New World Order (album)

New World Order is R&B/soul singer-songwriter Curtis Mayfield’s final studio album.^[1] The album reached No. 24 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and No. 44 on the UK Albums chart.^[2][3]

New World Order
Studio album by Curtis Mayfield
Released	October 1, 1996
Recorded	February–June 1996
Genre	Soul, R&B
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
Curtis Mayfield chronology
Take It to the Streets (1990) New World Order (1996)

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
The Independent	(favourable)[5]
Muzik	10/10[6]
The New York Times	(favourable)[7]
Rolling Stone	[8]
Vibe	(favourable)[9]

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.^[10]

AllMusic described the album as "a touching, moving comeback".^[4] Rolling Stone called the LP "a triumphant return".^[8]

New World Order was Grammy nominated for "Best R&B Album".^[11] Both the album's title track and the song "Back to Living Again" were also Grammy nominated for "Best Male R&B Vocal Performance".^[11]

Singles

"New World Order" got to No. 14 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.^[12] "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.^[13]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"New World Order"	5:36
2.	"Ms. Martha"	4:21
3.	"Back to Living Again"	5:11
4.	"No One Knows About a Good Thing (You Don't Have to Cry)"	5:19
5.	"Just a Little Bit of Love" (featuring Blaise Mayfield and Lisa Coates)	5:27
6.	"We People Who are Darker than Blue" (featuring Roger Troutman)	5:02
7.	"I Believe in You" (duet with Sandra St. Victor)	4:58
8.	"Here But I'm Gone"	5:18
9.	"It Was Love That We Needed"	4:14
10.	"The Got Dang Song"	5:17
11.	"The Girl I Find Stays On My Mind"	3:58
12.	"Let's Not Forget"	3:42
13.	"Oh So Beautiful" (featuring Erik "E Smooth" Hicks)	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

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 46 UK Albums (OCC)[15] 44 UK R&B Albums (OCC)[16] 7 US Billboard 200[17] 137 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] 24

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[19] 83