First Minute of a New Day [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Brian Jackson, Gil Scott-Heron | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 7, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1975
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Tvt
• ASIN: B000005ZD1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,493 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If you're considering digging into the stack of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson reissues, this is the place to start. First Minute is one fantastic, seminal album--just bursting with Jackson's serious piano, Bilal Sunni Ali's deluxe woodwinds, and Barnett Williams and Charlie Saunders's relentless percussion. The entire Midnight Band, in fact, positively struts, cajoles, and freaks the funk out all over this 1975 powerhouse. Scott-Heron himself raps ("Pardon Our Analysis"), rocks ("The Liberation Song"), and rolls ("Alluswe") in that magic voice that critic Neil Tesser once described as "mahogany, sunshine, and tears." First Minute also boasts the Scott-Heron classics "Ain't No Such Thing As Superman" and "Winter in America." The 11-minute bonus track, "A Talk," makes this set nearly indispensable. --Michael Ruby

Product Description

Digitally remastered edition of this 1975 album. Gil Scott Heron is justifiably recognized as one of the most unique black music artists of all time. His music transgresses all musical barriers in the same way that Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and Marvin Gaye did. First Minute Of A New Day was the first album that Gil and collaborator Brian Jackson recorded with the fantastic Midnight Band, and is a revelation throughout. The album reflects all the aspects of Gil and Brian's music, a mixture of Soul, Jazz and other influences sometimes powerful, mellow at others, but always compelling. But it is the lyrics and messages of the songs that really made Gil Scott Heron stand out from his contemporaries, always telling a story and informing us of situations that needed attention. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnifico! and timeless..., January 27, 2001

By 

Maria-Rosa de Hacia - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Minute of a New Day (Audio CD)

From the opening strains of "Offering" ("We have...something to offer you...") to the final crescendo of the touching "Alluswe", the music flows with sincerity and power. While I'm not as enamoured of the spoken tracks (a bit too preachy and dated), the music holds up well 25 years later.

This is a band with fine soloists (Brian Jackson on keyboards, Bilal Sunni Ali on sax, and of course, Gil Scott-Heron's soulful singing), soaring harmony (esp. on "Must Be Something"), atmospheric arrangements ("Western Sunrise", "Guerilla", "Offering"), and driving rhythm ("Liberation Song" and "Superman"). All this without any guitar in the group. But you really don't miss it...

I hear a strong Coltrane influence in Ali's sax playing, am hauntingly touched by Jackson's piano on "Alluswe" (my favorite track on this disc), and while the lyrical content might seem off-putting to a capitalist such as myself I am nevertheless reminded that we all must never lose touch with our innate humanity. (Stevie Wonder's music of this time also serves this purpose for me.) To paraphrase Casey Kasem, one must always keep "your feet on the ground", even while reaching for the stars!

The Midnight Band are eternal. I expect to be enjoying this album many years into the future, as I have over the past quarter century.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Soldier's Soundtrack, June 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: First Minute of a New Day (Audio CD)

Excellence in musicanship & content. This is what conscious music is supossed to sound like. Gil is one of the pioneers in rap & hip-hop ( with James Brown, George Clinton & The Last Poets)."Must be Something","Ain't no such Thing as Superman","Winter in Amerika","Offering",&"The Liberation Song" and my personal favorites "Pardon our Analysis" &"Guerilla". Gil Scott-Heron & The Last Poets were my introduction into politically aware musicians.The artwork alone, by Brother Ron ( the Iceman) is worth more than the price of entry. "I believe we will see us in my lifetime, standing tall on a mountain letting our light shine"..............Buy anything with this Brothers name on it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars At the top of his form!, June 19, 1998

By 

Wilfred B. Portier "Analog & More" (usa) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: First Minute of a New Day (Audio CD)

GS and BJ were a awsome duo.You don't have to agree with the politics in order to enjoy it. He is an powerful musical poet who recorded a string of jamming albums that moved your soul as well as your feet. GS is a balladeer of moving emotions just listen to "Winter in America". One only hopes that he can shake his demons and return to form! Buy It!