Curtis Mayfield - Curtis [180g, Gatefold] (LP) Vinyl

Curtis is the debut solo studio album by the American soul musician Curtis Mayfield, released in September 1970 on his own Curtom label. Mayfield wrote and produced the record after more than a decade fronting The Impressions, and it moved his writing away from pop soul towards funk and psychedelic soul.

The Album

The album was recorded between May and July 1970 at RCA Studios in Chicago, with vocal overdubbing at the Record Plant in New York. Mayfield's falsetto is set against a large studio band, with arrangements by Riley Hampton and Gary Slabo and percussion from Henry Gibson. The writing deals directly with the political and social concerns of black America at the time, and Mayfield was one of the earliest artists to speak openly about African American pride and community struggle. The sound is harder edged than his work with The Impressions, with the two singles carrying the funk and the remaining tracks running to softer soul.

Chart Performance

Curtis reached number one on the Billboard soul albums chart, where it held the top position for five nonconsecutive weeks, and number 19 on the pop albums chart. "(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go" reached number 29 on the US pop chart and number 3 on the R&B chart in 1970. An edited version of "Move On Up" spent ten weeks inside the top 50 of the UK singles chart the following year, peaking at number 12.

Reception and Legacy

American reviews at the time were divided, but the record's standing has grown steadily since. In Britain, Blues & Soul found it more progressive musically than anything Mayfield had done with The Impressions. Mayfield won the Prix Otis Redding for best rhythm and blues album from the Academie du Jazz in 1972, and in 2020 Rolling Stone placed Curtis at number 275 in its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

This Pressing

This is the Curtom reissue under catalogue number 8122796557, marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company. The lacquers were cut and the record pressed by Optimal Media GmbH on 180g black vinyl, and it is manufactured in the European Union. It comes in a gatefold sleeve carrying Bob Cato's photography and design, with the inner spread of photographs from the original release.

Track Listing

Side One

1. (Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go (7:46)
2. The Other Side of Town (4:00)
3. The Makings of You (3:40)
4. We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue (6:00)

Side Two

1. Move On Up (8:50)
2. Miss Black America (2:55)
3. Wild and Free (3:12)
4. Give It Up (3:45)