180g 4LP Box Set featuring Newly Remastered Versions of Curtis Mayfield's First 4 Studio Albums: Curtis (1970), Roots (1971), Back to the World (1973), and Sweet Exorcist (1974)

Curtis Mayfield recorded a string of hits with The Impressions before leaving the influential soul-gospel group to embark upon a solo career that began 50 years ago and produced some of his greatest work. Known as the "Gentle Genius," Mayfield has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice - first as a member of The Impressions and later as a solo artist. Rhino spotlights Mayfield's early solo career with the 180g 4LP box set, Keep On Keeping On: Curtis Mayfield Studio Albums 1970-1974, a collection that includes newly remastered versions of his first four studio albums: Curtis (1970), Roots (1971), Back to the World (1973) and Sweet Exorcist (1974).

Mayfield left the Impressions in 1970 and launched his solo career with his debut album, Curtis. The album reached the Billboard Pop Albums Chart Top 20 and was certified gold. It features "(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below, We're All Going To Go," a hit in the U.S., and "Move On Up," which charted in the U.K. In terms of cultural significance, the album's potent combination of socially conscious lyrics and soul/funk music helped blaze a trail for later albums like Marvin Gaye's What's Going On and Stevie Wonder's Innervisions.

Mayfield returned in 1971 with Roots. His second solo album peaked at No. 6 on the R&B Albums chart thanks to memorable tracks like "Get Down," "Beautiful Brother Of Mine" and "We Got To Have Peace." Keep On Keeping On is named for a song on that album. Following the enormous success of the Super Fly soundtrack in 1972, Mayfield released his third solo record, Back to the World in 1973. It topped the R&B Albums chart and introduced fans to great tracks like "Future Shock," "Can't Say Nothin'" and "If I Were Only A Child Again."

The final album in this new set is Sweet Exorcist (1974), which reached No. 2 on the Top R&B Albums chart. It produced two singles with the title track and "Kung Fu."