Seduced All Over Again by the Superfly Soundtrack
I have been listening to Superfly, the movie soundtrack album by Curtis Mayfield, since it was released in 1972, and loving it every time I hear it. The album tells a gritty, bittersweet story that I have imagined, start to finish, countless times in my head. A Harlem cocaine dealer tries to “get over,†and the songs act as chapter titles: “Little Child Running Wild,†“Pusherman,†“Eddie You Should Know Better,†“Freddie’s Dead.†Yet in 35 years, I never actually saw the filmâ€â€until today.
Was the film as good as the movie that’s been playing in my head? Yes and no.
First, the negatives: Some bad writing; some poor acting; and crude editing and camera work.
Now the positives. Superfly is a great period piece of Manhattan 1972: the clothes; the hair; the attitude; the city falling into ruin. The coke dealer, not too subtly named Youngblood Priest, is resplendent in long hair, baroque sideburns and ’70s-style Edwardian suits. (The actor Ron O’Neal plays him with elegant cool.)
Even better: Some excellent surprise touches, like a mid-movie montage of still photography by Gordon Parks, Jr., that is seamlessly woven into the plot like a musical bridge. And while the plot is mostly predictable, the ending is surprising and crowd-pleasing.
But best of all: the music, the music, the music! Going in, I was worried that the soundtrack might serve only as background, or might rudely cut songs mid-track. Not so. The gritty lyrics, the funky old-school soul, Curtis Mayfield’s distinctive guitar chops and high tenor voice, are not only intact but drive the action. It is impossible to imagine this film without the soundtrack.
Curtis Mayfield died too young at age 57 in 1999, after a freak accident on stage left him paralyzed, and the greatest commercial success of his career was the Superfly soundtrack. (Old-timers and musicians know him more for his lasting work as a songwriter and as a leader of The Impressions.) The fact that Superfly was his biggest hit is ironicâ€â€even sadâ€â€because Mayfield spent most of his life using his extraordinary musical gifts to preach hope, love, hard work and devotion.
True, his Superfly lyrics are all about saying no to “the pusherman.†But the movie never shows the true horror of cocaine addiction. Priest is the consummate anti-hero. Most of all, Curtis Mayfield’s music is so lushly romantic that even though the lyrics are saying no, his soundtrack is seducing you all the while.
Viewing 8 Comments
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Trackbacks
(Trackback URL)
March 16, 2008 at 7:23 pm
[...] New DVD alert: Payday, the 1972 movie that many people consider Rip Torn’s greatest role, is now available in ...