The year was 1972. The Year of his “Superfly” soundtrack (arguably, one of the best albums ever to come out of Chicago), and Curtis Mayfield could do no wrong…including this record, produced by Mayfield (and arranged by Rich Tufo). A sixteen year old Nashvillian named Patti Jo says to some Cassanova, “ain’t no love lost“. A monster record, then and now. Manic congas, soaring strings, symphonic piano chords, and a pulsing guitar echo the very best that the Superfly soundtrack had to offer (but “Lost” was never released on any album). Two years later, Curtis recorded his own version of the song. Unbelievably, neither made any impact on the charts of the time. In fact, I went through some serious changes to get this original 45 single.
NOTE: I’ve heard multiple (reputable) accounts that Curtis Mayfield wrote the soundtrack for Superfly before he saw the completed movie, and didn’t know that the film glorified a drugged-out, masochistic lifestyle. This may explain why the soundtrack is so against drug abuse. Rolling Stone’s Bob Donat actually said in a 1972 review of the album, that “the anti-drug message on [Mayfield’s soundtrack] is far stronger and more definite than in the film.”
darkjive.com 
April 18th, 2009 at 1:50 am
What a great record! I really enjoy your site.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Thanks so much. This is one of my favorite records. I wish I knew more about Patti Jo…
April 30th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
[…] No Love Lost…a lost Curtis Mayfield gem Collected by ayanacontreras Apr 8, 2009 from darkjive.wordpress.com // Event.onDOMReady(function() { // sizeText($(‘video_title’), 475); // }) collect this […]
September 9th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Smokin. This is a groovin-azz site for real
December 16th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
been searching for the Curtis version… man it’s a killer!! a total undiscovered gem! typified by the fact that it isn’t even on youtube!
personally I think Curtis’ version totally smashes Patti’s, which is still smoking hot!!!
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:14 pm
hey keeno! curtis’ version of the track is on the album “Got to find a way” (1974). wish it was on 45, but alas. quite an off-kilter track, in my opinion. less of a straight forward chugging rhythm (as personified by his Superfly-era compositions), and the lines are delivered in a fractured way that is, in fact, smashing.
thanks for visiting, and jive on!
February 5th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
I LOVE the Curtis version of the tune. It has one the slickest drum/percussion/bass grooves I’ve ever heard. It’s one of my absolute favorite basslines.
The way the words and melody work over the changes is incredible. The song (Mayfield version) has such a tragic beauty–like so much of what he did.
February 6th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
seems like the debate goes on… Curtis version or Patti Jo. Curtis’ to me is kind of off-kilter in a way that we now identify as dilla-esque. Patti Jo’s is more straight ahead in the Superfly School of Groove. So which is the definitive version? The world may never know. Thanks for the comment, Jeff!