750 Curtis Mayfield - There’s No Place Like America Today (1975)

 750 Curtis Mayfield - There’s No Place Like America Today (1975)

Studio Album - Soul



About the Act:

Curtis Mayfield is dead. He died in 1999, at 57, a year older than I am. He died of complications from type 2 diabetes, a condition I have. Hmmm.

He was an American Soul/Funk singer. He was born in Cook Country Hospital in Chicago. He started singing in a gospel choir, and at 14 joined the vocal group The Impressions. In 1965 he wrote People Get Ready, one of my favourite gospel songs. In 1070 he went solo and had 22 solo albums. 

About the Album:

This was his 9th solo album - impressive as it was only his 5th year as a solo artist.

My History with this Album:

None, although I know the first track, Billy Jack.

Review:

Wikipedia says this is Funk/R&B. I say it is Soul. I don't claim to know more than Wikipedia, but the distinctions are quite vague here. I guess it's kind of funky, but if you think this is going to be funk-style-dance then you might be disappointed. It has that kind of edge at times, but mostly these are songs, and a bit slower.

The sound is lush and well-produced. I found the music moderately good. The singing is soulful and high, oh so high. He can get right up there with people like Jon Anderson, and has a fair old range to his voice. Billy Jack is a story song, the rest are more open, with quite a bit about love, but also a fair amount about Christian things, the song Jesus is interesting.

It was pleasant. 

7.2/10


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6hP2HgGSn9yC0SrCwjaUOM

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2hTdNyFttDrmu_q1GnGRn-UrCr6l9yxa

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There%27s_No_Place_Like_America_Today



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