When Gil Scott Heron emerged in the early seventies his unique
brand of hard-talking street poetry, combined with soulful jazz
arrangements, paved the way for the hip-hop explosion with tracks
like 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised', 'Johannesburg' and
'The Bottle' remaining a touchstone for generations of artists.
'Winter In America' was his fourth and probably his most complete
album, and the first to be co-billed with his flautist, keyboard
player and co-writer Brian Jackson. Released in 1974, it captures
Scott Heron at a turning point, largely leaving his heavier raps
behind in favour of a floating ambience, with his poetry and song
being illuminated by Jackson's superb instrumentation. The album
includes 'Rivers Of My hers', a marvellous, meandering work
that ebbs and flows for eight and a half minutes and 'The
Bottle', one of the most exuberant catalogues of ghetto
alcoholism ever committed to tape. There is also sweet and
personal content here, too. 'A Very Precious Time' is a reverie
of adolescent reminiscence and the sweetness of' Your Daddy Loves
You' shows that not all revolutionaries could be on the frontline
permanently. However, Scott-Heron had not abandoned his militant,
witty, political poetic roots on' H20Gate Blue's, dedicated to
the then-recently departed US Vice President Spiro Agnew. The
title track wasn't on the original album, but a live version has
been subsequently added to the reissue, as a snap of the
stilted hopes and aspirations in the post Watergate and Vietnam
War mid 70s America.
BBC Review
----------
Winter In America was poet and writer Gil Scott Heron's fourth
album, and the first to be co-billed with his flautist, keyboard
player and co-writer Brian Jackson.
Recorded in September 1973 and released the following year, it
captures Scott Heron at a turning point, largely leaving his
heavier raps behind in favour of a floating ambience, with his
poetry and song being illuminated by Jackson's superb
instrumentation.
Rivers Of My hers is a marvellous, meandering work that ebbs
and flows for eight and a half minutes; Scott-Heron's spoken
utterance of ''Africa'' at the end chimes with the
afro-centricity of the early 70s, and is conveyed great emotion
and honesty.
The album's commercial centrepiece, The Bottle, is one of the
most exuberant catalogues of ghetto alcoholism ever committed to
tape. It truly struck a chord and has been much loved as well as
covered by artists as diverse as Joe Bataan and Paul Weller.
There is sweet and personal content here, too. A Very Precious
Time is a reverie of adolescent reminiscence and the sweetness of
Your Daddy Loves You shows that not all revolutionaries could be
on the frontline permanently.
However, Scott-Heron had not abandoned his militant, witty,
political poetic roots on H20Gate Blues, dedicated to the
then-recently departed US Vice President Spiro Agnew. The title
track wasn't on the original album, but a live version has been
subsequently added to the reissue. It is should be played as
standard on all modern history courses as a snap of the
stilted hopes and aspirations in the post Watergate and Vietnam
War mid 70s America.
Winter In America is probably Scott-Heron's most complete album.
It certainly is one of his most compelling; it also highlights
how great a foil Brian Jackson was to him. An affecting work.
--Daryl Easlea
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