LM,
But what the hell HAPPENED? Email me offline and tell me what's wrong, hon!
Curtis Mayfield: from Cabrini-Green projects, to the world. I still miss him too.
Maybe it's something in the Park Slope air. I just came off the worst project in my 10-year freelance career, in which a rogue client essentially put me in the driver seat of a speeding car, taped the gas pedal down, and then wrenched the wheel out of my hand right as we came into the final curve. Of course any wreckage will be laid at my broken feet, and I might not even ever get paid for the hell-ride. I puked from the stress on Thursday and have wondered if I'd ever sleep again.
Right before I read your post, I had texted a friend "Is life supposed to be this hard?"
So I bought your Curtis-walk-list on iTunes, and it gave me the first peace I've felt in days, bringing me back to the truth that sometimes only the reality of art can give you, down in your gut. This too shall pass.
Man, did I need some perspective. Thank you, LM.
This one merits a personal missive LoLo. Email check...
LM, may you be healed and go from strength to strength.
LM:
1) I hope you are doing better.
2) Great article.
3) What do you think about Kool & The Gang (1969-1976) (I was introduced to Kool & The Gang by my best friend when I was a teenager; LOVED IT.
I have the Greatest Hits in my iPod).
You’re right, LM. Curtis Mayfield was a prince.
IMHO Bob Dylan was no slouch as a wordsmith and spokesperson in the 60s and 70s. Dylan aficionados will recall that the cover photo on his 1965 ‘Bringing It All Back Home’ depicts Dylan next to a coffee table sprinkled with a handful of record albums. One of them is The Impressions.
Ah, Curtis Mayfield.
I was driving around San Francisco one rainy night in the autumn of '88 with a guy I liked, a lot. And who I was rapidly realizing that, no matter how much fun we had together, was absolutely, positively, Mr. Wrong.
I was also pondering the fact that my downstairs roommate, with whom I'd been sharing a nice big townhouse overlooking California 1 and a great surfing beach for over a year, was falling in love with me.
And my grandmother had just died. Also my Uncle Stu, and a third guy who'd been a sort of life hero of mine. And I'd lost my job a few weeks before all that happened, gotten laid off when they cut my entire department. And I'd just turned 30 that summer, and my clock was ticking loud enough to drown out every rational thought. I was in a bad way.
So we're driving through the Haight, and the rain is falling, and the wipers are going, and we're having that difficult conversation about Where We Go From Here. And suddenly, it's Curtis on the radio, and he's singing....
He don't love you
Like I love you
Cause if he did he wouldn't
Break your heart...
...go ahead and kiss him goodbye.
I listened for a long time. And then I turned to Mr. Wrong and said, "You know, I've got a marriage proposition from someone else sitting on the table. And it's occurring to me, right this very minute, that I'm going to take it."
I drove Mr. Wrong back to his place -- went ahead and kissed him goodbye, just as Curtis had suggested. And then I went home and told the father of my children that we were getting married.
He turned out to be Mr. Wrong, too, of course, for a whole different and no less odd set of reasons. But I got two great kids out of the deal, and I didn't make the bigger mistake of marrying that other guy, which was in all respects a Good Thing.
A couple of months ago I found that Aretha "Sparkle" DVD and it came with the CD! You'd have thought I'd struck gold with that find. I'd been looking for that for a number years.
Your tube was like visiting old friends that the ex-hub got custody of in the divorce. Very nice, indeed.
I was in junior hi and hi school with The Impressions and Curtis Mayfield on the radio.
Curtis Mayfield is bitchen. Period.
Don't FUCK with Curtis Mayfield, OR The Impressions.
Left Coast, White, and proud of Curtis Mayfield's music, and the music of The Impressions.
Shit, I got lured back here . . . Damn you LM. *G*
Early childhoood. He Don't Love You like I Love You and Gypsy Woman on the radio. "We're A Winner" Grade school. Freddy's Dead and Superfly in High. Curtis Mayfield, too, is a staple on my I-Tunes playlist. And I thank I-tunes for making it possible to actually buy the stuff I am missing, and have missed for so many years.
Curtis always seemed to be relevant no matter what was going on.
To get the full flavor of that era, add Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder. Sly had his moments during the Psychedelic end of the Sixties, but never got as deep or as meaningful as the other guys. Perhaps he would have if he hadn't let his talent dissolve into the drugs.
Somehow, despite what must have been great commercial pressures to stay within the old "love and lost" formula of pop music, they were able to make music that spoke of the fight for freedom, to comment on the war, to say things that may have been a bit on the edge.
LM,
Thanks for that and I am glad to read that you are better.
Out of anothers' pain comes pleasure. Started reading and recognized the "goes with the territoryness" of those of us who do "ars gratius pecunirus" - bad latin for art for money's sake.
When I realized it was about Curtis Mayfield, and a traditionally good LM piece, I put on Curtis/Live to join in... great album. Great Artist. Great Read.
Thanks Lower M.
DocBop; email me, tanbark@sccoast.net
We got a few things to discuss, and I aint talking about debating with you over whether we're winning or losing. :o)
This entry really moved me. Thank you for sharing the true power of art and specifically music in our minds, hearts and lives.
Thank you. I decided a few months ago that my iPod was the best therapy ever.
Pity the poor wingnuts for they know not art...
LM, thanks for reminding us about Curtis and I will be looking forward to hearing that life is getting rosier for you very soon. Happiness to you, however you get there.
Great Post!
Funny, I ran across of Greatest of Curtis Mayfield just this Friday and thinking a lot of same things you mentioned. CM's mild-mannered nature, but the power that stood behind his songs.
One of my favorite songs from Superfly 'Eddie, You Should Know Better'
Eddie, you should know better
Brother, you know you're wrong
Think of the tears and fears
You bring to your folks back home
They'd say, "Where did he go wrong,
My Lord?"
We planned and worked hard
From the very start
Tried to make him better
Than all the rest
But the brother proved to be
So much less
Eddie is everybody's friend
But sometimes we wonder now and then
The only time he'll choose you
When theres's something to lose through
His personal loss
And the friend pays the cost
All the time
Must be something' that's freezin' his mind
That has made him, through greed, so very blind
And I don't think he's gonna make it this time
love and peace to you, LM. Thank you again...
People Get Ready gives me that Mahalia Jackson anchor when you're being tossed by the waves feeling.
I remember when he got hurt. Made me really sad.
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