Archive for the ‘curtom’ Category


In this Series of Posts, I will writing about the Artist’s who are in My “Greatest Ever Soul Singer of All-Time” Poll. 
The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Couple of Weeks now, so if You haven’t already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post’s, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their 20 Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on each Artist in Order of “Top to Bottom” of the Poll!

ARTIST NUMBER 7………….. CURTIS MAYFIELD

Curtis Lee Mayfield was Born on June 3rd 1942 in Chicago Illinois to Parent’s Marion Washington and Kenneth Mayfield.

When Curtis was 5 Years Old, his Father left the Family, His Mother then moved the Family to several different Housing Area’s in Chicago, before finally Settling in the “Cabrini-Green Projects”

Curtis Mayfield Dropped out of High School Early in 1956 at about 14/15 Years of Age to join a Band by the Name of “The Roosters”

Two Years later in 1958 “The Roosters” became “The Impressions” but it was not until 1961 before their First Hit was Recorded!

The Song was called “Gypsy Woman” now Classed as a “Classic Curtis Mayfield Song”

Throughout most of the 60’s “The Impressions” had numerous Hits, including some Great Songs, such as: “Amen” Its Alright “I’m So Proud” People Get Ready “Keep On Pushing” and Choice Of Colour, in fact they had nearly 40 Single Releases!

The First “Impressions” Album was Released in 1963 and named “The Impressions” there were a Total of 12 Albums in the 60’s.

Curtis Mayfield was Multi Talented included in the Instruments He could Play were, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Sax and Drums, not to forget He was also a Singer Songwriter and Producer.


By 1970 He had Left “The Impressions” to go Solo, it was around this Period He also started His own Record Label 
“Curtom Records”

His Hit Records carried on as a Solo Artist, He always Wrote song’s with Meaning to them, including about Poverty, Drugs and  Life in the USA etc.

Some of His Greatest Tracks came when He was a Solo Artist,  including “Move On Up” We Got To Have Peace “Super Fly” Its Alright and “So In Love” 

He carried on Recording until the Mid 80’s, Mostly He was Producing for other Acts, but continued to Tour throughout the 80’s.

This was to come to an End on August 13th 1990, when He was doing a Sound Check for His Outdoor Concert in Brooklyn, New York.

High Winds got up and Toppled a Lighting Stage Rig on top of Curtis Mayfield, He Survived the Incident but was Paralyzed from the Neck down, His Spine was Crushed in 3 Places, He Never Walked (un-aided) again.

He was to Record another Album in 1997 called “New World Order” which He had to Lay on his Back to Sings the Words, but He could not Play any Instruments!

But it came to an End on December 26 1999, Curtis Mayfield was to Die from His Steadily Declining Health caused by His Paralysis. 

CURTIS MAYFIELD DISCOGRAPHY   

  Studio Albums…………..17
Soundtrack Albums……7
  Live Albums……………….4
  Compilations………………7
     Singles……………………….73


Curtis Mayfield & Impressions have had over 70 Compilation Albums Released.

My 3 Curtis Mayfield favorites are: Move On Up, So In Love and Do Be Down.

I have Written a Couple of In-Depth Post’s on Curtis Mayfield,  His Life and Music! Please Press these Links:
                           Part One   Part Two

A Selection of Curtis & The Impressions Greatest Hits!



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In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s


The LP’s that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Albums ever Released. All of them, I have purchased on Vinyl many Years ago and now have them on CD or Download today.

You may have Differing view’s (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!

# 20…….THE IMPRESSIONS…….FIRST IMPRESSIONS

In 1975, The Impressions Released their 17th Studio Album (out of a Career of 21), it was entitled “First Impressions”


It would be their Last Album on Curtis Mayfield’s “Curtom Record Label” it was Written and Produced by Ed Townsend (Except Track 6 which was Written by Van McCoy.

The Impressions were Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, Ralph Johnson and Reggie Torian, incidentally Gooden and Cash were Original Members with Curtis Mayfield, and are still going Today at the Ages of 77 and 71.


Track Listing:
1. Sooner or Later
2. Same Thing it Took
3. Old Before My Time
4. First Impressions
5. Groove
6. I’m So Glad
7. How High is High
8. Why Must a Love Song be a Sad Song


This was a Great Album, My favorites Tracks were in Order of Preference: Track 1, 4, 2 and 5.

3 Singles were Released from the Album: First Impressions, Same Thing it Took and Sooner or Later, with only “First Impressions” Making the US Charts, Reaching Number 16 and spending 10 Weeks on the Chart!


Curtis Mayfield had Left The Impressions, 5 Years Earlier in 1970, He and Jerry Butler had Joined a Band Called “The Roosters” in 1957, In 1958 they Changed their name to Jerry Butler and The Impressions.


They had a Minor Hit in 1963, it was called “Gypsy Woman” there were a few Line-Up Changes early on, then in 1963 Two things happened, they Changed their Name again, this time to “The Impressions” and they had their First Big Hit, it was Called “It’s Alright”  

The First Album under the Name “The Impressions” was Released in 1963, it was Entitled “The Impressions” by now the Band Consisted of Curtis Sam and Fred!


I Clearly Remember Buying this Album from “Groove Records” in Greek Street, Soho, London.


I have Posted about this Before, have a Read!
http://www.4shared.com/pl/V0vf6hN7/impressions_.html
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This Series of Post’s concerns in my Opinion The Best Bands/Artists of all time.


I will write a Short Bio including  the Band Members/Artist, some Facts and figures, their Histories,  Links, Videos, The Tracks they made Famous, Links to Download etc etc

I will continue the series with one of  the Best Soul Vocalist of all Time…………….CURTIS MAYFIELD.

I have been Posting for nearly 2.5  years now, and Never featured the Great Curtis Mayfield, apart from Featuring his Music in 3 Different Mixes, so its about time I Did!


By 1970 Curtis Mayfield had left The Impressions to begin a Solo Career (that would Eclipse his time with The Impressions)!

Soon after he also, along with Eddie Thomas (Impressions Manager)  formed their own Record Label “Curtom Records” a combination of both of their Names.


Over the years “Curtom” had some Great Recording Artists including : The Five Stairsteps, Donny Hathaway, Linda Clifford, Leroy Hutson, The Natural Four, Staple SingersThe New Impressions and of course Curtis Mayfield.

In 1972 Mayfield released his 3rd Studio Album on “Curtom” it was the Soundtrack to the Movie “Superfly” it was a Pioneering Concept Album, with Songs about Drugs and Poverty!


It featured some Great Tracks including “Freddies Dead” Pusherman and of course the Title Track “Superfly”


The Album Topped the Pop and Black Albums Charts!


In 2003 the Album was voted on VH1 the 63rd Best Album of all Time.


After “Superfly” Curtis Mayfield was asked to Write and Produce for some of the Biggest Stars of the day, including: Gladys Knight and the Pips, Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples.


But sadly Curtom was to Close by 1980, after 10 years in Business!

Between 1970 and 1997 Curtis Mayfield Recorded around 20 Studio Albums, 4 Live Albums and numerous Compilations, He also worked with 4 different Record Labels (apart from Curtom) including RSO, Boardwalk, Buddah and CRC.


Sadly on 13th August 1990 while Performing at an Outdoor Concert in New York, during High Winds, Stage Lighting equipment fell on top of C.M, Crushing him and leaving him Paralysed from the Neck down, it had Broken his spine in 3 places!

He was Unable to do most things and spent several years inactive, but in 1997 he released a New Album “New World Order” which he Recorded while Laying on his Back and Recording one line at a Time!


In 1998 Tragedy was to Strike again, when Diabetes caused CM to have his Right Leg Amputated.


The following year 1999 on Boxing Day, at the Age of 57 years, unfortunately Curtis Mayfield Died. He left a Wife and 9 Children and 7 Grand Children. 

He Recorded some Fantastic Music in his Lifetime, One of my all time Favorite Tracks is “Move On Up” and there’s  the Following: So In Love “Kung Fu” Do Be Down “To Be Invisible” I’m So Proud “Choice of Colours” Gypsy Woman “Its Alright” the List is Endless!


Here are a Few of the Awards , Curtis Mayfield has Won over the Years: Inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1991, as member of The Impressions,  and as a Solo Artist in 1999,  Won a Grammy Legend Award in 1994, Won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995 and in 2004 “Rolling Stone Magazine” Voted Him #99 Best Artist of All time!


DOWNLOAD ALL THE ALBUMS HERE ABOUT 24 OF THEM, I THINK, AND A GREAT IN DEPTH WRITE UP ABOUT CURTIS MAYFIELD!


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