Curtis Mayfield There's No Place Like America Today Genres:R&B, Rock Digitally remastered edition of this 1975 album from the Soul/R&B great. One of the most influential performers, writers and producers of the last half of the 20th Century, Curtis Mayfield managed to combine some of th... more »e greatest Soul ever recorded with thought-provoking lyrics tackling the key social political issues of the day. There's No Place Like America Today remains as testament to his genius. The album's one big song, 'So in Love', which made #67 on the Pop charts but was a Top Ten Soul hit, is only the prettiest of a string of exquisite tracks on the album, which is in the same league with his other work of the period and represents him near his prime as a composer. Snapper. 2005.« less
Digitally remastered edition of this 1975 album from the Soul/R&B great. One of the most influential performers, writers and producers of the last half of the 20th Century, Curtis Mayfield managed to combine some of the greatest Soul ever recorded with thought-provoking lyrics tackling the key social political issues of the day. There's No Place Like America Today remains as testament to his genius. The album's one big song, 'So in Love', which made #67 on the Pop charts but was a Top Ten Soul hit, is only the prettiest of a string of exquisite tracks on the album, which is in the same league with his other work of the period and represents him near his prime as a composer. Snapper. 2005.
Amongst the best of Curtis's brilliant career, haunting, moo
book reviewer of portland | portland oregon usa | 02/21/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"An album that always gets admiration when played.
This album sort of works as a song cycle. There is a unifying beauty to the arrangements and flow from one song to the next.
On one road trip this was the only cassette that we had to play, and we played it repeatedly never getting tired.
Granted, I worship Curtis Mayfield. He is one of the greatest lyricists of any musical style. His music is consistently mind-blowing.
That said, "No Place..." actually outshines much of his other work because of its unifying simple, stripped down, almost hauntingly beautiful feel. This is a great example of how to use horns.
If you like soul music, songwriters, or mellow music, you will not be sorry if you locate this. It excels in each of those areas. Also the cover art is amazing.
"
Love Curtis Mayfield
P. Gullette | Pine Bluff, Ar USA | 09/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had been looking everywhere for this CD...My son told me to check with Amazon.com (he said they have everything)...Sure enough I got the CD and love it...Curtis was ahead of his time as reflected in his music. The message in this album reflects the hard times in our lives today. We will always remember Curtis and his tremendous contribution to music."
One of the best
Ronnie L. Thomas | 02/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is about the world today. There's no place like America Today is true. There is no place like America. All the songs on this album touch the soul of Curtis Mayfield. I recommend this album to anyone."
Classic
Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber | Mahwah, NJ USA | 03/06/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You can go on sugar kicks, peanut butter kicks. You can go on alcohol kicks, sex kicks, spending kicks, and as mom always said, too much of a good thing is never a good thing.
Right now, I am on a Curtis Mayfield kick, and I gotta tell you, I don't see much downside. And if there is, don't tell me, because I am having toooo much fun.
And just as I was getting further into the string drive funk of Curtis and Superfly, dumb enough to think I had an artist of the highest order nailed, I got No Place Like America Today.
The line I just drew tells you a lot about this album: Curtis seems to have put his Impressions Orchestra way and let his wha wha do more of the work on this album. Not that the arrangements are not lush, but they are more driven by some horns, and more important, the dense sound Curtis and the basic band draw from this music.
The songs here are no less ambitious and successful than on the very early 70s Curtis Mayfield work, and his writing has not changed. But with the leaner arrangements, Curtis' massive talent, massive as any in music, stands more starkly--you actually hear more in this music by having to listen to less.
There is a slow draw to There Is No Place Like America Today, and if you look at the 1974 cover, it fits. This is the great malaise, after Vietnam, Watergate, and the end of the Civil Rights Movement. Look at the 1950s family in the car and then the breadlines on the bottom
What is amazing, and its not good, is that we have come full cycle, disillusioned and directionless after 9/11. Iraq, and the bank bailouts. The issues are different, and trust me, current music can't hold a candle to the music of the 1970s.
But I bet if Mayfield were with us now, he would tell us: there is no place like America today."