Winter In America

Really enjoyable. Reminds you how little has changed in politics since the 70s. (Could not find on Spotify, YouTube link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnkDjMDD3JQ)

I love the electric piano, the bluesy jazzy fusion feel, the political lyrics and his pained voice. GSH sings like he has lived every word (the opposite of Paul Simon). My gripe is that 1001 shouldn’t have picked this album over his 1971 release “Pieces of a Man”. While I may grumble a bit about their choice of Allman Brothers or Alice Cooper or Steely Dan albums, not including “Pieces of a Man” is a serious oversight. It’s a historic release, with the epic “The Revolution Will Not be Televised” who many say was the first hip-hop song and there’s at least a half-dozen other epic tracks. I’ll never get tired of “Lady and John Coltrane” or “Home is where the Hatred Is”. It’s a highly listenable LP, back-to-front. I was going to post a complaint on reddit/1001 but I didn’t want to interrupt a heated discussion about the merits of Napalm Death.

Its emotional and political. Gil and Brian used their art and their talents as an extension of the community, to reflect the mood, the sensitivity, the circumstance of the community and America at that time. The wo derful "The Bottle" did unfortunately become a self fullfilling prophesy for Gil Scott Heron and I also believe H20gate Blues is as much about the politics of America today as it was nearly 50 years ago. Now on to listen to another two of his tremendous albums Pieces of a Man and Free Will. Gil Scott Heron is forever in my heart.

I also do not know if this should be in the miscellaneous, jazz, or on which shelf. I know it should be on my shelf.

Not for me

Did nothing for me. Music is good, voice is good, but it just doesn't gel to something great. 2.5/5

A powerful, beautiful blend of musical styles. Despite what the lyrics are talking about, which is important and serious stuff, the instrumentals were soothing and just a joy to listen to. The piano work in this is amazing. And damn, 'H2OGate Blues' is such a good, poignant, powerful song.

This was really good, has a way with words. I liked his explanation of The Blues and the jazz song about Watergate. Reminds me of antiwar icier men like Michael Franti and Billy Bragg

Mostly aimless jazz noodling, not great apart from The Bottle and some Watergate ranting later on. On Amazon Music if you're looking for it

Unique album, albeit it is dated. The music and lyrics seem to be going in their own directions at times, but work well together.

absolutamente inacreditável que nunca tinha nem ouvido falar disso aqui

“The Bottle” runs away with this LP - that bumble-bee bassline alone unmoored my eyeballs - but this is a sweet record. The quietness of “Song for Bobby Smith” stuck close to me. Heron’s voice doesn’t bang it out with his contemporaries in the song forms he’s playing with here, but I like its matter-of-factness, his talking the melodies - he plays to his strengths even here. The record’s atypical for Gil Scott Heron, more tuneful, jazzier, less rap, less fierce, and deserved more than today’a inattentive playthrough and the later, urgent skip across for better grasp. “Winter in America” is a terrific title. Brian Jackson’s work is sometimes luminous, bell-like in its resonance; cheerfully Broadway elsewhere. But are the songs strong enough to make this a great? One listen was not enough to convince. Skipping through again, I hear much that is exquisite, I don’t think I can bear rating this a three a day after giving Def Leopard a four, and “Rivers of My Fathers” might pay back its duration, so to conclude….

This was so slow an excruciating. "The Bottle" was decent, almost the only saving grace, until "H20Gate." If the whole album had been intense, passionate, and intelligent spoken word poetry with a jazzy/bluesy backing, "Winter in America" would have been so much more interesting. Then again, anything is more interesting than most of this album.

2, wasn't liking it for most but there were moments

I was just about to give up when 'H2O Gate' came on and I realized I had heard this artist before and that I liked his other spoken word pieces (namely 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised'). His spoken tracks have popped up on the radio from time to time, but I never heard them attributed to an artist's name. I'm glad to now have a name and to be able to make the connection back to LCD Soundsystem's 'Losing My Edge' track. But, back to 'H2O Gate'... I didn't really enjoy the majority of this album. While the tracks did have a nice chill vibe and the keyboardist (I'm assuming Gil) has got some great chops, the flow and tonality and lyrical content all felt off. 'H2O Gate', on the other hand, felt perfect. It cleverly and deftly pulled me into focus and then set my mind sprinting to keep up. The message was urgent, eloquent, thought provoking and enduring. The pacing was exciting, and I am sure that I only scratched the surface of understanding all that was said. I will need to revisit this album somewhere down the road and see if it lands differently with me then. For now though, outside of one brilliant track, I just couldn't connect with what was happening enough to enjoy it much.

this just really was not my vibe at all like it was funky and groovy but just not the type of music i’d listen to ever.

Thanks to the reviewer who directly linked to the youtube link. After a long stream of pleasant albums, this one felt like what I came here for. mind blowing, beautiful, out of my normal wheel-house. 5 stars.

I love these guys...

Timely and enjoyable. A great listen.

wasn't on spotify, had to go onto youtube for this one such a good album both poetically and musically, start to finish

I think I'm going to bump this up to a five simply for how concise it is. I'm not sure, I just really liked each of the tracks and the whole sermon of H2OGate Blues.

It's Gil Scott-Heron. Always 5 stars.

Extremely soulful stuff. Had a blast with this listen, and I'm certain I'll need to check out more of this stuff. Favorites: "Peace Go With You, Brother", "Rivers of My Fathers", "The Bottle", "Song for Bobby Smith"

That was very nice music

A really good album. As someone else has written, it reminds you that little has changed in politics since the 70s. It's a shame that you can only hear it on YouTube.

Definitely their best

An excellent blend of spoken word and jazz that mixed thought-provoking and vivid lyrics with a wide spectrum of sound from relaxing to upbeat. What's really sad, is that the messages of this album could easily be repeated today and ring just as true. Top tracks: Peace Go With You, Brother; The Bottle; Song For Bobby Smith; H2O Gate Blues

This was not only an incredible listen, but a lucky one. It was lucky because this album is not on Spotify, which is where I look for new music, and so without this project I probably never would have found this album. I have listened to Gil Scott-Heron before, but this album what honestly *that* good I've reevaluated him and hold him in a much higher respect. This album has honestly raised the bar for me going forward. Disregard any five stars I've given in the past, this is the new standard. Under the YouTube video there is a comment that says: "Gil was a prophet sent from God to deliver a message that nobody was ready for, and all he was doing was delivering the word. He wasn't perfect, but he was God's warrior. He screamed and hollered and I don't think he ever told a lie." And man, I thought that was really something. The Vibe: Sitting in a lounge chair and drinking something brown from a shiny glass after a day that was so long and hard you need to stop and replay the whole thing in your head.

I have dabbled in some of Gil Scott-Heron's music before, but wow, I need more of this. What an great way to ease into a morning! How could it not be a great day now?

Relevant then, equally relevant now. The only thing they got wrong? The revolution WILL be televised.

Cool poetry and instrumentation, it’s just what I needed actually. Very good album.

Na moral vai toma no cu, que álbum foda, tá maluco. Estou ouvindo pela quarta vez pra tentar escrever sobre ele, mas não consegui colocar em palavras que descrevam a altura a qualidade dele. Sensibilidade, melancolia, descontentamento, êxtase e humor. É um álbum que tem alma. E vai toma no cu o Spotify também, que é o primeiro álbum dessa lista que não tem na biblioteca e um dos melhores que ouvi até agora.

Not on Spotify

This album did not have a clear genre for me, but it not only great to listen to it was also compelling. Really terrific and really sad that it isn’t available on my music service - but thankfully in our digital age I found a way. Too bad that such an important album isn’t readily available. Still it really makes me glad to have embarked on this project to discover finds like this.

So much fun. So so much fun. I had to explore YouTube to get the full album but on top of really needing something to help me work, it was just a delight.

want on vinyl !!

Really really liked it. Beautiful singing and lyrics and piano

Album not in spotify.

5 sitars.

Fantastic

Deeply moving, raw, and intelligent with slick music to boot. A great album I definitely wouldn’t have found otherwise.

как же кайфанула

Such a shame this isn't on Spotify because it's fantastic. I am going to have to track down a copy on vinyl. Only know Gil from revolution will not be televised and though I knew he had a great voice, I didn't know he had such a great soulful SINGING voice. The electric keyboard is also delicious. Also, The Bottle is a banger, and H20 Blues is an absolutely classic Gil excoriation. Just consistently brilliant. Four more years! Four more years!

Gil Scott-Heron is severely underrated when it comes to the discussion of 70’s Soul. This album, like a lot of his work, is a masterpiece

Loved this album straight thru!

Brilliant, genius, lyrically and musically flawless.

Solid album

SO GOOD. My standout track was The Bottle, and honestly all of side 2 especially . I wish this was on Spotify. For my own note keeping, a blurb I copied from Wikipedia below: Winter in America juxtaposes themes of nostalgic hope to the social problems of the early 1970s, particularly in the African-American community and inner cities.[29][30] Also a prominent theme in Scott-Heron's lyrics is people's faith in their culture in a bleak, impoverished environment.

such a gosh darn beautiful voice. silky smooth. and that bass omg 😫my one gripe is how out of place H2O gate blues was, great message but i didn’t love the song. every other song blew me away tho 💯

This album is really enjoyable. Interesting to note Kendrick Lamar samples the first song (at 0:50) in Poe Man’s Dream

Before there was hip hop there was Gil Scott Heron This album is such a wonderful blend of poetry, jazz and soul

Absolutely gorgeous. I was a little wary with the first song, but the album pulled me in extremely quickly and rarely let go. It is an utter travesty that this is unavailable on any steaming services, because I want to listen to this constantly.

ОченьОчень!!!!!!

This is a fantastic album and artist worthy of being on this list and a 5/5 rating, just for the skill level, poetry, and historic/political importance. I love the jazzy flute solos and GSH's voice is so pained. Brian Jackson's piano playing is amazing. I find it to be a challenging listen, not easy or light at all, but a bit grueling and heavy. It's not one I will reach for when I need a pick-me-up. But of course, that's not the point at all. Like so many really important albums, it is not an easy piece of music, but worth the effort. 5/5

Another insane album that is sadly not on spotify. Jazz, soul, R&B and the blues mixed together to create some great tunes. The bottle is the highlight of the album for me. 9/10

First time listening to Gil Scott-Heron, amazing work.

9/10

As much as Pieces of a Man gets possibly the most recognition from Gil Scott-Heron's catalogue, Winter in America is, to me, his absolute best.

J'adore le style, très belle voix et tres groové, c'est platte que ca ne soit pas sur spotify. 5

If these did not get added to the great american song book, they should have been. Plus one of the more compelling political slam poems I've heard. And what a wonderful voice.

When I think about this list, this is the kind of albums I hope to get every day. Some far, far away artists I couldn't be able to hear about for the rest of my life. Yet this was so good. The sensual tempo, the clear lyrics, the simple joy and love in the message. Even the 8-minute rant about US politics was enjoyable. At first I thought it's a clear 4 star album, but I can't see the reason to not give it 5 stars.

Like "What's Going On", this album is as enjoyable to listen to as it is poignant, and as reliable a relisten as any GSH album. Loving this one as much as I ever did.

The ideal intersection of jazzy, spacey, and soulful for my rainy afternoon drive home. This was so powerful that I am upset I'd never heard of it before.

Apt, considering the snow outside right now. A cozy record that harkens to home around a fireplace we can barely afford to light. I like it.

I love Gil Scott-Heron but haven't listened to this one. It's fantastic though. The piano playing is incredibly beautiful and really complements his voice. Another for the vinyl list!

I love Bobbi Humphrey's flute playing on "Harlem River Drive" as well as the relaxed feeling of cruising the barrios of 70's Manhattan that the song conveys. Each time I listen to it on YouTube, it is followed by tracks from Gil-Scott Heron. (No brain, not Jill Scott.) The algorithm (algoRHYTHM, anyone??) got it right this time. I couldn't name a single song I heard, but I liked it. Time to dig in with a focused listen. I think Gil is a little loud in the mix; at least, I'd like to hear the backing music a bit more as there are some tasty tidbits in there too. His singing isn't amazing, but he makes do with the art he has. The jazz is smooth but not elevator music, and many of these tracks sound live, at least partially. The playing is phenomenal, especially the piano, flute, and congas. The spoken-word genius delivery of "H2Ogate Blues" reminds us that the good ol' days weren't as rosy-colored as we'd like to remember. Even then, he talks of current stolen elections, stacking the Supreme Court, inflation, war for profit, and politicians "whose ignorance is only surpassed by those that voted for [them]." Mic drop. Sadly, this struggle remains and rings true even today, a persistent winter in America. Peace go with you, brother. This is the jazz music I like with a message that remains fresh and revolutionary. Winter In America just oozes intelligent and soulful art, and the rhythm makes you move. A unique and hip take on jazz, poetry, and spoken-word mastery.

Loved it. Great poetry, great vibe, beautiful music.

One of the strongest voices in history

like nothing i've heard before, loved

very cool

4.5☆/5 07.09.2024

Great jazz

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. I just thought this album felt really encapsulating to me – it had some lulls early on, but I never really felt bored, I just felt like I was always waiting for the instrumentation to take another step up. They kinda broke down that expectation over time, and I think after getting a bit of energy with Back Home and The Bottle, the rest of the album was gliding for me in terms of the soundscape, the vocals, and ultimately, the comforting feel of the album. I really think the last 5 tracks (not counting the reprise of Peace go with You, Brother at the end) are just that damn good – Song for Bobby Smith and Your Daddy Loves You, in particular, gave me the same feeling as say, watching Mr. Rogers or Bob Ross. They just felt reassuring in an authentic way that isn’t often recorded in music, in part because there’s no swirling bombastic instrumental behind them, which helped a lot. H2Ogate Blues is a great critique of the politics of the era, and it’s wild how well I think it’s aged into 2024, especially with the damn Reagan diss about a decade early. I’m just kinda grumpy that this isn’t on streaming, because I’d add every song here if I could. Regardless, it’s a really nice 44 minutes, and I kinda just found a bit of bliss in it. I enjoyed the hell out of it, and I feel good with a 5. It definitely feels like it should be on this list.

Difficult to find to stream but worth it. H20 Gate Blues is still powerful 50 years later.

Blown away by this, really incredible.

A really great album by an artist, I must admit, I did not know. A shame that is isn't available on Spotify, but found it on Youtube. Will be dipping into his other records but since I listen either on Spotify or on my stereo I will probably not hear this record again ...

The man is a legend, the album is not available to stream so I just listened to everything else in his catalogue. I heard The Bottle 42 years ago in a basement club called the honky Tonk, on a Sunday night. It took me 10 years to track it down and I thought I was onto someone special, and I still am.

Nice.

Wasn't on Spotify, listened to Pieces of man instead, absolute quality

Oh shit! So excited for this one. Love this artist. It’s a relief to find this beautiful recording posted on YouTube. Undeniably great. He was a poet. He was a genius. Raw soulful singing, luscious music. Get into it!

Ok how is Winter in America not on Spotify? It’s fantastic!! I can see how Gil Scott is considered a precursor to hip hop and rap, there’s wonderful poetry here as well as just… good music. Loved The Bottle and H2Ogate Blues, but overall the experience was inspiring. After listening I went straight to Pieces of a Man, which opens with a wonderful poem based on the slogan “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. The rest of the album doesn’t get that political but it’s still a fantastic sou l record. 5/5 for both albums, will revisit a lot.

Gil Scott-Heron is a genius and this is another great record from him. Loved it

A glittering jewel of an album, a time capsule of the turmoil of mid-70s America as only Gil Scott-Heron could examine it. Along with the considerable musical gifts of Brian Jackson, they make a formidable team.

This is a difficult album to find on streaming in 2024. That said, its worth looking for as its absolutely outstanding. This is a great "shits all fucked up and someones gotta say something" work of art. 5/5

Soul filled hammond and a reverence that speaks to the lyrics is how it opens and it is captivating. This piano on Rivers Of My Fathers is wild. Dude what a wholesome and uplifting album. OH THE WATERGATE BLUES IS THE BEST! wow what a great musical expression.

Damn I love Gil Scott-Heron. Wish Pieces of a Man was on the list as well. He is socially conscious, calming, uplifting, hilarious, groovy, heartbreaking, smooth, and a hundred other things all in one album and I always find myself wanting more. 10/10

This was great. A nice snapshot of 1970s Black America. Gil Scott-Heron never held back in his life and he does not disappoint in "H2OGate Blues." Love how he touched upon so many social issues. I can definitely see why this is such an important album.

Scott-Heron's strength is as a poet. The music on this album is a little too mild for me. On his strength as a poet, however, 10/10.

Really loved the sound of this

Echt goeie

Every time I hear Gil Scott-Heron I learn a little bit about something.

A great disc that everyone should hear. Like Patti Smith, Gil Scott-Heron is a poet first and a musician second. The music is soulful and intimate. While Jackson's piano work is almost improvisational, Gil Scott-Heron's lyrics are direct and almost prophetic. The Bottle is a standout.

I've never heard of Gil Scott-Heron before, but I really enjoyed this album. Musically, it was really fun to listen to; the flute usage throughout, and the piano arrangements really meshed to create a sound that was rooted in soul and blues, but still its own. For an album about such heavy subject matter, it really had some fun grooves, and I caught myself bobbing my head along throughout most of the album. As great as the music was here, the lyrics are the real standout to me. I really enjoyed when spoken word was used in some of the songs, and it felt very apt, since a lot of civil rights leaders used spoken word and poetry when they would orate. "The Bottle" and "H20 Gate Blues" were my two favorite tracks, and their lyrics are still incredibly relevant in today's political discourse (I had never heard of Frank Rizzo before, but wow, that guy sounds like a real piece of shit). Overall, I think this album set out to deliver a message about America in the seventies, and with its great music, it achieves that goal.

Such a cool album. I liked the paired down jazz at first, it got a little old in the second and third tracks, but then it really started picking up. We start getting incredible flute and piano play which in retrospect sounds like a quintessential sound of the 70s. Then H20-Gate blues comings out the gate with a scathing yet resonating political critique. Then the gloves are off from there. I never thought I would be so into an album like this but I absolutely loved it.

Yes.

Not on Spotify but The Bottle, the epic H20gate blues and many other great tracks from a youtube clip, make this a great solid four star album.

This is exactly type of record I had hoped to encounter when I started this list. Winter in America is completely unique and engaging to my ears. It’s funky and captivating with conscientious, poetic lyrics that paint a vivid picture of American Life that, frankly, isn’t wildly different from the America we live in today, nearly 50 years later. It’s the kind of record that I don’t think anyone else could make or even attempt to recreate. Gil Scott Heron’s talent, his way with words, is incomparable. This record was a breath of fresh air. I loved it. It’s a shame it isn’t easily available for digital purchase or streaming outside of YouTube. I ordered a copy on vinyl after my first listen, thats how mischievous I loved it.

It is criminal that this album is not on any streaming services. This is an awesome album. I'd love to have it on vinyl. I was jamming the entire time. I went into this album expecting to give it a 4 because of its genres, but came out eager to give it a 5. My favourite songs were Rivers of My Fathers, A Very Precious Time, and The Bottle.

This was such a wonderful synthesis of blues, R&B, and just that classic 70s Black sound. I loved every one of these tracks, but my jaw dropped during H20Gate Blues. That shit could have been written YESTERDAY it's so sadly relevant. I was on the fence about 4 or 5 here, but I've talked myself into a 5 because I realize I want to listen to this a lot more, and also to the rest of Gil's records.

Good album. Really liked "The Bottle". Listening from a modern perspective, offers a great window into the 70s.