We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
One of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time was released in july of 1972. The movie was “Superfly” and the soundtrack was produced and recorded by Curtis Mayfield.
The movie tells the tale of Harlem drug dealer Youngblood Priest played by Ron O’Neal. He wants one last score before retiring from the business. The movie is filmed in a low-budget gritty style that shows the seamy underbelly of 1970’s New York City.
The soundtrack is outstanding in it’s funkiness and the keening falsetto from Mayfield and helping to propel the story. Curtis & his band even get a scene in the film….
The critics loved it and with help from the singles “Freddie’s Dead” and “Superfly”(just a great record) spent four weeks atop the pop charts.
Some say it glorified the drug trade. I just re-watched the movie awhile ago…and it really doesnt. There is a weariness to the character and as Mayfield sings in the title track, “ask him his dream, what does it mean?, he wouldn’t know. Can’t be like the rest is the most he’ll confess…but the time is running out, and there’s no happiness”.
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