Mayfield's impressive solo career began with his eponymous 1970 debut; Curtis. Calling upon his lengthy experiences as a songwriter from his time in The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield's solo work was a potently elegant work of 70s soul, which utilized the contemporary progressive Chicago sounds of the time to skillful effect. It was lushly arranged, but also politically-aware, a tapestry of orchestral sounds, but also hard-hitting and topical, and rendered chart hits in the tracks "(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Down Below We're All Going To Go" and the soul music classic "Move On Up." Though often overlooked among Mayfield's other works, Curtis was an acclaimed commercial hit that set the stage for greater things to come in Mayfield's solo career.