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Gil Scott-Heron|Reflections

Reflections

Gil Scott-Heron

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Although a major across-the-board hit always eluded the poet, singer, and activist Gil Scott-Heron, this album does contain one of his best-known songs. "B-Movie," an extended attack on Ronald "Ray-gun," unleashes 12 minutes of vitriol about the then recently elected president. Beginning with the declaration "Mandate, my ass," it's a laundry list of fears about Reagan, fantasizing that his election meant "we're all actors" in some surreal film. Delivered over a taut funk groove, parts of it are still funny. Elsewhere, Scott-Heron takes an early stab at endorsing firearm control on "Gun"; slows things down for "Morning Thoughts"; and explores reggae's rhythms and revolutionary power on "Storm Music," a direction he'd pursue more fully on his next album, Moving Target. The disc also includes a pair of covers that offer varying degrees of success: Bill Withers' "Grandma's Hands" is a natural for Scott-Heron's warm baritone and a bright soul-jazz arrangement from the Midnight Band, but the version of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues," while it swings convincingly, has a lengthy spoken-word riff that fails to embellish on the pain implicit in the original. Overall, Reflections doesn't capture Scott-Heron at the peak of his game, though anyone who enjoyed the other works from his Arista period certainly won't be disappointed.

© Dan LeRoy /TiVo

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Reflections

Gil Scott-Heron

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1
Storm Music
00:05:02

Gil Scott-Heron, Composer - Gil Scott-Heron, Lyricist - Gil Scott-Heron, Performer - Gil Scott-Heron, Producer - Malcolm Cecil, Producer

(P) 1981 Arista Records Inc.

2
Grandma's Hands
00:05:24

Bill Withers, Composer - Bill Withers, Lyricist - Gil Scott-Heron, Performer - Gil Scott-Heron, Producer - Malcolm Cecil, Producer

(P) 1981 Arista Records Inc

3
Is That Jazz?
00:03:43

Gil Scott-Heron, Composer - Gil Scott-Heron, Lyricist - Gil Scott-Heron, Performer - Gil Scott-Heron, Producer - Malcolm Cecil, Producer

(P) 1981 Arista Records Inc.

4
Morning Thoughts
00:04:40

Gil Scott-Heron, Composer - Gil Scott-Heron, Lyricist - Gil Scott-Heron, Performer - Gil Scott-Heron, Producer - Malcolm Cecil, Producer - Vernon James, Composer - Vernon James, Lyricist

(P) 1981 Arista Records Inc.

5
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
00:05:48

Gil Scott-Heron, Performer - Gil Scott-Heron, Producer - James Nyx, Composer - James Nyx, Lyricist - Marvin Gaye, Composer - Marvin Gaye, Lyricist

(P) 1981 Arista Records LLC

6
Gun
00:03:59

Gil Scott-Heron, Composer - Gil Scott-Heron, Lyricist - Gil Scott-Heron, Performer - Gil Scott-Heron, Producer - Malcolm Cecil, Producer

(P) 1981 Arista Records LLC

7
'B' Movie (Intro, Poem, Song)
00:12:11

Gil Scott-Heron, Composer - Gil Scott-Heron, Lyricist - Gil Scott-Heron, Performer - Gil Scott-Heron, Producer - Malcolm Cecil, Producer

(P) 1981 Arista Records LLC

Album review

Although a major across-the-board hit always eluded the poet, singer, and activist Gil Scott-Heron, this album does contain one of his best-known songs. "B-Movie," an extended attack on Ronald "Ray-gun," unleashes 12 minutes of vitriol about the then recently elected president. Beginning with the declaration "Mandate, my ass," it's a laundry list of fears about Reagan, fantasizing that his election meant "we're all actors" in some surreal film. Delivered over a taut funk groove, parts of it are still funny. Elsewhere, Scott-Heron takes an early stab at endorsing firearm control on "Gun"; slows things down for "Morning Thoughts"; and explores reggae's rhythms and revolutionary power on "Storm Music," a direction he'd pursue more fully on his next album, Moving Target. The disc also includes a pair of covers that offer varying degrees of success: Bill Withers' "Grandma's Hands" is a natural for Scott-Heron's warm baritone and a bright soul-jazz arrangement from the Midnight Band, but the version of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues," while it swings convincingly, has a lengthy spoken-word riff that fails to embellish on the pain implicit in the original. Overall, Reflections doesn't capture Scott-Heron at the peak of his game, though anyone who enjoyed the other works from his Arista period certainly won't be disappointed.

© Dan LeRoy /TiVo

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