Gil Scott-Heron: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1974 compilation) [BGP]

Why you'll love it

This BGP edition, pressed in the EU, restores the 1974 Flying Dutchman compilation produced by Bob Thiele. Its title track is in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry and on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs.

This edition

• Pressed in the EU
• Stereo mix
• Produced by Bob Thiele

About the album

Gil Scott-Heron wrote the first lines of "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" in his college dorm, half-watching a Mets and Phillies series and the adverts in between. That mix of wit, rhythm and TV-age sharpness runs through this whole collection, which Flying Dutchman put together in 1974 from his first few albums.

The title track is the 1971 band version: Ron Carter's driving bass, Hubert Laws' flute and Bernard Purdie's tight funk drumming under Scott-Heron's voice, a sound that pointed straight at hip-hop. "Lady Day And John Coltrane" swings, "Pieces Of A Man" and "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" are soulful, wrenching songs, and "Whitey On The Moon" and "No Knock" show off the poet in full flow.

Producer Bob Thiele had already worked with Coltrane and Louis Armstrong, so Scott-Heron was in good hands. Rappers have been quoting the title ever since; it turns out the revolution was, at least, very well sampled.

Also at Kops: more Gil Scott-Heron on vinyl · browse 70s Soul On Up

Tracklist

Listen

On Flying Dutchman / BGP (cat# BGPD 306), a reissue of the 1974 compilation.