Listened to: MP3Superfly (or Super Fly, depending on which way you want to write it). A social statement? Yes. One of the most popular film soundtracks of the 70’s? Yes. A revolutionary and influential soul album? Yes. A great record? You bet your sweet ass it is.
Opening on “Little Child Running Wild”, this album proves to be as alive and funk today as it was in it’s heyday, while still being a time-capsule to the type of blaxploitation films of the 70’s. Having never seen Super Fly, the soundtrack alone suggests the protagonist is either a cop, a detective or a pimp. Curtis Mayfield’s voice carries these tunes, as it’s soft without being too mellow. These songs all have a smooth, sexy funk vibe, the type of music that just doesn’t find it’s way into films anymore (besides Black Dynamite). Strung throughout all these tracks is an anti-drug message, and a very obvious ones, especially on tracks like “Little Child Running Wild” (“Gotta take the pain away”) and “Pusherman”. To go track by track would be an insult to the album, since all the tracks work together so well. They all keep that street-wise, funky groove. But let me just say the two tracks that I love off of this album are “Pusherman”, not only for it being the Taxman of drugs, and the title track, “Superfly”, one of the coolest, funkiest, greatest movie theme songs of all time. Yes, when this comes on my iPod on the tredmill, I do proceed to stop running and begin to strut.
This review isn’t brief for lack of things to say, but rather that great funk, like great jazz or great comedy, loses something when it is explained or dissected. Rock and pop, classical and rap, these can be picked apart for lyrics, or movements, but funk is a collective magic. It’s not guitars, or lyrics, or melodies that makes funk great. It’s a magical, natural synergy. And look no further than Super Fly for funk that works at it’s best. I absolutely recommend this album.
-Mike
Up next is #315: Surfer Rosa by The Pixies.
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