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"…I
Can't Breathe!"
"...The
revolution will not be televised…" Uttered originally as a poem in 1970
and finally put to music for his 2nd Flying Dutchman Records album in 1971 – these are quite possibly the most famous
anti-establishment words sung in a Soul song – ever.
And
yet in 2014 with the NET and 24-hour NEWS TV – the hurt and rage that led to
that satirical and acidic piece has never been more pertinent. Much of that
crap is still with us and we’re still purging it out of our lands and lives.
Post Eric Garner's loss (killed in July 2014 by a NYPD chokehold while being
arrested for the piffling crime of selling loose cigarettes) - I listen to this
fabulous album today and I’m still moved - a genius slice of Seventies Soul
Conscience. Here are the socially spot-on details from the mighty Gil
Scott-Heron…
Euro
released November 2001 – "Pieces Of A Man" by GIL SCOTT-HERON on RCA Victor
Gold Series 74321851632 (Barcode 743218516320) is a straightforward CD remaster
of the 1971 LP and plays out as follows (48:00 minutes).
1.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised [Side 1]
2.
Save The Children
3.
Lady Day And John Coltrane
4.
Home Is Where The Hatred Is
5.
When You Are Who You Are
6.
I Think I’ll Call It Morning
7.
Pieces Of A Man [Side 2]
8.
A Sign Of The Ages
9.
Or Down You Fall
10.
The Needle’s Eye
11.
The Prisoner
Tracks
1 to 11 are his second album “Pieces Of A Man” released December 1971 in the USA
on Flying Dutchman FD 10143 (Correct release date Billboard).
“Pieces Of A Man” was
belatedly released in the UK on Philips 6369 415 in April 1973 with a different
running order as follows (use tracks 1 to 11 above):
Side 1:
1. Lady Day And John
Coltrane
2. Where You Are Who You Are
3. I Think I’ll Call It
Morning
4. Home Is Where The Hatred
Is
5. Save The Children
6. The Revolution Will Not
Be Televised
Side 2:
1. Pieces Of A Man
2. A Sign Of The Ages
3. Or Down You Fall
4. The Needle’s Eye
5. The Prisoner
Coming
out of BMG France - the simple gatefold card digipak offers basic recording
info on the inner flap (no booklet). Recorded over two days in April 1971 (19th
and 20th) and Produced by BOB THIELE – the album has been remastered from
original master tapes in 24-bit by JEAN-PIERRE CHALBOS – and he’s done a lovely
job. The delicate and moving “Pieces Of A Man” features Heron on Piano with Ron
Carter on Electric Bass – it’s a tiny bit hissy (as was the original recording
– all feel and emotion) – but the remaster lets it breath and is so much the
better for it.
Other
highlights are the gorgeous ballad “Or Down You Fall” and the Curtis Mayfield
funky “When You Are Who You Are” with its “you can be so very beautiful when
you are who you are…” lyrics about his lady. “Save The Children” features the
distinctive flute of HUBERT LAWS while “Home Is Where The Hatred Is” best shows
his stunning band – BRIAN JACKSON on Keyboards, BURT JONES on Guitar, RON
CARTER on Bass with superb drumming from BERNARD “PRETTY” PURDIE. It ends on a
duo of socially conscious tunes – the upbeat “The Needle’s Eye” and the 9 ½
minute masterpiece “The Prisoner”. Both are lyrically stunning but it’s the
closer “Prisoner” that stays with you – beginning with creepy scraping strings
and drum whacks that then segue into piano rolls and words of pain – masterful
stuff.
A
beautiful album – proud, unique and yet eternally current – "Pieces Of A Man" is up there with the best Soul from the early Seventies has to offer
"...Pigs
shooting down brothers…" (Revolution) and "...Leave the hate and fear behind" (The Needle’s Eye). Scott-Heron sang these lyrics in 1971.
How depressing that
in December 2014 with the "...I can't breathe…" protests in the USA – the first
set of words are so sickeningly relevant still and the second set - a
lesson we're still learning…
