MicShazam

I've enjoyed my time with this album over the last few days, but I can't say I'm as blown away by it as it seems most of you are. By all means, this is a very well produced album full of smooth charms and infectious grooves. It is hard for me to really fault it for anything, which just goes to show that the best art isn't always the most flawless, as that is really not the thing that matters the most. In other words, while I don't find any direct fault with the album, it didn't leave much of an impression on me either.

While I like Curtis' singing voice, I guess the vocal lines didn't quite do it for me in terms of melody. It could have been more interesting for me when it comes to that.
Maybe the romantic, 'Hollywoody' strings and horns weren't exactly my favorite thing about the instrumentation either, but it was generally very well done instrumentally.

The most offensive thing I can say about the album is that I just find it to be very agreeable. Nice and smooth, but I don't feel any enthusiasm for it.

I don't have anything to say about the lyrics as that is just generally not something I focus on.

Listened to: ... some amount of times. I lost count after day two.
Rating: A small 7/10, which means I enjoy it but wouldn't buy it for my record collection.

TechnicLePanther

This is album is awesome. Top-tier funky music with both intellectual and casual listening appeal. There's just so much going on with the guitar, bass, drum set, not to mention the various palm drums in the background. Curtis Mayfield is the star of the show, of course, a brilliant lyricist, vocalist, and songwriter. With various funky jams, such as "Little Child Runnin' Wild", "Pusherman", "Superfly", and "Freddie's Dead" opposing slower tracks such as "Think", "Give Me Your Love", and "No Thing On Me", it's an album that simply can't fail to put you in a good mood. If someone dislikes this album, they must be a real stick-in-the-mud. 10/10

On my list of favorite albums of all time:

Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children
Curtis Mayfield - Super Fly
Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

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SUGGEST ME AN ALBUM - I'm probably not going to listen to it but I will if you bother me enough.

MicShazam

Great, now I feel like an ******* for "only" liking it, not loving it

Trollheart

As you should. Heathen.
You've spoiled the 100% "Loved it" score on the poll. Shame on you.

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MicShazam

Frownland

I took Janzsoon's advice and watched the movie after hearing the album a couple of times.

Slick as greased lightning. Cooler than superchilled atoms. Funkier than a pile of rotten fish. Groovy as a mother****ing seismograph. Black as vantablack and if you think that's racist then **** you for ever thinking that blackness is a bad thing. Better on coke than whiskey. Good amount of comparisons and metaphors? Cool. Damn those saxes. Damn those bongos and general percussion. Wah wah wah whaa wha wah. Budduh buh budduh buh budduh bububububububuh bass. The strings aren't just placed on top of what the music was intended to be. The more of this album that you consume, the better it tastes. Etc. I really liked it. I'm gonna be groovin on this one for a bit. 9/10

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Aloysius

Near perfect album. Even though I'm a fan of heavily syncopated slap bass with my funk, and my first thought was "what if he'd got Marcus Miller or Larry Graham on bass", on further reflection the existing understated bass is just perfect for the album. My only minor gripe preventing a perfect score is that I felt a couple of numbers where too heavily orchestrated, especially Eddie You Should Have Known Better. But in the best moments, like when the vocals first kick in in Freddie's Dead - hot damn. Feel that thang. Move that booty. Touch your nipples. Or something.

9/10

Anteater

Curtis Mayfield - Superfly

I've had this album for many years, and as others have pointed out it's pretty much a perfect early 70's funk record that works with or without the movie (though seeing it certainly doesn't hurt). I'd rank it right up there with what Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder were doing at the time in regards to its overall influence on R&B as well.

My favorite elements are probably the elaborate orchestration and the wide variety of instrumentation amidst the groovy basslines and congas. And in opener 'Little Child Runnin' Wild' (one of my favorites) you even get some tasty sax, not to mention flutes and even what sounds like a xylophone later on. 'Freddie's Dead' and 'No Thing On Me' have been long time favs and I've heard them on my fair share of compilations too. Flawless in any context.

On an unrelated note, if you guys love Superfly and Gaye's What's Going On, the missing piece of the holy trinity of elaborate early 70's soul/funk/R&B is Terry Callier's What Color Is Love. Go pick that up if you haven't.

10 out of 10

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Psy-Fi

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
This sounds like a soul/funk masterpiece.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Same as above answer.

3. What did you think of the next track?
Same as above answer.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
The vocals worked beautifully within the songs.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
See answer to number 1. There's so much going on musically, the arrangements are superb, nothing sounds excessive, out of place, or wasted for even a second.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it?
Neither. It started out strong and never let up.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Superb. Curtis was a fantastic lyricist and this album tells a complex story of money, greed, sex, love, drugs, strength, weakness, fate. All the ingredients for a great album, novel or film in the right hands.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
Absolutely!

9. What did you think of the production?
Top-notch all the way through.

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?
Yes, I knew of him before I heard this album, so I figured it would be good but I had no idea it would be this damn good!

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Yes. Soul & funk are played regularly on my hard drive, CD player, and turntable.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
I've lost count of how many times I've listened to this album over many years since I first heard it. It never gets old or stale to my ears.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
They're all great.

14. And the one you liked least?
N/A.

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?
N/A

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
I've probably already heard everything he released.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
I thought it would be good, based on my previous listens to various songs by Curtis Mayfield, but I had no idea it would turn out to be such a stellar album.

18. Did the album end well?
Curtis saved the title track for last (instead of opening the album with it) and it works beautifully as the final track.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Are you kidding? This is as good as it gets for any soul, funk, or soundtrack album.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
It hung together extremely well. As well as an album ever can.

10/10

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She's a Brick House

Oriphiel

You should.

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