Wonderful Album For Curtis Mayfield
Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 06/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To start with Mayfield's 1979 album 'Heartbeat' is often classified as one of the artists least significant albums.
True that's because it came very late in his career and when he was past his peak of popularity.Also this album was made during the height of the disco era and the production utilizes alot of the genre's musical devices.But Curtis Mayfield is still totally in charge and,even if this album contains alot more uptempo dance material then usual it isn't disco.
"Tell Me,Tell Me","What Is My Woman For?","Victory",
"Over The Hump","You Better Stomp" and the bouncy title song all marry Mayfield's typically clever songwriting with brassy Philly funky soul,which to the untrained ear sounds an awful lot like disco because of all the orchestrations and strings.
Anyway the love ballad "Between You And Me Baby" is beautiful and Curtis had the good sense to pare up with the wonderful singer Linda Clifford for the duet.It's one of the Mayfield tunes that never gets the due it deserves.
Speaking technically this is one of only three Curtis Mayfield solo albums I own (the others being his self titled debut from 1970 and 'Superfly').To me all these albums are unique and each are brilliant.For sure this album lacks the commercial staying power of his earlier material and isn't as socially aware (Mayfield's huffing and puffing during the songs is a good indication as to what he's actually talking about).But 'Heartbeat' has some of the most powerful uptempo tunes I have ever hear Mayfield do and deserves instant re-evaluation in my humble opinion."
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1