Roots (Curtis Mayfield album)

{{Infobox album

| name = Roots

| type = studio

| artist = Curtis Mayfield

| cover = Curtis Mayfield - Roots album cover.jpg

| alt =

| released = October 1971

| recorded = RCA Studios, Chicago, Illinois

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Progressive soul{{cite magazine|last=Donovan|first=Charles|date=March 6, 2019|url=https://www.popmatters.com/curtis-mayfield-keep-on-keeping-2630727352.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1|title=Chapter One of Curtis Mayfield's Solo Career Gets a Much-Needed Makeover|magazine=PopMatters|accessdate=January 31, 2021}}

| length = 39:15

| label = Curtom

| producer = Curtis Mayfield

| prev_title = Curtis/Live!

| prev_year = 1971

| next_title = Super Fly

| next_year = 1972

}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = Allmusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r12596|first=Bruce|last=Eder|accessdate=July 2, 2014}}

|rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide

|rev2Score = B−{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: M|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=M&bk=70|accessdate=March 7, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}

|rev4 = Rolling Stone (1971)

|rev4score = (unfavorable){{cite magazine |title=Roots |date=1972-02-17 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103182347/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/roots-19720217 |archive-date=2017-01-03 |url-status=live |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/roots-19720217}}

|rev5 = Rolling Stone (1999)

|rev5score = (favorable){{cite magazine |title=Roots |date=1999-01-25 |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/roots-19990125}}

|rev3 = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide''

|rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}Hoard, Christian (November 24, 2004). "[https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA524 Review: Roots]". Rolling Stone: 523–524.

| rev8 = Tom Hull – on the Web

| rev8Score = A−{{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|authorlink=Tom Hull (critic)|date=June 22, 2021|url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/blog/archives/2949-Music-Week.html|title=Music Week|website=Tom Hull – on the Web|accessdate=June 24, 2021}}

}}

Roots is Curtis Mayfield’s second studio album, released in October 1971. Having received critical praise from a variety of publications, the album is regarded as not just one of Mayfield's best works but also as a classic release of the '70s soul era, with Allmusic critic Bruce Eder stating that "the album soars on some of the sweetest and most eloquent... soul sounds heard up to that time". The album became a commercial success as well, hitting the #6 slot on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart.