The opening track on Curtis Mayfield's solo debut, 'Curtis,' '(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Gonna Go' begins the solo journey of one of soul music's more underrated contributors. So many are familiar with Superfly, but 'If There's a Hell Below' is more interesting, a response to the hangover of the '60's passion and sweet optimism. By 1970, COINTELPRO's work was nearly done, King, Hampton and Malcolm were dead, and the Movement began to lose a great deal of steam. 'If There's a Hell Below' is Mayfield's fiery retort, a demand that politicians follow through on their promises ("and Nixon talkin' bout don't worry") and that -- in no particular order -- niggers, whiteys, crackers, Jews, the police, and others stand up and remain proactive in changing the status quo.

The most striking point Mayfield makes, though, is that indifference is a sin in and of itself. Rather than limiting his attack to those who are aggressive in their bad actions, Mayfield has put do-nothings on the same plane as the doers of evil, condemning those who believe Nixon's statement that they not worry with the same vitriol he uses on Tricky Dick himself. It's that nuance that has made Mayfield's commentaries so interesting. Rarely are there heroes, and hardly anyone receives a free pass. From this point, Superfly seems different. The sympathy it frequently seems to afford the dopeman on that soundtrack is not that; instead, he sees him as no different from those who don't do anything.

About the Author

Bomani Jones is a freelance writer and a BV Music blogger. Read the blog here.