Curtis Mayfield – Curtis

With all the great LP classics released in 1970, it's easy to forget that this debut was actually one of the first records to transform and renew soul into a new decade. Before Sly's 'There's A Riot', before Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going', before 'Shaft' and also before Stevie Wonder's liberation hit 'Where I'm Coming From' this record was already released in October 1970 and offered not only a new musical perspective, but also lyrically, because songs like 'If There's A Hell Below' or 'We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue' contained - according to Mayfield's positive attitude - positive civil rights messages, but at the same time said that the fight is not over yet.

But above all, this disc is a manifesto of artistic emancipation. Mayfield says goodbye not only to the 60s soul of Impressions, but also to the commercial, hit Motown track, which was still strongly represented in 1970 (Jackson 5, Supremes etc.). He focuses on songs, on melodies, often focuses on the guitar as the main instrument, and with the use of the "Wah Wah" pedal and cleverly applied soulful brass phrases he also prepares the ground for "Blaxploitation"

On the other hand, he never manages to make the ballads, which are often accompanied by strings, sound greasy and overloaded, but very organic and down-to-earth. Also as a producer he sets a very important accent and defines exactly the sound that makes up his next and most successful and best albums. As a songwriter he didn't have to prove anything to himself and the world since 'People Get Ready' at the latest, but with this album he became the pioneer of a new, self-confident and completely independent soul sound.

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