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Apr. 18, 2005 During my teenage years I spent many weekends watching the latest blaxploitation films. These films were made during the 70s and often featured black actors in action-packed roles loaded with stereotypes. Blacks were often portrayed as pimps, gangsters, or cops on the edge. The movies were often produced and directed by whites (Samuel Z. Arkoff of American International Pictures comes to mind) and targeted black audiences. The movies were profitable and helped jump start the careers of actors such as Pam Grier, Richard Pryor and Fred Williamson. I have chosen ten of what I consider to be the “best” soundtracks of this genre, starting with Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly. The soundtrack features the title track plus the classic, “Freddie’s Dead,” “Pusherman,” and the underrated “Eddie You Should Know Better.” The song was a poetic journey detailing the life of a conflicted drug dealer named Priest (Ron O’Neal). Next is an album whose title track is arguably the most recognizable theme song ever written, Isaac Hayes’ Shaft. The soundtrack also contains the melodic “Café Regios” and “Do Your Thing.” Hayes penned other soundtracks (“Too Tough,” and “Truck Turner”), both of which were eclipsed by the sheer genius of the Shaft lp. The Godfather of Soul comes in at number three with Black Cesar, the tale of a black gangster played with heart by Fred Williamson, who went on to star in other blaxploitation films “Three the Hard Way” and “Hell Up In Harlem” (the sequel to Black Cesar). Contains the red-hot grooves, “Down and Out In New York City,” “The Boss,” “Think” (featuring Lynn Collins and a piss-poor lip-synch by Gloria Hendry) and the bluesy “Mama’s Dead.” James Brown, Fred Wesley and Charles Bobbit were at the top of their game. Brown would follow this gem up with his then biggest selling album, “The Payback.” Aretha Franklin received most of the credit for Sparkle, but it was Curtis Mayfield’s lyricism and musician that made this album the gem that it is. Contains the hit, “Giving Him Something He Can Feel,” “Hooked On Your Love,” and “Jump.” Car Wash (1976) helped propel Richard Pryor to superstardom and also introduced the Norman Whitfield produced band Rose Royce to the World. Contains the classic title tune along with, “I’m Goin’ Down,” and “I Wanna Get Next To You.” Though the album contained some songs that weren’t in the movie (and leaves out Valerie Carter’s heart-tugging rendition of “Ooh Child”), Earth, Wind and Fire’s That’s The Way of the World was one of the decades greatest albums. It was preceded by the underrated “Open Our Eyes” and followed by “Gratitude,” which established the group as one of the top musical acts of the decade. The 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues is probably best known for the riveting chemistry between stars Diana Ross and Billy Williams, not to mention a sterling performance by Richard Pryor as the tragically flawed character Piano Man. Tracks covered include, “Tain’t Nobody’s Business,” and “God Bless The Child.” While performed by Gladys Knight and the Pips, Claudine was also produced and written by Curtis Mayfield. Diahann Carroll was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of an weary welfare recipient trying to handle a romance and deal with six children. The film includes a rich performance by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as the moody oldest son, Charles. The soundtrack featured “On and On,” “To Be Invisible,” and one of Mayfield’s most lyrically potent songs, “The Makings of You.” Again Mr. Mayfield makes his presence known, this time in tandem with the Staples Singers on 1975’s Let’s Do It Again. The film starred Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby and two shady boxing promoters who hypnotize a rail-thin fighter named Farnsworth (Jimmy Walker) and convince him that he is a knockout artist. James Brown’s Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off was written for the sequel to 1972’s “Slaughter,” starring Jim Brown. The soundtrack contains several finely-crafted James Brown-Fred Wesley collaborations, “Sexy, Sexy, Sexy,” “Brother Rapp,” “How Long Can I Keep It Up” (featuring Lynn Collins and the vintage JB funkfest, “People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul.” Honoranle Mention: Coffy (Roy Ayers), Short Eyes (Curtis), Three the Hard Way (The Impressions), Come Back Charleston Blue (---), Foxy Brown and The Mack (both Willie Mitchell) ------------ About the author: Timothy N. Stelly, Sr. is a 46-year old poet, novelist and aspiring screenwriter who resides in northern California with his three youngest children--Lawrence, Kimberly and Dante. He is a member of various writer's groups and has three novels in print, his most recent, "Like A Straight-Up Sucka," is available at www.lulu.com. website: http://stellbreadO@tripod.com Email: stellbread@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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