i haven't much either tbh, though from what i know there some strong moments. "b-movie" is from reflections is incredible
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSOp507HJMA
― marcos, Monday, 6 February 2017 19:48 (seven years ago) link
Really difficult choice between Bridges and Winter in America.
Probably Winter in America. But a tough call.
― Austin, Monday, 6 February 2017 22:13 (seven years ago) link
winter in america
― the late great, Monday, 6 February 2017 22:20 (seven years ago) link
1980 is totally underrated though!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3IQPfopgJE
― the late great, Monday, 6 February 2017 22:21 (seven years ago) link
Voted 'Pieces of a Man' because it's got 'Think I'll Call it Morning' on it - one of Gil's most tender songs, w/ that trademark Bernard Purdie shuffle.
― Bongo Herbert (Ward Fowler), Tuesday, 7 February 2017 10:17 (seven years ago) link
Pieces of a Man also has "Home is Where the Hatred Is"
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 February 2017 13:40 (seven years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Sunday, 26 March 2017 00:01 (seven years ago) link
Bridges-"We Almost Lost Detroit" slays me every time
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Sunday, 26 March 2017 08:11 (seven years ago) link
I got a biography of him last month that I've yet to start.Picked up the early lps when they were reissued in the mid 90s though not the 1st one, not sure why. Then picked up a couple of mid 70s ones some time later. Also got some live sets from around same time, need to check if I still do.Started reading his novel about events at a black university but never finished it.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 26 March 2017 08:26 (seven years ago) link
First Minute... all the way.
― The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums (Chinaski), Sunday, 26 March 2017 09:11 (seven years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Monday, 27 March 2017 00:01 (seven years ago) link
Kind of an underdog winner. Didn't expect that.
― Austin, Monday, 27 March 2017 01:21 (seven years ago) link
Hmmm, interesting result
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 March 2017 13:55 (seven years ago) link
There is still a 1976 set with brian Jackson up at dimehttp://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=484762
and a 1983 with the Amnesia Expresshttp://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=207292
― Stevolende, Monday, 27 March 2017 14:23 (seven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc1flR0LgwY
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Sunday, 31 May 2020 21:20 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JvpNY1QHzs
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Sunday, 31 May 2020 21:21 (four years ago) link
I want him to have actually been Jesus and for the resurrection to be shortly forthcoming.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Sunday, 31 May 2020 21:23 (four years ago) link
"When I went to see Jaws. . . I was for Jaws! Jaws was the home team!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhqceBPkG7o
I believe it's called "charisma."
― the beginning of the end of discourse. (Austin), Tuesday, 2 November 2021 18:29 (two years ago) link
Bridges is out of print, right?
― curmudgeon, Friday, 5 November 2021 22:06 (two years ago) link
Not on Spotify or available as a download from any service
― curmudgeon, Friday, 5 November 2021 22:10 (two years ago) link
yep. if you're in the uk, there's a decently priced cd copy on discogs presently. otherwise, it is on youtube for now. his estate is unfortunately being fought over by his family. from wikipedia:
Scott-Heron's estateAt the time of Scott-Heron's death, a will could not be found to determine the future of his estate. Additionally, Raquiyah Kelly-Heron filed papers in Manhattan, New York's Surrogate's Court in August 2013, claiming that Rumal Rackley is not Scott-Heron's son and should therefore be omitted from matters concerning the musician's estate. According to the Daily News website, Rackley, Kelly-Heron and two other sisters have been seeking a resolution to the issue of the management of Scott-Heron's estate, as Rackley stated in court papers that Scott-Heron prepared him to be the eventual administrator of the estate. Scott-Heron's 1994 album Spirits was dedicated to "my son Rumal and my daughters Nia and Gia", and in court papers Rackley added that Scott-Heron "introduced me (Rackley) from the stage as his son".In 2011, Rackley filed a suit against sister Gia Scott-Heron and her mother, Scott-Heron's first wife, Brenda Sykes, as he believed they had unfairly attained US$250,000 of Scott-Heron's money. The case was later settled for an undisclosed sum in early 2013; but the relationship between Rackley and Scott-Heron's two adult daughters already had become strained in the months after Gil's death. In her submission to the Surrogate's Court, Kelly-Heron states that a DNA test completed by Rackley in 2011—using DNA from Scott-Heron's brother—revealed that they "do not share a common male lineage", while Rackley has refused to undertake another DNA test since that time. A hearing to address Kelly-Heron's filing was scheduled for late August 2013, but by March 2016 further information on the matter was not publicly available.[71] Rackley still serves as court-appointed administrator for the estate, and donated material to the Smithsonian's new National Museum of African American History and Culture for Scott-Heron to be included among the exhibits and displays when the museum opened in September 2016. In December 2018, the Surrogate Court ruled that Rumal Rackley and his half sisters are all legal heirs.[citation needed]According to the Daily News website, Kelly-Heron and two other sisters have been seeking a resolution to the issue of the management of Scott-Heron's estate.[citation needed] The case was decided in December 2018 with a ruling issued in May 2019.[72]
In 2011, Rackley filed a suit against sister Gia Scott-Heron and her mother, Scott-Heron's first wife, Brenda Sykes, as he believed they had unfairly attained US$250,000 of Scott-Heron's money. The case was later settled for an undisclosed sum in early 2013; but the relationship between Rackley and Scott-Heron's two adult daughters already had become strained in the months after Gil's death. In her submission to the Surrogate's Court, Kelly-Heron states that a DNA test completed by Rackley in 2011—using DNA from Scott-Heron's brother—revealed that they "do not share a common male lineage", while Rackley has refused to undertake another DNA test since that time. A hearing to address Kelly-Heron's filing was scheduled for late August 2013, but by March 2016 further information on the matter was not publicly available.[71] Rackley still serves as court-appointed administrator for the estate, and donated material to the Smithsonian's new National Museum of African American History and Culture for Scott-Heron to be included among the exhibits and displays when the museum opened in September 2016. In December 2018, the Surrogate Court ruled that Rumal Rackley and his half sisters are all legal heirs.[citation needed]
According to the Daily News website, Kelly-Heron and two other sisters have been seeking a resolution to the issue of the management of Scott-Heron's estate.[citation needed] The case was decided in December 2018 with a ruling issued in May 2019.[72]
― the beginning of the end of discourse. (Austin), Friday, 5 November 2021 22:23 (two years ago) link
From 2020 ballot comments:Gil Scott-Heron/Makaya McCraven, We're New Again: A Reimaging By Makaya McCraven---Still haven't heard the original album, or Jamie xx's reworking, but the unmistakable sound and sensibility of classic Gil come through: sharp, reflective glints in the dark, rough-edged a fluid, lyrical and realist, searching and on point, thematic and grooving---jazzwise, yet "blues is a feeling" the overall. Only thing is, some of the originals are really short, like down to 37 seconds: golden kernals of potential and realization---McCraven is def. not showboating, but I wish he extended these--maybe he was required to stick to the original track times? I'd like a bit more-- Anyway, it's all good, though faves are mostly because they have longer to make an impression: "New York is Killing Me," "I'll Take Care of You," "Me and the Devil"--yes, Scott-Heron and Robert Johnson and Mr. D. ridingF the Greyhoud, seems natural. Speaking voice is worn but clear, singing voice not that different from 1970s.
"Me and the Devil"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrqjpnpkKJY
― dow, Saturday, 6 November 2021 01:45 (two years ago) link
My local sports talk station's afternoon drive time host has used Gil Scott Heron as bumper music coming back from break on two different days
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 6 November 2021 01:48 (two years ago) link
"Winter In America" is the one my local jazz station plays the most--pretty much year-round during Trump term. xpostYeesh, sorry for typos!
― dow, Saturday, 6 November 2021 01:51 (two years ago) link
i keep hoping every time i go into cvs that i'll hear "johannesburg" or maybe "the bottle" — alas no, just aztec camera `oblivious` yet again (no, seriously!).
― the beginning of the end of discourse. (Austin), Saturday, 6 November 2021 02:07 (two years ago) link
Their theme song--oblivious to Gil, for inst.
― dow, Saturday, 6 November 2021 02:35 (two years ago) link
xxp isn't Bridges is still around? I got a new copy of it on CD a year or so ago, on the UK imprint Soul Brother Records.
― henry s, Saturday, 6 November 2021 13:17 (two years ago) link
"Your Soul and Mine" and Revolution are in the Sopranos movie... but don't bother!
― maf you one two (maffew12), Saturday, 6 November 2021 13:21 (two years ago) link
Just wanna rep for ‘Real Eyes’ much underrated
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Sunday, 7 November 2021 00:13 (two years ago) link
I'm a firm believer that all of his albums up to and including Moving Target are at least four stars. Hard to really single out any from such a consistent run, but Real Eyes has some definitive highlights for sure.
― the beginning of the end of discourse. (Austin), Sunday, 7 November 2021 04:24 (two years ago) link
xxp, and it IS on Spotify, too
― fetter, Sunday, 7 November 2021 10:54 (two years ago) link
everything with Brian Jackson is sheer brilliance, don’t know much of anything afterno comment on “I’m new here” or whatever it is
― brimstead, Sunday, 7 November 2021 17:05 (two years ago) link
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/27/i-was-consumed-with-anger-brian-jackson-gil-scott-herons-brilliant-badly-wronged-partner
Brian Jackson interview
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 15 May 2022 21:30 (two years ago) link
thanks for posting. he seems like a chill person these days and that jazz is dead thing is definitely cool and worth checking out.
― Let's disco dance, Hammurabi! (Austin), Sunday, 15 May 2022 21:48 (two years ago) link
checking this out now. first song sounds like vintage midnight band.
― Let's disco dance, Hammurabi! (Austin), Saturday, 28 May 2022 15:26 (two years ago) link
Oh cool!
― brimstead, Saturday, 28 May 2022 15:28 (two years ago) link
so the rest of the album is really good! nothing surprising or groundbreaking happens, but it's a foregone conclusion that if you like classic midnight band, you'll like this too. maybe a bit preachy in spots — again: very reminiscent of vintage material. still lots of good vibes and solid grooves. last track was the highlight for me.
― Let's disco dance, Hammurabi! (Austin), Saturday, 28 May 2022 16:09 (two years ago) link
I was a bit underwhelmed by the Brian Jackson effort. Some was funky & jazzy like old-school Midnight Band but some was too derivative, a little too fusiony, and the vocals aren't Scott-Heron of course.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 June 2022 03:15 (two years ago) link
i dug the album. i really like his playing and the groove on "mami wata" in particular
― in places all over the world, real stuff be happening (voodoo chili), Monday, 6 June 2022 22:45 (two years ago) link
getting back into gil's reggae attempts. you know i'm a sucker for music that's about how awesome music is-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVY2Dp1u1Z8"storm music" (1981)
this is more of his usual 'paranoia in pop song' form, but with a roots-y backing. i love it.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9efhvkcz_AM"no exit" (1982)
anyway, nothing else really to say. he only did a few of these, but these two are alltimers back where i come from. he never got back into the style after the early 80s.
― "another slice of death, please." (Austin), Tuesday, 7 November 2023 21:41 (ten months ago) link
Interesting re those reggae attempts. Genre was crossing over more then too
speaking of early 80s on November 16 - Black Wax (Robert Mugge 1983 directed film about Gil-Scott Heron) is showing @ AFI Silver near Washington DC as part of a short Robert Mugge film fest
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 November 2023 18:49 (ten months ago) link
highly recommend watching black wax however you can. that was his tightest band.
― "another slice of death, please." (Austin), Thursday, 9 November 2023 00:59 (ten months ago) link
(and they play "storm music" in it too)
― "another slice of death, please." (Austin), Thursday, 9 November 2023 01:11 (ten months ago) link
nice, it’s on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtFNSxM9704
― brimstead, Thursday, 9 November 2023 03:44 (ten months ago) link
Never understood why Pieces of a Man doesn't appear in all those best album ever lists in NME, Mojo etc. Seems exactly the kind of record that appeals to that sort of thing.
― fetter, Thursday, 9 November 2023 10:48 (ten months ago) link
ooooogivin you the reggae, "Ready or Not" (also on Moving Target)
― maf you one two (maffew12), Thursday, 9 November 2023 15:24 (ten months ago) link