Paul Weller: 5 Great Curtis Mayfield Productions
Paul Weller, former frontman of the Jam and the Style Council, recently released his 13th solo LP, A Kind Revolution. In honor of the occasion, the veteran singer-songwriter combed back through the discography of one of his key influences, Curtis Mayfield, a man he admires as much for his producing – and the albums he released on his Curtom label – as for his songwriting.
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Curtis Mayfield, “The Makings of You”
Curtis was a prophet and a poet. With this song, he was weaving together the black-pride movement with a humanitarian message. He was an ambassador of peace.
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Patti Jo, “Make Me Believe in You”
This has a real driving beat to it, just a great dance record with very dramatic strings and minimal backing.
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Leroy Hutson, “Cool Out”
I first heard this instrumental track in the early 1990s at a club. It’s got this spacey, futuristic sound, but it’s still soulful.
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Baby Huey, “Hard Times”
Baby Huey had just one album on Curtom and then died very young. The beautiful vocal here is like Chicago blues with soul.
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The Five Stairsteps, “We Must Be in Love”
Curtis wrote this, another uplifting love tune. Apart from his political writings, he was a master of romantic songs.