The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (CD)

Gil Scott-Heron is universally regarded as one of the founding fathers of rap for his combination of socially conscious poetry delivered over simple, percolating musical backdrops. He started out in the early 1970s using little more than voice and percussion, but soon graduated to a much more sophisticated, jazzy style incorporating full-band arrangements. He is also a poet and novelist, whose depictions of modern urban life share much with his political-critique lyrics. Ironically, the man who articulated the traps of the ghetto, including substance abuse, became a drug addict for whom his habit and subsequent jail time effectively derailed his brilliant career.

• Category:  Music  »  Jazz  »  Contemp. Jazz Vocals
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: May 3, 1988
• Label: Bluebird RCA (USA)
• UPC: 078635699425
• WAPI (Tower ID): 106721172
• Average Customer Review: There are no customer reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!
• Tower.com Sales Rank: #27858 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #1900 in Jazz (See Top 100 Jazz Bestsellers)
• #79 in Contemp. Jazz Vocals (See Top 100 Contemp. Jazz Vocals Bestsellers)

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Personnel: Gil Scott-Heron (vocals, various instruments); David Spinozza, Burt Jones (guitar); Hubert Laws (flute, alto saxophone); Brian Jackson (piano); Gerry Jemmott, Ron Carter (bass instrument); Bernard Purdie (drums); Eddie Knowles, Charlie Saunders (percussion).

Liner Note Author: Neil Tesser.

Gil-Scott Heron was one of the most significant forerunners of rappers, and THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED, a compilation of work recorded between 1970 and 1972, is a great place to start exploring his discography. Heron combines spoken word, R&B, jazz, and an unwavering eye toward racial and economic injustice in America in a unique and hard-hitting way. The title track, Heron's most famous, is a strong attack on the way the racist media can manipulate and distort. Cutting and humorous, Heron gets to the heart of the matter and his literate panache explains why he wrote his first book at the age of 12.

Heron's excellent singing voice is sometimes overshadowed by the strength of his socially conscious spoken word, yet several cuts on REVOLUTION showcase his fine voice. A cross between Mark Murphy and Jackie Wilson, Heron's voice is especially emotive on "The Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues" and "Save the Children." These lilting tracks balance perfectly with brutal commentary like "Whitey on the Moon" and "Sex Education Ghetto Style." A definitive overview of Heron's innovative early work, this compilation is musically riveting from beginning to end, in addition to weighing in as an important historical document.

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