Name: Free Will
Brand: Gil Scott-Heron

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

HIQLP023

Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

[r6186633]

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2014-10-06

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

029667002219

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

XXQLP126

Black

Extended format: Yes

180 Gram Vinyl. All Analogue Remastered Edition.

2024-01-26

029667020510

Black LP

Artist

Gil Scott-Heron

Genre GB

Funk / Soul

Label GB

US singer, spoken-word artist, activist and author Gil Scott-Heron was born on April 1, 1949 in Chicago, IL. He passed away on May 27, 2011 in New York, NY. Known for his influential work as a spoken word soul performer during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Scott-Heron collaborated with musician Brian Jackson to create a fusion of jazz, blues and soul music. His lyrics addressed social and political issues of the time in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles. His recordings influenced genres like hip hop and neo soul.

Scott-Heron's most well-known composition "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is often associated with black militant activism. His unique proto-rap style has been praised by Allmusic as having influenced a generation of hip-hop artists.

With his mixed heritage of Black American (maternal) and Jamaican (paternal) descent, Gil Scott-Heron left an indelible mark on the music industry through his powerful words and musical talents.

Ace Records Spotlight

Back In Stock

Based in the UK, BGP is a soul, funk and jazz dance reissue label. The name BGP is derived from Beat Goes Public. Originally headed by DJs Baz Fe Jazz and Gilles Peterson, the label saw a change in leadership in the early 1990s when Russ Dewbury took over. Currently, Dean Rudland serves as the label head.

BGP has gained recognition for its reissues of classic soul, funk and jazz dance music. With a focus on preserving and reintroducing timeless tracks to modern audiences, BGP has become an authoritative voice in the genre.

With its impressive catalog of releases, BGP offers music enthusiasts a chance to explore and appreciate the rich history of soul, funk and jazz dance. Whether you're a seasoned fan or new to these genres, BGP provides an extensive collection that will satisfy your musical cravings.

Released in 1971, Gil Scott-Heron’s second album Pieces Of A Man is a stone-cold classic and rightly seen as one of the greatest albums of all time.

There is a reason why a full album of songs did not appear as a follow-up. Both producer Bob Thiele and Scott- Heron’s writing partner Brian Jackson had been keen to move forward quickly with song-based material, but Scott- Heron saw himself first and foremost as a writer. A new novel, The Nigger Factory, would be published in 1972 and he also enrolled for writing seminars at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. 

&nbsp;Once the decision was made to combine poetry and song, sessions were booked for the 2nd and 3rd March 1972. The first session with Bernard ‘Pretty’ Purdie (drums), Hubert Laws (flute/piccolo), David Spinozza (guitar), Jerry Jemmott (bass) and Brian Jackson (electric and acoustic piano) recorded the songs with Horace Ott taking care of the arrangements. The second session was dedicated to poetry, recorded with Scott-Heron, Jackson, Eddie Knowles and Charlie Sanders from their college group Black and Blues. Free Will was released in 1972.

The song side included the heart-rending Vietnam war commentary of ‘Do You Hear What They Said?’, the propulsive title track and the beautiful ‘The Middle Of Your Day’. The poetry side immerses you in the radical politics of the day via ‘No Knock’ and ‘The King Alfred Plan’, and ends with his heartfelt tribute to John Coltrane ‘...and then he wrote Meditations’. Like “Pieces Of A Man” it is a classic and a cornerstone of any record collection. 

When BGP inherited the honour of looking after the Flying Dutchman legacy we discovered that, as well as being almost unparalleled in his discovery of great talent, Bob Thiele also recorded it immaculately. The label’s master tapes sounded exceptional and when it has come to our reissue series have only ever required the most minimal of EQ before transferring them onto disc.

LP+ - With this is mind Ace have embarked on a series of all analogue re-mastering projects, to bring the listener as close to the sound captured on tape as possible. The first release was Gil Scott-Heron’s Pieces Of A Man which was released early in 2023 and this second outing is Free Will. Ace took the original master tape to Frank Merritt at the Carvery who transferred the audio and mastered it before making this new cut himself. We then had it pressed on 180 gram vinyl and the only wish now is that you drop the needle, sit back and go back to 1972 to enjoy Gil Scott- Heron in his prime.

Free Will

Music GB

Discover Free Will by Gil Scott-Heron. A reissue of his 1972 album featuring songs and poetry. Available in CD and LP formats from BGP.