The Curtis Mayfield led Impressions were the greatest band of the 60's and one of the most influential & innovative groups of all time. They mastered 3 part vocal harmonies that introduced a distinct gospel feel to their music & in Mayfield, possessed one of the greatest songwriters to ever pick up a pen. The deep, soulful feel to his songs were so wonderful and very unigue. Hard to believe that he was a high school drop out and wrote his first recorded song when he was only 14 years old and a self taught guitarist.Their music was deep, rich & full of spiritual meaning. They were charting hit songs at a time when the music industry seemed mostly enthralled with artists who were either a part of Motown's hit making machine or the newly found british invasion that introduced acts influenced heavily by artist here in the US in particular black artists who weren't getting the proper respect they deserved from the industry in this country.In spite of all that, the Impressions were able to carve out their own identity & give the world some of the most masterful expressions of music ever recorded. The song lists for both of these albums are truly the types of music that began to redefine what was considered "mainstream" & influenced artists as far as Jamaica (Bob Marley & the Wailers were heavily influenced) and europe.I highly recommend these 2 wonderful expressions of the art of music making to anyone. They are truly worth every penny, the group has been inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame (Which has a shameful recored of inducting many black artists in a timely manner) as well as Curtis Mayfield being inducted as a solo act as well. Their place in history is solidified & they're finally starting to get some of the MUCH DESERVED credit due to them!