Top 10 Songs By The Impressions

Feature Photo: Billboard ISSN 0006-2510 (1965-01-02), page 22, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Impressions were formed in 1958 when Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks of Chattanooga, Tennessee, moved to Chicago and teamed up with Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield. They first performed as Jerry Butler and the Impressions, signing with Vee-Jay Records. Their debut single “For Your Precious Love” reached the pop and R&B charts in 1958, launching them into national recognition. Butler soon left for a solo career, leaving Mayfield to step forward as lead singer and principal songwriter, joined by Gooden and Fred Cash, who rejoined after starting with the Roosters.

The group’s early momentum carried them into the 1960s where they secured a deal with ABC-Paramount Records. Under this label, Mayfield’s songwriting flourished, producing a string of successful singles that helped establish Chicago soul as a dominant sound. Hits like “Gypsy Woman,” “It’s All Right,” and “Keep On Pushing” not only climbed the charts but also showcased Mayfield’s ability to write songs that combined secular soul with gospel roots.

By the mid-1960s, The Impressions had become leaders in socially conscious music. Songs such as “People Get Ready” and “We’re a Winner” became anthems for the Civil Rights Movement, giving voice to the struggles and aspirations of African Americans at the time. Their music was embraced not just for its artistry but for its cultural significance, resonating deeply during one of the most turbulent eras in American history.

When Curtis Mayfield left in 1970 to begin his solo career, the group continued with Gooden and Cash joined by new members including Leroy Hutson, Ralph Johnson, and later Reggie Torian. Although their commercial success did not match the Mayfield years, The Impressions continued to perform and record, maintaining a respected presence in soul music. Their later releases still carried messages of inspiration and unity, and they remained a popular live act for decades.

The Impressions’ legacy was recognized with inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They were also honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998 for “People Get Ready” and received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 2000. These accolades confirmed their enduring influence on both music and culture.

Beyond the awards, their contributions to American society through music cannot be overstated. By embedding messages of hope and empowerment within popular soul records, they became a soundtrack to change. Their impact went beyond entertainment, shaping attitudes and inspiring generations of listeners and activists.

After more than six decades, The Impressions retired in 2018, closing the book on a career that spanned from doo-wop beginnings to their place as cultural icons. Their catalog of albums, their celebrated singles, and their role in history ensure that their name remains one of the most respected in soul music.

# 10 – For Your Precious Love

Since this was the band’s first big hit, we figured we would open up our top 10 Impressions songs list with this legendary classic called For Your Precious Love. Some would argue maybe we should have closed with this one since it was such a popular song for so many years. We like to make an impression right away.

# 9 – We’re a Winner

“We’re a Winner,” released in 1967 on ABC Paramount, was written and produced by Curtis Mayfield and recorded by The Impressions at RCA Victor Studios and Universal Studios in Chicago. The two minute and twenty four second track stood out as one of the first major popular recordings to address themes of Black pride, a message that carried weight during the civil rights era and later became the motto for Mayfield’s Curtom Records. The single featured Mayfield on lead vocals and guitar with Sam Gooden and Fred Cash providing background vocals, Phil Upchurch on guitar, Lenny Brown on bass, and Billy Griffin on drums, with production, arrangement, and conducting handled by Johnny Pate. Backed with the B side “It’s All Over,” the single achieved significant chart success, peaking at number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart for the week of March 1, 1968.

# 8 -Choice of Colors

“Choice of Colors,” released in 1969 on Curtom CR 1943, was written and produced by Curtis Mayfield for The Impressions and appeared on the album The Young Mods’ Forgotten Story. Running three minutes and eighteen seconds with “Mighty Mighty Spade & Whitey” as its B side, the single combined pop and soul elements while continuing the group’s tradition of socially aware songwriting. Its release came during a time of heightened racial and political tension, and Mayfield’s lyrics invited listeners to reflect on questions of race and unity in America. The track became a commercial success, reaching number one on Billboard’s R&B chart for one week and climbing to number twenty one on the Billboard Hot 100.

# 7 – Gypsy Woman

“Gypsy Woman” was released in October 1961 and marked a decisive moment in the career of The Impressions. Recorded at Universal Recording in Chicago, the song was written by Curtis Mayfield, who had first conceived it in his youth. It became the group’s first release after Jerry Butler’s departure and demonstrated that they could thrive with Mayfield’s vision at the helm. The single, issued on ABC Paramount with “As Long as You Love Me” as its B side, blends rhythm and blues with Latin soul influences and runs two minutes and twenty seconds. Its impact was immediate, reaching number two on the Billboard R&B chart, number twenty on the Billboard Hot 100, and number seventeen on the Cash Box chart. When it was included on their self titled 1963 debut album, “Gypsy Woman” had already secured its place as a breakthrough for the group. Over time the song attracted numerous covers, from Joe Bataan in the 1960s to Santana in 1990

# 6 – I’m So Proud

“I’m So Proud,” written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Johnny Pate, was recorded by The Impressions in 1963 and featured on their album The Never Ending Impressions. Released as a single the following year on ABC-Paramount, the track runs two minutes and forty-eight seconds with “I Made a Mistake” as its B-side. The song showcased Mayfield’s lyrical sensitivity and the group’s refined vocal harmonies, helping it climb to number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and number sixteen on the Cash Box Top 100 in 1964. Its commercial success reinforced The Impressions’ reputation for pairing elegant melodies with soulful conviction, further cementing their place in the landscape of 1960s soul music.

# 5 – Keep On Pushing

“Keep On Pushing,” released in 1964 on ABC-Paramount, was both the title track of The Impressions’ album and one of their most enduring singles. Written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Johnny Pate, the song was recorded in 1964 and runs two minutes and thirty seconds. With its blend of progressive soul and gospel influences, it became the group’s sixth Top 40 entry, climbing to number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and holding the number one spot on the Cash Box R&B chart for two weeks.

Backed with the B-side “I Love You (Yeah),” the single stood out as a clear statement of perseverance, and its impact extended far beyond the charts. Decades later, “Keep On Pushing” was prominently used during the 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote speech by then–Illinois State Senator Barack Obama, and it resurfaced again as a rally staple in the early stages of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. Its cultural presence also reached hip-hop when it was sampled in Bun B’s 2005 track “Pushin’,” featuring Scarface and Young Jeezy, underscoring the song’s lasting resonance across genres and generations.

# 4 – Finally Got Myself Together (I’m a Changed Man)

Released in 1974 on Curtom CR 1997, “Finally Got Myself Together (I’m a Changed Man)” gave The Impressions a powerful chart resurgence, a three minute and five second soul and funk single written and produced by Ed Townsend and issued from the album of the same name with “I’ll Always Be Here” on the B side. The record spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B singles chart in June 1974, reached number seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100, and rose to number thirty six in Canada, standing as the group’s biggest hit after Curtis Mayfield’s departure. Positioned in the group’s singles run after “If It’s in You to Do Wrong” from 1973 and before “Something’s Mighty, Mighty Wrong” from 1974, the song’s theme of renewal matched its commercial impact, signaling that The Impressions still commanded attention in mid seventies soul.

# 3 – Amen

“Amen” became one of the defining singles of The Impressions when it was released in 1964 on ABC-Paramount, produced by Johnny Pate and recorded that same year for their album Keep On Pushing. Running three minutes and thirty-two seconds in its album version and two minutes and forty-eight seconds as a single, it was built from a traditional gospel song arranged by Jester Hairston, though mistakenly credited on the label to Jerry Goldsmith. Curtis Mayfield recalled being inspired after hearing the piece in the 1963 film Lilies of the Field, leading the group to create their own rendition with a “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” introduction and a marching rhythm.

It was the first major hit by the group that Mayfield had not written himself, and he inserted a reference to their song “Keep On Pushing” within its lyrics. Backed with “Long, Long Winter” on the B side, “Amen” went to number one on Cashbox’s R&B chart for three weeks and climbed to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, while the B side also charted on Cashbox’s R&B listing at number thirty-five. The Impressions revisited the track in 1969 under the title “Amen (1970),” which reached number forty-four on Billboard’s Best Selling Soul Singles chart in early 1970.

# 2 – It’s All Right

“It’s All Right,” written by Curtis Mayfield and released by The Impressions in October 1963 on ABC-Paramount, became the group’s most successful single. The track was included on their self-titled debut album The Impressions. It reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart, becoming the first of six chart-toppers for the group, and also peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, marking it as one of only two top-ten pop hits for them. Its success extended internationally, hitting number one in New Zealand.

# 1 – People Get Ready

There have been so many people who have covered this song. Great songs get covered, and this surely is one of the greatest songs ever written. I love Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck’s version of this one. The two of them really hit it right with their recording. Nonetheless, here’s the original. “People Get Ready” was recorded by The Impressions in 1964 at Universal Recording in Chicago and released the following year as the title track to their People Get Ready album.

Written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Johnny Pate, the gospel-influenced single runs 2 minutes and 38 seconds and marked the first Impressions hit to feature Mayfield’s guitar in the instrumental break. The record reflected Mayfield’s deepening social and political awareness, drawing on spiritual imagery that resonated with the Civil Rights Movement. Issued on ABC-Paramount, the song reached number three on the Billboard R&B chart and number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100.