His groundbreaking strides as the founder of Curtom Records, with the willpower to own his master recordings and publishing, was confirmation of how immensely passionate the man was. Meaningful, transcendent, and socially aware, Mayfield’s sweet and creamy falsetto responded to the advancement of Black people, with an all-too deep lyrical insight and on-time humanistic sensibility. Throughout the 1960s, Mayfield was one-third of the revered soul vocal trio The Impressions, penning some of the era’s most relevant and transparent sentiments. It’s no coincidence that Franklin stirringly covered the Impressions’ anthemic 1965 classic “People Get Ready” for her third Atlantic release, 1968’s Lady Soul. They were inarguably two of the definitive practitioners from the Black church that spoke to the harsh realities, hopes, and possibilities of the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power era, during some of the most turbulent periods in America. This key factor made both figures such a vital pairing as Franklin and Mayfield primarily based their respective styles at the core of the Black gospel vision. Two preeminent cities with undeniably rich and varied musical traditions, Chicago and Detroit made immeasurable contributions to the American musical fabric. ![]() ![]() Both hailed from the Midwestern region, with Mayfield’s roots deriving from his birthplace in Chicago and Franklin growing up in Detroit. There were startling similarities between Aretha Franklin and Curtis Mayfield from the very beginning, decades before their collaboration Sparkle was even envisioned. Happy 45th Anniversary to Aretha Franklin’s Sparkle, originally released May 27, 1976.
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