Sunday 17 June 2018

The Young Mods’ Forgotten Story – THE IMPRESSIONS***

The Young Mods’ Forgotten Story/Choice Of Colours/The Girl I Find/Wherever You Leadeth Me/Deceiving Heart/ Seven Years/Love’s Miracle/Jealous Man/Soulful Love/Mighty Mighty (Spade & Whitey)

The Young Mods’ Forgotten Story was the second Impressions album on their Curtom label. Lead singer and songwriter Curtis Mayfield would enjoy a successful solo career in the early seventies. (US:104)

“This album displayed the usual breadth of the group’s talent and Mayfield's songwriting, giving us a glimpse of what was to come when he went solo in 1970. His songs began to display a hard funk undertone which was used as a canvas for the more profound socially conscious themes he would master.”

“Curtis concentrates mainly on lead himself, particularly on the many ballads. Sam and Fred's slow boiling contributions give Mayfield reason to push for less mawkish arrangements, letting quality writing work its way through.”

“Pretty good, but the short song lengths are stopping Mayfield from knocking out real classics. Nothing here flows as well as his later, lengthier solo material.”

“One of my favourite 60s soul records, The Young Mod's Forgotten Story is criminally short with only one cut breaking the three minute barrier. While the album mostly consists of light soul-pop with the odd political song thrown in, there are some definite hints of the wah-wah guitar and funkiness to come in lead songwriter Curtis Mayfield's solo career.”

“The album oozes lush string arrangements and energetic horns. One of the interesting things I find about it is how such clichéd and run-of-the-mill love songs like The Girl I Find are so enjoyable because of the arrangements. Every song has a great hook, and the melodies are as sweet as they come.”

“There are no real duds on this album. Choice Of Colours is probably the most famous, needs no introduction to people familiar with this group. Another example of the great Impressions doing subtle social commentary.”

“A perfect blend of soul ballads and political tracks that must have been groundbreaking for 1969. Curtis' arrangements are lush and beautiful as are his vocals and harmonies with the rest of the band.”

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