Evolution (And Flashback): The Very Best of Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 2011)
• Original Release Date: February 9, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA Victor
• ASIN: B00000HZTD
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,897 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #71 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Old School

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This CD is REAL, October 26, 2001

By 

Ifriqiya (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evolution (And Flashback): The Very Best of Gil Scott-Heron (Audio CD)

I am in my early thirties and I was a child when Gil Scott was laying down these lyrics/poems. For the Generation Y'ers out there, particularly African-Americans who were not even born when these tracks were recorded, you need to get this album. Why? Because many of you have been anesthized by the consumerism and materialism of the post-soul era and really don't know the hard times and despair with no social safety net of the late 60's and early 70's that Gil Scott is describing on these tracks. The despair and hardship of urban life or in some urban communities that is exploited and commercialized in so-called gangsta rap had its origins in the policies of benign neglect that were implemented in urban areas in the late 60's and early 70's. Gil Scott is giving you that realness with out the over the top violence, drug abuse-drug dealing and mysogny of today's "reality" artists. Two of my favorite tracks are:"Ain't nothing new" and "Enough". "Ain't nothing new" deals with how Black culture has been ripped off by non-black artists who went off and made millions while their Black patrons got jerked. Sounds familiar? Hence the title:"Ain't nothing new". The track "Enough" is just a vent of a man who just had enough of this society's abuse and now that man is telling this society what he thinks. I know that this is a stretch, but you can almost say that "Enough" is Gil Scott's Post-word to the books "Invisible Man" and "Ex-biograghy of a Colored Man".

Get the album. You'll love it. You will be informed and not just entertained.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before there was rap, there was Gil Scott-Heron, December 30, 2003

By 

John Alapick (Harveys Lake, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Evolution (And Flashback): The Very Best of Gil Scott-Heron (Audio CD)

Gil Scott-Heron was truly an artist who was ahead of his time. Evolution (And Flashback) is a compilation of tracks from his first three albums. After those albums, actually starting with his 3rd album Free Will, he'd go into a direction more based on jazz and funk. But his early work is truly revolutionary and would become influential several years later for highly political artists such as Public Enemy and Rage Against The Machine.

Many of the tracks here just consist of Scott-Heron's beat poetry over a set of bongos. His lyrics and delivery are biting and go right for the throat, particularly on the tracks "Whitey On The Moon", "Ain't No New Thing", "The King Alfred Plan", "Evolution (And Flashback)", and "Enough", which all deal with the racism which was still very prevalent in this country at the time. "No Knock" and "Small Talk at 125th & Lenox" are also strong tracks with the former discussing a new law at the time which gave police the right to enter one's property without warning. Many of the other tracks, such as "Who'll Pay Reparations For My Soul", "The Vulture", "Home Is Where The Hatred Is", and "Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues" continue in a similar lyrical path, albeit not as militant, and are backed by the stellar musicianship of long-time collaborator Brian Jackson. "Free Will" is also a very strong track driven by its jazzy bass line and excellent flute solo. Finally, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" with its political lyrics and its funky bass line would influence countless rap acts several years later. Highly recommended, particularly to fans of music which discusses social issues.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Essence of a Genius, March 12, 2000

By 

A customer "mistermaxxx" (usa) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Evolution (And Flashback): The Very Best of Gil Scott-Heron (Audio CD)

I had to have this set.Gil Scott-Heron is a true Genius.His words are timeless the Music&arrangements he does with Brian Jackson are classic.all of his most important songs are here.WHITEY ON THE MOON puts alot of Problems past&present on the table.same goes for THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED.nothing in Rap or any form of music Today packs as much punch as this.a Must HAVE&Listen.