20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Curtis Mayfield

1	Gypsy Woman / The Impressions 2:21
2	It's All Right / The Impressions 2:48
3	I'm So Proud / The Impressions 2:49
4	Keep on Pushing / The Impressions 2:33
5	Amen / The Impressions 3:27
6	People Get Ready / The Impressions 2:40
7	Woman's Got Soul / The Impressions 2:19
8	We're a Winner / The Impressions 2:25
9	Choice of Colors / The Impressions 3:20
10	Freddie's Dead Theme from Superfly 3:19
11	Superfly 3:53

Barnes & Noble

Led by the multitalented Curtis Mayfield -- who sang, composed, produced, and played guitar -- the Impressions scored more than a dozen Top 40 pop hits between 1961 and 1969. The nine classic Impressions hits comprising this collection feature Fred Cash, Sam Goode, and Mayfield effortlessly harmonizing over lush, gospel-rooted musical arrangements, a combination that's particularly effective on "I'm So Proud" and "Amen." The thread running through all of Mayfield's material was a social consciousness that drives the civil rights anthem "Keep on Pushing" and the optimistic cry for brotherhood "People Get Ready." Mayfield's uplifting music and message reached artists far and wide, influencing British rockers like Rod Stewart, who covered "People Get Ready" in the '80s, as well as Jamaican artists Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh, who modeled the Wailers' early, doo-wop vocal style after the Impressions. Rounding out this hearty compilation are Mayfield's only two Top 10 solo hits -- "Freddie's Dead" and the title track from the blaxploitation touchstone film SUPERFLY. With a sound and a vision this inspiring, it's no wonder that Mayfield's music continues to influence a younger generation of artists, including Lauryn Hill, D'Angelo, and Maxwell. Dave Gil de Rubio

All Music Guide

The Millennium Collection: The Best of Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions collects some of the best songs Mayfield recorded with the Impressions and on his own, including "Gypsy Woman," "People Get Ready," "Freddie's Dead," "Superfly," "Woman's Got Soul," and "Choice of Colors." Though a thorough look at Mayfield's talents and innovations is beyond the scope of this album, The Millennium Collection does provide enough of his definitive tracks to make it a worthwhile overview of his work. Heather Phares