Curtis Mayfield might best be remembered for producing the Super Fly soundtrack but the incomparable soul singer/multi-instrumentalist/composer never eclipsed the musical and songwriting genius of 1970’s groundbreaking Curtis. Released shortly after he departed the Impressions, Mayfield’s eponymous solo debut set new standards in areas of production, songwriting, and musical fusion. A gripping statement that fearlessly confronted the controversial issues consuming America and urban life, it served as an influential precursor to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On and remains an inextricable part of the R&B landscape.

The record’s crossover appeal and catchy melodies spread Mayfield’s sentiments to the mainstream, which embraced powerful emotional fare such as “(Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go,” an attention-getting single that reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts. Simultaneously menacing and empowering, lush and gritty, intense and laidback, orchestral and lean, rousing and soothing, Curtis’ revolutionary legacy is further underscored by the presence of the uplifting anthem “Move On Up,” an inspiring and unifying classic on par with Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”