Curtis/Live!

Curtis/Live! is Curtis Mayfield’s first live album, after leaving 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 at Paul Colby's Bitter End nightclub in New York City. According to John Abbey, who at the beginning of the 1970s was 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 Master Henry Gibson playing percussion, Craig McMullen on rhythm guitar, Joseph "Lucky" Scott on bass, and Tyrone McCullen on drums.

Track listing

All tracks by Curtis Mayfield except were noted

1. “Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey)” – 6:56
2. Rap – 0:26
3. “I Plan to Stay a Believer” – 3:16
4. “We're a Winner” – 4:47
5. Rap – 0:51
6. “We've Only Just Begun” (Paul Williams, Roger Nichols) – 3:44
7. "People Get Ready" – 3:47
8. Rap – 0:34
9. “Stare and Stare” – 6:12
10. “Check Out Your Mind” – 3:53
11. “Gypsy Woman” – 3:48
12. “The Makings of You” – 3:28
13. Rap – 2:01
14. “We the People Who are Darker Than Blue” – 6:46
15. "(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go" – 9:27
16. “Stone Junkie” – 8:05
17. “Superfly” – 3:56
18. “Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey)” (Single Version) – 3:16

Personnel

• Curtis Mayfield - vocals, guitar
• Craig McMullen - guitar
• Joseph "Lucky" Scott - bass
• Henry Gibson - congas, bongos, percussion
• Tyrone McCullen - drums

Chart positions

Billboard Music Charts (North America) - album

References