There were many civil rights oriented songs during the 60s and 70s. Songs that promoted liberation through protest and personal freedom. One of the vanguards of using music as social commentary, particularly for African Americans, was Curtis Mayfield. "Move On Up," from his 1970 debut album Curtis, embodies all the positive vibes and consciousness that rolled from the 60s into the 70s.
Oddly enough, the almost nine minutes pop culture classic failed to chart when it was initially released. It is now considered another powerful social anthem in Mayfield's prestigious music catalog. With a strong horn section and inspiring lyrics, "Move On Up" is a 70s electric soul diamond.
You can learn more about Curtis Mayfield here:
About the Curator - Sonya Alexander
After graduating from UCLA, Sonya trained to be a talent agent. After realizing she belonged on the creative end, she started freelance writing, covering film festivals for Los Angeles local papers. She's written about film, video games, global affairs, wildlife conservation and, most recently, music. She specializes in classic rock, classic soul, blues, classic country, classical and world music and is tri-coastal, residing in Los Angeles, New York and New Orleans.
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