Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1974)

I'd like to imagine a world where we heeded the message of this beautiful poet. As for the music, "Dance and hip-hop have borrowed (or stolen) so much from [Pieces Of A Man] that it's easy to forget how original Scott-Heron's mix of soul, jazz, and pre-rap once was." - Nick Dedina, Rhapsody (remember Rhapsody?) Special mention of Brian Jackson, Ron Carter, & Hubert Laws.

Compilation originally released in 1974 with the following cover:

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #21
• Record World Jazz: #35

Tracks, taken from Scott-Heron's first three albums: 1) Small Talk At 125th And Lenox (1970), 2) Pieces Of A Man (1971), and 3) Free Will (1972):

1. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised²
2. Sex Education: Ghetto Style³
3. The Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues³
4. No Knock³
5. Lady Day And John Coltrane²
6. Pieces Of A Man²
7. Home Is Where The Hatred Is²
8. Brother¹
9. Save The Children²
10. Whitey On The Moon¹
11. Did You Hear What They Said?³

1988 CD bonus tracks

12. When You Are Who You Are²
13. I Think I'll Call It Morning²
14. A Sign Of The Ages²
15. Or Down You Fall²
16. The Needle's Eye²
17. The Prisoner²

With the inclusion of the 6 bonus tracks, all 11 tracks from Pieces Of A Man are included on this compilation.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is a classic and rightfully earns the pole position here. Others impacting me today are Lady Day And John Coltrane, Pieces Of A Man, Save The Children, Whitey On The Moon, and When You Are Who You Are. 

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None