Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces Of A Man

180-gram 45 RPM double LP

50th Anniversary Edition

Gil Scott-Heron's Pieces Of A Man is one of the most important albums in the history of black American music. Although it didn't set the charts alight, it stands as a masterpiece alongside contemporary works such as Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, Curtis Mayfield's debut LP, Funkadelic's Maggot Brain and Isaac Hayes' Shaft. All were brilliant in their way, but lyrically Scott-Heron was on a different level from almost every other writer.

It was a landmark album with it's bold, poetic lyrical content allied to progressive and melodic music, and it saw producer Bob Thiele help Gil and his musical partner Brian Jackson paint the picture they needed to get their message across. Thiele put Gil and Brian together with Ron Carter, Hubert Laws and Bernard Purdie, giving them the musical heft they wanted. For many years the focus was on 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised', which was included in the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2014, but this focus sometimes overshadowed the heights which Gil reached throughout the album.

Today "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" and "Lady Day And John Coltrane" are also considered standards, while the album's title track is a prescient and heart-breaking warning about the way in which big business dehumanises its workers. The album reached its landmark 50th year in 2021 and it was decided to create this special edition to celebrate its incredible sound. The original master tape was taken to Frank Merritt at The Carvery in London, who cut it as a double disc 45 RPM record, in an all-analog chain. The original record — especially side two — was long, and serving it up this way allowed the music a greater level of fidelity. The release is packaged in the original album's gatefold sleeve.

LP 1

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

LP 2

1. Pieces of a Man

2. A Sign of the Ages

3. Or Down You Fall

4. The Needle's Eye

5. The Prisoner

Customer Reviews (5.00 Stars) 2 person(s) rated this product.

Timeless posted on 08/31/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: JSN I am a 70s classic rock guy but wow this is one of my top 10 LPs of all time. Not sure how I stumbled on this music but omg it is timeless, mesmerizing and addictive. Can't get the songs out of my head.

Absolutely stunning posted on 03/10/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Olly The sound is totally wide open, dynamic and organic. Opening track sounds incredible.

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