1001 Albums Summary

Middle of the road radio-friendly blues rock though served with charisma and no little skill. Interesting to see how some of the tracks here, including the opener, resemble unfinished jams rather than fully-fledged songs. The moody Breakdown is the most interesting song though American Girl's catchiness is undeniable.

A big crossover album due to Run-DMC's collaboration with Aerosmith on a version of the latter's Walk This Way. Elsewhere, Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay are firing on all cylinders, creating an album that set the template for East coast hip hop.

Along with Isaac Hayes's work on Shaft and Bobby Womack's on Across 110th Street, Curtis Mayfield's soundtrack for Super Fly was a defining work of the Blaxploitation genre. Unlike those other artists though, Mayfield's album eclipsed the film for which is was written and became a funk and soul classic on its own merits. Singles Freddie's Dead and the title track as well as Pusherman ooze cool while also serving as social commentary, highlighting the problems that hard drugs were causing amongst poor black communities. Mayfield used his personal experience alongside the events in the script to create songs that had their own life. No wonder that the album has been sampled so often.

Some nice, mellow rock music for when you're in your feelings. Not major feelings though. We don't get too sad around here.

Smooth tunes for romancing. Maxwell has an incredibly lush voice.