There's only one thing wrong with this album: the title. Instead of being called
Super Fly it should be called
Supercool. I mean, I'm a scrawny, skinny, balding white guy in his fifties who couldn't shake his groove thang if his life depended on it, and even I felt like strutting the moment (if you'll forgive the inaccurate but I believe appropriate idiom) the needle hit the groove. Very apt, considering that a) this is the sound track to a movie about drugs and b) the album leaks and oozes groove all over the place. I know little of “blaxploitation” films, but the first thing that came to mind when the album began – and it's a good thing – was
Shaft. The energy and exuberance this guy puts out is amazing, coupled with the darker lyrical subject matter, and I can see why this album is regarded as as influential on early soul and r&b as
What's Going On? Phrases I'm not usually familiar with were trippin' off my tongue: things like “Awww yeah!” “Damn!” and “Testify, brother!” I've played it about nine times now, and it's only Monday. Every time it ended, I just restarted it. It's that good. As Occult would say, unassailable.
1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Cool with a capital Smooth.
2. What did you think of the opening track?
Love it. I love Curtis's voice and the music was so seventies, of course. Great sax work and that sort of machine-gun orchestra hit that reminds me of, you guessed it, Shaft!
3. What did you think of the next track?
That was great, too. Got more of the funk in it. You can see where Prince would get some of his ideas ten years later.
4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)
It's Curtis.
You work it out.
5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)
Yes, very cool, very funky, very smooth. I love that thing they did in the seventies with soul music, using the orchestra.
6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Kept up a consistent excellence all the way through.
7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Very socially aware. For this era, I think it was brave of Curtis to be talkign about the dangers of drugs, which would have been everywhere at that point, and more socially acceptable too.
8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)
Yeah brother!
9. What did you think of the production?
Insert answer here
10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
No. I also never heard of Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, BB King...
11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Soul is not my thing, but I have to admit this almost transcends genres and is just cool music.
12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Liked it more each time.
13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?
Loved everything, but the ones that stood out as gems among gems were “Freddie's dead”, “No thing on me” , “Think” (beautiful instrumental)
14. And the one(s) you liked least?
None
15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)
n/a
16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
Very much so
17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
No. I saw Curtis on
The Old Grey Whistle Test (British music show) from the seventies and he was playing “Johannseburg”. He was so cool; playing for thousands or even millions but he made it seem so small and intimate, as if he was playing a tiny club. He didn't seen to even care that he was a big star; he was just totally into the music. So honest, so refreshing.
18. Did the album end well?
Oh yeah. Title track is a killer.
19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
I'd have to say no.
20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Very cohesive, almost a concept I would have thought.
I'd be happy giving this the full
10/10. I'd rate it higher if I could.
The Album Club: "Super Fly" by Curtis Mayfield
Linear Mode
