bang for your buck here, it's the perfect party record to throw on and get people grooving.

sho is funky

Fire

The best soundtrack of all time. A fantastic mix of songwriting and incidental music. A funk masterclass in every way.

I had somehow forgotten that Curtis Mayfield did the soundtrack for Super Fly. The movie was okay, but this soundtrack is way more heartfelt and charged than it deserved.

It's Curtis Mayfield. It's fabulous. I'm a little unsure why Curtis and Roots aren't also here given the preponderance of some other artists. Maybe one or two fewer Steely Dan or Neil Young albums? I mean, we get it. I raise once more the existence of a David Grey album in a list ahead of Curtis.

Curtis Mayfield is a true legend and just consistently great. Usually being a soundtrack will detract from the strength of an album but that's not the case at all here. Huge credit to the production here as well, the drums really stand out. I was going to give this a 4 for a while but I'm just struggling to see how this isn't a 5.

If you put anything lower than 5 stars on this masterpiece something is wrong with you

This album is a masterclass in funk. So many iconic songs on this record. I would beg to say that there is not a bad track on the whole record.

The triplet flow on those initial bongos are amazing. Mayfield assembled a really tight band for this album. No pieces are out of place. This album is great, there’s nothing at all to complain about.

yeah i mean this is incredible. no notes

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Little child runnin’ wild, Pusherman, Freddie’s dead, No thing on me, Superfly

Dig it big time

Man. Just like. Its so good. Curtis's voice just scratches the right parts of my brian while the smoothest instrumentals play with him. Amazing.

I like this, it is great. Top quality from start to finish, lovely production and important message. I’ve just never been a fan of Curtis Mayfield, his tone doesn’t do it for me. Glad I listened though.

Not only is this the greatest soundtrack - ever - for a film, it also works by critiquing the film itself through its lyrical themes. How often do you encounter something quite so meta that's also a funky, soulful and positive commentary on the art its ostensibly meant to complement? A masterpiece.

ABSOLUTELY THE BEST! Curtis Mayfield was a force to be reckoned with!

One of the best soundtracks of all time. Funky, smooth, socially concious and funky. Yep. I said it twice. Best Tracks: Pusherman; Freddie's Dead (Theme from Superfly); Superfly

Love the vibes, great old soul music that would definitely listen to again

Great album, love it. There's just something about Curtis Mayfield's sound that I loooove so much.

very cool

It’s exactly what I expected a 70’s jazz esque album to sound like. And it ruled

Funk Soul Brotha check it out now

Funky as fuck. Loved mostly everything about this. Favourite Tracks: - Little Child Runnin Wild - Pusherman - Superfly - Eddie You Should Know Better - No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song) - Freddie's Dead Overall Grade: 5/5

Super groovy, adding a few songs to my playlists.

Pusherman is way ahead of it’s time.

Outrageously great. 5/5

Curtis Mayfield was an absolute gem. Front to back this album is just banger after banger. Makes me want to watch the movie too! I am putting this on my "vinyl albums to look out for" list for sure.

Just a beautiful, funky album. Nothing more to say, it can't be improved.

Oooh, like butter baby. This is great. Silky smooth and funky as hell. "Pusherman," "Freddie's Dead," and "Superfly" are all classics but the album is solid front-to-back. Just phenomenal musicianship all around and a fun, funky energy.

Really amazing. I love the 70's funk cop/thriller sound (secretly always wanted to make an album like this). The songs are great, everything is great. I wish it were longer.

Some super funky and soulful jams. Love it.

Such a damn good funk album.

What a fantastic album. The tracks strike a perfect balance between jam and focused song, so they feel nice and loose, but not too much so. The lyrics and vocals were a step up from the very repetitive Chic album. Even though they weren't hitting every note perfectly, it kinda fit the tone of the album. Definitely going to check out more Curtis Mayfield!

First time listening to this album, and this really is brilliant. A funk/soundtrack masterpiece.

Incredible vibes, and it works so well as a standalone that I sometimes forget it's a soundtrack

this is sooo goooooddd mmmm awooooga so beautiful and sexy. i am seduced

Awesome album. One of the few time people may know the album better than the movie.

The funk!

Yes! I haven't listened to this in so long. I went through a short blaxploitation film kick in high school that introduced me to 60s/70s soul music. This album is a masterpiece, even if the film really wasn't.

how much did i LOVE this! Great album.

I’m a fan already

Not just super fly: Super-duper fly. 6 stars

Classic.

Never have I ever felt more gangster than when listening to this album.

I'd heard the title track but nothing else here. Somehow it makes me feel nostalgic - it was released 12 years before I was even born, so that makes no sense. I guess it just gives me vibes of those cool sexy 70s, really sums up what they fed us of that decade in the 1990s. Like a best-of summary - all the cool funky disco bits, none of the mediocre shit that no doubt also existed, and it clocks in at a cruisy 36min. Either way, my life is that bit more complete now that I've heard this, and it's definitely going on the "listen again" pile. For this project, that's pretty uncommon. And for a movie soundtrack? Rare as rocking horse shit. Full marks are deserved. 5/5.

One of these classic soundtrack albums that is hard to listen to without thinking about the movie. In my memory, Curtis Mayfield had written stronger songs for The Impressions or his early solo albums. So 4* for the song writing and 5* for the sound. But now listening to it again, I think 5* also for the song-writing is more appropriate.

Cool

👍🏻

Oh funk me.. Curtis Mayfield is a fucking legend. 5

This one was an easy repeat listen. Again and again. Amazing songs with beautiful orchestrations that tell a compelling story. Start to finish.

Oh yeah, this one hits the spot…all the spots! Loved it!!

Excellent vibe. Super groovy.

I first listened to SUPER FLY on an LP sometime in the 80s. At the time I was collecting a lot of older records and somewhere had run across a used copy of this. I would go on to listen to play list fairly regularly as I really liked its funky groove. Sometime in the 90s I purged my record collection, and Super Fly was one of the albums that left my collection. It is one of many that I regret having parted with. I did have a few compilation CDs that contained tracks off this album (Freddie’s Dead, Super Fly and Pusherman) and had let those tracks replace the album in my collection, but listening to it now realize that it really is better as a whole. I love hearing this again. It is remarkable how great every song is on this, as movie soundtracks tend to have a lot of weaker spots or dull instrumentals. This soundtrack is a fantastic album apart with or without the film.

a super funk classic. Lush arrangements, super funky rhythms, Curtis' beautiful vocals. A far better album than the film probably deserved.

I listened to his first album Curtis before this and I really, really loved it, definitely a 10/10 this album switches up the groove a little bit, which makes sense, this is a movie soundtrack, but it’s still really damn amazing both of these are 10/10s

01

Just a classic album on many levels - Curtis Mayfield's falsetto voice just works so well over the fantastic funk/soul music; hard to explain but there's a perfect balance between his voice and the music. Probably as a testament to how good and accessible the music is, so much of this album has been sampled over the years from artists as ranging as Biggie Smalls to Beastie Boys to Alicia Keys. I'll admit to not having seen the movie but even without ... this album really does *feel* like a movie; there's a great flow to it - starting with "Little Child..." and the classic final title track truly feels like an end credits. Those two are probably my favourites although I really love the instrumental "Think" - Curtis was also a masterful guitar player and the tone and melody on this track are gorgeous. Maybe the only drawback would be a general sameness that runs throughout but I think the shortness of the album (37 minutes) helps stave that off enough to keep it nearly perfect. An album for pretty much any occasion. 9/10 5 stars.

A sublime soundtrack with plenty of funky grooves, Latin hand percussion, cinematic strings, funky guitar (and bass) and swirling arrangements; the works. Loads of great tracks like 'Pusherman', 'Freddie's Dead', 'Eddie You Show Know Better', 'No Thing on Me' and 'Superfly'. I wasn't born in the early 70's but gee I felt like I was transported to that time listening to the album. Not to mention the icing on the cake; Curtis Mayfield's unique vocal sound. Superb in all departments. Now I need to go and watch the movie!

Super smooth and funky, great all round.

What an album. Superb, funky, smooth. Yes please, Curtis.

Super Fly is a fantastic soul album by Curtis Mayfield for the blaxploitation film with the same name. I really like this kind of soul from the 1970s with a blaxploitation connection like Isaac Hayes (Shaft), Bobby Womack and the (other) artists from Stax Records.

good, good. funky. good.

Allt gott við þessa plötu. Sannanlega eitthvað sem öll þurfa að heyra áður en þau deyja.

Yass! Pusherman is a truly wonderful track. Mayfield's voice layers superbly with an accompanying bassline from heaven itself and drums and bongos to keep you interested and focused on listening. Freddie's Dead has been part of my listening rotation for years. Superfly itself is just a masterpiece of funk. This is a film soundtrack. I mean, there's no doubt about it, it was written for a movie and it sounds like that. It isn't an album per se, but the quality of the music is just.. Well. Just listen to it.

This album actually got me into Curtis!

Such a beautiful álbum Theinstruments sound so good and his voice too

🤯🤯🤯

Soul perfection

Wow!

Really enjoyed this record.

9/10

Потрясающе

I am pretty familiar with Superfly, and liked the soundtrack from it. But hearing it in a proper album format was really interesting; because it was really good. Like way better than I thought it was going to be. I've listened to this one 3 or 4 times at this point. I Really enjoy Pusherman, No thing on me, and Superfly. They are all really solid I gotta say.

Love Curtis …

9/10 really enjoyable funk album, i think it could've had some stronger hooks.

Sublime instrumentation is the first thing that jumps out into my ears. Harp! Hand percussion! Funky electric something! The breadth and depth here is too rare in concept albums and basically unheard of in music for film. It's the obvious archetype of blaxploitation-in-sound, but also an opinionated text by Mayfield and something more besides. For one thing, each song expands beyond its length, providing a feast of material in a relatively concise album.

Not heard before. Absolutely brilliant. Going into regular rotation for sure.

I get to cheat on this one as I already own it and listen regularly. Curtis at his best and the best Blaxploitation soundtrack.

An album bigger than the movie it was created for. Just a snapshot of life. Perfection.

All timer

What a great album the whole way through. Pusherman reminds me of the one time I accidently found myself on Whalley in Surrey. Got back on that skytrain and felt Superfly again.

Saved Prior: None Saved: 9. Junkie Chase - Instrumental 8. Freddie's Dead 7. Superfly 6. Eddie You Should Know Better 5. Give Me Your Love (Love Song) 4. No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song) 3. Pusherman 2. Think - Instrumental 1. Little Child Runnin' Wild Overall Notes: Every couple of months some tweet along the lines of "Phil Collins didn't have to go THIS hard on the Tarzan soundtrack" will go viral which pisses me off twofold. For one, yes he did it's a Disney movie of course he had to go hard. For two, why the fuck should I have to see that recycled tweet when people could be shouting out this masterpiece of funk and soul. Curtis Mayfield god bless you and thank you for going THIS HARD.

I think about this album as almost a companion of sorts to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. Curtis Mayfield employs driving ponderous soul/R&B to explore social issues surrounding the cycle of poverty and drug use. He takes an extremely critical approach of drug dealing which is somewhat at odds with the message of the film. The music itself is tight and gives the lyrics room to land. Overall it is incredibly effective and engaging.

Awesome soundtrack! So funky, might have to actually watch the movie now.

This is brilliant not just because everyone says so but because it truly is. The arrangements are like nothing you hear today. It's so evocative of it's time and the movie of course

топппчиккк

I really enjoyed this album, and everything about it. 5/5 stars.

An absolutely classic soul album

Dope lyrics, funky music.

Un poco de soul y otro poco de funk es lo que necesitaba este día. Las letras 👌

Flawless

So funky and tight. Great variety of tunes. Love the additional textures and flourishment added throughout tracks. This is one of my new favorites

CLASSIC. I have listened to this album many many times and wish I had it on vinyl.

Classic soul

Mejor soundtrack ever.

Hyvää kamaa Curtis tykitellyt. Äijän hittibiisi "Move on up" on kyllä ollut tiedossa, ehkä Superflynkin kuullut joskus, mutta ei ole aiempaa kokemusta koko levyllisestä. Ainakin tämä levy oli tosi hyvä, minulle sopiva määrä nuotteja per sekunti ja mukaansatempaavan ja taidokkaan kuuloista kaikin puolin. Ja kun biisit ei ole entuudestaan tuttuja, niin kaikki kuulostaa tuoreelta.

Genre defining. I wish it lasted 24 hours

Muy chido, me gustó. Un sonido chill, limpio, no exagera en el dramatismo, parece un disco "honesto" y despreocupado pero bien producido y con instrumentaciones muy pro. Favs: Give me your love y Superfly. Mood: Wholesome.

Curtis es animado. Genera buen rollo

Fuck yeah

So good

so dope

Super Funk

I love getting funk albums on this list. Much like the soundtrack to Shaft, this album is just wall to wall funky jams. Not a single dull moment on the album 5/5

Satme et lækkert funk album. Fed høj falcetto stemme og lækre funky rytmer. Kort og godt album. Køb!

The world needs more funk like this

funky masterpiece

I was trying to think of how to describe this album and I came across this review that perfectly describes it for me. I couldn't say it any better, thank you random reviewer. "70's porno music mixed with a low budget heist film"

I really liked this very much summer vibes

노래가 전체적으로 꽤 괜찮았다. 신나고 분위기도 좋았다. The song was pretty good overall. It was upbeat and had a great vibe.

Superfly - Great soundtrack. My favorite song is Pusherman. It's like I am in a movie, and honestly, he knows how to get the proper '70s vibe.

kinda jazzy i like it 8.5/10

I don't think I've encountered an album that can take me back to the time it was created quite like this one. The sounds invoke the 70s so well that I find myself transported to a time of suits with oversized collars. Its groovy, funky, and enjoyable to listen to. Now I just need to watch the movie. 3.5 rounded up to a 4/5

😎🎸

Great album and soundtrack overall, like all of the instruments and good singing. Favourite song(s) Superfly and Little child runnin’ wild were really good, I liked the beats Least favourite(s) Think in a soundtrack is good but in a album it didn’t blend with the other ones but good melody Some drug references but I didn’t mind it, throughout the whole pusherman song I thought he was saying butcher man. 4.2 out of 5 SUPERFLY!

A very relaxing melody, his voice is amazing and the instrumentals songs are perfect for a way.

This was really good, I listened to most of it 3-4 times yesterday.

Bangerrr. Way better than the film itself.

felt like a spy

More like Superfun! Gotta watch this movie now!

I'm usually wary of movie soundtracks on this list, but this was a rare occasion where it absolutely warranted inclusion. The album stands on its own, it didn't even need the movie tie-in to work as a piece of music. Funky beats, cool 70s grooves, and poignant lyrics about the difficulty of poor urban life at the time. Would definitely listen again, 4/5

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!

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

very soulful and funky, curtis mayfield never dissapoints !

Heavily enjoyed the album

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.

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!

8.5 / 10

Funky, smooth, and well, super fly.

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

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

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

Superfly come Curtis Mayfield

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Bangers

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

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.

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.

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

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

Phenomenal soundtrack

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

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

silky smooth

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

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

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

Memorial Day morning stroll sounds. Felt pretty good.

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.

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

cool as hell

Some great bass playing on this album.

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

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).

Great damn album for a good ass movie!

Classic

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

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)

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

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 .

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Pretty fun - Would buy vinyl

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

One of my faves yet

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!

Really wonderful soundtraaaack! Wooohooooo!

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

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

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.

Groooooovyyyyy

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.

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

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

Great album fully of funk, dynamic and rhythm

Cool

love finding albums like this through this list!!

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

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

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

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

Cool as you'd expect from Curtis.

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

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.

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

Funkadelic

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.

"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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Social consciousness and Mayfield's smooth R & B style make for a great soundtrack album. Never saw the film but this album makes me want to. Love "Pusherman," "Freddie's Dead," and the title track. I'm sure it's often compared to the "Shaft" soundtrack and both are great but I think this one is deeper, more complex, and still relevant today.

Superfly has to be the most mediocre film to ever get such a banger of a soundtrack. Actually it is worth a watch with all its 70s cheese, and for Mayfield's live cameo performances in it. The title theme and especially Pusherman are two of his best songs period. The rest are less memorable but still really atmospheric, soulful, and fun to listen to

LOVED IT its so good, ill defined tly listen to it over and over igs so groovy so nice so cool !!!!!

Smooth easy to listen to 70's funk 7/10

1. Little Child Runnin' Wild: 8.2/10 2. Pusherman: 7.4/10 3. Freddie's Dead: 7.7/10 4. Junkie Chase: 5. Give Me Your Love: 6. Eddie You Should Know Better 7. No Thing On Me 8. Think 9. Superfly

Groovy and soulful, this album one of the best by a legendary artist. Classic soul infused with funk.

Super smooth.

Almost a 5 but weaker tracks keep it down for me. 4.2/5

Pretty darn good record, I regularly put it on when doing dishes and such.

Reminded me Stevie Wonder

🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽

A fascinating amalgam of Blaxploitation hallmarks with sorrowful character studies and expert funk and soul songwriting. There is a depth and richness to the music that isn’t present in Hayes score for Shaft, like Mayfield took the challenge of representing the underbelly of inner city life very seriously, despite whatever story the film tells (I haven’t seen it, so forgive me if it’s not as superficial as it looks). Moreso, Mayfield’s stunning voice elevates the material, which makes the instrumental tracks, however well arranged and executed, not quite as impactful.