A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield [Warner Bros.] in Bloomington, MN

A fabulous assortment of artists from different areas of the
rock
genre give a glorifying tribute to
Curtis Mayfield
in a sparkling 17-song package.
Stevie Winwood
does a partying rendition of
"It's All Right"
; a version of
"Let's Do It Again"
is performed by
Mayfield
and
the Repercussions
that mimics
the Staple Singers
' original;
does
Roebuck "Pops" Staples
' parts.
Bruce Springsteen
tackles an early
Impressions
classic,
"Gypsy Woman,"
and makes the mystical song even more eerie. The number of producers equals the artists on this fine production, so the sound changes from track to track. Rocker
Lenny Kravitz
"Billy Jack"
in a surprising
-like falsetto.
Phil Collins
' dead-slow reading of
"I've Been Trying"
is a subdued dandy. The album's two best performances are pulled off by
the Isley Brothers
(
"I'm So Proud"
) and
Tevin Campbell
"Keep On Pushing"
).
Ron Isley
outdoes himself on
's pretty classic redefining
soul
with his emotive phrasings, and
Campbell
's taking-you-to-church performance of
could inspire the homeless; the cut will make you a
fan if you're not already. The revised
do a remake of their own
"I'm a Fool for You"
accompanied by
Branford Marsalis
' jazzy riffs. For
blues
lovers,
B.B. King
rocks the house with an up-tempo, jumping
"Woman's Got Soul."
Stevie Wonder
sings an old, obscure
recording,
"I'm the One Who Loves You,"
in the sassy style he exhibited when he was
Little Stevie Wonder
.
Eric Clapton
does a rousing version of
"You Must Believe Me."
~ Andrew Hamilton