Curtis Mayfield was an American singer-songwriter who began his career with the group 'The Impressions', a group in which he produced a number of hits from 1963 to 1970 that were impressive to say the least.
And so it was from the year 1970 that his solo career began, a start which produced a first album "Curtis", an album with certain success, notably thanks to the title "(Don't worry) If there's a hell below. We’re all going to go.”
But it was above all the album “Super fly”, which was released two years later in 1972, that the artist achieved the biggest success of his entire albums discography. Flagship album that will be found on the soundtrack of the film of the same name and which will mainly produce the two huge tracks “Freddie’s Dead” and “Superfly”.
Soundtracks which will be particularly successful for him since we will find him on other successful soundtracks such as “Claudine” in 1974, “Let’s do it again” in 1975, “Sparkle” in 1976 as well as “Short eyes” in 1977.
He will also produce a significant number of other albums but which will not be able to match the level of success achieved by these famous soundtracks.
An artist who died prematurely at the age of 57 on December 26, 1999 from complications linked to his diabetes.
To discover or rediscover...
Discography (among others...) :
50s Decade :
For your precious love (The Impressions) 1958
Come back my love (The Impressions) 1958
Listen (The Impressions) 1959
Lovely one (The Impressions) 1959
60s Decade :
Say that you love me (The Impressions) 1960
Gypsy woman (The Impressions) 1961
Grow closer together (The Impressions) 1962
Little young lover (The Impressions) 1962
I'm the one who loves you (The Impressions) 1963
It’s all right (The Impressions) 1963
Talking about my baby (The Impressions) 1964
I’m so proud (The Impressions) 1964
Keep on pushing (The Impressions) 1964
You must believe me (The Impressions) 1964
Amen (The Impressions) 1964
People get ready (The Impressions) 1965
Woman's got soul (The Impressions) 1965
Meeting over yonder (The Impressions) 1965
I need you (The Impressions) 1965
You've been cheatin' (The Impressions) 1965
Since I lost the one I love (The Impressions) 1966
Can't satisfy (The Impressions) 1966
You always hurt me (The Impressions) 1967
I can't stay away from you (The Impressions) 1967
We're a winner (The Impressions) 1967
We’re rolling on (The Impressions) 1968
Fool for you (The Impressions) 1968
I loved and I lost (The Impressions) 1968
This is my country (The Impressions) 1968
Don't cry my love (The Impressions) 1968
My deceiving heart (The Impressions) 1969
Seven years (The Impressions) 1969
Choice of colors (The Impressions) 1969
70s Decade :
Check out your mind (The Impressions) 1970
(Baby) Turn on to me (The Impressions) 1970
(Don’t worry) If there’s a hell below, we’re all going to go 1970
Move on up 1971
Get down 1971
Beautiful brother of mine 1972
We got to have peace 1972
Freddie’s dead 1972
Superfly 1972
Future shock 1973
If I were only a child again 1973
Can’t say nothin’ 1973
Mother’s son 1974
Sweet exorcist 1974
Kung fu 1974
So in love 1975
Only you babe 1976
Party night 1976
Do do wap is strong in here 1977
Show me love 1977
Do it all night 1978
You are, you are 1978
No goodbyes 1978
This year 1979
You’re so good to me 1979
Tell me, tell me (How ya like to be loved) 1979
80s Decade :
Love me, love me now 1980
Tripping out 1980
I'm so proud 1980
Love sweet sensation 1980
She don’t let nobody (But me) 1981
Toot an’ toot an’ toot 1982
Hey baby 1982
Still within your heart 1982
Baby it’s you 1985
This love is true 1985
We got to have peace 1985
Back to living again 1987
No one knows about a good thing 1987
90s Decade :
He's a fly guy 1990
Do be done 1990
Who was that lady 1990
Forbidden 1990
New world order 1996
Back to living again 1997
No one knows about a good thing 1997
Tracks :
1958...the beginnings in grouped mode to join forces to better face the unknown. Association which will pay for this...
1958...this one will work a little less than its predecessor but the main thing is that the group is now known...
1959...all that was going well and yet this year 1959 will not really resemble the year 1958. No title will be classified...
1959...and yet we can't say that there isn't quality in all that. But sometimes you shouldn't try to understand as they say...
1960...same for 1960. Surprising turnaround nonetheless after a perfectly mastered start of career...
1961...business will finally resume with this new title. A year 1961 which will only see the release of one title but at least it will be classified...
1962...the hits machine is slowly but surely getting back into place, which is still somewhat reassuring about the future of events...
1962...at this stage we are not yet talking about big hits but the success is not negligible. That's at least that...
1963...the level of success climbs from year to year and this shows that the best is inevitably to come. Patience, patience...
1963...here comes their first reference title. It took them a few years to obtain it but it is now done...
1964...for this year 1964 there will be several reference titles starting with this title. The group takes place quietly but above all surely !
1964...the group reaches its cruising speed in the middle of the 60s and now strings together hits like others string pearls...
1964...and 3 ! The group has already released 3 major titles this year and de facto proves that he is one of the leading groups of the moment...
1964...there will even be a 4th. The group is on cloud nine and dominates the competition in an impressive way to say the least...
1964...and it's still not over since here's a 5th ! An exceptional year to say the least, from every point of view, that's for sure...
1965...the year 1965 starts on almost the same bases as those of 1964, that is to say. Impossible to stop them now...
1965...each new year now has its surge of very high caliber titles and it's set to last like this for a few more years...
1965...everything succeeded in an impressive way to say the least. On the other hand, he does not have notable success without a more than certain talent behind it...
1965...for this year 1965, there will once again be 5 titles in the spotlight. A real feat in itself all the same...
1965...here is the last one on the list. An insolent success which allows them to stay at the head of the race with disconcerting ease, to say the least...
1966...a year 1966 which will prove to be a notch below in the end but there is no need to worry about them at this stage...
1966...it is with this title that they will save their year. It now remains to be seen whether the sequel will turn out to be a little more successful...
1967...no notable improvement for the moment but it could be that the future will still be a little more favorable for them...
1967...they still manage to classify most of their titles which clearly shows that the situation is not that tense...
1967...they will prove with this title that there was no reason to worry more than that since they are back on the front of the stage in a resounding way to say the least...
1968...business will pick up spectacularly during this year 1968. A comeback that is entirely logical in itself...
1968...it's a succession of high caliber titles that we will witness throughout this year of 1968. Everything is going well again...
1968...the group performs again in an impressive way and proves de facto that the slight air gap of previous years is nothing more than a bad memory...
1968...and 4 ! We are already at the 4th ranked title which is strongly beginning to remind us of their best past years...
1968...there will even be a 5th title to round off a truly beautiful 1968. When it wants, it wants...
1969...a decade which ends in style with a new succession of high-caliber titles. While waiting for the start of the solo career...
1969...a decade which allowed the singer to have his first major experience. The second is coming...
1969...a first adventure in grouped mode which allowed him to show a large part of his talent. And he undeniably has...
1970...a very last year to share this end of adventure with friends. Here he begins a new decade which will dedicate him this time in a personal capacity...
1970...he still managed to classify an impressive number of titles with his former colleagues and just for that, respect for the first time...
1970... here comes his first solo title. A start to a solo career which ideally starts with this first classified title...
1971...a year 1970 quickly closed at the solo level and here he arrives in this new 1971 with this title which will only work in England...
1971...return of success in the United States and only in the United States this time paradoxically. After as long as the title is classified...
1972...he proves in any case that he can exist alone and in a very beautiful way. Knowing in addition that the solo adventure is only just beginning...
1972...a quiet start to the year before a very clear acceleration in the second part. A year 1972 which will consecrate him at the highest level...
1972...a consecration that will arrive with THIS title. In just 2 years of solo career he will have managed to reach the top of the mountain. HU-GE !
1972...and he puts it back at almost the same level. A year 1972 which will undoubtedly remain as his best vintage !
1973...a year 1973 a notch below but well enough to allow him to stay at the head of the race...
1973...an adventure which is unrolling in the best way at this stage and which undoubtedly makes the artist one of the leading artists of the moment...
1973...three titles for this year 1973 and three very high caliber titles. For the moment the descent of the mountain has not yet begun...
1974...a descent of the mountain which will begin from this title unfortunately. The euphoria only lasted 2 years...
1974...after that absolutely does not mean the end of the adventure, far from it. But he will never again repeat the feat achieved during the year 1972...
1974...he will manage to return to the front of the race with this title but he will have to make the most of it because it will not last long...
1975...confirmed return with this new title but it will indeed be the last time that he succeeds. The rest will therefore be a little more behind the scenes...
1976...what will continue to be released will be classified regardless but only in the R&B Charts. That's at least that...
1976...the positive point of the story is that he will have experienced consecration with several people and alone. We will therefore say that everything that follows is only a bonus...
1977...in any case he says to himself that the adventure is still well worth pursuing and that above all he still has things to offer and above all to sing...
1977...and in principle he is absolutely right because in music nothing is ever finished, especially when the inspiration remains at a high level...
1978...we're not going to lie, the best years are now behind him but he's doing better than holding his own no matter what, it's clear...
1978...the production of titles remains plentiful, which clearly shows that inspiration is hardly weakening, which can only reassure for the future...
1978...he is already 20 years into his career, which is starting to happen. It now remains to be seen whether or not there will be a 4th decade of career to follow...
1979...for now it looks like it at first glance. Which can only reassure the basic fans...
1979...what is certain in any case is that he will have to adapt to the new trends of the moment, not the easiest thing for an artist coming from the 50s...
1979...even when you have above average talent, the sounds have still evolved quite a bit in 20 years...
1980...here he begins a new decade with the firm intention of not giving up. For how much longer, good question...
1980...he is doing better than resisting at this stage and everything is still possible. A resistance that he owes only to one thing, his talent...
1980...he said to himself that with 2 it would necessarily be even better and so here he is in charming company. Duo of shock and charm who will do pretty well...
1980...they're doing it again just to make the most of this special moment. Excellent work anyway...
1981...solo return the following year with a single title officially released during this year 1981. Unique but classified...
1982...the year 1982 will be a little more stocked in titles but not by much. We clearly feel that times are getting harder and harder for the artist...
1982...but he hangs on, he hangs on. For the moment he is still holding up a little but not sure that it will last for years and years...
1982...afterwards what is taken is no longer to be taken as they say. For someone who started his career in 1958, it's already been a long, long journey...
1985...a little air hole of 3 years but here he is again anyway. Slight air hole which still shows that we are getting closer and closer to a possible end to the adventure...
1985...because only one title will be officially released during this year 1985 and the others will only be titles highlighted for the occasion...
1985...it must be said that it would have been a shame to hide them because there is still quality in all that, it is clear...
1990...new air hole this time for 5 years. He is nevertheless attacking his 5th decade of career here, a feat that is worth highlighting...
1990...a decade which will be the last on both the musical and personal sides. But he doesn't know that yet at this stage...
1990...for the moment he continues to benefit from the passage of time and above all from a level of inspiration still sufficient to produce a minimum...
1990...it would still have been a shame if he didn't reach the end of his possibilities because what he continues to deliver is far from unworthy...
1996...his last album. Destiny is catching up with him little by little but he still has a few years ahead of him...
1997...precious years that he uses to continue his work and thus please his fans from the very beginning...
1997...fans who will have to enjoy this last title as much as possible because the story will end definitively 2 years later...
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Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :