The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Gil Scott-Heron | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000002WAW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,542 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Miscellaneous > Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews > Poetry
  • #11 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Old School
  • #30 in Music > Jazz > Jazz Fusion

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great protest records, and avant-garde to boot!, June 13, 2002

By 

namepeace "namepeace" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Audio CD)

This is a unique and forward-thinking collection from the Godfather of Hip-Hop, Gil Scott-Heron. This record, produced by the jazz great Bob Thiele, is provocative, melodic, and urgent at the same time. Many of the tracks are nice, jazzy, hopeful jaunts ("When You Are Who You Are," "I Think I'll Call It Morning"). Many are ahead-of-their-time hip-hop joints (the title track, "Whitey on the Moon," "Brother"). Yet the most powerful tracks are the mournful ballads ("Did You Hear What They Said?," "Home Is Where The Hatred Is"). The entire album evokes all of the joys, pains and petitions of the black community. The work of Common, Mos Def, The Roots and Public Enemy, among others, contain clear echoes of Gil Scott-Heron's impressive work on this record.

Imagine "Nation of Millions," "Songs in the Key of Life" and "A Love Supreme" wrapped in one, and this record would fit the bill. Buy it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!!, June 27, 2001

By 

Adrian Berger - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Audio CD)

"Whitey on the Moon" was the first piece I heard from this album and as it finished I had a rye smile on my face. Herron is not shy about expressing his ill feeling toward "the man" and sticks it to him with a barrage of poetry and soul.

This album is more than just a stand, its a celebration of one mans obvious talent for poetry and jazzy soulful music. Lyrically it is one of the most poignant albums I have ever heard. Each song tells a different story about the struggles, triumphs and life of the ghetto.

Herons passion is evident throughout and his views are as plain as day. You know how he feels and this comes through in the music, making it irresistible.

"The Revolution will not be televised" is an in your face decleration of the hoped uprising of the masses in defiance of authority and sensless following "...the revolution will not go better with coke. The revolution will not fight germs that may cause bad breath..."

Its easy to get caught up in the mainly poetry spoken pieces, but it is the soulful and jazzy "Home is Where the Hatred Is" and "Lady Day and John Coltrane" that make me smile and continue to play this album. Herron has a gift as a soul performer and lyricist as can be heard with the meaningful "Save The Children", "Did You Hear What They Said" and "I Think I'll Call It Morning"

Gil Scott-Heron is one of those rare, gifted men with the ability to invoke change and revolution...in the musical sense.

An essential and brilliant album in every way, shape and form.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phophetic pre-cursor to rap and ghetto life., June 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Audio CD)

When listening to a record of such high quality it is easy to understand why many rap/hip-hop masters (KRS-one, P.E. etc.) often cite Gil Scott-Heron as a main influence of their work. After hearing this record just once it will provide you with a dimension of music that will always remain inside you!