Thursday February 18, 2021 “People Get Ready” The Impressions/Curtis Mayfield

Here’s Curtis Mayfield’s great message song by the group he fronted, The Impressions, perhaps borrowing stylistically from Sam Cooke, another legendary Black artist.

 Mayfield started his musical career in a gospel choir. Moving to the North Side of Chicago, he met popular soul singer Jerry Butler in 1956 at the age of 14, and joined his vocal group originally called Jerry Butler &The Impressions soon after that.  

 After leaving the Impressions in 1970 in the pursuit of a solo career, Mayfield released several albums, including the soundtrack for the 1972 film Super Fly. The soundtrack was noted for its socially conscious themes, mostly addressing problems surrounding inner city minorities such as crime, poverty and drug abuse. The album was ranked at no. 72 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

 Mayfield was among the first of a new wave of mainstream black R&B performing artists and composers injecting social commentary into their work. This "message music" proved immensely popular during the 1960s and 1970s.  He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the group the Impressions in 1999.

 Stay safe and well...and get ready, there is a change coming, there has to be.

People get ready, there's a train a comin'

You don't need no baggage, you just get on board

All you need is faith, to hear the diesels hummin'

Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord

 So people get ready, for the train to Jordan

Picking up passengers coast to coast

Faith is the key, open the doors and board 'em

There's hope for all, among those loved the most

 There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner

Whom would hurt all mankind, just to save his own, believe me now

Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner

For there is no hiding place, against the kingdom's throne

 So people get ready there's a train a comin'

You don't need no baggage, you just get on board

All you need is faith, to hear the diesels hummin'

Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord