Roots by Curtis Mayfield - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

Roots is Curtis Mayfield's visionary album, a landmark creation every bit as compelling and far-reaching in its musical and extra-musical goals as Marvin Gaye's contemporary What's Goin' On. Opening on the hit "Get Down," the album soars on some of the sweetest and most eloquent -- yet driving -- soul sounds heard up to that time. Mayfield's growing musical ambitions, first manifested on the Curtis album, and his more sophisticated political sensibilities, presented with a lot of raw power on Curtis Live!, are pulled together here in a new, richer studio language, embodied in extended song structures ("Underground"), idealistic yet lyrically dazzling anthems ("We Got to Have Peace," "Keep On Keeping On," and, best of all, the soaring "Beautiful Brother of Mine"), and impassioned blues ("Now You're Gone"). The music is even bolder than the material on the Curtis album, with Mayfield expanding his instrumental range to the level of a veritable soul orchestra; and the recording is better realized, as Mayfield, with that album and a tour behind him, shows a degree of confidence that only a handful of soul artists of this era could have mustered. ~ Bruce Eder

1. Get Down

by Curtis Mayfield

Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Leroy Hutson
Michael Hawkins; Performer
Bass Guitar: Lucky; Performer
Drums: Tyrone Mccullen; Performer
Guitar: Craig Mccullen; Performer
Percussion: Henry Gibson; Performer
Vocals: Curtis Mayfield; Performer
Arranger: Riley Hampton
John Pate; Composer
Composer: Curtis Mayfield; Composer
Conductor: Marv Heiman; Conductor
Engineer: Roger Anfinsen; Production
Mastering Engineer: Roger Anfinsen; Production
Producer: Curtis Mayfield; Production

2. Keep on Keeping On

by Curtis Mayfield

Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Leroy Hutson
Michael Hawkins; Performer
Bass Guitar: Lucky; Performer
Drums: Tyrone Mccullen; Performer
Guitar: Craig Mccullen; Performer
Percussion: Henry Gibson; Performer
Vocals: Curtis Mayfield; Performer
Arranger: Riley Hampton
John Pate; Composer
Composer: Curtis Mayfield; Composer
Conductor: Marv Heiman; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Roger Anfinsen; Production
Producer: Curtis Mayfield; Production

3. Underground

by Curtis Mayfield

Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Leroy Hutson
Michael Hawkins; Performer
Bass Guitar: Lucky; Performer
Drums: Tyrone Mccullen; Performer
Guitar: Craig Mccullen; Performer
Percussion: Henry Gibson; Performer
Vocals: Curtis Mayfield; Performer
Arranger: Riley Hampton
John Pate; Composer
Composer: Curtis Mayfield; Composer
Conductor: Marv Heiman; Conductor
Associate Producer: Irv Stimler; Production
Mastering Engineer: Roger Anfinsen; Production
Producer: Curtis Mayfield; Production

4. We Got to Have Peace

by Curtis Mayfield

Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Leroy Hutson
Michael Hawkins; Performer
Bass Guitar: Lucky; Performer
Drums: Tyrone Mccullen; Performer
Guitar: Craig Mccullen; Performer
Percussion: Henry Gibson; Performer
Vocals: Curtis Mayfield; Performer
Arranger: Riley Hampton
John Pate; Composer
Composer: Curtis Mayfield; Composer
Conductor: Marv Heiman; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Roger Anfinsen; Production
Producer: Curtis Mayfield; Production

5. Beautiful Brother of Mine

by Curtis Mayfield

Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Leroy Hutson
Michael Hawkins; Performer
Bass Guitar: Lucky; Performer
Drums: Tyrone Mccullen; Performer
Guitar: Craig Mccullen; Performer
Percussion: Henry Gibson; Performer
Vocals: Curtis Mayfield; Performer
Arranger: Riley Hampton
John Pate; Composer
Composer: Curtis Mayfield; Composer
Conductor: Marv Heiman; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Roger Anfinsen; Production
Producer: Curtis Mayfield; Production

6. Now You're Gone

by Curtis Mayfield

Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Leroy Hutson
Michael Hawkins; Performer
Bass Guitar: Lucky; Performer
Drums: Tyrone Mccullen; Performer
Guitar: Craig Mccullen; Performer
Percussion: Henry Gibson; Performer
Vocals: Curtis Mayfield; Performer
Arranger: Riley Hampton
John Pate; Composer
Composer: Curtis Mayfield
Joseph Scott; Composer
Conductor: Marv Heiman; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Roger Anfinsen; Production
Producer: Curtis Mayfield; Production

7. Love to Keep You in My Mind

by Curtis Mayfield

Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Leroy Hutson
Michael Hawkins; Performer
Bass Guitar: Lucky; Performer
Drums: Tyrone Mccullen; Performer
Guitar: Craig Mccullen; Performer
Percussion: Henry Gibson; Performer
Vocals: Curtis Mayfield; Performer
Arranger: Riley Hampton
John Pate; Composer
Composer: Curtis Mayfield; Composer
Conductor: Marv Heiman; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Roger Anfinsen; Production
Producer: Curtis Mayfield; Production

8. Underground (Demo Version)

by Curtis Mayfield

Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Engineer: Danny Turbeville
Roger Anfinson
Tom Flye; Production
Composer: Curtis Mayfield; Composer
Producer: Curtis Mayfield; Production

9. Get Down (Single Version)

by Curtis Mayfield

Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Engineer: Roger Anfinsen; Production
Vocals: Curtis Mayfield; Performer
Composer: Curtis Mayfield; Composer
Producer: Curtis Mayfield; Production

10. We Got To Have Peace (Single Version)

by Curtis Mayfield

Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Vocals: Curtis Mayfield; Performer
Composer: Curtis Mayfield; Composer

11. Beautiful Brother of Mine (Single Version)

by Curtis Mayfield

Performer: Curtis Mayfield; Performer
Primary Artist: Curtis Mayfield; Main Performer
Composer: Curtis Mayfield; Composer

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

11 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

53 minutes and 15 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 4000x4000 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

6/11 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Soul, R&B, Funk

Label

Rhino

Music Distribution Service

WMG Mora

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 1970

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

81227556969