The impressions

The Impressions were an American singing group and one of the most successful R&B vocal groups of the 1960s.

history

Founded in Chicago in 1957 by Jerry Butler , Curtis Mayfield and the brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks under the name The Roosters, their first hit was For Your Precious Love (1958). The following recordings by the vocal quartet continued to use strong gospel traditions . From around 1964, Curtis Mayfield became more and more the composer and writer of hits and integrated political themes. Titles such as Keep On Pushing (1964), People Get Ready (1965) or We're a Winner (1968) formulated black self-confidence - a topic that Mayfield was to put at the center of his songwriting when he began his solo career in 1970 . After he left the group, it sank into insignificance. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003 .

Members

• Richard Brooks (until 1962)
• Arthur Brooks (until 1962, † 2015)
• Jerry Butler (until late 1969)
• Fred Cash (replacing butler)
• Sam Gooden
• Leroy Hutson (1970-1973)
• Ralph Johnson (from 1973)
• Curtis Mayfield (until 1970)
• Reggie Torian (from 1973)

Discography

→ Main article : The Impressions / Discography

Studio albums

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)		Remarks
		US	R&B
1963	The Impressions ABC-Paramount 450	US43 (33 weeks) US	-	First published: August 1963
1964	The Never Ending Impressions ABC-Paramount 468	US52 (22 weeks) US	-	First published: March 1964
	Keep On Pushing ABC Paramount 493	US8 (34 weeks) US	R&B4 (2 weeks) R&B	First published: July 1964
1965	People Get Ready ABC Paramount 505	US23 (19 weeks) US	R&B1 (13 weeks) R&B	First published: February 1965 Producer: Johnny Pate
	One by One ABC Paramount 523	US104 (9 weeks) US	R&B4 (11 weeks) R&B	First published: August 1965 Producer: Johnny Pate
1966	Ridin 'High ABC Paramount 545	US79 (10 weeks) US	R&B4 (15 weeks) R&B	First published: February 1966 Producer: Johnny Pate
1967	The Fabulous Impressions ABC 606	US184 (11 weeks) US	R&B16 (13 weeks) R&B	First published: July 1967 Producer: Johnny Pate
1968	We're a Winner ABC 635	US35 (27 weeks) US	R&B4 (20 weeks) R&B	First published: February 1968 Producer: Johnny Pate
	This Is My Country Curtom 8001	US107 (13 weeks) US	R&B5 (26 weeks) R&B	First published: November 1968 Producer: Curtis Mayfield
1969	The Young Mods' Forgotten Story Curtom 8003	US104 (18 weeks) US	R&B21 (25 weeks) R&B	First published: May 1969 Producer: Curtis Mayfield
1970	Check Out Your Mind! Curtom 8006	-	R&B22 (4 weeks) R&B	First published: September 1970 Producer: Curtis Mayfield
1972	Times Have Changed Curtom 8012	US192 (2 weeks) US	-	First published: April 1972 Producer: Curtis Mayfield
1973	Preacher Man Curtom 8016	-	R&B31 (9 weeks) R&B	First published: March 1973 Producers: Curtis Mayfield, Richard Tufo
1974	Finally Got Myself Together Curtom 8019	US176 (3 weeks) US	R&B16 (28 weeks) R&B	First published: May 1974 Producers: Ed Townsend, Lowrell Simon, Rich Tufo
	Three the Hard Way Curtom 8602	-	R&B26 (15 weeks) R&B	First release: July 1974 Soundtrack for the film of the same name Producers: Lowrell Simon, Rich Tufo
1975	First Impressions Curtom 5003	US115 (5 weeks) US	R&B13 (16 weeks) R&B	First published: July 1975 Producers: Ed Townsend, Joseph Scott, Rich Tufo
1976	Loving Power Curtom 5009	US195 (3 weeks) US	R&B24 (6 weeks) R&B	First published: March 1976 Producers: Chuck Jackson, Ed Townsend, Marvin Yancy

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

literature

• Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul . 3rd revised edition, New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989, pp. 309f - ISBN 0-312-02573-4 .
• Warner, Jay: The Billboard Book of American Singing Groups. A History 1940–1990 . New York City / New York: Billboard Books, 1992, pp. 394-396.

swell

1. ↑ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Impressions in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2. ↑ Chattanooga native Arthur Brooks of Impressions fame this. In: timesfreepress.com. November 26, 2015, accessed November 28, 2015.
3. ↑ Chart sources: Singles UK US1 US2
4. ^ Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .

Web links

• The Impressions - Early Years (1958–1962) (English)