Album of the Day

As a founder of The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield played a key role in the development of soul in the 1960s, infusing the trio's music with spirituality and a social conscience. The singer-songwriter left The Impressions for a solo career in 1970, and his self-produced debut (released on his own Curtom Records label) boasts the same social awareness as his previous group while traversing tougher musical territory. Cut in Chicago, CURTIS serves up simmering funk and psychedelia on eight originals, including epic side openers "(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go" and "Move On Up." Seen through the eyes of one of R&B's greatest poets, CURTIS offered a look at the state of black America during the Nixon years – though its compassion for all people makes the album timeless.