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Curtis/Live! is Curtis Mayfield’s first live album, and a fiery declaration of independence from The Impressions. Originally released in May 1971 as a double LP on Mayfield's Curtom label (distributed through Neil Bogart's Buddah Records), the album's twelve tracks (track listing below is from the 2000 Rhino reissue, which includes two bonus tracks) — along with Mayfield's interstitial raps on the politics of the day — were recorded in front of a lively downtown crowd at Paul Colby's Bitter End nightclub in New York City. According to John Abbey, who at the beginning of the 1970s was the editor of the UK magazine Blues & Soul, Mayfield and his band's first set at a Bitter End date in January 1971 comprised the bulk of the music presented here. Mixed primarily with Eddie Kramer at Electric Lady Studios, the album features Mayfield's phenomenal backing band — Master Henry Gibson (percussion), Craig McMullen (rhythm guitar), Joseph "Lucky" Scott (bass) and Tyrone McCullen (drums) — all performing at the top of their collective game. Curtis/Live! is one of the few live recordings of the time to flawlessly capture the funky darkness and protest-fueled frustration of the post-Flower Power era, but it also remains a vital and lasting statement of Mayfield's natural energy, soul and humor as a singer and performer.
[edit] Track listing
- “Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey)”
- Rap
- “I Plan to Stay a Believer”
- “We're a Winner”
- Rap
- “We've Only Just Begun”
- "People Get Ready"
- Rap
- “Stare and Stare”
- “Check Out Your Mind”
- “Gypsy Woman”
- “The Makings of You”
- Rap
- “We the People Who are Darker Than Blue”
- "(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go"
- “Stone Junkie”
- “Superfly”
- “Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey)” (Single Version)
[edit] Personnel
- Curtis Mayfield - vocals, guitar
- Craig McMullen - guitar
- Joseph "Lucky" Scott - bass
- Henry Gibson - congas, bongos, percussion
- Tyrone McCullen - drums
[edit] Chart positions
Billboard Music Charts (North America) - album
| Year |
Chart |
Chart position |
| 1971 |
Pop Albums |
#21 |
| 1971 |
Black Albums |
#3 |
| 1971 |
Jazz Albums |
#9 |
