The Impressions
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Biography
Originally founded as gospel group The Roosters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the groupâs founders â Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks â relocated to Chicago, Illinois and, in 1958, added singer-songwriters Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler to the line-up. Under new management, they were renamed Jerry Butler & the Impressions and signed with Vee-Jay Records. After scoring R&B hits âYour Precious Loveâ (1958) and âCome Back My Loveâ (1958), Jerry Butler left the group to pursue a solo career in 1960, and Curtis Mayfield took over as front man. Now calling themselves the Impressions, their soulful pop developed with the times, and they started to tackle racial politics and social inequality on US Top 10 album Keep on Moving (1964). Their combination of pop and politics would later inspire future music icons Bob Marley, Public Enemy, and even Bruce Springsteen, while hit singles âIt's All Rightâ (1963), âTalking About My Babyâ (1964), âAmenâ (1964), âWe're A Winnerâ (1967), and their all-time classic âPeople Get Readyâ (1965) marked Mayfield out as one of the most important songwriters of his generation. He left the group in 1970 and went on to enjoy solo stardom and, while the group continued to record and tour in various guises. their only major subsequent success was with the single âFinally Got Myself Together (Iâm a Changed Man),â which made the US Top 20 in 1974. Of the original line-up, Curtis Mayfield died in 1999, followed by Arthur Brooks in 2015, Sam Gooden in 2022, and Richard Brooks in 2023. The groupâs last surviving original member, Jerry Butler was diagnosed with Parkinsonâs disease and died on February 20, 2025, at the age of 85.
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Albums
The Impressions
People Get Ready: The Best Of The Impressions Featuring Curtis Mayfield 1961 - 1968
FEATURED
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- People Get Ready
- We're A Winner
- Keep On Pushing
- Talking About My Baby by Curtis Mayfield
- I'm A Changed Man
- Make A Resolution
- I'm A Tellin' You
- (Baby) Turn On To Me
- Only You
- You'll Always Be Mine
- Do You Want To Win?
- Gotta Get Away
- You're Really Something Sadie
- I Need To Belong To Someone
- For Your Precious Love
- Can't You See
- That's What Mama Say
- Let It Be Me
- My Woman Love
- No One Else
- Minstrel and Queen (Queen Majesty) by The Impressions
- Man Oh Man
- Can't Satisfy by Curtis Mayfield
- A New Love
