Impressions of Pride and Brotherhood

It is hard to argue that someone is underrated when his group has been voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but it might just be true of Curtis Mayfield.

Born in the summer of 1943 in Chicago, Mayfield has made contributions to pop and soul as a producer, writer, singer and guitarist that, at his best, rivaled the influence and craft of such more- heralded figures as Marvin Gaye and Sly Stone.

Much of his most acclaimed material is contained in a new two-disc retrospective from MCA Records. Titled “Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions: The Anthology 1961-1977,” the box set contains 30 songs from his years with the Impressions vocal group and 14 from his subsequent solo career.

Among his hits with the Impressions were songs--including 1964’s “Keep on Pushing” and 1969’s “Choice of Colors”--that spoke of black pride and brotherhood with an eloquence and gospel-edged grace that made them anthems of the period. Another song in that style, 1964’s “People Get Ready,” has been recorded by numerous other artists, including Bob Marley and Rod Stewart.

Mayfield, whose vocals featured a trademark falsetto edge, didn’t enjoy as much commercial success as a solo artist, but that post-1969 period is represented in the MCA package by some landmark tracks, including 1970’s “(Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go,” and three songs, including “Freddie’s Dead,” from his excellent 1972 “Superfly” soundtrack album.

In the booklet that is included in the box set, R&B; historian Jim Pruter pinpoints Mayfield’s musical influence: “As a member of the . . . Impressions and later as a solo artist, he developed strong, distinctive styles out of his gospel roots that contributed significantly to the shaping of black music for more than two decades.

“He sang deeply humanistic songs that represented the highest ideals and aspirations of African-Americans, evoking their pain, struggle and fortitude, and preached that with goodwill, love, pride, and self-achievement they could find a respected role in American society.”

Mayfield continued to have occasional R&B; hits in the ‘80s, but his career was shattered in 1990 when a scaffold fell on him during an outdoor concert in New York, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. He and the Impressions were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the following year.

Mayfield now lives in Atlanta, where he runs Curtom Records and oversees the reissuing of his albums, including the “Superfly” soundtrack, on CD.

Charity Classics: Polydor Records has released an ambitious, four-disc set as part of its “Chronicles” CD reissue series.

The package, which was produced in connection with New York radio station WNEW-FM’s 25th anniversary, is an eclectic mix that includes numerous tracks from outside the Polydor/PolyGram roster of artists.

Among the album’s highlights: David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel,” Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side,” U2’s “Bad,” the Clash’s “London Calling,” Patti Smith’s “Because the Night,” Bob Marley & the Wailers’ “Redemption Song” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road.”

The package, titled “Classic Rock Box,” also includes live versions of John Mellencamp’s “Pink Houses” and the Police’s “Message in a Bottle.” Proceeds, including all artist royalties, go to the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Foundation, which uses music therapy to teach autistic and other children with special needs.