Here's a real feel good flick for the day (wink) - Short Eyes from 1977, based on the Miguel Piñero play of the same name. Curtis Mayfield wrote, performed & released the soundtrack on his label, Curtom, and the movie includes a scene with Curtis performing one of my favorites by him (included on the soundtrack), "Doo Doo Wap Is Strong In Here." Freddy Fender also makes an appearance in the film.
Leave it to Daptone Records to release a new single by one of my all time favorite groups - The Impressions! I'm speechless. From the Daptone website:
What
do you get when you cross the legendary group harmony of the
Impressions, with the savvy production stylings of Daptone’s very own
master of ceremonies and guitar dynamo, Binky Griptite? Easy, you get
one of the finest collaborations that has ever been realized onto 7
inches of high quality vinyl. Ladies and gentlemen we present to the
greater Daptone Universe, the first single by The Impressions in over 30
Years. Featuring original members, Fred Cash, Sam Gooden, as well as
Reggie Torrian, who has been singing with the group since the early ‘70s
– this single is the sweet soulful beauty you’d expect from the
Impressions. No cheesy synthetic instruments or
tryin-to-stay-contemporary 'beats' here. This is real soul music played
by a real band and how sweet it is!
I can't think of one single song/performance that combines such maturity, masculinity without being macho, regality, and just downright dignified soul. Originally performed & released in 1961 by then ex-Impressions vocalist, Jerry Butler, this Mayfield-penned tune was later redone by the Impressions in 1967. Their version, with Sam Gooden taking the lead, was ALMOST as good.
This film was released in 1977. Based on an Off Broadway play of the same name by Miguel Piñero, a co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. The prison drama was written after its author had served time in Sing Sing in the early 70's. The NY Times called it "tough...but effective" at the time.What initially got me interested in the film was the soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield which includes one of my favorite recordings of his, "Doo Doo Wap Is Strong In Here" Watch Mayfield's performance of it in the clip below the movie below.
And more importantly, the Impressions on DVD! My goodness...I have literally been waiting YEARS for this. A DVD collection of Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions will finally be released on May 6 from Universal Music. Not only a DVD collection, I believe this is an actual documentary! Perhaps the end is nigh...Buy/see it here.
(Of course, in true US major label fashion, I had to do a little digging to find out that its actually being released in the US. If you Google the title, it initially only looks like its being released in the UK. US labels - GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. Imagine what you could do if you actually knew how to sell music?)
Here are the details, starting with a review from AllMusic.com:
This two-plus hour documentary centers on the immortal music of Curtis Mayfield, both as a solo artist and member of the Impressions. In between the 22 full-length vintage clips are first-person tales assembling an all-star cast of folks who knew Mayfield best, as well as those who were directly influenced by his music. Among the key contributors who help to place Mayfield's far-reaching influence in proper perspective are Johnny Pate (producer/arranger), who had helped craft the majority of the Impressions' hits as well as those on the Superfly (1972) Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, and fellow Impressions Fred Cash (vocals) and Sam Gooden (vocals). Decidedly more intimate portrayals and memories of the cultural icon at home as a father and husband are portrayed via the artist's wife Altheida Mayfield. In terms of his lasting effect on the community at large, Carlos Santana, Chuck D, and civil rights Ambassador Andrew Young all eagerly pay homage to their mentor and musical and spiritual advisor. Plus, there are several insightful segments from interviews with the man himself from 1972, 1987, and 1988.
As is true with any compendium of a legend, his canon of work should be the primary focus of attention. And it is with that mandate that Reelin' In The Years have outdone even themselves. As the masterminds behind projects such as Dreams to Remember: The Legacy of Otis Redding (2007) and the Stax/Volt Revue: Live in Norway 1967 (2007), this might seem practically unfathomable. More than anything else, Movin' on Up (2008) is an audio-visual repository of classic Curtis Mayfield. Bandmates Cash and Gooden comment on the "People Get Ready" clip showing the trio lip-syncing in a boat for the September 1965 episode of the Dick Clark-produced Where the Action Is. Refreshingly, the vast majority of the tunes are done live, either in front of a studio audience or in a concert hall type setting. As for those cuts that are shown of the Impressions faking their own lead vocals as a tape or record spins in the background, "It's All Right," "I Need You," the aforementioned "People Get Ready," and "Meeting Over Yonder" have all been remastered and given a pristine audio track of the original recordings. Otherwise, the contents are spontaneous in front of the unblinking eyes of the camera. Transcendent are the unique versions of "We're a Winner" coupled with "Amen" from 1968. Clifton Davis joins up for a very special spoken recitation written especially to accompany the Impressions singing "This Is My Country." Equally inspired is "Choice of Colors" from a 1969 guest spot on the Joey Bishop Show. Cash and Gooden confirm the infamous story that the Impressions were told that they were not going to be allowed to sing the tune on network television because of its racial implications. Literally minutes before going on the air, Bishop himself intervened and told the combo to play "Choice of Colors" as planned.
There is an abundance of '70s footage. Top of the list are the extended concert renditions of "We Are the People Who Are Darker Than Blue" which is linked up with "Give Me Your Love," as well as the essential Superfly entries "Freddie's Dead," "Pusherman," "Eddie You Should Know Better," and, of course, the main theme itself, "Superfly." Additionally, among the extras are complete performances of "We're a Winner," "Might Mighty (Spade and Whitey)," "We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue," "Movin' on Up," and "Freddie's Dead." Accompanying the DVD is a 28-page fact-filled booklet. The informative essay by Rob Bowman is surrounded by formerly unpublished photos from the Mayfield family's archives. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
Tracklist: It’s All Right (1965)
Woman’s Got Soul (1965)
I Need You (1965)
People Get Ready (1965)
Meeting Over Yonda (1965)
We’re A Winner/Amen (1968)
This Is My County (1970)
Choice of Colours (1969)
Check Out Your Mind (1970)
(Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Below We’re All Gonna Go (1970)
Keep On Keeping On (1972)
We’ve Got To Have Peace (1972)
We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue/ Give Me Your Love (1972)
Superfly (1972)
Freddie’s Dead (1972)
Pusherman (1972)
Eddie You Should Know Better (1973)
Future Shock (1973)
The Makings Of You (1970)
Bonus performances: We’re A Winner (1972)
Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey) (1972)
We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue (1972)
Move On Up (1972)
Freddie’s Dead (1973)
Buy Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions. It will make your life better:
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on Amazon
