Funk / Soul

Reissue Classicccc

In honour of the legendary Curtis Mayfield, his first four studio albums are to be released in the new boxset Keep on Keeping on: Curtis Mayfield Studio albums 1970-1974 over 4CDs all newly remastered, marking the 50 years since Mayfield’s Prolific Solo Career came to Start. A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honouree, Mayfield’s early solo career includes a collection of newly remastered versions of his first four studio albums: Curtis (1970), Roots (1971), Back to the World (1973) and Sweet Exorcist (1974). KEEP ON KEEPING ON: CURTIS MAYFIELD STUDIO ALBUMS 1970-1974 will be available on February 22. Mayfield left the Impressions in 1970 and launched his solo career with his debut album, Curtis. The album reached the Billboard Pop Albums Chart Top 20 and was certified gold. It features “(Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Below, We’re All Going To Go,” a hit in the U.S., and “Move On Up,” which charted in the U.K. In terms of cultural significance, the album’s potent combination of socially conscious lyrics and soul/funk music helped blaze a trail for later albums like Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On and Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions. Curtis went on to release More successful albums such as the R&B classic ‘ Roots’ , 1973’s ‘Back to The World’ and finally ‘Sweet Exorcist’ in 1974 which all span hits such as “Future Shock,” “Can’t Say Nothin’” and “If I Were Only A Child Again.”

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Mother Freedom Band’s Cutting The Chord is a funky modern soul classic. It’s both a criminally under-appreciated album and a hard-to-find record so we’re delighted to be giving this sweet disco-funk groover the reissue treatment it deserves. Produced by the great Al Goodman from The Moments and originally released in 1977, Cutting The Chord seems to be one of the lesser known releases on the curious, and often great “All Platinum” label. Other than a 7″ of a couple of these tracks, the only thing that the band seem to have released is this album, and what an album it is. Unbeatable soul-funk of the highest quality. The album bursts open with “Love Will Stay In Your Corner”. It’s a soulful dancer that reliably slays any funk set you care to drop it in. It’s followed by the lithe disco funk “Flick Of The Wrist” that’s all bubbling baselines and elegant horns. The groovy, horn-enhanced sweet soul of “Gotta Get It Back” is equal parts heartbreaker/hip-shaker and the acidic organs on “Mr Brother” are an experiment in synth soul. Perhaps the group’s best known track, “Beautiful Summer’s Day” might well be worth the price of an original copy alone. It’s pure piano-driven paradise soul. A tropical birdsong intro sets the scene of a warm, perfect sunshine day and the lead vocal soars over the lush, clean production. The tempo oscillates between contemplative and stomping. Essential. The brilliantly-named “(Assistants Rag) When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” opens side two.

Classic

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