Customer Reviews

Pieces of a Man

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This album is a terrific introduction to GSH's stuff and in my opinion his best album overall, edging out "Winter in America" and "South Africa to South Carolina," and the Flying Dutchman classic "The Revolution Will Not be Televised."

No, you will not hear Gil's poetry set to a spare percussion background, a la "Whitey on the Moon," "Brother," and "No Knock." That is a drawback, and be sure go to the Flying Dutchman record for that. But what you will get is beautiful writing backed by a strong band. And Gil's voice was in great form on this album; this is unfortunately no longer true.

There isn't a weak tune, but several stand out: the poignant "Home is Where the Hatred Is"; the uplifting "I Think I'll Call It Morning"; the spellbinding "The Prisoner"; and of course the classic "Revolution Will Not be Televised," which could teach any number of lame present-day rappers how it once was done.

Buy it, put it on, and then lean back and enjoy hearing one of the most compelling voices ever to come out of music.

This music ,these words, tell a story of despair, rage, outrage, and hope when the ghettos were still burning. It's in your face (The Revolution Will Not Be Televised), it's in your gut (The Needle), it's in your soul (Lady Day And John Coltraine), it's in your mind (I Think I'll Call It Morning). The times have changed but the message is still the same: The power of the human spirit will overcome. Thank you Gil for the light you brought to me on those many dark nights.

This is a superb CD that has only improved with age. Backed by a truly stellar ensemble including Brian Jackson, Ron Carter, "Pretty" Purdie, Burt Jones, and Hubert Laws - poet, composer, and singer Gil Scott-Heron showcases all his talents - in a diverse array of settings. If you're not sold after the first four songs - well - perhaps you'll enjoy Pat Boone's new box set, "A Musical Tribute To Turn-Of-The-Century Plantation Life."

Scott-Heron is consistently smart and with-it, yet, he is emotionally clear, brave, and open. Scott-Heron understands that songwriting requires deceptive simplicity, and he manages this nearly impossible trick effortlessly. There is beauty and feeling in every track, but there is also raw emotion - this is inspiring music. Songs like Save The Children, Lady Day And John Coltrane, Home Is Where The Hatred Is, and Pieces Of A Man, go straight to the heart. Scott-Heron is no Marvin Gaye (who is?) but his voice is a wonderful, expressive instrument and he applies powerful feeling to the words he crafted.

The album was marginalized because few people made it past the fabulous first track, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. While a few of the references have become obscure, this splendidly idiosyncratic track has lost none of its bite, wit, and irony. This is poet Scott-Heron in full flower - and don't think he's just another angry black guy - his intelligence is such that he casts his jaundiced eye at all 360 degrees of the circle. The comparison between this brilliant, minor masterpiece and what is referred to as "rap" or "hip/hop" is as inevitable as it is depressing. Put this work up against the best example of rap you can find and it's easy to see how terribly wrong things have gone.

Scott-Heron is courageous enough to hope, to wear his heart on his sleeve, and to create real beauty despite his acute awareness of life's cruelty; perhaps it is only the "prisoners" who must labor so hard. That he chose "Yes" when he might so easily have chosen "No" is a gift to us all.

Although yes... Gil is probably better known to the acid Jazz generation for his funkier Midnight Band/Amnesia Express sounds a few years later, the truth is, Gil Scott Heron was a POET/ACTIVIST/STREET PERFORMER/ SONGWRITER first and "singer" second... though he did all of them well, I think as an unapologetic poet with something to say, this 1971 recording represents the ESSENCE of Gil. (- - Later albums were much "funkier" and "jazzy" in the "Roy Ayers"/flying dutchman 70's sense of the word and were just as politically aware, but I think this album features Gil the social/political troubador at his rawest.)

Naturally, the best known tune here is "THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED" (actually it was... saw it on CNN, and the sponsor was WHITE people... not sure about the white lightening, but I heard a report about a white Tornado.) That said... though REVOLUTION may be the best known of his tunes, listen to this album and you'll hear that he wasn't just an angry millitant. Gil has and had a lot of things to say to a lot of people about a lot of things... and over the years has never watered ANYTHING down. My favorites include HOME IS WHERE THE HATERED IS and LADY DAY, both musically driving, yet lyrically potent.

Featuring tunes about everything from revolution, personal aspiration, uniqueness, individuality, being for real, pain, hope and struggle, the album also features a near legendary Jazz ensemble... yet in a rare twist of fate, its actually GIL's lyrical story telling that puts them all in their place. -- Backing musicians include Ron Carter, Hubert Laws and Bernard Purdie - - however, Gil at all times is more than just a "front" or new type of Jazz singer - - he's really in a league of his own - - as an example, his voice definitely fits in with his music's roots, rhythms and influences, but his strong political messages make him almost like a new type of folk singer - - only one who played Fender Rhodes and had the baddest Afro, Jean Jackets and rhythm section in the world.

All in all, I've been listening to these tunes since I was a young teen, and they've never worn off.

As for "funky" Gil, I really wish BRIDGES would get re-issued and IT'S YOUR WORLD is high on my list --
(In addition, back in the 70's Esther Phillips recorded a mean version of HOME IS WHERE THE HATERED is!)

Gil Scott-Heron is one of the great recording artists of the 20th century; it is a shame that he is relatively unknown. His work is always interesting and I would recommend (almost) all of his albums. Pieces of a Man is one of his best, if not the best, albums.

Gil Scott-Heron draws on a wide range of influences: the music of John Coltrane, the blues, the oral traditions of the American South and many others to create fantastic music in a variety of different styles from spoken word/rap to (almost) soul. He is perhaps best known for his searing political (and personal) lyrics that are often so good that they can be read as poetry. However, he is also an excellent musician and the music always complements his lyrics. Musically this album is wonderful, interesting and varied, at times it is simply beautiful. As with much of Gil Scott Heron's best work a lot of credit must go to Brian Jackson his long time and best collaborator.

'Pieces of a Man' finds GSH at his most perceptive and penetrating, both politically and personally.

'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' is probably his most famous song - remarkably it works almost as well as poetry as it does as a song. Some of the references may now be a little obscure but it is an amazing, powerful piece of work that has lost little, if any, of its bite or relevance. 'Save the Children' is a beautiful, uplifting plea to care for and nurture the next generation. 'Lady Day & John Coltrane' is simply beautiful and a personal favourite. 'Home is where the hatred is' is haunting and wonderful, it is particularly poignant if you know anything about his personal life.

I could go on but it is almost a shame to highlight individual tracks because there isn't a bad track here and the album deserves, almost demands, to be listened to in its entirety.

GSH is unique: he combines a penetrating intellect with wit & wisdom and a talent conveying emotion and pain succinctly, often beautifully. A righteous anger permeates his work but he never descends into bitterness or becomes overly preachy. His work is tempered with optimism and a desire for change. It is this combination that defines his work and sets him apart for all others.

This album is GSH at the peak of his powers and should be a part of everybody's collection.

Buy it and treasure it

This is not only the quintessential Gil Scott-Heron album, but one of the finest recordings I've ever heard. If you like jazz you'll love it, but to pigeonhole this project within any kind of musical genre would be to detract from the breadth of Scott-Heron's approach: there's something for everyone here. If you want to hear a writer with a true conscience - prior to this album associated with poetry more than music - toying with musical genres better-known for the frivolity of the lyrics used, here is an artist you should hear more of.

The album opens with Scott-Heron's thundering anthem The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, its rumbling bassline supplied by the mighty Ron Carter, with Hubert Laws's flute floating above Scott-Heron's punishing vocals. The TV shows and characters mentioned might be long gone now, but this ferocious wake-up call is a legendary document, even more pertinent today than it was back in 1971. If this is the only track you're familiar with, though, you won't find more of the same here.

But you won't be disappointed by the rest. You will find the same level of intensity, although the album slips down a gear after the first song, and we're joined by Brian Jackson on keyboards here rather than his habitual duties on flute. You'll find upbeat celebrations of life such as I Think I'll Call It Morning, and eloquent praise for the power of music on Lady Day And John Coltrane. The driving drums and constant chord changes make for a complex piece of jazz accompanying the cleverly-written lyrics of Or Down You Fall. And there are musings on the human condition in When You Are Who You Are, and heartfelt treatment of social issues on the title track and on Home Is Where the Hatred Is...

And finally the album closes as it opens with another masterpiece: The Prisoner. With its minimalist instrumentation, this is a desolate portrayal of existentialist doubts, cast within an equally stark but beautiful musical framework. Scott-Heron's vocals reach a pinnacle here; he truly becomes the anguish of the character he describes: "I'm a stranger to my son who wonders why his daddy runs"/"My woman she don't say, but she hates to see her man change this way". Anyone who's ever felt "hemmed in by a suit, all choked up in a tie" must hear this.

Moments of weakness? Well, the mellowness of Save the Children does seem a little out of place straight after the onslaught of track 1, and though many cite this song as a classic personally I'd say the lyric here is a little naïve. But when was the last time you bought a CD where you had doubts about only one of the 11 tracks? Gil Scott-Heron's social comment is refined, and his ability to put you in another man's shoes with a simple lyric are a lesson in empathy few have been able to better. This is a timeless piece of music and poetry - give it a listen.

This is one of those alblums you had on vinyl that you must have on CD.The songs are all at least good. Although "the revolution will not be televised" is a bit dated in its personality references,new names might well be substitued with little lost in the updating. With the exception of "Save the Children" (a nice little song covered since its release by several other artists), the rest of the songs are deeper, more personal reflections on the effects of life's larger miseries and small but enduring comforts. The last several cuts- "Pieces of a Man" through "The Prisoner" are especially heavy and powerful. They will take you to the edge of the grand canyon of depression. Several of the remaining sides are the antidote however, especially "I Think I'll Call it Morning ", "When You Are Who You Are" and one of my all time favorites "...could you call on lady day, could you call on john coltrane now cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles, your troubles away...". I've enjoyed this alblum since it was first released back in 1975 and still listen to it at least a four or five times a year. Unfortunately, you're not likley to hear much of it (or much like it) on the radio!

Gil Scott-Heron is one of the Greatest Poets The World Has Ever Produced.His Words still Hit Home.very Underrated when folks talk about Lyrical Genius.but he has written songs that are Timeless&Very Much in your Face&Mind.The Music is Great as well.Solid Production&Arrangements.It's Wonderful hearing somebody saying something.Home is Where The Hatred is Speaks Volumes.

An album that's as life-affirming today as when it was released. After the brilliant, still fresh, Black Power opener it settles into a more mellower groove which greatly rewards with repeated listenings. Though more eclectic, like Marvin Gaye's 'What's Goin' On', it combines state-of-the-nation insights with spiritually uplifting musical arrangements. An over-looked classic.

How beautiful is this album? How soulful is this album? How real is it? You just can't calculate. One of the unfortunate consequences of passing time is that it becomes less and less likely that albums this good will ever be commonplace again. Jazz? Pop? Soul? It doesn't quite sound like any of those...it just is what it is, a record that sounds like your dearest old friend right from the first time you hear it. One of the greatest albums ever, no exaggeration.