The Cultural Significance of Curtis Mayfield's Debut
Solo Album, Curtis
Module: Cultural Perspectives
Word Count: 3159
For a young person living in America during the 1960s, it would have been a difficult time with
conflicting views and ideas across society. The Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War were
of great significance in American history and forever changed the lives of young and old citizens
living in the United States. Another movement that was a huge influencer of change, was the Black
Power Movement. The movement primarily started in the 1960s but then later flourished in the
early 1970s. Inevitably, the greatly increasing emphasis on black pride inspired many political
commentaries in popular music. In a quote dated to 1979, Gil Scott-Heron said, “Music is a
powerful tool in the form of communication that can be used to assist in organising communities.”
The year of this quote may make it appear irrelevant. However, it is nevertheless a timeless
statement that's relevance is forever. Society has seen it multiple times in history. Times when music
can give hope and sometimes power to the people. Successful examples of this are artists such as,
Bob Dylan and Curtis Mayfield.
In this essay, I will endeavour to exemplify that Curtis Mayfield's eponymous debut solo album,
1970s Curtis, made a culturally significant impact both socially and musically. I will do this by
examining the lyrical and musical content of the album. I will also look at the influence it had on
artists at the time and in the future.
Curtis Mayfield released his debut solo album, Curtis, in September of 1970. Much of the lyrical
subject matter on the album tackles the political and social concerns of the time, particularly in
black America. Mayfield's previous group, The Impressions, also addressed the same issues in the
lyrics of their later work. However, the messages in the music of The Impressions were delivered in
a more subtle manner. This was...