The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is a compilation album by American poet Gil Scott-Heron. It was released in 1974 by Flying Dutchman Records and titled after Scott-Heron's 1971 song of the same name.Taylor, Patrick (June 23, 2009), Review: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. RapReviews. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
Recordings The album features recordings previously featured on Scott-Heron's first three records for Flying Dutchman—Small Talk at 125th and Lenox (1970), Pieces of a Man (1971), and Free Will (1972),Dellar, Fred. Review: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-31. which were produced by jazz producer Bob Thiele.Henderson, Alex. [ Review: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised]. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-07-31. The music compiled incorporates funk, jazz, and proto-rap styles.Larkin, Colin. "Review: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music: March 1, 2002.
Release and reception
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised was released in 1974 and charted on Billboards Top Jazz Albums. It peaked at number 21 on October 12 of that year after spending five weeks on the chart."Best Selling Jazz LPs". Billboard: 36. October 12, 2004. In a contemporary review, Ebony magazine's Phyl Garland called the album "mind-blowing" and said Scott-Heron "does not merely posture and pacify, but presses one to consider the uncomfortable truths of contemporary blackness."Garland, Phyl. "Review: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". Ebony: 30. December 1974.
Since then, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised has received positive reviews from publications such as The Washington Post and Los Angeles Daily News,Harrington, Richard. "Review: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". The Washington Post: June 30, 1998. which said "the roots of rap run deep through this superb retrospective".Columnist. "Review: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". Los Angeles Daily News: December 30, 1988. Village Voice critic Robert Christgau said the compilation abandons the homophobia that plagued Scott-Heron's 1970 debut Small Talk at 125th and Lenox in favor of songs that show artistic progress, including agitprop that sounds less arrogant but still committed and improved singing that reveals his compassion. In To the Break of Dawn: A Freestyle on the Hip Hop Aesthetic (2007), William Jelani Cobb said of its significance in hip hop music:
In the Encyclopedia of Popular Music (2002), writer Colin Larkin praised Scott-Heron's anger and passion in his spoken-word performances on "No Knock" and the title track. AllMusic's Alex Henderson recommended the album's "innovative R&B and spoken poetry" to listeners interested in "exploring his artistry for the first time".
Track listing
Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–11 on CD reissues.
Personnel
Musicians Ron Carter – bass Brian Jackson – piano Jerry Jemmott – bass Burt Jones – guitar Eddie Knowles – percussion Hubert Laws – alto saxophone, flute Pretty Purdie – drums Charlie Saunders – percussion Gil Scott-Heron – piano, vocals, songwriter David Spinozza – guitar
Production Carmine Coppola – reissue artwork Joe Lopes – remastering Bob Simpson – engineer Stephen Sulke – engineer Bob Thiele – producer, remastering
Charts Billboard Music Charts (North America) – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised 1974: Top Jazz Albums – No. 21 (5 weeks)
Release history Information regarding the release history of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is adapted from Discogs.The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Album, Comp). Discogs. Retrieved on 2009-07-31.
Region Year Label Format Catalog United States 1974 Flying Dutchman Records vinyl LP BDL 1-0613 Spain 1975 RCA Records vinyl LP, Spanish edition DBL 1-0613 Germany 1988 BMG remastered CD 6994-2-RB United States 1988 RCA vinyl LP NL 86994 United States 1988 BMG vinyl LP DRL 11798 Germany 1989 RCA CD ND86994 United States 1998 BMG reissued LP DRL11798
Sampled appearances The information regarding sampling of songs from The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is adapted from TheBreaks.com.Rap Sample Search: Gil Scott-Heron. TheBreaks. Retrieved on 2008-09-25.
"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" Masta Ace – "Take a Look Around" Professor Griff – "Real African People 'Rap', Pt. 2" Queen Latifah – "The Evil That Men Do" Salt-N-Pepa – "Whatta Man Luvbug Remix 1" "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" Kanye West ft. Common – "My Way Home" "Pieces of a Man" KMD – "What a Niggy Know?"
References
Bibliography
External links