Customer Reviews

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

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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.

"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.

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!

Soulful, melodic and biting social commentary circa 1974 is what you'll find on "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Gil Scott-Heron pulls no punches in his assessment of America. This is not some feel good R&B or cartoonish gansta rap. Social protest and commentary are the order on this album. Kind of like the Public Enemy of his day, Gil Scott-Heron stays grounded in the real and the here and now. Musically I'd say that this is insightful and swinging proto hip hop with definite jazz influences. Conga and flute driven funk. Lyrically some of this stuff is funny yet caustic social comment and satire, and some is a bit more seriously political, sad and heartfelt. The song "Lady Day and John Coltrane" celebrates two powerfully emotive and creative musicians. Gil was influenced by The Last Poets with whom he played on his first album (I think), arguably the first rap group, and in turn influenced modern artists such as the Roots. Protest music rarely gets as soulful, funky and emotional as this. I still get as much of a kick from Whitey On The Moon now as I did when I first heard it back in the seventies. The ghetto is crumbling and people don't have enough to eat, and we'll spend millions to put a man on the moon. Talk about getting your priorities straight. Scott-Heron was putting a magnifying glass on black american society and experiences that were largely ignored by white majority America. This is one of Gil Scott-Heron's best works and not for those easily offended. Sometimes the truth hurts. He's out to wake people up, not put them to sleep.

the sound on this CD is terrible. I keep adjusting the bass & treble to try to get it to sound better. not working...

"The revolution will not be right back after a message
about a white tornado, white lightning, or white people."

More than 30 years after its release, this album remains a powerful message of the realities faced by real people in the real ghetto of real America. With jazz and R&B as the backdrop, Gil Scott-Heron - in 17 tracks - raps straight about the truth from the streets.

"You will not have to worry about a dove in your
bedroom, a tiger in your tank, or the giant in your toilet bowl."

From one of the greatest tracks ever recorded - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - to the smooth Lady Day and John Coltrane and the pointed questions - Brother - this is music achieving its full potential through poetry.

"The revolution will not go better with Coke."

My second favorite track remains Whitey On The Moon, with its dripping sarcastic lyrics comparing the squalor at home with the "triumph" in outer space. The Prisoner - because its the final cut - may not receive the props it truly deserves.

"The revolution will not fight the germs that may cause bad breath."

Scott-Heron was forging a path for the best elements of punk rock and hip-hop. But it says something about those genres that few artists could truly look outward, see clearly & write with any meaning at all. And what does it say about leadership and priorities when Scott-Heron's lyrics remain the motif of the struggle?

"The revolution will put you in the driver's seat."

This album has beautiful songs of hope, despair, humor and protest. He rails against the evils in both black and white society. Not to mention the poltical indifference and corruption of the Nixon era. Check out the title track, "Whitey on the Moon," "Brother," etc. and you will hear the origins of Public Enemy, Common, Black Star, and many other hip-hop giants.

Yes, the recording level on this is way too low. Normally, I have my volume on like 16-20. You have to turn this up to 30, the lowest level of recording volume I have ever encountered. Remastered from the orignal tapes...hummm... You might want to re-record it on to tape or CD using an equalizer. It gets better that way. Also, ALL YOU OUT THERE-if you like this you have to check out BOSCOE. Hey anyone, is Pieces of a Man any better???? Doesn't sound so sampled here...This stuff deserves better...

Not many jazz musicians combined politics and jazz well (exceptions are few like Max Roach "We Insist Freedom Now" or Charlie Haden's "Liberation Orchestra") but Gil Scott Heron was able to fuse a social sense,poetry,and singing as well as with his musical cohort Brian Jackson some timeless music with a strong conscience.Heron some good and some great LP's.But this greatest hits is a gem and had to have it on my list.Some songs are dated yet charming agit prop like "No Knock" cred against Nixon) or "Whitey On The Moon".The style on many tunes has a Lost Poets pre-rap feel.But also contained are cheerful,positive spiritual jazz like "Lady Day and John Coltrane" or "I think I'll Call It Morning".But also some of the deepest,most painful,pathos songs you've ever heard (or at least I have ever heard) like "Pieces Of A Man" about a son watching his father flip out and get taken away by police after he loses his job or "Did You Here What They Said" as song as powerfully anti-Vietnam war as Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" called "Did You Here What They Said" about a young man cut down in the war.Heart breaking.Great musicianship and incredible songwriting it's both a snap shot of history yet some are timeless songs.A must get.Check out Jazz Foundation Of America online and do what you can.
Cheers
Chazz

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!