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In 1975, Gil Scott-Heron became the first artist ever signed to Arista Records, but ten years later, he proved expendable when Clive Davis' company dropped him. It was sad to see Arista give Scott-Heron the boot in 1985, although it wasn't surprising -- by the mid-'80s, Arista was only interested in superstars, and Scott-Heron was never a superstar. Though the singer commanded a loyal following, it was a small following. Scott-Heron was little-known among pop fans, and although R&B fans knew him for "The Bottle," "Angel Dust," and "Johannesburg," he was never a huge name in the R&B world.
Not long before Arista dropped Scott-Heron, it released this LP, which offered one new song ("Re-Ron") but contains mostly previously released material. The only gem from Scott-Heron's pre-Arista years on Flying Dutchman is the 1970s incendiary "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised."
Otherwise, The Best of Gil Scott-Heron (which spans 1970-1984) spotlights his Arista years and offers some of his most essential recordings for that label, which range from the singles "The Bottle" (a number 15 R&B hit), "Johannesburg" (which went to number 29 on the R&B singles charts), and "Angel Dust" to "Winter in America," "Shut 'Um Down," and "B Movie" (one of Scott-Heron's angry attacks on President Ronald Reagan).
Even if you don't agree with all of Scott-Heron's politics, he was always thought-provoking and was certainly an expressive, captivating R&B singer -- it's too bad he ended up spending the second half of the 1980s without any type of label deal.
For those who wanted an introductory overview of Scott-Heron's Arista output, this LP was, in the mid-'80s, a logical choice. (AMG)
1. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (3:05)
Flute – Hubert Laws
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Producer – Bob Thiele
2. The Bottle (Live) (3:58)
Electric Bass, Vocals – Danny Bowens
Congas, Bongos, Timbales [Solo] – Tony Duncanson
Congas [Solo] – Barnett Williams
Drums, Percussion – Reggie Brisbane
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Bilal Sunni Ali
Trumpet – Delbert Taylor
Producer [Associate Producer] – Tom Wilson
3. Winter In America (6:09)
Drums [Traps] – Bob "O.D." Adams
4. Johannesburg (4:47)
Drums [Chinese Drum] – Charlie Saunders
Keyboards, Synthesizer [Moog Synthesizer] – Brian Jackson
Harmonica – Bilal Sunni Ali
Congas – Adenola, Charlie Saunders
Bells, Tambourine – Victor Brown
5. Ain't No Such Thing As Superman (4:13)
Drums [Traps] – Bob Adams
Saxophone – Bilal Sunni Ali
Congas – Eddie Knowles
Shekere [Shakerai] – Charlie Saunders
6. Re-Ron (6:42)
Voice [Chant] – D.ST, Nicky Skopelitis, Shevin Conway
Synthesizer [Dmx] – Anton Fier
Backing Vocals [Background Vocals], Voice [Chant] – Bernard Fowler
Cowbell – Aiyb Dieng
Synthesizer, Clavinet – Bernie Worrell
Producer, Synthesizer [Dmx], Electronics [Radio] – Bill Laswell
7. Shut 'Um Down (5:12)
Piano [Acoustic Piano], Drums – Brian Jackson
Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Juilia Waters
Piano [Rhythm Piano] – Gil Scott-Heron
Flute – Carl Cornwell
Guitar – Marlo Henderson
Horns – Bill Watrous, Denis Sirias, Gordon Goodwin
8. Angel Dust (4:10)
Synthesizer [T.o.n.t.o.] – Brian Jackson
Percussion [Asst. Percussion] – Barnett Williams
Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Julia Waters
Electric Piano, Synthesizer [Polymoog], Synthesizer [T.o.n.t.o.] – Greg Phillinganes
Drums – Alvin Taylor
Producer [Associate Producer] – Malcolm Cecil
9. "B" Movie (6:51)
Guitar – Ed Brady
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Vernon James
Saxophone – Carl Cornwell
Drums – Kenny Powell
Electric Piano, Piano [Acoustic Piano], Organ, Clavinet, Synthesizer [String Synthesizer], Harmonica – Glen (Astro) Turner
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Sheffield
Written-By – Gil Scott-Heron
Producer – Brian Jackson (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 8), Gil Scott-Heron (tracks: 2, 4, 7 to 9), Malcolm Cecil (tracks: 7, 9), The Midnight Band (tracks: 4), Perpis-Fall Music, Inc. (tracks: 3, 5)
Label: Arista
Released: 1984
Catalogue: 256618
Codec: Flac
Compression Level: 5
Quality: High
CD-rip by alekow (EAC and Flac)
Covers Included (400dpi)
The credits from discogs.com
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