Pieces of a Man [Original recording remastered]

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

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

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.