Summary
From South Africa to South Carolina is a studio album by the American vocalist Gil Scott-Heron and the keyboardist Brian Jackson.[6][7] It was released in November 1975 by Arista Records.[8] Scott-Heron performed "Johannesburg" and "A Lovely Day" on Saturday Night Live in December 1975.[9] The album was reissued in the late 1990s via Scott-Heron's Rumal-Gia label, distributed by TVT Records.[10]
| From South Africa to South Carolina | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1975 | |||
| Recorded | June–July 1975 | |||
| Studio | D&B Sound in Silver Spring, Maryland | |||
| Label | Arista | |||
| Producer | Perpis-Fall Music, Inc., Jose Williams, Midnight Band | |||
| Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+[2] |
| The Commercial Appeal |  [3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
The album peaked at No. 103 on the Billboard 200.[11] "Johannesburg" was a moderate "disco" hit.[12]
Production edit
The music was provided by the Midnight Band, led by Jackson.[13]
Critical reception edit
The Houston Press, reviewing a reissue, wrote that the album's "best moments are the beautiful lament 'Beginnings', which is rife with bittersweet harmonies, and 'A Lovely Day', a light, poppish, medium-tempo number that builds to a smart climax."[14] The Chicago Tribune thought that it was one of a handful of albums that "brought a new depth and political consciousness to the urban vision of the '70s."[15] The Wire praised "Essex", calling the song "probably the most out thing this team ever tried: freeform intro, mordantly twining vocals, Jackson's darting, flickering flute."[16]
Track listing edit
- Side one
- "Johannesburg" 4:52
- "A Toast to the People" 5:47
- "The Summer of '42" 4:42
- "Beginnings (The First Minute of a New Day)" 6:23
- Side two
- "South Carolina (Barnwell)" 3:45
- "Essex" 9:17
- "Fell Together" 4:30
- "A Lovely Day" 3:29
Bonus tracks edit
CD reissue bonus tracks
- "South Carolina (Barnwell)" (Live from the No Nukes concert at Madison Square Garden) 6:29
- "Save the Children" (Live from Blues Alley, Washington DC) 4:23
- "Johannesburg" (Live from Gil Scott-Heron: Black Wax) 11:14
- "Let Me See Your I.D." (from Sun City: Artists Against Apartheid) 7:30
Personnel edit
- Gil Scott-Heron - vocals, electric piano
- Brian Jackson - vocals, flute, keyboards, synthesizer
- Victor Brown - vocals, tambourine, bells
- Bilal Sunni Ali - saxophone, flute, harmonica
- Danny Bowens - bass
- Bob Adams - drums
- Charlie Saunders - congas, Chinese drum
- Barnett Williams - congas, djembe drums, shekere
- Adenola - congas
"Let Me See Your I.D." performed by Big Youth, Ray Barretto, Brian Jackson, Duke Bootee, Peter Garrett, Grandmaster Melle Mel and Gil Scott-Heron
References edit
- ^ "From South Africa to South Carolina - Gil Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Ellis, Bill (August 1, 1998). "Recordings". The Commercial Appeal. p. C3.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. pp. 304–305.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 622.
- ^ "Gil Scott-Heron | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Harrington, Richard (3 June 1998). "At Last, the Word Is Out; The Influential Scott-Heron, Finally on CD". The Washington Post. p. D5.
- ^ "New LP/Tape Releases". Billboard. November 15, 1975. p. 68.
- ^ "Season 1: Episode 7", Saturday Night Live Transcripts.
- ^ Fischer, Doug (14 Jan 1999). "Hip-hop grandmaster still offers hope". Windsor Star. p. E3.
- ^ "Gil Scott-Heron". Billboard.
- ^ The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides Ltd. 1999. p. 859.
- ^ "Gil Scott-Heron obituary". The Guardian. May 29, 2011.
- ^ MacArthur, Paul J. (September 3, 1998). "Catching Up with Gil". Houston Press.
- ^ Kot, Greg (9 October 1998). "SONG POET". chicagotribune.com.
- ^ "Essays - In Writing - The Wire". www.thewire.co.uk.