Gil ScottHeron - Spirits

Review by Brady MacDonald

Album Review: Spirits by Gil Scott-Heron (1994) Gil Scott-Heron’s Spirits is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. Released in '94, it’s a genre-blurring ride through funk, soul, jazz, and spoken word poetry—a mix that feels like sipping coffee while someone tells you life stories you didn’t know you needed to hear. The album came out in Japan, the US, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Germany, so yeah, it got around. Labels like Mother Records and TVT Records helped push it into the world, but honestly, this record feels like it belongs to everyone who’s ever felt lost or searching. Now, let me get into two tracks that stuck with me—because there’s no way I’m reviewing this without shouting them out. First up, “Lady’s Song.” Man, this track hits different. It’s smooth, kinda soulful, but also raw in a way only Gil could pull off. The bassline from Fima Ephron just grooves under your skin, and when Gil starts singing, it’s like he’s sitting right next to you, spilling his heart. What makes it memorable? Maybe it’s how simple yet deep it feels. Like, you don’t need fireworks to make something stick—just honesty. And Gil? He’s as honest as they come. Then there’s “Message to the Messengers.” This one slaps hard, especially if you’re into lyrics that make you think. Gil’s words here feel urgent, like he’s grabbing you by the shoulders and saying, “Wake up!” The rhythm section—Rodney Youngs on drums and Larry McDonald on percussion—is tight, but it’s Gil’s voice and message that take center stage. He’s talking about responsibility, legacy, and keeping it real in a world full of noise. Honestly, after hearing this track, I felt both inspired and kinda guilty for not doing more with my own life. That’s the power of Gil’s music—it doesn’t just entertain; it challenges you. One thing I gotta mention is the production. Ali Shaheed Muhammed (yeah, the Ali from A Tribe Called Quest) produced track 10, and you can tell he brought some serious vibes to the table. The mastering by Joe Gastwirt keeps everything crisp, even though this isn’t the kind of album that needs perfection—it thrives on its imperfections. Sir Shadow’s artwork and Jason Pearson’s design give the whole package a gritty, authentic look that matches the music perfectly. Spirits is an album that stays with you long after the last note fades. It’s not flashy or overly polished, but maybe that’s why it works so well. Listening to it feels like having a late-night convo with an old friend who knows exactly what to say. And honestly? If Gil Scott-Heron doesn’t make you want to call your mom, check on your homies, or at least write something meaningful, then I don’t know what will. Oh, and here’s the unexpected part: listening to this album made me realize how much we still need voices like Gil’s today. Like, seriously, where are the modern poets willing to drop truth bombs like this? Guess we’ll have to keep spinning Spirits until someone steps up.

Artist: Gil ScottHeron
Album: Spirits

1994

Rating: 5.0

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Spirits	7:48
Give Her A Call	5:44
Lady's Song	3:14
The Other Side, Pt. 3	6:40
Work for Peace	7:33
Give Her a Call	5:44
The Other Side, Pt. 2	6:10
The Other Side, Part III	6:40
The Other Side
The Other Side, Pt. 1	5:25
Lady's Song	3:14
The Other Side, Part I	5:25
Don't Give Up	5:58
The Other Side Part I, II, III
Don't Give Up	5:58
The Other Side, Part II	6:10
Work For Peace	7:33
Message to the Messengers	4:57
Message To The Messengers	4:57
Spirits Past	3:0
Spirit's Past	3:00

Images

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Catalog Numbers

Labels

TVT Records
Mother Records
Bad News Records

Listen online

online anhören
écouter en ligne
kuunnella verkossa
ascolta in linea
lyssna på nätet
ouvir online
online luisteren
escuchar en línea
lytte på nettet

Formats

CD
Album
Cassette
Stereo
Reissue
Promo
Vinyl
LP
Gatefold
2 × Vinyl
Red

Companies

Role	Company
Manufactured By	Cinram
Phonographic Copyright (p)	TVT Records
Copyright (c)	TVT Records
Distributed By	TVT Records
Produced For	Mr. E?=MC² Productions
Recorded At	T.O.N.T.O.
Mixed At	Skyline Recording
Mastered At	Oceanview Digital Mastering
Published By	Brouhaha Music, Inc.
Lacquer Cut At	K Disc Mastering
Pressed By	Specialty Records Corporation
Marketed By	PolyGram Records, Inc.
Remastered At	Sterling Sound
Licensed From	TVT Records

Credits

Role	Credit
A&R	Tom Sarig
Coordinator	Tom Sarig
Artwork By	Sir Shadow
Bass	Fima Ephron, Rob Gordon
Piano	Malcom Cecil
Design	Jason Pearson
Drums	Rodney Youngs
Flute	Ibrahim Shakur
Guitar	Ed Brady
Mastered By	Joe Gastwirt
Music By	Ali Shaheed Muhammed (tracks: 10), Brian Jackson (tracks: 5), Gil Scott-Heron (tracks: 1, 3
Percussion	Larry McDonald, Tony Duncanson
Photography	Andrew Baker
Vocals	Gil Scott-Heron
Producer	Ali Shaheed Muhammed (tracks: 10)
Mixed By	Gil Scott-Heron (tracks: 1
Saxophone	Leon William, Ron Holloway
Words By	Gil Scott-Heron
Illustration	Sir Shadow
Lacquer Cut By	BL
Sleeve Notes	Gil Scott-Heron
Written-By	Gil Scott-Heron (tracks: A1, A3 to B1)
Composed By	Gil Scott-Heron (tracks: A1, A3 to B1)
Remastered By	Joe LaPorta

Notes

Manufactured and Distributed by Cargo Records
The copyright in this sound recording is owned by TVT Records and is exclusively liscensed to Mother Records.
℗ 1994 TVT RECORDS
© 1994 TVT RECORDS
Originally released in 1994.
For Promotional Use Only.
Produced ... for Mr. E?=MC² Productions except track B2.
Tracks A1,A2,A3 recorded at Tonto's, Topanga, CA
Tracks A4 recorded at Skyline Studios, Topanga, CA
Tracks B1,B2,B3,* recorded at Moonwalker Studios, Aarberg Switzerland
Track B4* recorded at Sorcerer Sound, NYC
Tracks A1,A2,A4 mixed at Skyline Studios
Track A3 mixed at Tonto's
Tracks B1,B2,B3,B4* mixed at Alpha Studios, Burbank, CA
Mastered At – Ocean View Digital Mastering, Los Angeles
All songs © Brouhaha Music, Inc. (ASCAP) except "Don't Give Up" © Brouhaha Music, Inc. (ASCAP)/Zomba Enterprises (ASCAP) and "Spirits" © Brouhaha Music, Inc. (ASCAP)/Jowcol (BMI)
℗&© 1994 TVT Records
* The credits refer to tracks B1 to B4, although only two tracks are listed for that on the release. "The Other Side" is in three parts, to B1,B2,B3 in the credits refer to the three parts of this track.
Marketed in Australia by Polygram under exclusive licence. Made in Australia.
Cargo Distribution Canada
Licensed from TVT Records

Barcodes

Barcode: 0 16581 43102 7
Matrix / Runout: #940529H TVT-4310-2
Barcode: 7 31452 34174 7
Barcode (Text): 0 16581 43101 0
Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, hand-etched; SRC Logo stamped): TVT 4310-A 1-1 Kdisc BL [SRC Logo]
Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, hand-etched; SRC Logo stamped): TVT 4310-B 1-1 Kdisc BL [SRC Logo]
Rights Society: ASCAP
Rights Society: BMI
Barcode: 731452341723
Matrix / Runout: MADE BT DISCTRONICS B * * 523417-2 * * #01
Barcode: 016581431119
Barcode: 0 16581 43104
Barcode: 016581431041

About Gil ScottHeron

descargar álbum Gil ScottHeron - Spirits

US singer, spoken-word, activist and author of Jamaican descent. Born: April 1, 1949 (Chicago, IL, USA) Died: May 27, 2011 (New York, NY, USA) American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his late 1960s and early 1970s work as a spoken word soul performer and his collaborative work with musician Brian Jackson. His collaborative efforts with Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. The music of these albums, most notably Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. Scott-Herons recording work is often associated with black militant activism and has received much critical acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. On his influence, Allmusic wrote Scott-Herons unique proto-rap style influenced a generation of hip-hop artists.

Real Name

Gil Scott-Heron

Name Vars

G Scott-Heron
G. Heron
G. S. Heron
G. S. Herron
G. Scott - Heron
G. Scott Heron
G. Scott-Heron
G. Scott-Herron
G. Scott/Heron
G.S. Haron
G.S. Heron
G.S.H.
G.Scott-Heron
GSH
Gil
Gil - Scot - Heron
Gil Scot - Heron
Gil Scot Heron
Gil Scott
Gil Scott - Heron
Gil Scott Heron
Gil Scott Herron
Gil Scott-Heron \
Gil, Scot, Heron
Gil-Scot-Heron
Gil-Scott Heron
Gil-Scott-Heron
Gil. Scott-Heron
Gil/Scot/Heron
Gill Scott Heron
Gill Scott-Heron
Gill-Scott Heron
Gimbal Scot Heron
Heron
S. Heron
Scot Heron
Scott & Heron
Scott - Heron /-Heron
Scott / Heron
Scott Heron
Scott-Heron
Scott/Heron

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? Gil Scott-Heron's 1994 album *Spirits* is a genre-blending masterpiece that fuses funk, soul, jazz, and spoken word. It features collaborations with artists like Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, who produced one of the tracks. The album’s rich sound was brought to life by talented musicians, including bassist Fima Ephron and saxophonist Ron Holloway. Even more fascinating is that the iconic artwork was created by Sir Shadow, adding another layer of artistic depth to this timeless project.

Comments

yenphuongnguyen19

2025-03-11

I personally find this rougher and more strained voice adds to the impact of the vocals. Gil Scott-Heron has experienced drug addiction by now and is self aware. In The Other Side pt 1, 2, and 3 he covers one of his own songs that makes reference to drug addiction. The weakness in his voice carries a more personal sincerity than Pieces of a Man (At least I believe it was from that album). In Pieces of a Man he is speaking for an oppressed people, but in this album he speaks of himself, which gives the album a different weight.