Track Listing

1. Don't Worry If There's A Hell Below We're All Gonna Go
2. Other Side Of Town
3. Makings Of You
4. We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue
5. Move On Up
6. Miss Black America
7. Wild And Free
8. Give It Up
9. Power To The People
10. Underground
11. Ghetto Child
12. Readings In Astrology
13. Suffer
14. Miss Black America
15. Makings Of You
16. Don't Worry If There's A Hell Below We're All Gonna Go
17. Don't Worry If There's A Hell Below We're All Gonna Go

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28708 in Music
• Released on: 2000-10-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

CD Description
CURTIS is the first solo album by R&B/soul legend Curtis Mayfield. After leaving the Impressions, Mayfield began to write lyrics that were more politically charged. With the 1970 release of CURTIS, he became one of the most important socially conscious artists of his generation. The album's opener,"(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below We're All Going to Go" uses racial epithets openly, as Mayfield asserts the shiftlessness of America. Set to a funky groove, with smart hornarrangements and wah-wah guitar, this song is a brazen attack on social mores, racism, the Vietnam War, religious impropriety, and Nixon-era politics.
"We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue" is another track that poignantly examines the race and class struggles of urban America. This song is made up of more than just a static groove; its tempos shift midway through and powerful brass figures, timpani punctuations, and harp glissandos soon dominate the mix. Also featuringthe powerful "Move On Up", CURTIS is a classic soul record,and its relevance is amplified by its quest for racial harmony and its bold anti-establishment stance. (Note: The 2000 reissue of CURTIS features nine bonus tracks.)

Customer Reviews

The album that made him a star
This album takes as it's inspiration the social and political issues of it's era. During his time with the Impressions, Curtis Mayfield had long supported the Civil Rights movement, and on his first solo album he gives full rein to his sense of injustice at the way America was in the 60's. This album was released in 1970.

That does not mean the message overwhelms the music - far from it. Mayfield had one of the most inventive approaches to Soul, and that is on display in all it's glory on "Curtis". Starting with a spoken intro over a conga driven groove, "Don't Worry..." challenges you up front with racial insults, before settling into it's funky stride. Slower in tempo, but equally hard hitting, "The Other Side of Town" chronicles ghetto life and these show Mayfield at his best, both musically and socially.

There's more Funk on "Move On Up", a well known track, here in it's full 7 minute form, and there are more positive messages on "....Darker than Blue" and "Miss Black America". Turning to matters of the heart, the mid tempo "Give It Up" regrets the passing of love, while "The Makings Of You" has Curtis celebrating the love of his life.

This expanded edition also includes bonus tracks which are worthwhile for the way they give a picture of how Curtis developed his music. There are demo versions of tracks on the original "Curtis", tracks which would appear on later albums in their finished forms (Underground) and Ghetto Child later became "Little Child Running Wild" on "Superfly"

Curtis Mayfield was a musical genius, and although his later output would be uneven, this is one of at least 4 essential albums from the 70's that he wrote produced and performed. It is well worth your time and money.

Buy this record.
You really should own this record. From the unstoppable rumbling bass opening of (Dont worry),this album is consistently excellent. Cutting lyrics that go to the heart of African-American socio-political relations, and some of the funkiest, inspiring and innovative arrangements you will hear.
Just buy it and enjoy.

You really should own this.
There aren't really that many absolutely faultless records in the history of pop music: 'Curtis' is one of them, with the great man at the height of his musical and lyrical prowess, mixing heavy social comment with beatiful love songs, cutting-edge funk arrangements with gospel influences. After you've bought this record you'll be seriously angry with yourself about all the years you didn't own it. I certainly was.