The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield, and Music

I came upon an interview with the two surviving original members of the legendary soul vocal group, The Impressions. The following are some highlights of the interview that I thought reveal important background knowledge and context for the group (the interview's first part can be accessed here).

1. Okay, so you're all probably wondering how the group got the name, The Impressions. Originally, it was The Roosters, since most of the R&B/doo wop vocal groups of the 1950s named themselves after birds in that era. However, after their first record came out, they were told their name didn't match the song, so they pulled names out of a hat!

2. Jerry Butler brought in Curtis Mayfield into The Impressions, since he knew Mayfield was a good guitarist and sang top tenor, two needed positions for the group.

3. A nephew of one of the vocalists, Sam Gooden, became a part of the band for The Impressions after a freak accident that killed all of their band. Gooden pulled his nephew into the group afterwards, since Lucky Scott was familiar with their music and a versatile player. Lucky would later go join Curtis Mayfield's solo band after he quit The Impressions. His bass was essential to the rhythms of Mayfield's Superfly.

4. Gooden considers Mayfield's music to be relevant to the future and criticizes the way people began trying to give him all kinds of awards after his accident in the 1990s when he had been working on great music his entire life.

5. "Move On Up" was originally supposed to be on an Impressions album (sans Mayfield, presumably) but Mayfield recorded himself for his solo career. Gooden considers it a 'together' song that brings people together through call and response, as well as an uplifting song with religious overtones.

6. "People Get Ready" is a spiritual, which is no surprise, really. Gooden looks at the lyric "a train is a-comin'" as a reference to the coming of Christ, which is definitely part of the song's message given Mayfield's gospel background. The "diesel humming" in the song's lyrics could refer to angels singing, the train picking up customers from coast to coast without baggage also sounds like a reference to the coming of Christ or the end of the world. Of course, the interviewer and Gooden concur on the song's relevance to the social climate of the 1960s, particularly the Civil Rights Movement. Like all great music, it speaks to multiple audiences on various levels.

7. Gooden and the rest of The Impressions were aware of their big influence in Jamaica. They met Bob Marley and The Wailers in Jamaica, performing their as early as 1961. Gooden also believes that Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" was inspired by Mayfield's "I Gotta Keep on Moving" due to similar content (Marley would also cover "I Gotta Keep On Moving," too). Gooden naturally alluded to the "People Get Ready" influence on Marley's "One Love" as well. The interviewer and Gooden also seem to agree on the influence of Mayfield's "Move On Up" on Marley's "Exodus."

I am eternally grateful to Beldon Blues Point. Interviews with musicians have always fascinated me and the whole world knows by now I love me some Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions. Matter of fact, here is a playlist I made of them and other Chicago soul acts influenced by Mayfield or featuring songs written or produced by him. Next I gotta read some books about Curtis Mayfield.