Curtis Mayfield on ‘Superfly’ Film & Songwriting

Superfly, not only through the script and his character, but being the first movie score introduced to me, really had me in a mode for wanting to be involved. I'd worn a lot of hats, but this was the first time to be taken in as someone that might write a movie score for film. I usually would follow a script and the script and this contents and all the characters and what the story was about would basically furnish me with ideas and depth to get actually into the happenings of that particular movie for scoring

However, when you’re writing just in general, you use the society and the happenings about yourself and your observances. That becomes your script in the feelings of yourself as well as other people. Everything I write about doesn't necessarily happen to me, but in observing and being sensitive, you can take on the contents and characters of just people in general. You always have to walk that line of creativity and what the fad is and what the timely music is

I've never questioned myself as to how I related. I knew I was a good person at heart, and even when I had to hit you with a hard lyric, I knew how to be soft and hard, gentle, easy and harsh when it was necessary, such as the ways of life itself

Most of my writings have to do with my observances of my feelings from the heart. And when you keep your eyes upon the prize like that, it’s better for your writing simply because what you say, being a human being yourself will relate to most human beings. It doesn't matter what colour or what have you. And it worked for me. Many of these songs come from the heart, and they were about the different movements, about the challenge of black people and other minorities trying to be equal in this society
And it was more important for me to say that than to ride the line of just what the fads were and what was supposed to be. Most arrangers that I have used in the past would come in with their own contributions. But I was always careful to make change and be assured that the music was still mine and there was no conflict in the music that was arranged against the basic rhythm pattern in the song itself

There's a Curtis Mayfield song that really has no singing nor lyrics, which is called "Think" from the Superfly album that I especially appreciate when I listen to it. "The Makings of You" is a very pretty song, and it still holds very close to my heart. "We're a Winner". "Doo-Doo-Wap is Strong in Here", taken from a movie score known as Short Eyes. My art and my creativity were totally something that was of my own heart and mind and I could never let anybody dictate to me what I should write and how I would write it

Hearing someone else record one of your songs, something that you had prepared, produced, and worked out for another artist to find that it was a hit. To know that you can not only just do for yourself, but you could do for others. I'm somewhat moody in in respect of music and I usually will put on my CD player and play things according to how I feel. So within that, I mean, we got the jazz, we have the symphony, I've got my old music, I'm a Jamaal, you know, I have quite a few gospel CDs

I always admired Henry Mancini and all of his works, whether it was for movie scores or just his work in general. I just go wherever I feel. I got Muddy Waters in there, a bit of rap, Ice T, Public Enemy seemed to be more on the issues in their own ways of saying things, and it seems as though they sort of looked back and did a little bit of bookwork to come up with their ideas

To me, everything's changed, but ain’t nothing changed too much. We all will carry a certain amount of prejudice and probably a certain amount of prejudice is okay. But it’s only when one becomes bias and have hate in their heart and won't allow themselves to relate or sit down in the table and converse. Does it look bad for us all? There were many songs that may have created some controversy, but I felt within my heart that it was the right things to say

And I suppose I was somewhat arrogant about many songs, but if I liked it and I felt that deep in my heart it didn’t matter whether it's soul or not, I was with it. So that's the way I've always been about my music. And of course, I never tried to compete with anybody. I just basically did my own thing. As my thoughts revolve and I’m very pleased and happy that it is proven the times in longevity

I just hope they will be mentioning Curtis Mayfield. It will only mean that my music has still been instilled through generation after generation. It doesn't matter what they say, so as long as they say it. Many of my goals have been achieved knowing from where I come from, I come out of high school. First year I was on the road at 15, 16 years old, played the Apollo