Gil Scott-Heron

Ya know, listening to this guys music makes ME want to join the revolution! Seriously though, Gil is a HEAVY cat. He basically invented rap music in 1971, somehow managed to make social consciousness and black militant prose poetry acceptable and understandable outside the core audience...and the guy is one HELL of a writer and a pretty damn good singer.

One of my favorite song lyrics:

Whitey On The Moon


A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Whitey's on the moon)
I can't pay no doctor bill.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Ten years from now I'll be payin' still.
(while Whitey's on the moon)
The man jus' upped my rent las' night.
('cause Whitey's on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
I wonder why he's uppi' me?
('cause Whitey's on the moon?)
I wuz already payin' 'im fifty a week.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Taxes takin' my whole damn check,
Junkies makin' me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin' up,
An' as if all that shit wuzn't enough:
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face an' arm began to swell.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Was all that money I made las' year
(for Whitey on the moon?)
How come there ain't no money here?
(Hmm! Whitey's on the moon)
Y'know I jus' 'bout had my fill
(of Whitey on the moon)
I think I'll sen' these doctor bills,
Airmail special
(to Whitey on the moon)


Here's his biggest "hit", actually a b-side to a 1971 single that has attained legendary proportions over the years. This video was produced with his cooperation.

I'm not very familiar with this cat but with lyrics like that, I gotta get his stuff, I love stuff like this!!!

His first album was called "Straight Talk From 125th Street & Lenox", basically just poetry reading with a couple percussionists improving in the background.

On his next few records (all recorded for Flying Dutchman) he was backed up by the finest New York session cats you could get.

Probably the greatest hits collection (called The Revolution Will Not Be Televised) is enough, but damn it's tasty stuff.

He's got a song called "Lady Day & John Coltrane" that's just gorgeous.

Whitey On The Moon

Ha ha ha! I remember that!! Howard Stern used to play that song all the time back in the day.

OK, being that you have a good taste in music D, and since I like this kind of stuff I got 11 of his albums from '70-'79.

1970 – Small Talk at 125th & Lenox Ave
1971 – Pieces Of A Man
1972 – Free Will
1974 – Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – Winter in America
1974 – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
1975 – Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – The First Minute Of A New Day
1976 – Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – From South Africa to South Carolina
1976 – Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – It’s Your World
1977 – Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – Bridges
1978 – Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – Secrets
1979 – The Mind Of Gil Scott-Heron

I really like what what he did with Brian Jackson, it added some nice groove to what he was doing.

R.I.P. Gil Scott-Heron
1949-2011

WTF!!!??? How?