New World Order (album)
{{Infobox album
| name = New World Order
| type = Album
| artist = Curtis Mayfield
| cover = Curtis Mayfield- New World Order.jpg
| alt =
| released = October 1, 1996
| recorded = February–June 1996
| venue =
| studio =
| length = 63:01
| label = Warner Bros.
| producer = Curtis Mayfield, Brian Fleming, Carlos Glover, Narada Michael Walden, James Fischer, Erik "E-Smooth" Hicks, Organized Noize, Daryl Simmons, Arnold Hennings
| prev_title = Take It to the Streets
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
New World Order is R&B/soul singer-songwriter Curtis Mayfield’s final studio album.{{cite work|title=Curtis Mayfield: New World Order|date=September 1996|publisher=Warner Bros. Records}} The album reached No. 24 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and No. 44 on the UK Albums chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/curtis-mayfield/chart-history/blp/|title=Curtis Mayfield: New World Order (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)|publisher=Billboard|website=billboard.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/14391/curtis-mayfield/|title=Curtis Mayfield|publisher=Official Charts|website=officialcharts.com}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/new-world-order-mw0000175415|title=Curtis Mayfield: New World Order|publisher=AllMusic|website=allmusic.com}}
|rev5 = Rolling Stone
|rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/new-world-order-252587/|title=Curtis Mayfield: New World Order|date=November 14, 1996|author=Coleman, Mark|publisher=Rolling Stone|website=rollingstone.com}}
|rev2 = The Independent
|rev2Score = (favourable){{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/pop-albums-curtis-mayfield-new-world-order-1286016.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/pop-albums-curtis-mayfield-new-world-order-1286016.html |archive-date=2022-06-18 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Pop Albums: Curtis Mayfield – New World Order|date=January 31, 1997|author=Gill, Andy|publisher=The Independent|website=independent.co.uk}}
|rev3 = Muzik
|rev3Score = 10/10{{Cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Bob |date=April 1997 |title=Curtis Mayfield: New World Order |url=http://www.muzikmagazine.co.uk/issues/muzik023_april_1997.pdf |magazine=Muzik |issue=23 |page=120 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402181336/http://www.muzikmagazine.co.uk/issues/muzik023_april_1997.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2022 |access-date=17 July 2022}}
|rev4 = The New York Times
|rev4Score = (favourable){{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/29/arts/new-releases-487120.html|title=New Releases|date=September 29, 1996|author=Pareles, Jon|author-link=Jon Pareles|website=The New York Times}}
|rev6 = Vibe
|rev6Score = (favourable){{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7SsEAAAAMBAJ&q=curtis+mayfield+new+world+order&pg=PA136|title=Curtis Mayfield: New World Order|date=November 1996|volume=4|author=Light, Alan|author-link=Alan Light|publisher=Vibe}}
}}
New World Order was the only Curtis Mayfield album written, recorded and released after a life-changing accident in August 1990 left him paralyzed from the neck down. Mayfield continued to compose and sing, and his vocals were recorded, usually line-by-line, while he was lying on his back.{{cite magazine|date=January 17, 2000|title=Music World Mourns Death of Curtis Mayfield|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZTsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58|magazine=Jet|volume=97|issue=6|pages=55–59|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|access-date=November 27, 2011}}
AllMusic described the album as "a touching, moving comeback". Rolling Stone called the LP "a triumphant return".
New World Order was Grammy nominated for "Best R&B Album".{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/curtis-mayfield|title=Curtis Mayfield|website=grammy.com}}
Both the album's title track and the song "Back to Living Again" were also Grammy nominated for "Best Male R&B Vocal Performance".
Singles
"New World Order" got to No. 14 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/curtis-mayfield/chart-history/rba/|title=Curtis Mayfield: New World Order (Adult R&B Songs)|publisher=Billboard|website=billboard.com}} "No One Knows About a Good Thing (You Don't Have to Cry)" also rose to No. 21 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/curtis-mayfield/chart-history/rba/|title=No One Knows About A Good Thing (You Don't Have To Cry)|publisher=Billboard|website=billboard.com}}
Track listing
{{tracklist
| total_length =
| title1 = New World Order
| length1 = 5:36
| title2 = Ms. Martha
| length2 = 4:21
| title3 = Back to Living Again
| length3 = 5:11
| title4 = No One Knows About a Good Thing (You Don't Have to Cry)
| length4 = 5:19
| title5 = Just a Little Bit of Love
| note5 = featuring Blaise Mayfield and Lisa Coates
| length5 = 5:27
| title6 = We People Who are Darker than Blue
| note6 = featuring Roger Troutman
| length6 = 5:02
| title7 = I Believe in You
| note7 = duet with Sandra St. Victor
| length7 = 4:58
| title8 = Here But I'm Gone
| length8 = 5:18
| title9 = It Was Love That We Needed
| length9 = 4:14
| title10 = The Got Dang Song
| length10 = 5:17
| title11 = The Girl I Find Stays On My Mind
| length11 = 3:58
| title12 = Let's Not Forget
| length12 = 3:42
| title13 = Oh So Beautiful
| note13 = featuring Erik "E Smooth" Hicks
| length13 = 4:38
}}
Personnel
- Curtis Mayfield – vocals
- Craig Love, Carlos Glover, Gary Thompson, Tomi Martin, Martin Terry – guitar
- Charles Pettaway, Preston Crump, Ralphe Armstrong, Ralph Stacey, George Grier, Lebrian Scott – bass
- Mavis Staples
- Aretha Franklin
- Erik "E Smooth" Hicks - writer, producer, vocals, keyboards, drum programming
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1996–1997)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Sweden|46|artist=Curtis Mayfield|album=New World Order|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 6, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|44|date=19970209|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 6, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UKR&B|7|date=19970209|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 6, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|137|artist=Curtis Mayfield|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 6, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|24|artist=Curtis Mayfield|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 6, 2021}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1997)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1997/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 6, 2021}}
| 83 |
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{CurtisMayfield}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Curtis Mayfield albums
Category:Warner Records albums