Trouble Ve Seen: A Haunting and Historically Significant American Album

Released in December 1970, Trouble Ve Seen is the debut album by The Impressions, an R&B/soul group formed in Chicago in 1958. The album, which features the iconic title track, is widely regarded as one of the greatest soul albums of all time and a landmark in American music history.

Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism

by Paul Kemp

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3353 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	194 pages
Hardcover	:	392 pages
Item Weight	:	1.46 pounds
Dimensions	:	6.44 x 0.86 x 9.05 inches

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Musical Context

Trouble Ve Seen was released at a time of great social and political turmoil in the United States. The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, and the Vietnam War was raging. The album reflects this tumultuous era, with its songs addressing themes of racism, poverty, and war.

Musically, Trouble Ve Seen is a blend of traditional soul and gospel influences with elements of jazz and funk. The album's arrangements are lush and sophisticated, featuring horns, strings, and a variety of percussion instruments.

Lyrical Content

One of the most notable features of Trouble Ve Seen is its powerful and evocative lyrics. The title track, written by Curtis Mayfield, is a searing indictment of racial injustice and police brutality. Other songs on the album address issues such as poverty, unemployment, and the Vietnam War.

In the song "People Get Ready," Mayfield sings, "People get ready, there's a train a-comin'/ You don't need no baggage, you just get on board." This line has been interpreted as a call for social change and a message of hope for a better future.

Historical Significance

Trouble Ve Seen was an important album in the history of American music and the Civil Rights Movement. It was one of the first soul albums to explicitly address social and political issues, and its lyrics helped to raise awareness of the challenges facing African Americans in the United States.

The album was also a commercial success, reaching number seven on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over one million copies. It won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 1971.

Legacy

Trouble Ve Seen continues to be revered as a classic album and an important historical document. In 2003, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2020, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Recording Registry.

The album has also been influential on subsequent generations of musicians, including hip-hop artists such as Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar. Its songs have been sampled and covered by numerous artists, and its lyrics continue to resonate with listeners today.

Trouble Ve Seen is a powerful and moving album that captured the spirit of a tumultuous era in American history. Its socially conscious lyrics, sophisticated musical arrangements, and iconic title track make it a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire and resonate with listeners today.