1976 release, includes rare masters of live classics and vintage studio tracks. Included here are gruop arrangements of pieces that had been previously recorded, 'Home Is Where TheHatred Is', 'The Bottle' and 'Must Be Some... more »thing' as well as new material, '17th Street' and 'Tomorrow's Trane' all performed with live crowds in Boston. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.« less
1976 release, includes rare masters of live classics and vintage studio tracks. Included here are gruop arrangements of pieces that had been previously recorded, 'Home Is Where TheHatred Is', 'The Bottle' and 'Must Be Something' as well as new material, '17th Street' and 'Tomorrow's Trane' all performed with live crowds in Boston. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.
"There were two Gil Scott Heron treasures missing from my collection of CD's. "It's Your World" and "Bridges." Now if TVT can release "Bridges", my collection would be complete. I was lucky enough to have found "Reflections" and "Moving Target" when I visited London six years ago. "It's Your World " is a great combination of live and studio recordings that are a pure delite to listen too. No one writes lyrics like Gil Scott Heron. "New York City" and "Possem Slim" are polished jewels. I have heard about 6 different live versions of "The Bottle," but this one is my favorite. If your body has any rhythm in it, the percussions in this song will find it. I hope that we hear new recordings from Gil in the near future. The music industry needs high quality artists like him. This brother helped to shape my appreciation for artist like Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. I discovered Jazz through Gil Scott Heron - and for that, I am truly grateful. It is great to hear this music again. Please release "Bridges" next!!!!!!"
An Incredible Listening Experience ! ! !
Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 12/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In his hey day Gil Scott Heron was not merely an entertainer, he was a social institution and attending his shows were a gathering that transcended merely going to a club... as if his street poetry and political diatribes weren't enough, he had some of the funkiest and Jazziest rhythm sections on the planet... (often fronting them wearing a jean jacket, blue jeans, an unkept beared and afro and sitting at that old Fender Rhodes.) - - During his show, it was almost like attending some kind of mystical state of the union... he'd hip you to the world (as you definitely wouldn't hear it on the 6:00 news) yet at the same time, he made it clear that you were attending a party... and at the helm was his midnight band.This CD, in my opinion, represents Gil at his peek. The only greater chance you'll ever get to catch his band in action at such full form is his concert video "Black Wax" (highly recommended) - - The tunes on this album are very '70s... mixing the funky fusiony Jazz of that time with great rhythms, great story telling, and some deep messages. It is the type of listen that is best heard with the lights turned out, plenty of room to tap your feet and move your body, and your imagination at its peek... and never does the CD experience any lulls... by the time it is finished, you will feel emotionally exhausted, also as if you've been on a long journey.Recorded during the Bicentenial at a club and a few in studio (though you wouldn't know it unless you read the liner notes), the line up features Brian Jackson, Danny Bowens, Victor Brown, Bilal Sunni-Ali, Barnett Williams, Tony Duncanson, Reggie Brisbane and Delbert Taylor. Nice CD booklet with lyrics !"
Finally on Cd!!!
SEAN L GRIMES | O'fallon, MO United States | 01/24/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Finally, Gil Scott-Heron's live album "It's Your World", is available on CD. I've gotten tired of listening to the LP version. The quality of albums which we love don't last forever. We no longer have to worry about the snap crackle and pop produced by vinyl albums. We can cherish this albums quality always on CD. This album was available on CD for a short time through BMG music as far as I know. When ever I tried to order a copy, it was always on backorder. Hopefully, it will be here forever through TVT Music. This is probably one of my favorite albums of all time. Gil Scott-heron, Brian Jackson, and the Midnight Band display pure musical talent here. You have to listen for yourself to believe. I wish I had some other work in mind to compare this album with, but it's hard to compare things when they are in a class of their own. This album is truly in a class all by itself. There's no particular song which I like best on this CD. I recommend this CD to ears of all ages. This is one CD I will always have in my collection. Peace to all."
Gil at his very best
John Alapick | Wilkes-Barre, PA United States | 11/01/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Although Gil Scott-Heron has created several strong studio albums, his best being The First Minute of a New Day, and one of the most influential songs in music with "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", it's on the It's Your World album where the artist peaked in all aspects of the game. Divided equally between stellar studio tracks and killer performances from a live show in Boston, this is Gil Scott-Heron and the Midnight Band at their very best.
The album starts off with the soulful "It's Your World", which is carried by its snappy horn lines and a very catchy chorus. "Possum Slim" is a very funky tune featuring a memorable keyboard riff ala Stevie Wonder and a killer sax solo from Bilal Sunni-Ali. "New York City" is Scott-Heron's tribute to the city itself, featuring a smooth jazz arrangement which unexpectedly changes to salsa for a brief period before returning to its original theme. Then the live tracks begin and they're all fantastic. "17th Street" features great vocals from Scott-Heron and melodic flute playing throughout from Brian Jackson. "Trane", whose music was written by Alice Coltrane, features a great solo from Sunni-Ali as well as a great percussion workout near its close. "Must Be Something", with Sunni-Ali's excellent sax work, is much jazzier than the original. "Home Is Where The Hatred Is", featuring an extended melodic piano solo from Jackson and Victor Brown's accompanying vocals, make this a much stronger version than the original. "Bicentennial Blues" is arguably Scott-Heron's best spoken word performance. Using both words of the title as an analogy throughout the piece, it is an intelligent and accurate portrayal of the political corruptness of the 1970's which saw the gap between the rich and poor continuing to widen, something which is still very real today. The ultimate live version of "The Bottle" follows and features an extended solo from the rhythm section with Scott-Heron improvising throughout. "Sharing" is a great ballad with soaring emotional vocals from Brown that brings the album to a close. All told, Gil Scott-Heron and the Midnight Band are at the top of their game on It's Your World. Highly recommended."
Release Secrets! Release Secrets!
Still funkin in the 2000's | Florida, USA | 07/28/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"His 1978 Album, 'Secrets' is far and away his best commerical LP. He stays real, but gets so funky that you can't sit still. 'Three miles down,' a song that shoots right at the Taft-Hartly Act still rings in my head. 'Madison Ave' is a another song that I have sung to my kids to explain how advertising jingles effect us all. As Gil said, 'They can sell sand to man living a desert. They can tuna to the chicken of the sea...'