Pieces of a Man

by Gil Scott-Heron

Overview

Gil Scott-Heron's 1971 album Pieces of a Man set a standard for vocal artistry and political awareness that few musicians will ever match. His unique proto-rap vocal style influenced a generation of hip-hop artists, and nowhere is his style more powerful than on the classic "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Even though the media -- the very entity attacked in this song -- has used, reused, and recontextualized the song and its title so many times, the message is so strong that it has become almost impossible to co-opt. Musically, the track created a formula that modern hip-hop would follow for years to come: bare-bones arrangements featuring pounding basslines and stripped-down drumbeats. Although the song features plenty of outdated references to everything from Spiro Agnew and Jim Webb to The Beverly Hillbillies, the force of Scott-Heron's well-directed anger makes the song timeless. More than just a spoken word poet, Scott-Heron was also a uniquely gifted vocalist. On tracks like the reflective "I Think I'll Call It Morning" and the title track, Scott-Heron's voice is complemented perfectly by the soulful keyboards of Brian Jackson. On "Lady Day and John Coltrane," he not only celebrates jazz legends of the past in his words but in his vocal performance, one that is filled with enough soul and innovation to make Coltrane and Billie Holiday nod their heads in approval. More than three decades after its release, Pieces of a Man is just as -- if not more -- powerful and influential today as it was the day it was released. ~ Jon Azpiri

Product Details

Release Date:	05/23/1995
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0078636662725

Tracks

1. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
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
8. A Sign of the Ages
9. Or Down You'll Fall
10. The Needle's Eye
11. The Prisoner

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gil Scott-Heron   Primary Artist,Lead Vocals,Vocals,Guitar,Piano
Burt Jones   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Brian Jackson   Piano (Electric),Piano
Ron Carter   Bass (Electric),Guitar (Bass),Bass
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie   Drums
Johnny Pate   Conductor
Hubert Laws   Flute,Saxophone

Technical Credits

Charles Stewart   Photography
Jean-Pierre Chalbos   Digital Remastering
Alex Dutilh   Liner Notes
Daniel Baumgarten   Reissue Preparation,Reissue Producer
Haig Adishian   Design
Ray Hall   Remixing,Mixing
Gil Scott-Heron   Liner Notes,Composer
Brian Jackson   Composer
Bob Simpson   Mixing
Bob Thiele   Producer
Geoffrey Haslam   Mixing