Never Say You Can't Survive

Last updated
Never Say You Can’t Survive
Never Say You Can't Survive by Curtis Mayfield album cover art.jpg
Studio album by
Released1977
Genre Funk, soul
Length33:45
Label Curtom
Producer Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield chronology
Short Eyes
(1977)
Never Say You Can’t Survive
(1977)
Do It All Night
(1978)

Never Say You Can't Survive is an album by the American musician Curtis Mayfield, released in 1977. [1] [2] It peaked at No. 173 on the Billboard 200. [3] "Show Me Love" was released as a single. [4]

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Rolling Stone noted that Mayfield's "voice, which grows thinner and more strained with each album, fails to command the focus of the big, multisectioned arrangements." [7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Curtis Mayfield

No.TitleLength
1."Show Me Love"5:16
2."Just Want to Be with You"3:14
3."When We're Alone"5:27
4."Never Say You Can't Survive"3:22
5."I'm Gonna Win Your Love"4:43
6."All Night Long"4:15
7."When You Used to Be Mine"3:41
8."Sparkle"4:02

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Mayfield</span> American singer-songwriter (1942–1999)

Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music. Dubbed the "Gentle Genius", he first achieved success and recognition with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted group the Impressions during the civil rights movement of the late 1950s and the 1960s, and later worked as a solo artist.

<i>Super Fly</i> (soundtrack) 1972 soundtrack album by Curtis Mayfield

Super Fly is the third studio album by American soul musician Curtis Mayfield, released on July 11, 1972 on Curtom Records. It was released as the soundtrack for the Blaxploitation film of the same name. Widely considered a classic of 1970s soul and funk music, Super Fly was a nearly immediate hit. Its sales were bolstered by two million-selling singles, "Freddie's Dead" and the title track. Super Fly is one of the few soundtracks to out-gross the film it accompanied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Butler</span> American soul singer and songwriter

Jerry Butler Jr. is an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and retired politician. He was the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group the Impressions, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. After leaving the group in 1960, Butler achieved over 55 Billboard Pop and R&B Chart hits as a solo artist including "He Will Break Your Heart", "Let It Be Me" and "Only the Strong Survive". He was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015.

<i>Curtis</i> (Curtis Mayfield album) 1970 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

Curtis is the debut studio album by American soul musician Curtis Mayfield, released in September 1970. Produced by Mayfield, it was released on his own label Curtom Records. The musical styles of Curtis moved further away from the pop-soul sounds of Mayfield's previous group The Impressions and featured more of a funk and psychedelic-influenced sound. The album's subject matter incorporates political and social concerns of the time.

<i>Theres No Place Like America Today</i> 1975 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

There's No Place Like America Today is the seventh studio album by Curtis Mayfield, released in 1975 on Curtom Records. It peaked at number 120 on the Billboard 200 chart, as well as number 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Beyond Appearances</i> 1985 studio album by Santana

Beyond Appearances is the fourteenth studio album by Santana, released in 1985.

<i>Sparkle</i> (soundtrack) 1976 soundtrack album by Aretha Franklin

Music from the Warner Bros. Picture "Sparkle" is a soundtrack album and twenty-fourth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, written and produced by Curtis Mayfield. Released on June 1, 1976, the disc is the soundtrack album for the 1976 Warner Bros. motion picture Sparkle, starring Irene Cara. The songs on the soundtrack feature the instrumental tracks and backing vocals from the film versions, with Franklin's voice taking the place of the original lead vocalists.

<i>Almighty Fire</i> 1978 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Almighty Fire is the twenty-fourth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on April 13, 1978, by Atlantic Records. By the time of the album's release, Franklin was going through a commercial slump.

<i>Roots</i> (Curtis Mayfield album) 1971 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

Roots is Curtis Mayfield’s second studio album, released in October 1971. Having received critical praise from a variety of publications, the album is regarded as not just one of Mayfield's best works but also as a classic release of the '70s soul era, with Allmusic critic Bruce Eder stating that "the album soars on some of the sweetest and most eloquent... soul sounds heard up to that time". The album became a commercial success as well, hitting the #6 slot on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart.

<i>Back to the World</i> (Curtis Mayfield album) 1973 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

Back to the World is the fourth studio album by Curtis Mayfield, released in 1973 under Curtom Records. It peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart, as well as number 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart.

<i>Got to Find a Way</i> 1974 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

Got to Find a Way is a studio album by Curtis Mayfield, released in 1974 under Curtom Records. It peaked at number 76 on the Billboard 200 chart, as well as number 17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Sweet Exorcist</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

Sweet Exorcist is the fifth studio album by Curtis Mayfield, released in May 1974. It peaked at number 39 on the Billboard 200 chart, as well as number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Lets Do It Again</i> (soundtrack) 1975 soundtrack album by Curtis Mayfield and The Staple Singers

Let's Do It Again is the Curtis Mayfield-penned and Staple Singers-performed soundtrack to the highly successful 1975 comedy film starring Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby and Jimmie Walker. The title track hit number one on both the R&B and pop charts in the US. Gil Askey and Rich Tufo were responsible for the arrangements.

<i>A Piece of the Action</i> (soundtrack) 1977 soundtrack album by Mavis Staples

A Piece of the Action is a soundtrack album by American rhythm and blues and gospel singer Mavis Staples, from the 1977 film of the same name. It was released on October 10, 1977, by Curtom Records.

<i>Claudine</i> (soundtrack) 1974 soundtrack album by Gladys Knight & the Pips

Claudine is a Gladys Knight & the Pips album, written and produced by Curtis Mayfield. The disc is the soundtrack album for the 1974 20th Century Fox motion picture Claudine, starring James Earl Jones and Diahann Carroll. The album was released in March 1974 on the Buddah label.

<i>Do It All Night</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

Do It All Night is an album by the American musician Curtis Mayfield, released in 1978. "No Goodbyes" was released as a single. "You Are, You Are" was written by Mayfield for Linda Clifford; it appears on her 1978 LP, If My Friends Could See Me Now. The album peaked at No. 52 on Billboard's Top Black Albums chart.

<i>Something to Believe In</i> (Curtis Mayfield album) 1980 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

Something to Believe In is a studio album by the American musician Curtis Mayfield, released in 1980. It peaked at No. 128 on the Billboard 200. The cover art is by Ernie Barnes.

<i>Take It to the Streets</i> (Curtis Mayfield album) 1990 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

Take It to the Streets is an album by the American musician Curtis Mayfield, released in 1990 on Curtom Records. "He's a Fly Guy" first appeared on the soundtrack to I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. The album peaked at No. 59 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart.

<i>New World Order</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

New World Order is R&B/soul singer-songwriter Curtis Mayfield’s final studio album. The album got to No. 24 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 44 on the UK Albums chart.

<i>Give, Get, Take and Have</i> 1976 studio album by Curtis Mayfield

Give, Get, Take and Have is a studio album by Curtis Mayfield, released in 1976 under Curtom Records. The track "P.S. I Love You" was later featured in the film Superbad and on its accompanied soundtrack.

References

  1. Mathieson, Kenny (28 Dec 1999). "Curtis Mayfield". The Scotsman. p. 12.
  2. Thompson, Dave (2001). Funk. Backbeat Books. p. 117.
  3. "Curtis Mayfield". Billboard. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  4. Pruter, Robert (1992). Chicago Soul. University of Illinois Press. p. 309.
  5. Never Say You Can't Survive at AllMusic
  6. Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 221.
  7. RollingStone.com