Pieces of a Man

Gil Scott-Heron draws on a wide range of influences: the music of John Coltrane, the blues, the oral traditions of the American South and many others to create fantastic music in a variety of different styles from spoken word/rap to (almost) soul. He is perhaps best known for his searing political (and personal) lyrics that are often so good that they can be read as poetry. However, he is also an excellent musician and the music always complements his lyrics. Musically this album is wonderful, interesting and varied, at times it is simply beautiful. As with much of Gil Scott Heron's best work a lot of credit must go to Brian Jackson his long time and best collaborator.

'Pieces of a Man' finds GSH at his most perceptive and penetrating, both politically and personally.

'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' is probably his most famous song - remarkably it works almost as well as poetry as it does as a song. Some of the references may now be a little obscure but it is an amazing, powerful piece of work that has lost little, if any, of its bite or relevance. 'Save the Children' is a beautiful, uplifting plea to care for and nurture the next generation. 'Lady Day & John Coltrane' is simply beautiful and a personal favourite. 'Home is where the hatred is' is haunting and wonderful, it is particularly poignant if you know anything about his personal life.

I could go on but it is almost a shame to highlight individual tracks because there isn't a bad track here and the album deserves, almost demands, to be listened to in its entirety.

GSH is unique: he combines a penetrating intellect with wit & wisdom and a talent conveying emotion and pain succinctly, often beautifully. A righteous anger permeates his work but he never descends into bitterness or becomes overly preachy. His work is tempered with optimism and a desire for change. It is this combination that defines his work and sets him apart for all others.

This album is GSH at the peak of his powers and should be a part of everybody's collection.

Buy it and treasure it


WOW!!   June 5, 2003
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

In an effort to be succint and convey my true feelings for this album I plumped for the title 'Wow!!' This truely is a stunning work of art that is completely free of self-conscious playing to the gallery (which has marred so much Black Music) and pretension. There is an extraordinary depth and breath of emotion, lyrical subject matter and musical structure on this album. Gil Scott-Heron's 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' is one of the great political statements and even though some of its content may seem dated the sentiment and passion that conveys it is just as profound today as it was then. There are so many great songs here, often juxtaposing the personal and the political to such effect that the listener is unable to resist pressing the repeat button and taking the day off work..it's that good! I think what makes this such a special album for me is that this is intensely personal music from an intense, beautiful and angry soul and yet it never drifts in to that self-indulgent whinning that characterises so much of the so-called 'personal' heavy rock of today (aka 'bedwetter rock'..Linkin Park Etc). It posseses that wonderful quality of being both cerebral and uplifting (qualities not harvested by many of Gil Scott-Heron's present day rap followers.) There is not one bad track on the album and it is wonderfully sequenced taking the listener on a journey that is varied lyrically, musically and emotionally and still manages to retain the sense that the songs are part of a larger piece of work. Since to see this review you are alreay on the right page just BUY THE ALBUM AND HEAR FOR YOURSELF. A TRUE MASTERPIECE.

best tracks: ALL OF THEM! I can't praise this album enough.


The Classic Gil album by which all others are measured   May 17, 2003
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Where do I begin on what to me is perhaps the best GSH album? This album as with all GSH albums is very biting, evocative but above all else it is musically brilliant. The lyrics can be very much in your face but at the same time they can be quite subtle and you understand them through the frustrations that you have felt trying to get someone to understand your point of view or just for the joys that we all hope for. For example, in the track "The Needles Eye" when GSH speaks about going to see his father who didn't want to answer him you immediately empathise and get drawn into the song. "Save the Children" immediately makes you want to do the best, as we should for the next generation and to give them the best tools to take on our role in life/society.

Others may argue that "Winter in America" or "From South Africa to South Carolina" are better but Pieces of a Man has a broader spectrum of topics and at times it is quite dispairing, especially when you consider that it was released in the early 70's melting pot of America but there are enough songs that counterbalance this. Uplifting songs such as "I'll think I'll call it morning", "Save the children" and "When you are who you are". If you were to pick up a best of GSH you would undoubtedly find many of the tracks from this album on it.

To single out a few tracks from this album however, doesn't do justice to the quality of the album as a whole. This is definitely one of those albums that you would pick up put in your CD player and just listen to from start to beginning.

Brian Jackson should also be given credit as he was collaborating with Gil on this and many of his seminal albums. Make no mistake the Brian Jackson GSH partnership is what makes this and much of his early work exceptional.