Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions are the ultimate early/mid-60s pop soul group. I clued into their elegant teenage pop greatness last year when I picked up their 1964 and ‘65 classic LPs “Keep On Pushing” and “People Get Ready.”

Their falsetto and horn section (and slightly African) pop tunes were graced by an MLK civil rights-era sensibility that give these albums an extra dimension.

So, it’s strange that one of their last albums, 1969’s disappeared “The Young Mods’ Forgotten Story” is—despite a heavy dose of politics on a song called “Spade and Whitey” and despite the over-the-top politics of 1969 in general—is a wonderfully apolitical outing. It’s mostly gorgeous pop masterpieces about pretty girls and love with Mayfield’s perfect voice at the center.

Also weird (and out of sync with ‘69), there’s no psychedelia or guitar rock or experiments. 9 of the 10 songs clock in around 2 minutes. They’re just snippets of soft soul, much like the earlier material, but less contrived—with Mayfield’s falsetto and horn arrangements making the scene. Another song comes in at 3 minutes.

The album goes by too fast. But repeat keeps it on all day, which I highly recommend.