Impressions ( The ) - People Get Ready

First performance: 16/01/1991

Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song 7 times ( soundchecks included ) and 326 times as a snippet:
 
He incorporated lines from "People get ready" into live performances of Land of hope and dreams and occasionally into live performances of The Promised Land during the Magic Tour. Lines from 'People get ready' were also used in the studio version of Land of hope and dreams . "My city of ruins" can also been seen as a tribute to the song because it features a very similar melody to "People Get Ready."  
 
 
2008-10-16 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, NY
"Change Rocks" benefit show for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Bruce first backs John Legend for a song, and then does a pair of solo acoustic songs. John Legend and India Arie also guest on "Spirit In The Night", "The Rising", and "People Get Ready", plus Stevie Wonder's classic "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" with Barack Obama. 
Bruce and Patti Scialfa join U2 during the first encore of their show in Philadelphia. Bono introduces Bruce by saying they need an extra guitar player, much like he did in the same city in 1987 when Springsteen joined for "Stand By Me".
 
 
 
During an all star jam: Bruce is finally inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The E Street Band support. "In The Midnight Hour" is a duet with Wilson Pickett, including Billy Joel on keyboard. Later Bruce joined in an all star jam session with, amongst others, Bono, Joel, Paul McCartney, Robbie Robertson, Dion, Roy Bittan, Nils Lofgren, Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, Pickett, Chris Isaak, The Staple Singers, Max Weinberg, D'Angelo, Peter Wolf, and Paul Shaffer and the horn section from his CBS Orchestra - Tom "Bones" Malone, Bruce Kapler, and Al Chez - who also join Bruce and the band on "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and "In The Midnight Hour", conducted by Shaffer. "Long Tall Sally" has also been reported as played during the closing jam, but this is unconfirmed. Contrary to prior reports, Bruce did not participate in the performance of "What'd I Say".
 
1997-03-08 Tradewinds, Sea Bright, NJ
Bruce performed the song also together with the wallflowers during a soundcheck.
 
 
With The Wallflowers. Bruce was present for the soundcheck, which included the under- mentioned numbers, and is reported to be very prominent on them, singing and playing with a lot of energy. Jon Bon Jovi also joins on "Bring It On Home To Me". Only known performances of "God Don't Make Lonely Girls", "Brand New Cadillac", and "Bring It On Home To Me".
 
Soundcheck:
 
 
36th Grammy Awards. A Curtis Mayfield medley with various artists and Bruce presenting Curtis with a special "Legend" Grammy award. With Steve Cropper, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Vernon Reid, Steve Winwood, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Narada Michael Walden, Don Was, and others. Bruce sings lead on "Gypsy Woman" and takes the first line of "People Get Ready". Mayfield and The Impressions (including Jerry Butler) are onstage for "Amen".
The medley included snippets of six songs written by Curtis Mayfield:
 
 

1991-08-04 Cheers, Long Branch, NJ
With The Outcry. a New Jersey band.

1991-01-16 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY 
Springsteen attends the sixth Annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Awards, with The Impressions (Curtis Mayfield), Wilson Pickett, The Byrds and Ike & Tina Turner the evening’s key inductees. Bruce does not give any induction speech but takes the stage alongside Jackson Browne, Don Henley, and Chaka Khan to perform “People Get Ready” and then participates in the closing jam, trading lead vocals with John Fogerty on "In The Midnight Hour".

  
  • Snippets
300 times during LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS
 
2024-11-06 Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON 
2024-07-25 Wembley Stadium, London, England  
2024-07-15 Strawberry Arena, Solna, Sweden
2024-06-12 Cívitas Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain 
2024-05-19 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
2024-05-12 Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, Ireland 
2024-05-09 Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland 
2024-04-04 Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
 
2024-03-31 Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
During the soundcheck, probably of this show, Bruce leads the band through an a capella rendition of "The Ballad Of Jed Clampett" as part of the social media promotion for the upcoming Los Angeles shows. "Twist And Shout" was played by sign request in the encores.
 
2024-03-28 Chase Center, San Francisco, CA 
2023-06-24 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden 
 
Dedicated to Charlie Bird. Land of Hope and Dreams was a request song by Irish journalist Charlie Bird. He got to meet Springsteen backstage before the show. Bird is during ALS and had a meeting with Bruce on his bucket list. His favorite song is 'Land of Hope and Dreams' .
 
 
 
2023-02-27 Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
2017-02-02 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
2017-01-30 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
2017-01-27 Perth Arena, Perth, Australia
2017-01-22 Perth Arena, Perth, Australia
2016-09-05 Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, Virginia Beach, VA
2016-08-23 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2016-07-28 Frognerparken, Oslo, Norway
2016-07-26 Granåsen Arena, Trondheim, Norway
2016-07-23 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
2016-07-20 CASA Arena, Horsens, Denmark
2016-07-16 Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy
2016-07-11 AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
2016-07-03 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
2016-06-25 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
2016-06-22 Telia Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark
2016-06-19 Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
2016-06-17 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
2016-06-14 Malieveld, The Hague, The Netherlands
2016-05-21 Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
2015-08-06 NEP Studio 52, New York City, NY
2014-05-03 New Orleans Fairgrounds, New Orleans, LA
2014-04-29 BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL
2014-04-24 PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
2014-04-22 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
2014-04-17 Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
2014-04-12 Farm Bureau Live At Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
2014-04-08 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
2014-04-06 Reunion Arena, Old Site, Dallas, TX
2014-03-01 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
2014-02-22 Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, Australia
2014-02-19 AllPhones Arena, Sydney, Australia
2014-02-16 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
2014-02-15 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
2014-02-08 Perth Arena, Perth, Australia
2014-02-01 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
2014-01-26 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, South Africa
2013-09-21 Cidade Do Rock, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
2013-09-18 Espaço Das Américas, São Paulo, Brazil
2013-09-14 Estadio G.E.B.A., Buenos Aires, Argentina
2013-09-12 Movistar Arena, Santiago, Chile
2013-07-28 Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, Ireland
2013-07-27 Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, Ireland
2013-07-24 First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
2013-07-18 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland
2013-07-16 Thomond Park, Limerick, Ireland
2013-07-13 Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium
2013-07-11 Ippodromo Delle Capannelle, Rome, Italy
2013-07-07 Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany
2013-07-03 Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
2013-06-29 Stade De France, Saint Denis, France
2013-06-22 Goffertpark, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
2013-06-18 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
2013-06-15 Wembley Stadium, London, England
2013-06-03 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
2013-05-28 AWD Arena, Hannover, Germany
2013-05-23 Piazza Del Plebiscito, Naples, Italy
2013-05-16 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning, Denmark
2013-05-07 HK Areena, Turku, Finland
2013-05-03 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden
2013-04-30 Telenor Arena, Oslo, Norway
2013-03-30 Hanging Rock, Mt. Macedon, Australia
2013-03-24 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
2013-03-16 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
2012-12-12 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
2012-12-10 Palacio De Los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico
2012-12-04 Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
2012-11-30 Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
2012-11-28 Rose Garden, Portland, OR
2012-11-26 Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
2012-11-19 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
2012-11-17 Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
2012-11-15 CenturyLink Center, Omaha, NE
2012-11-12 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
2012-11-03 KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
2012-11-02 Rockefeller Center, GE Building, Studio 6A, New York City, NY
2012-11-01 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
2012-10-31 Blue Cross Arena At The War Memorial, Rochester, NY
2012-10-27 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
2012-10-25 XL Center, Hartford, CT
2012-10-23 John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA
2012-10-21 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ON
2012-09-19 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2012-09-14 Nationals Park, Washington, DC
2012-09-02 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
2012-08-29 Vernon Downs Raceway, Vernon, NY
2012-08-24 Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
2012-08-15 Fenway Park, Boston, MA
2012-07-31 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
2012-07-28 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
2012-07-21 Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway
2012-07-18 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
2012-07-17 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
2012-07-14 Hyde Park, London, England (Evening)
2012-07-12 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
2012-07-11 Synot Tip Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
2012-07-09 Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland
2012-07-07 Festivalpladsen, Roskilde, Denmark
2012-07-05 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
2012-07-04 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
2012-06-24 Seaclose Park, Isle Of Wight, England
2012-06-22 Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
2012-06-21 Stadium Of Light, Sunderland, England
2012-06-19 Park & Suites Arena, Montpellier, France
2012-06-10 Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy
2012-06-07 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
2012-06-02 Estadio Anoeta, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
2012-05-27 Rheinenergiestadion, Cologne, Germany
2012-05-15 Estadio De Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain
2012-05-13 Estadio Olimpico De La Cartuja, Seville, Spain
2012-05-02 Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
2012-04-29 New Orleans Fairgrounds, New Orleans, LA
2012-04-27 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
2012-04-26 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
2012-04-16 Times Union Center, Albany, NY
2012-04-12 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI
2012-04-09 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
2012-04-03 Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
2012-04-01 Verizon Center, Washington, DC
2012-03-28 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
2012-03-26 TD Garden, Boston, MA
2012-03-23 Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, FL
2012-03-19 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
2012-03-18 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
2012-03-15 Moody Theater, Austin, TX
2012-03-09 Apollo Theater, New York City, NY
2011-11-09 Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY
2011-11-03 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
2009-11-20 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, MD
2009-10-19 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
2009-08-02 Auditorio Monte Do Gozo, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
2009-07-30 Estadio Municipal De Foietes, Benidorm, Spain
2009-07-21 Stadio Olimpico, Turin, Italy
2009-06-13 Great Stage Park, Manchester, TN
2009-06-10 Koengen, Bergen, Norway
2009-06-09 Koengen, Bergen, Norway
2009-06-07 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
2009-06-05 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
2009-06-04 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
2009-06-02 Ratinan Stadion, Tampere, Finland
2009-05-30 Megaland, Landgraaf, The Netherlands
2009-05-23 Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
2009-05-21 Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
2009-05-19 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
2009-05-18 Verizon Center, Washington, DC
2009-05-15 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA
2009-05-14 Times Union Center, Albany, NY
2009-05-12 United Center, Chicago, IL
2009-05-11 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
2009-05-08 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
2009-05-07 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
2009-05-05 John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA
2009-05-04 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
2009-05-02 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
2009-04-29 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
2009-04-28 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
2009-04-26 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
2009-04-24 XL Center, Hartford, CT
2009-04-22 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
2009-04-21 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
2009-04-16 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
2009-04-15 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
2009-04-10 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
2009-04-08 Toyota Center, Houston, TX
2009-04-07 BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
2009-04-05 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX
2009-04-03 Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, AZ
2009-04-01 HP Pavilion At San Jose, San Jose, CA
2009-03-24 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2003-10-04 Shea Stadium, New York City, NY
2003-09-27 Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI
2003-09-25 Invesco Field At Mile High, Denver, CO
2003-09-21 Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
2003-09-20 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Darien, NY
2003-09-18 Rentschler Field, East Hartford, CT
2003-09-10 SkyDome, Toronto, ON
2003-08-31 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-08-30 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-08-28 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-08-17 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
2003-08-16 Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco, CA
2003-08-13 U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, IL
2003-08-11 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
2003-08-09 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
2003-08-08 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
2003-08-06 PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
2003-08-02 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
2003-08-01 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
2003-07-27 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-07-26 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-07-24 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-07-21 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-07-18 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-07-17 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-07-15 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-06-28 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
2003-06-25 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
2003-06-22 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
2003-06-21 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
2003-06-19 Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway
2003-06-17 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
2003-06-16 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
2003-06-14 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
2003-06-12 AOL Arena, Hamburg, Germany
2003-06-10 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
2003-06-08 Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy
2003-05-31 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
2003-05-29 Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, England
2003-05-27 National Sports Stadium, London, England
2003-05-26 National Sports Stadium, London, England
2003-05-24 Stade De France, Saint-Denis, France
2003-05-22 Arena Aufschalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
2003-05-19 Estadio De La Comunidad De Madrid, Madrid, Spain
2003-05-17 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
2003-05-15 Estadio Municipal El Molinón, Gijón, Spain
2003-05-12 Koning Boudewijnstadion, Brussels, Belgium
2003-05-10 Südweststadion, Ludwigshafen, Germany
2003-05-08 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2003-05-06 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2003-04-19 Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
2003-04-18 Corel Centre, Ottawa, ON
2003-04-14 Skyreach Centre, Edmonton, AB
2003-04-13 Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary, AB
2003-04-11 Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC
2003-04-09 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, CA
2003-03-28 Western Springs Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
2003-03-26 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
2003-03-25 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
2003-03-22 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia
2003-03-20 Telstra Dome, Melbourne, Australia
2003-03-11 Blue Cross Arena At The War Memorial, Rochester, NY
2003-03-10 Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, RI
2003-03-07 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
2003-03-06 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA
2003-03-04 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL
2003-03-02 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX
2003-02-28 Arena At Gwinnett Center (The), Duluth, GA
2002-12-17 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
2002-12-16 Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
2002-12-13 Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
2002-12-09 Carolina Center, Columbia, SC
2002-12-08 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
2002-12-05 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
2002-12-04 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
2002-12-02 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
2002-11-24 Ice Palace, Tampa, FL
2002-11-23 American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
2002-11-21 TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, FL
2002-11-19 Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Arena, Birmingham, AL
2002-11-16 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
 
 
27 times as a snippet during a different song 
 
2012-09-19 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-07-18 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-07-17 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-07-05 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-07-04 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-04-27 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-04-26 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-04-09 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-04-06 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-04-04 Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-04-03 Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-04-01 Verizon Center, Washington, DC ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-03-29 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-03-28 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-03-26 TD Garden, Boston, MA ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-03-23 Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, FL ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-03-19 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-03-18 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-03-15 Moody Theater, Austin, TX ( My City Of Ruins )
2012-03-09 Apollo Theater, New York City, NY ( My City Of Ruins )
2007-12-19 O2 Arena (The), London, England ( the promised land )
2007-12-17 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France ( the promised land )
2007-12-15 Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland ( the promised land )
2007-12-13 Kölnarena, Cologne, Germany ( the promised land )
2007-12-12 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium ( the promised land )
1994-03-01 Radio City Music Hall, New York City, NY ( in medley : see up )
 
1987-07-30 Green Parrot, Neptune, NJ
Bruce joins Jah Love on stage again for reggae versions of the songs ( during One Love )
   

Songinfo

"People Get Ready" is a 1965 single by the Impressions, and the title track from the People Get Ready album. The single is the group's best-known hit. The gospel-influenced track was a Curtis Mayfield composition that displayed the growing sense of social and political awareness in his writing. Mayfield said:
 
"That was taken from my church or from the upbringing of messages from the church. Like there's no hiding place and get on board, and images of that sort. I must have been in a very deep mood of that type of religious inspiration when I wrote that song."
 
The song is the first Impressions hit to feature Mayfield's guitar in the break. "People Get Ready" is in a long tradition of Black American freedom songs to use the train imagery - other examples are "Wade in the Water", "The Gospel Train", and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".  The imagery comes from the Underground Railroad, not a real train but an escape route North to freedom for escaped slaves in America pre-civil war, with conductors such as Harriet Tubman going back time and again to the South to show people the route of the "railroad." Images of mobility have been consistently linked to liberation in African American music including trains, highways, marching and space travel.
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

The Impressions were an American music group originally formed in 1958. Their repertoire includes doo-wop, gospel, soul, and R&B. Mayfield left the group after the release of the "Check Out Your Mind " LP in 1970 and began a successful solo career. Mayfield stayed a great inspiration to Bruce :  
 
 
 
Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942, Chicago, IL–December 26, 1999, Roswell, GA) was an African-American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Mayfield is highly regarded as a pioneer of funk and of politically conscious African-American music. Curtis Mayfield was a two time inductee into the GrammyHall of fame and winner of the Grammy Legend Award and lifetimes Achievement Award which was personally presented by Bruce in 1995
 
  • 01.03.94 Grammy Awards, after "The Curtis Mayfield Medley"
"Curtis, on behalf of all the musicians gathered here on stage and in the audience, we wanna thank you for the lasting soul and the deep beauty of the music that you´ve made… you´ve been an inspiration to all of us and it´s an honor to be up here with you tonight and I´m glad to present you with the Grammy Legend Award, we love you…"
 
" There's a beautifully socially–conscious soul of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions, "We're a Winner," keep on pushin'. Just great, great records that just filled the airwaves at a time when you couldn't have needed them more. You just couldn't have needed them more. "A Woman's Got Soul," what a beautiful, beautiful record to women. "It's All Right." It was the sound track of the Civil Rights Movement. And it was here, amongst these great African–American artists, that I learned my craft. You learned how to write. You learned how to arrange. You learned what mattered and what didn't. You learned what a great production sounds like. You learned how to lead a band. You learned how to front a band. "
 
  • Bruce also covered a song (Gypsy Woman) on a compilation album of various artists: 
Celebrating the music of Curtis Mayfield. While many tribute albums are recorded after an artist has passed, this album was completed five years before Mayfield's death : released 1994. ( A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield )
 
 
 

Lyrics

People get ready, there's a train a-comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord

So people get ready for the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board them
There's hope for all among those loved the most

There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Whom would hurt all mankind just to save his own, believe me now
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
For there's no hiding place against the kingdom's throne

So people get ready, there's a train a-comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord