Superfly

That’s a lot of cool to pack into 40 minutes

This album surprised me. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it going in but it was actually really good. Form the first song Little Child Runnin Wild with its unusual time signature and cool guitar it caught my attention, and managed to stay pretty good throughout. The orchestration in each song worked so well complementing the singer without being overpowering, and the drumming was fantastic. Overall it was a pleasant surprise. 4/5

A great soul/funk album. I remember when the title track and Freddy’s Dead were on on the radio. Those are 5 star songs. I’d also heard Pusherman, but the res of this album was new to me. The sound is great, the groove even better. I wish I could give this 4.5 stars, but we’ll have to go 4/5

solid album 4 out of 5

funky fun.

Funk puro y duro, disfrutona esta música

Really enjoyed this album. It has an incredible soulful vibe with some top-notch guitar licks.

Tremendously listenable funk.

Yes, this is nice! Lots of feeling, lots of emotion and it all flows so nicely. At times some songs fade into arbitrariness and/or cheesiness, but very rarely. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Sweet smooth sounds, very cool

Listened a few times. Loved it

Några riktigt bra låtar, några helt okej.

Surprisingly fun album

Superfly is a tasty album. It could make you feel cool even during a depressing day. Bass lines are so smooth, Curtis’s voice is super funky. The songs go to the point and don’t mess with your time. Great production and awesome mood. Can’t complain!

It’s funny how so many of the albums on this list evoke a specific time. This is a great example of that.

it’s pretty rare i listen to old school albums. I really enjoyed this one though because of the instruments used throughout the whole album. a lot of the songs made you just wanna sweat and dance back and forth and i love it. Curtis mayfileds voice sounds very soulfull and smooth. definitely enjoyed this one

This album may have commenced the tradition of soundtracks that are better than their movies. The whole sonic palette on this album channels the ethos of the era, from the mournful, lilting string sections to the anxious walk of the bass. None of the chord progressions in these songs ever resolve; they just kinda persist with a nervous energy. Also between Ian Anderson on Friday and now Superfly, the early 70s were truly a golden era for frizzy-haired dudes with receding hairlines. What a commanding look that was, we gotta bring that back.

Enjoyed this way more than I expected when I saw it was for a film. Now I want to watch the film. Musically it’s great, obviously its very soul/funk oriented, and the lyrics are very powerful given their tone against the music. Sometimes with this genre I find either the music or the vocals try to outdo eachother, which means it can get old quick, but I never got that here. Sounds more like a band than a solo artist. I’ll be back to this I reckon

Good stuff 4/5

4.5/5

Funky

3.5 per track

Funky and sweet. Went by fast.

This album is full of soul, with Curtis Mayfield's soothing voice accenting his wonderful arrangements. I've never seen Superfly, so I have no emotional attachment to the music from seeing the film. The album on its own, though, stands up very well.

Really good soul album! I’m enjoying it

Enjoyed it a lot!

Funky fun

It didnfall into that normal problem with funk, where the songs kinda blend together and have a 30 second intro and 45 second outro.

Groovy, sensuous, topical and... cinematic of course. It's not often that a movie soundtrack is one of the most defining statements left by a singer-songwriter during his carreer. But it's the case for *Superfly*, by Curtis Mayfield. 4/5 for the purposes of this list, translating to a 9/10 grade for more general purposes (5+4) Number of albums left to review: 391 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 277 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 144 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 193

I was a little skeptical that I would like this at first, since it isn't my typical genre I listen to, but I was pleasantly surprised at how fun of a listen it was.

really fun soul record, lots of memorable moments

Groovy, easy listening, something I’d imagine playing in some dudes Cady in the 80’s. I can dig it

Groovy!

Cool background music definitely an inspiration for childish bambino’s funk album

Curtis Mayfield’s soul-funk soundtrack perfectly captures that 70s urban, black action movie vibe.

Incredibly fly. I liked the instrumentals a lot and it’s always good to have a reminder not to deal cocaine. A high 4.

For a movie soundtrack this goes exceptionally hard. Super funky, good lyrics. Really liked it

This is a step above most movie soundtracks. Curtis Mayfield's voice is smooth as silk and these songs tell a story about the seedy part of life. Really good album.

Funky

I liked this quite a lot - the two singles (Freddie's Dead, Superfly) were both enjoyable.

This soundtrack is so iconic. Absolutely worth picking up if I find a physical copy. Will probably re-listen soon, I already have half this album saved to playlists and stuff.

Even sad sacks who think The Smiths are great and cannot escape the absurdity and humiliation of their daily existence love this album.

Curtis Mayfield Genre: Psychedelic soul, funk, progressive soul 1972, Soundtrack Standouts: Freddie's Dead, Super Fly, Pusherman Funky! 4/5

Good, mellow, not something I feel the need to return to over and over.

Super groovy. Immaculate walking around on a sunny day vibes.

Pusherman is one of my favorites of all time

yeah he’s pretty cool, but superfly? this shit smooth like the recall on peter pan peanut butter.

Amazing fucking album but only 4.5 because I think I like 'Curtis' more as an album.

Very funky. Reminds me of some of the Motown my mum would have listened to

funky, soulful, everything i like about music

very 70s

So far really great. Sounds like a Tarantino soundtrack. Pusha man is on hear which I didn't realize was a cover from chance the rapper.

- This is such a great album. - "Freddie's Dead" has such a sense of groove for such a bleak song. - Considering the heaviness of the subject matter, this can be a really gorgeous piece of work. "No Thing on Me" feels like floating on a cloud. "Think" is like waking up on a perfect morning. - Should I watch Superfly? I have no idea if that movie is supposed to be good outside of the soundtrack. - Mayfield is one of the best at executing these kind of lush soundscapes within a funk setting. It all just moves, and works on an orchestral level too.

Funky soul! Love it!

Nice album

Swinging, upbeat. Love to hear it more often

One of those artists of I'm very familiar with some songs but I could not put a face to. That didn't change today but it was a nice listen nonetheless

This is quintessential heist and scheme music, makes me feel like the opening shot of a crime action flick. Also beastie boys jacked the whole flow but they adapted the sample really well so I can't really be mad.

I remember one of the few rules with this list is No Soundtracks. I guess 'Soundtracks are allowed if they contain all original songs' and yet Saturday Night Fever, a soundtrack that one could argue was MORE impactful than Superfly. But I digress… Superfly is a seminal album that could only come in tandem with a Blacksploitation film. It sounds like a soundtrack in some areas, but still finishes with the amazing Superfly. 4/5.

I think in my previous review "There's No Place Like America Today" I said I love Curtis Mayfield and this album is one of the reasons why. I love this album. From the start of this album to the end it is an experience. "Little Child Runnin' Wild" is one of my favorite songs Mayfield has made and then you get the classics that are "Pusherman" and "Freddie's Dead". The whole album though is great and I think the best song to me besides "Little Child Runnin' Wild" is "No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song)". That song has that classic Mayfield groove but I think my favorite part besides Curtis' singing is that about 3 minutes in there are these super punchy keys that are played along side a tambourine and smooth sax and for some reason I have always loved this little instrumental bridge. Like all Curtis Mayfield albums the instrumentation is immaculate and that combined with the vocals which are some of his best ever as well as the incredibly thoughtful writing makes this a masterpiece. 9.5/10

Really liked this, definitely heard a few tracks before. Felt like I was inside an Elmore Leonard book.

I hate flies but this one is pretty super. Freddie’s Dead and Pusherman.

Curtis Gayfield

His voice goes flows so smoothly through each track. Ez 4

Really enjoyed this.

This album is incredible, I can't believe I hadn't heard it before. Great music to walk around the neighborhood to.

Funk. So funky

It's no surprise why this album is so highly regarded. This is one of the nest examples of soul funk. Really tight bass grooves lead the from the back. Wonderful instrumental orchestration, solid drumming and Curtis Mayfield's high pitch, almost falsetto voice brings it all together.

This was awesome. His voice is super cool. Almost whispery. I want to lean in and hear him sing.

Such a killer soul/funk record. This sound just kind of personifies everything I think of when I think of this genre. Great listen this morning.

HL: title track, “Pusherman”, “No Thing on Me”, “Little Child…” I have to start watching these movies, having already heard their soundtracks (along with Shaft) Happy to hear this classic in its entirety, but my favourite Mayfield album might still be There's No Place Like America Today (1975), which is more sonically diverse and intimate. Meanwhile my favourite song of his is “Don’t Worry” (1970) September 10, 2023

Curtis Mayfield is one of the artists that I truly respect. His music is so harmonic. You know it's supposed to sound like that. He was master of his peers.

Nice

Super great soul soundtrack! The arrangements are funkylicious, you know.

Very lovely tunes, incredible voice. 4/10 Favorite: Pusher Man Least Favorite: N/A

This is good. Own it on vinyl.

grooooves

I don't have much experience with Curtis Mayfield's music, but this was a great way to reach my 200th album milestone. Instrumentally, this album was a great blend of funk and soul, with great guitars, drums, and trombone playing. Mayfield's singing is great too, with his falsetto bringing an earnestness to the album, something that works especially well on "Little Child Runnin' Wild." As good as the instrumentation and singing were, the lyrics were the hero of this album. Lamenting urban poverty, drugs, and crime, Mayfield managed to create a visual of 1970's Harlem just through music. This was a great album, and after listening to this, I really want to see the movie.

Pretty good album, some solid jams in there, long songs tho.

I actually really enjoyed this album. Very groovy and funky. I have definitely heard pusherman before. Overall very enjoyable album

Great album. Very soulful and with some great groovers. Curtis's voice is smooth with a capital smoo. I will be checking out some of his other material and seeking the movie that this soundtracks.

This is one of those albums I've had on my "to listen" list for a long time, ever since I first heard Freddie's Dead as a cover by Fishbone back in 1988. Over the years since I have heard the original Freddie's Dead and Pusherman on the radio, but I just never got around to the whole Superfly soundtrack. The album was great, even down to the instrumentals. Recommend!

It’s odd to think that this is the 2nd soundtrack I’ve gotten on this website and that, like the 1st I’ve gotten, it’s really good. Superfly is a soul album, that also happens to be a soundtrack to the film of the same name. While I have not seen the film, I can guess what kind of film it is and what it’s about. Or at least, presume what kind of film it is and what it’s about. Lyrically, there’s a lot of discussion about drugs, specifically the harms of drugs. The clearest example of this is the song Freddie’s Dead, a song in which this Freddie guy died of drugs. It’s clearly anti-drug but feels genuine about it. I think some of the lyrics might be essential to the plot but I haven’t seen the film so I don’t know. On the sonic side of things, this album is very much a soul record. And yet, it feels a bit different. The soul sound is there but it feels like it’s going farther than a typical soul record. There’s a wide variety of sounds, like softer melodies to faster rhythms. There’s also a lot of different instrumentation, from brass, to orchestra, to guitars, to more distorted guitars, it really is unique. I’m admittedly not describing it very well but it kind of feels indescribable. The instrumentation really is great. I’d call it almost similar to progressive music with its sonic experimentation and wide influences. Two major influences are funk and psychedelic music. There are funky rhythms all over this thing. It’s complemented by the psychedelic influences on this album. It’s very present, on the track Freddie’s Dead for example. The psychedelic sounding guitars are very prevalent. Throughout the whole thing and complement the funk that runs throughout. In conclusion, this was really good. I am truly at a loss of words on how to describe it. It feels like it takes soul to a whole new place and it’s amazing. I’d easily give it a 9/10.

Funk ya

slušao sam prije tjedan dana točno ovaj album. slučajno mi je došla Pusherman stvar koja je fenomenalna i onda sam prošao album, odličnih stvari ima. kvalitetnih.

Aw, yes...the enlightened age of Blaxploitation. Mayfield's lyrics and vocals stand out in this one and Freddie's Dead and Pusherman are perfect examples of the social statements that were being made through the genre.

Favourites: • Little Child Runnin Wild

Funky and catchy, good music

Nice soul album

Issa hit

Despite hip hop's best efforts there's never been a record that's made drug dealing seem cooler. Take that Nixon!

i love when they have film scores on this list. this one was exceptionally funky

Fucking brilliant funk. Favorite track: No Thing on Me

Relating... 4

Enjoyed it great funky sound track. Enjoyed. Grooves and has that warm 1970s groove. Sounds 1,000 miles away from what was playing in the rest of the world, but sounds incredibly influential.

funky

This is a really strong album and wild I didn't realize all of these songs were part of a soundtrack. Makes me want to watch Superfly sometime soon, so I can see where all of these songs fit into the narrative. Curtis Mayfield is an amazing musician and songwriter. Really enjoyed listening to this one. Standout Tracks: Little Child Runnin' Wild, Pusherman, Freddie's Dead, No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song), Think (instrumental), Superfly

I thought this album was a bitta fun

oh that was SLAY

Now this is groovy

Funky spy music. 4/5

Dope

I'm glad it was compared to Gaye's "What's Going On" which came out around the same time. A lot of the soundtrack is familiar because so many of these songs have pushed beyond the boundary of backing music and defined an entire genre of soul

Absolute banger. Better than any movie soundtrack has any right to be Stand out tracks: superfly and pusherman

listened to again i liked this way more than the first time i heard it for some reason

Beautiful, breezy and meaningful. The album effortlessly floated through its 40 minute runtime, and not a second was wasted or cramped. A great record.

In a previous review I've criticized the presence of a movie soundtrack on this list. While I still hope there aren't too many, this is one I can get on board with. Soundtrack or not, this is a legitimately good one that can be enjoyed without knowing the movie - although it does give an idea of what the movie might be like. It's cohesive, sufficiently varied and can stand on it's own as a good album.

Excellent.

Just so fucking smooth.

Funky, cool.

Excellent! Gonna go watch the movie now

“My life’s a natural high, the man can’t put no thing on me.” So funky, such great tunes, amazing percussion, mm the guitars, his husky voice, legendary quotes! For me and even, I imagine, people at the time who were aware of government involvement in the drug market, this album puts things into an even more radical perspective: the idea that taking drugs and making money from crime is not a fuck-you to the man, but is in fact working for the man; putting profits in his hands; decimating grassroots political power. He doesn’t even mention the idea that people might think drugs are radical or punk or whatever, the whole album is already under the assumption that you see drug dealers as shady government agents. Curtis Mayfield is so consistent. Right from the Impressions (fav: “I’m So Proud”) through this to his last album (fav: “Here But I’m Gone”), where he recorded incredible vocals one line at a time and on his back because he was dying and hardly able to breathe. That’s someone who lives and dies through the music. I want to watch this movie now.

Awesome album, some stonking tunes. 4.5 stars.

This was the Curtis Mayfield album that I was expecting and hoping to see on this list. Fantastic funky soul, with a message prominently featured alongside the tasty guitars and bouncy congas. I have never seen the movie, but I love that the soundtrack out-grossed it, and certainly seems to have outlasted it in terms of its relevance too. "Pusherman" "Freddy's Dead" and "Superfly" I could all listen to on repeat. There is a sappiness in some of the other tracks that drags the album down slightly (most overtly in "Think"), but overall a real gem.

I had not listened to the album before, but I enjoyed it. I ended up listening to it 3 times and then listened to other Curtis Mayfield stuff.

Great album. Never really thought about movie soundtracks being concept albums, but that's exactly what they are. The circle from Pusherman to Superfly is epic.

Very cool soundtrack. I've had the movie Superfly on my watchlist for a long time but never got around and watched it. The soundtrack sure is great and something that I probably would listen to again.

kind of Shaft in minor

I like the instrumentation 4/5

Who's the private dick who's a sex machine with all the chicks? Curtis Mayfield.

good for what it is

Superfly is a pretty accurate description, it's certainly vibes 😎

Strong 4, love the breakthrough funk

Very enjoyable listen from start to finish, a short funk-filled 37 minute experience.

was a good album chill vibes but not a fave like 3.5/5

Crazy this was a movie soundtrack, 4.2

This album is Superfly. Do I really need to see the movie to understand this album? With songs like "Give me your love (Love Song)" and "No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song)" what could I be missing? A whole helluva lotta good action, that's what. There are a lotta duds but Pusherman and Superfly carry some of the weight.

A classic soundtrack that has finally made it's way to the list. This was one I had been expecting from day one just due to it's greatness and popularity. Pure funk in the best way with hits like Pusherman and Superfly. I think there have been many attempts at recreating these songs and this album but nothing is as good as the original. Fantastic kick off to the week!

Classic! Adored this album before I even watched the movie, and before I really knew who Curtis Mayfield was. By now, I have been come a broader fan of Mayfield as an R&B singer with such a gentle, soothing voice. But this album feels like an anomaly in the best way, it's electrifying. He's got his signature voice, but you almost don't notice the softness because the grooves and the funk are so hard. The movie isn't all that special, it's one of many in that era where Shaft and Pam Grier reigned supreme. But good lord, the soundtrack had no business going this hard. I'm glad it did. Favorite tracks: Superfly, Pusherman, Junkie Chase, No Thing On Me, Eddie You Should Know Better. Album art: Absolutely love it. Killer font, side of Curtis' head and Ron O'Neal is superimposed with the lady on the ground. Just fantastic stuff. 4.5/5

Now that's soul. Just added this album to my spotify library. Really enjoyed this one, played it a few times over the weekend.

Soul/funk, pænt flødet, jeg tager det gerne

Wasn't that excited to see this pop up so actually skipped it on the day I was supposed to listen. glad I went back to it, really enjoyed it!

Superfly was an album I took in long before a more sustained engagement with Jazz and Funk from the era. It circulates in the culture in ways that transcend the genre. One aspect of this record I'm familiar with is that the musical director for Mayfield was the bassist on this record. I know this because for me the bass and Mayfield's voice elevate the music here. There's a well-kept pulse throughout that moves us through the material. I appreciate other facets of the record as well (string arrangements, content and concept). Solid record that keeps things moving.

Wow, usually i'm not into soul/funk, but this album is really well made. 4.5

Très bon, très groove, probablement le meilleur album j'ai entendu de lui après There's No Place Like America Today

THE sound of the 70s. Well done, but not entirely my thing.

Excellent funk & Soul A snapshot of the time Very easy listening with some fantastic big band motifs

This is really smooth, a lot of the compositions sound like Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”. I’m interested to watch the movie.

Yeezy a genius

Undeniably good. If you need a mood booster this is it.

I enjoyed listening to the falsetto vocals. The songs were great to listen through but won't stick with me. I liked Pusherman but it was pretty repetitive, maybe it could have been a minute shorter. Superfly was a close second in terms of favourite track.

J’aime beaucoup le travail des percussions et la voix. J’ai groové et aimé le message anti-exploitation. Bonne écoute

Top 3 Songs: 1 - Freddie's Dead (3) 2 - Pusherman (2) 3 - Little Child Runnin' Wild (1)

They don't make it like this anymore. Best track: Superfly

For those of us who grew up in the Seventies, this is an unmistakeable sound.

This record doesn’t sound nearly as dated as the others under its Funk/Disco label. The horns and strings are vibrant when they need to be and Mayfield’s are calm and sweet. As I ease into the third track I build higher expectations while also really liking what I hear. I can tell this record has lots of anti-drug themes. Definitely something the early 70s needed. You hear the Lick on Give Me Your Love. Haha. Verdict: There’s nothing to complain about on this record. The vocals are great, the band sounds great, the solos are simple and effective, and the message is an important and good one. I’ll have to watch the film, this soundtrack is great! 4.5/5

Funky and flows nice and cool

I like where this album is going already. This album has no need to go this damn hard.

TIL Resentment by Beyoncé samples Curtis Mayfield. Also I immediately picked up on the interpolation of Think that is in Nobody’s Perfect by J. Cole. For those two songs, I am grateful for this album. Also it’s great as background music.

In this landmark 70s soul album, Curtis Mayfield creates an emotionally packed soundtrack about the abyssmal result of poverty and drug abuse in a black community. The mood is dark and pessimistic of the state of the world, between Curtis's heartbroken vocals, lyrics ashamed of the unfortunate fate of street life, and the lush string, brass, wind, and rock arrangements. The songs are engaging enough that I could just listen to the instrumentation and it would still be a complete experience. They fill up the space and perfectly convey the moods they're trying to replicate. I'm constantly guessing what instruments they're using. It's a really amazing experience. At 36 minutes, we get a mix of pop hits and instrumentals, wonderful production work, and smooth flow from one song to the next, packing so many emotions together. There's something unique and remarkable about every song, and I consider them all to be essential.

Well this is a big warm hug of an album. (Apart from the drug addiction lyrical text!) The funk/soul orchestrations are sumptuous. CMs vocal delivery is unique. The production is everything (especially after listening to a series of 80s albums) 4

A staple in funk/soul. Every song on here is a banger, even the instrumentals.

4.7

curtis mayfield's super fly is so smooth! it's easy to listen to, and the whole album flows so well that it's hard to tell where the album ends if you have it on repeat. super fly has soul and funk while remaining pleasant and easy to the listener. with instrumentals dispersed throughout, super fly is balanced. earlier on this 1001 list, i listened to fishbone's "truth and soul," which contained a cover of "freddie's dead." it's nice to see a song come full circle! i enjoyed hearing the mayfield's original version; both versions are still rather funky but have their own strengths.

This album really IS super fly. The funk and soul display on here is top notch. It's simultaneously smooth-as-butter easy listening while also maintaining a certain musical excitement about it. Curtis Mayfield's voice here is euphoric, overlaid in such a blissful way on top of the already masterfully funky music. There are so many layers to the music; it's overwhelming in a good way. Listening closely is a rewarding experience here because you pick up on different musical layers each time, all of which are part of an amazing total package. The fact that Curtis Mayfield wrote and composed ALL of this himself is an impressive feat rarely seen in today's music. Really, this album was just a nice surprise and easily the best funk/soul album I've heard on this project to date.

Leuk album met filmmuziek! Spannend, vrolijk, mooi gezongen en mooi gespeeld. Top!! ****

Geht voll ab, aber Vocals gefallen mir teilweise nicht so gut.

The first song started playing and I knew that even though this isn't something I would normally seek out, I would enjoy every song on this album.

Need to listen

Soulful, funky and fun! Enjoyed this a lot, and might have to watch the movie if it has this soundtrack behind it.

very good

Funkowo soulowe granie, ktore kojarze glownie z niezliczonej ilosci sampli, ktore mozna wykopac z tego 37 minutowego materialu, ktory dodatkowo jest soundrackiem do filmu z gatunku blaxploitation neo-noir crime drama, ktory po obejrzeniu trajlera leci na liste do zobaczenia przed smiercia, bo wyczuwam tutaj mocne walaszkowe wajby, co do samego albumu to dawno nie slyszalem czegos tak przyjemnego na uchu, bez zbednego przepychu instrumentalnego, glowna role odgrywaja elektrykowe gitary i drumowanie z kilku bebnow jednoczesnie, bo przyjemnie otaczaja dzwiekiem zarowno z prawego jak i lewego kanalu, do tego dodac mocna linie basowa i czarna muzyka rozrywkowa jak sie patrzy, do tego wisienka na torcie jest wystep wokalny jaki zaprezentowal tutaj pan Curstis, ktory jest rowniez autorem tekstow i muzyki calego krazka, wiec plyta pewnoscia zachecia do zapoznania sie z persona tego czarnego bohatera gettowego umierania lub stawania sie bogatszym, na plejke leci pusherman, tytulowy superfly i freddies dead

I really enjoyed this too. I love Superfly. That whole album is very nostalgic, funky and reminiscent of the 70s which is our era. 3/4* ?

Wow, Sly & The Family Stone one day and then Curtis Mayfield the next. Pretty fine one-two punch I’d say, wouldn’t you? Curtis is a little more refined and polished than Sly, but both are super interesting, inventive, and just plain groovy. Love this. 4 stars.

Pretty good

This has to be one of the best movie soundtracks of all time

Lovely stuff

Always enjoy that mid 70’s funk

Superfly indeed. And Superfunky

Never heard this before, but I'm glad it was listed here. Really nice 70s sound.

Great album

A banger tbh, some great soul

good soul/funk

Never listened to this before but heard plenty of Curtis Mayfield. This was great. Love it. Now I know where the Beastie's got that one sample on Paul's Boutique. I mean, this is great. What's not to like?

Fire jazz

it’s curtis mayfield, back the fuck up

Funky! Solid 3.5

3.5/5

Genieten

As a bass player, I had to give this one a 4.

Never have seen this movie but fairly familiar with a lot of this music (a lot of it has been sampled in 90s rap). Solid album.

Funky

Fun album that reminds me of a more soulful Theme from Shaft.

Nice album, maybe not my type but it's first one recommended

I wish I knew more about funk so I could tell if this was groundbreaking or how different it was from the norm. It totally tells a story, I enjoyed it.

Got to be a vote for one of the best soundtracks of original music (as opposed to crate digging)

Great tunes

I've let a bunch of albums stack up over the last week listening without reviewing. This album is great. There's a lot of great sounds/layers going on throughout it.

Supa dupa fly

Funky

Super duper fly.

Already own it cool album

Delicious and smooth, with a hint of rage.

Funky, fun, and a lot of fucking spirit.

Probably an inspiration for Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by Arctic Monkeys. Liked it, but it did no catch me.

Funky! Soulful

Svaka je pjesma dobra, glas od curtis mayfielda je tako blag ali i snažan u isto vrijeme. Najviše mi se svida Eddie you should know better.

What a funky little record. I've always been curious about Curtis Mayfield albums and it sounds chill and clean. I'm not too equipped to comment on funk and classic R&B but I'm glad this one connected with me.

Solid songs

Good and classic 70s sounding album, has good instrumental tracks in addition to the other songs that overall make it a great soul/funk album. Added a few to playlist.

mm soulful indeed

4.5 - I love Fishbone's cover of Freddie's Dead on Truth and Soul (1988)

Pusherman is one of my favs

Dit vind ik toch elke keer als ik het weer hoor geweldig. Dat sfeertje wat Curtis neerzet is echt so funky. Echt top!

Never herd of this or the film it’s soundtracking… The album opens with little child runnin’ wild it’s really good the rhythm is perfect backing the song ( especially the brass instrumental works)! For a very upfront song about drugs pusherman is very decent the highlight is the drum work for sure, fairly sporadic and tribal sounding ( like hitting well tuned pots and pans). The funk really shows in Freddie’s dead it’s an amazingly put together tune (but not something that I would go out of my way listening to). Side one end’s with the short instrumental track Junkie chase, It sounds like a chase track to be fair ( quite a classy one) but still a chase. Then we have Give me your love ( love song) it’s cool (one of the best) but it takes a little too much time to get going really. Eddie you should’ve known better is a bit of a quality drop, I mean the lyrics are good but the instrumentals were a bit more like lift music. No thing on me ( cocaine song) is really solid, fine the instrumental work isn’t the most interesting on the album but it’s a good track about cocaine dependance. Then we have the penultimate track think ( instrumental) it’s nice and calming nothing particularly special but stupid great. The album closes with the title track superfly and it closes everything perfectly, if it weren’t a soundtrack/ concept album I probably would’ve closed with something different but for what it is it’s great. It’s a great album with no tracks that are god awful and unlike most concept albums I actually got a grip of the concept and what a great way to do it! A definite 4/5 (would be a 5 if there were less instrumentals and other great songs to fill in as it’s a little short).

Great funky guitar playing and soulful voice. Not sure about the string arrangements...

I wish we still had this type of album these days. Soundtracks that are a cohesive work of art as a standalone product. I've never seen the film, but the music for it makes it sound like it will be A LOT of fun

The late Curtis Mayfield is the reason you should listen to this album. He’s such a fine singer. Goodness. (7/10) FT: Little Child Runnin' Wild, Pusherman, Superfly

J'ai toujours eu de très bons rapports avec Curtis Mayfield.

So good

Good album. Sympathetic lyrics and a couple of real #choons. I do like funk & soul sometimes! Not sure how it works within the film but the album plays out a bit like a film all by itself, and you can't say that about all soundtracks. 3.5

Fun funky funk

Solid album! Enjoyed it!

Solid Mayfield. If you're picking an introductory album to his music, this would do it. Even as a young kid, I loved "Freddie's Dead", and I didn't understand the lyrics.

5/28/2022 - ALBUM #121 Today's Album: "Superfly" by Curtis Mayfield - This album is the accompanying soundtrack to the movie of the same name, Superfly and wow does this album make me want to watch the movie. This is an extremely lively funk concept record that closely relates to the plot of the movie and really does a good job at representing the flow of the story. The Story from what I can gather is about the black community dealing with the rampant drug use and poverty that is brought on by cooperate America and widespread systematic oppression. There is this constant reference to a character known as the Pusherman who seems to be a drug pusher that recruits and abuses young kids who act as drug pushers and only cares about profiting off of the drug crisis within the black community. There is a story arc of the titular character, Superfly, throughout the album as he battles with drug addiction, loss, love, and eventually sobering up as he pushes against the oppression of the Pusherman. The social commentary and the lyricism with which it's delivered is extraordinary and I find it incredibly impressive how well this album can tell it's story without feeling bogged down or uninteresting. It is most likely due to it's greatest strength, which is it's fantastic instrumental performances and stellar production. The sound of this thing is so crisp and centered and direct. The bass sounds absolutely fantastic throughout this entire record, the percussion is going absolutely ham, and the inclusion of the big-band brass accompaniment make it feel like a really epic crime movie, which it is. I imagine this movie is elevated a lot by this soundtrack because each song feels like you can think of how it would be placed in the movie alongside the action, romance, or whatever else. However, it also just stands alone as it's own thing so well and I honestly might not think it's made for a movie if you didn't tell me. The singing isn't always super great, but a lot of the performances are and the rest of it is just so great it makes up for any inconsistencies in the vocal. Overall, this album is a really great way to get the story of Superfly without ever having to watch it. It's densely packed, socially aware, and all around super fun and engaging. Give this one a listen if you like classic 70s movie soundtracks or just want to experience a really cool concept album. Highlights: Little Child Runnin' Wild, Pusherman, Freddie's Dead, Junkie Chase, No Thing on Me, Think, Superfly Score: 8.5/10 Extremely fun 70s movie soundtrack

Cool as hell

Up there with "What's Goin' On".

Tää on must Shaftin lisäksi tykeimpii takaa-ajo-levyjä! Alta pois. Kunnon wah wah -pedaalilöa hurjastelua. Jos tempoa olis jollakin kappaleella enemmän niin tää olis viiden pisteen arvoinen, sillä silloin tää soveltuis viel tehokkaammin tiskijukkahommiin. 4/5

Tää oli kyl hyvä, jonkun takia jääny kuuntelematta. Loppua kohti vielä parani.

4.5

Awesome funky danceable and groovy. When Pusherman and Superfly hit - it’s instant joy - and the soundtrack is consistently paced and of a perfect length.

Man, some of these songs sounded so 70s, but in a GOOD way. That funky vibe just sounded so damn good... I knew "Freddy's Dead" because Fishbone had covered, but the rest of this was just as good (although "Pusherman" was a little cringe-y, lyricwise.). The first song, sounded like it was alternating measures of 4/4 and 5/4. That off-kilter beat made for a chaotic sound. But it works really well. Short soundtrack, but I wanted to listen to it again almost right away. That's when you know something is pretty good. But I am going to ding it a star for "Pusherman," but it is definitely going on my list of stuff to look for.

Super slick. Great lyrics and beats. Mayfield carries the story as he moves from one song to the next. I really enjoyed the first three tracks - Little Child Runnin Wild, Pusherman, and Freddie's Dead - and the final, title track. I'm stopping just short of a 5 though. I don't know why. Maybe the songs in between those others didn't quite do it for me as much. Maybe I still don't know what I'm talking about.

Super fly.

This is obviously great, but I think i prefer mayfield releases where he sings more because i love his voice so much. The instrumentals are lovely but they don't feel like the main draw for me in a mayfield release.

4/5 very enjoyable listen. I listened through twice and this is definitely not my sort of standard listening. However, I found it engaging and never got bored.

Smooth as hell and cinematic. This was a really cool listen that had me hooked from the start. This is some of the best soul I've heard in a while.

Pretty nice, solid R&B/funk, but I'd be lying if I said that I would pick this over any given Marvin Gaye LP from the 70's. B-

Was NOT expecting this to go so hard. Damn do “Pusherman” and “Freddie’s Dead” hit like a ton of bricks. I don’t fuck with soundtracks too much, but I’ll make an exception for this. The band is spot on and silky with Curtis softening the edges and enhancing those big orchestral moments with his glassy timbre – such a great voice. 4

Good album. Impossible not too love the title track. Pusherman is my favorite song on the album. Listened to this many times before and will listen to again.

I can’t believe I’ve never seen the movie. Listened to most of this before quite a bit. Funky with gritty lyrics.

I listened to this a few times over the years. Never saw the movie. Pusherman, Freddie's Dead, and Superfly are really great songs. A quality listen.

Good, funky, and some real messags. Pusherman is really great.

I do love 1972 music!

Pretty good

Hell yeah brother

Swaggggggg

4/5 this was refreshing

I was listening to this yesterday and I thought it sounded very familiar. Checked my Spotify history and it turned out I'd listened to it the day before without realising it! It was a stressful day. Still a good album though.

Very funky and enjoyable.

A very funky and enjoyable album

эстрада-соул-фанк альбом. в стиде 70-ых. ударные, голос, музыка - всё на своих местах. партии понятные, но не банальные. вместе звучит атмосферно, но для меня незапоминающееся. хотя я слушал невнимательно. до сих пор качает и попахивает референсом для бруно марса. и ню рнб-соул музыки.

this is straight funk think - instrumental (beyoncé - resentment sample) love super fly

Sure is funky. I ain't no junky.

Let's get funky.

This album is a whole mood

I like this sub genre

Good. Didn't find anything special about this.

4.1 + A funky and sophisticated soundtrack that far outshines the film. Some wonderfully lush string arrangements, politically and socially conscious lyrics, and Curtis Mayfield's unmistakable falsetto. Lots of bangers, too: "Pusherman", "No Thing on Me", "Little Child Runnin' Wild"....

Really enjoyable, feel good, smile while you drive music!

aye quality, lot chiller than I woulda thought. makes me wanna watch the film.

Beautiful voice, groovy stuff.

Funky!

Felt like I was driving around 1970s bronx in a Cadillac. Great sounds brass, drums all of it and great drama.

Ok - so this album is undeniably iconic. Pusherman is such a cool song. So perfect for Superfly, but just a great concept. All said and done, the album is so closely tied to the film and its subject matter and plot, that it's hard for it to stand alone. I can imagine a junkie chase without any effort whatsoever. It's genre defining and 70s funk to the max, and boom-chicka music was born.

epic plata alvöru groove i gangi herna, mjög nice shit, 4.5 stjörnur basically

Cool 70s vibe

Good album

Really fun. I've listened to this a few times before.

Classic

Funky superfly enjoy that

Quite relaxing in the beginning

Enjoyed. Very chilled vibe; funky.

Some great stuff. Awesome instrumentals, and great voice. Fire overall

Legendary stuff

Stone cold classic but I've definitely listened less to the album cuts. Worth revisiting to check out in more detail, and to put the big tunes into a playlist.

Groovy

Super

Really enjoyed this one, beautiful soundtrack and funny lyrics. Going to have to watch his movie again.

I really liked listening to this, but it hasn't stuck with me. It feels like something is missing - and that something is the film visuals. Musically, it very much sounds like an accompaniment, something that is enhancing something else. And even though the album is was clearly doing a lot of the heavy lifting, it still feels like a soundtrack, rather than a standalone audio album.

Um excelente álbum, julgo ter sido feito para um filme, mas isso não põe em causa a sua qualidade. Muito agradável de se ouvir com uma excelente guitarra e saxofone, para não referir a mui agradável voz do vocalista. Nota:8/10

Funkadelic baby

Certainly iconic, and a truly essential listen. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard this before, because the cultural references I now understand have increased 199-fold. Like all ‘70s funk, it’s tight as hell, groovy, vibey, and incredible fun, even though it’s drenched in social commentary. That said, also like all 70s funk, it’s so deep tied to its time, it almost feels too disconnected for modernity to latch on to, essentially as a white listener. That’s not a negative, of course, but it does make it harder for me to enjoy as purely as I’d like. It’s a record not made with me in mind, a soundtrack to a blacksplotation film about cocaine in black communities. I’m not the target audience. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy and respect it, and even groove along with it. Just that I need to sit with it a lot longer than one listen. That said, with an album this tied to cultural references even today, I think there’s enough for me to find on repeat listens.

Evocative, soulful, classy album that stands alone from the movie, worthy of inclusion in this list. Mayfield was never better than here and despite soundtrack music often seeming throw away and disposable, Mayfield’s narrative manages to touch on societal issues lending them added heft and weight. Just a great album.

7/10

SHEEESH its kinda banger tho!!

4.5

I'm your pusher man

This is the good shit

great album, it lost my attention at some point but it could grow into a 5

Great Album, song 3, 4 are just background sounds from the movie. Liked 3 Songs especially, maybe smooch material?

An extraordinarily lavish display of funk with no watered-down politics. Bold and vehement.

Funky, groovy, fun

Curtis er súperflæ. Geggjað grúv og fílingur. Gott stöff.

Porno music

Groovy, fun listen. 4.5

fonky

7/10. Pretty fly. I liked Give Me Your Love and Superfly.

I like it but you can tell that it’s an album for a movie. I guess it’s just too background at times. 8/10

FUCKING SWAY HOT DAMN THIS IS SO GOOD got me through my law and psych study without crying

Nice surprise!

in a word: soulful. just so smooth and sly

Clearly very influential, absolutely loved the opening track. Bonus of being an awesome lawn-mowing album, which is how I first listened to this. Really want to see this movie now Saved: Little Child Runnin' Wild*, Pusherman, Think, Superfly, Freddie's Dead - Theme from 'Superfly'

3.5, rounding up. I like it, first film soundtrack we've had but it definitely holds up as an album

A very slick album that shows off Curtis’s strengths

Soul and funk is a big blind spot for me, but you don’t have to be a genre expert to know this record slaps.

Awesome, makes you cool by association

Hell yes

так-то балдеж. конечно, определенное эмоциональное ограничение накладывает факт того, что это саундтрек к какому-то очередному фильму про наркоманов, ну и соответственно по текстам ощущаешь себя не в теме. но в целом музло-то прям годное, вот этот гангстерский нео-соул для чуваков в гавайских рубашках. открывашка вообще охуенная сама по себе, как песня, даже в отрыве от фильма (кстати надо бы глянуть чтоль). ну и остальные треки довольно ровные, ничего раздражения сильного не вызвало (разве что в кокаиновой песне какой-то баланс инструментов странный, голос намного сильнее вперёд выдвинут, чем на всем остальном альбоме). инструменталы сойдут. в целом, ну 5 ставить это, наверное, немного слишком, все-таки саундтрек всего лишь, а я не фанат ролевых игр в музыке, ну 8/10 вполне себе

Название альбома – лаконичное, всего два слова. Когда нашёл для прослушивания, увидел приписку «Soundtrack from the Motion Picture». Напрягся, но не сильно, мол, может альбом кому понравился, к фильму присобачили треки, и вроде неплохо вышло. Ан нет, Superfly – полноценный альбом саундтреков, написанных специально для фильма. Если не знать заранее, то и не догадаться, думаю. Звучит как полноценный студийный крупноформатный релиз. Внятные мотивы, запоминающиеся мелодии, даже прогрессивные или арт элементы определённые присутствуют – просто хорошая музыка. Даже нотки фанка не раздражают. Little Child Runnin' Wild, Eddie You Should Know Better – отличные треки, драматичные, атмосферные, мелодичные, разнообразные. Think звучит очень искренне и душевно, в один момент ловишь себя на мысли, что это что-то из неизданного Опизденевших, и сейчас Летов начнёт стихи зачитывать про какой-нибудь знаменитый фестиваль Вудсток. Остальное тоже или хорошо (Freddie's Dead, Give Me Your Love (Love Song)) или терпимо (оставшиеся 4 трека). Интересно, за последние лет 20 был прецедент знакового полноценного альбома, записанного специально для фильма? Не удивлюсь, если нет. Эмбиенты и оркестровую жижу не предлагать – это нечто вторичное на фоне фильма. Тут же, возможно, ситуация будто противоположная – фильм вторичен на фоне музыки. Можно будет попробовать лично удостовериться. А альбом хороший.