Gil Scott-Heron – Free Will (1972)

My other purchase from Reckless Records in Berwick St, Soho, last week was this 1972 album from Gil Scott-Heron.

On the original vinyl release side one was songs, and side two poetry - this 2014 re-release as a Flying Dutchman Jazz classic doesn't make this differentiation, although preserves the original running order, as well as eleven bous tracks, pretty much repeating the album with alternate versions.

First song is the lively and interesting Free Will, with a hypnotic bass line from Gerry Jemmot, a fine flute accompaniment from Hubert Laws, and long-time collaborator Brian Jackson on some nifty piano, as well as a strong song from Scott-Heron. The Middle Of Your Day is much more relaxed, a gentle ballad, followed by the most political piece of the first three, the orthodox 12 bar blues number The Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues. Speed Kills is another slow song, with some interesting harmonies, but doesn't feel like the strongest thing on the album. The 'song portion' ends with the slow, thoughtful Did You Hear What They Said.

The poetry section was, I'm sure, massively impactful as a live act, and it's enhanced by Brian Jackson's percussion and flute, as well as Gil Scott-Heron's introductions, but it's not a great album listen. Nevertheless, No Knock is powerful, and the other poems are fine, especially Meditations, dedicated to John Coltrane.

The bonus tracks, all alternative versions really don't add anything to the original album.

While this is a decent enough early album by Gil, I think I prefer his more funky later stuff. The mixture of music and poetry is interesting, but it's the combination in well executed songs, which stand up on their own that was his strength.

Link to full album

3* - enjoyable, but only later does Scott-Heron really find his musical feet