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Still underappreciated due to his lack of sustained commercial success on pop charts, Curtis Mayfield combined riveting social commentary with gorgeous falsetto and pioneering soul music for some of the most memorable recordings of the early 1970's. Rhino Records purchased the rights to the catalog of Mayfield's Curtom Records several years ago giving them access to most of the key recordings by Mayfield solo and with the powerful vocal group the Impressions. The label has since released remastered versions of his most important albums as well as a definitive single disc greatest hits package. Their latest release, Remixed : The Curtis Mayfield Collection, with the blessing of Mayfield's son Kirk, is a collection of remixes of 10 of the best tracks by Curtis Mayfield solo and with the Impressions. As indicated in liner notes by each of the mixers for the project, all were well aware of the stature of the original recordings. Louie Vega describes the amazing experience of hearing Curtis Mayfield's vocal tracks without the instrumental backing for the first time. He says that working in the studio with the vocal tracks was like having Curtis Mayfield there singing in the same room. Other mixers describe the sheer power and durability of the original recordings. Fortunately, reverence for the original music does not get in the way of reimagining these classic songs. Instead, it seems to drive a number of the mixers to a higher standard of quality appropriately honoring Mayfield's memory. There is some beautiful work here although the collection is not perfect. Louie Vega's work on Superfly is gorgeous. Latin touches move the soundscape of pushers and pimps effortlessly into the present. Blaze wisely maintains the blend of seduction and horror on the original of Freddie's Dead in updating it for the dancefloor. As would be expected, Eric Kupper delivers a spry disco mix of Move On Up and its great to here Mayfield's original vocals instead of the classic disco hit version by Destination. The U.K.'s Ashley Beedle amps up the electric guitar for a powerfully rocking re-edit of Doo Doo Wap Is Strong In Here. There are a few missteps. The Impressions powerful People Get Ready is surprisingly lifeless in a straightforward house mix and We Got To Have Peace similarly slides away on simplistic dance beats. Mayfield was several steps ahead of his time in the early 70's. His Superfly soundtrack, featuring the title song, Freddie's Dead and Pusherman, all included here, is a key pioneering recording for the early development of disco and dance music. It is only fitting that some of today's top mixers would want to bring Mayfield's still stunning words, vocals and arrangements to new audiences. Executive producer Ron Weisner includes a thank you in the liner notes to Mayfield's son Kirk for "understanding the importance of doing this project." This is an important and insightful project. Rhino has again proven their status as the top curators of much of our recorded musical legacy of the past 50 years. |

