Curtis Mayfield was one of the first black artists to openly sing about the inequities facing his race as well as sing with Afrocentricity. He wrote songs for his group, The Impressions, such as "Choice of Colors", "We're A Winner" and "Keep On Pushin'" that provided the soundtrack for the civil rights movement. On his first solo album, Curtis, he takes on a harder stance and his songs are most critical and scathing than the uplifting one he performed with The Impressions. The album's opener "(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below, We're All Gonna Go" breaks down stereotypes and lays blame for the nation's situation on everyone. The album's best track is the misty "We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue" that has a mystical vibe to it. Mr. Mayfield was never afraid of speaking his mind and his debut solo album has alot to say.

Of all my favorite songwriters, a group including the teams of Tosh/Marley Lennom/McCartney, Page/Plant, Jagger/Richards and Patton/Benjamin (Outkast), Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix and Ben Harper to name a few I would have to put the late, great Curtis Mayfield, Soul Brother #1 right at the top. His songs had the social conscioussness and political militance of Martin Luther King and he was a major influence two of the greatest Soul Brothas of all time, the "Bush Doctor" Peter Tosh and Brother Bob Marley who imitated his work with the Impressions as they first performed as the wailers . His music over three plus decades was just off the meat rack funky as hell, and so ahead of his time that his songs have been sampled on some of the best hip hop beats OF ALL TIME like Camp Lo's "Black Nostaljak a.k.a. Come On!", 2Pac's "r u still down", or the "BathTub" skit from Snoop's first album. You might not recognize these songs on paper but you most definitely would if you heard them. The man was a certified musical genius.

That said, this, his first solo album might just be his best which is really quite a feat considering teh two or three he released subsequently like Superfly and Roots. Not a weak track among the original or added tracks but the very best are "Move on Up", "(Don't Worry) If there's Hell Below", We People who are Darker than Blue" and "Miss Black America" among the original tracks. Of the demos "underground","suffer" and "Ghetto Child" are the best, the latter track being nearly identical to the killer opening cut "Little Child Runnin' Wild" from Superfly only without horns or strings and other production overdubs).

This album is a must have for a fan of top notch songwriting and musicianship as is his follow up solo effort Roots-1999 Live album entitled 'Curtis/Live!' both from 1971. I assume anyone with remote interest in Curtis knows Superfly is a masterwork in no need of explanation. I would also recommend buying ONE of Curtis' greatest hits packages because they have some great songs from scattered soundtracks and latter staged albums he did that were not quite as consistent as his early work but just as potent. I found one with almost 50 songs for 20 bucks!!

A substantial Curtis Mayfield library would fit well into any music listener's home because, as many of his songs emphasize, people, whether black white yellow or brown are far more alike than they are different. I don't consider myself a fan of certain genres as much as a fan of good music and anything by Curtis is definitely that. I urge you to explore and enjoy him.

Only nine reviews for such an important album! Curtis was a giant. For me this was his greatest accomplishment. Yet, apparently, this masterpiece flies under the radar. I won't presume to explain.

In the late 60's Curtis Mayfield was the musical conscience of black America. He pulled no punches and at the same time he took no cheap shots. He never came across as preachy yet he always passed along a message that absolutely needed to be said. Moreover, even if you weren't cognizant of the message the sheer majesty of the music shone through.

I wish that I'd had the opportunity to meet Curtis. For this 57 year old "whitey" he was a hero of immense proportions.

Curtis has no weak songs. Horns, strings and that fabulous voice! I never tire of listening to the record, and now this CD. Unlike most recordings, once this one hits the player it stays on until the end. And then I play Move on up, again.

Curtis may be gone but he'll never be forgotten.

A Classic LP with raw uninhibited lyrics that shows Curtis' abilities. If you are from this generation, and a Curtis fan, you need to listen to this one. The discs that I ordered were promos and not official releases, I confirmed this with Mofi. Both discs I received were open, with barcode lined out. Nothing wrong with the disc but for MoFi Collectors, this needs to be known.

This man stays on my mind all the time. I have to admit, "We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue" is the jam on this album with its breathtaking strings and rhythm section that sends chills up my spine. It is the jam right along with "Wild and Free". This particular album went platinum cause it was consistent from one song to the next, had a common theme that is shared (being black in today's society and love among mankind)and last, the album had actual musicians playing on this record and not the computerized music we hear today. Just listen to this record all the way through and you won't be disappointed at all. You get your money's worth with this guy. Curtis puts out quality material and he is never sounds rushed.