Superfly

Recorded in 1972 at RCA Studios in Chicago during sessions for the soundtrack to the film Super Fly, the song featured Curtis Mayfield on lead vocals and guitar, Craig McMullen on guitar, Joseph 'Lucky' Scott on bass, Morris Jennings on drums and Master Henry Gibson on percussion. Mayfield wrote and produced the recording, with orchestration and arrangements by Johnny Pate and recording engineering by Roger Anfinsen. Released in 1972 on Curtom Records, 'Superfly' served as the title track of Mayfield's soundtrack to the film directed by Gordon Parks Jr., presenting a critical portrait of drug dealing and its consequences. The single reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1973 and number 5 on Billboard's soul singles chart, while the soundtrack album topped the Billboard 200. The recording became one of Curtis Mayfield's defining works, recognised for its social commentary, distinctive bassline and sophisticated rhythmic arrangements. It was included among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, sampled by Outkast on 'Return of the G' and featured in later films including Crooklyn, while the Super Fly soundtrack was inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2019.