Gil Scott-Heron‘s legacy continues to be unveiled. After releasing his back catalogue Nothing New as a limited edition vinyl for Record Store Day 2014, now the music was made available digitally for the first time, in celebration of Gil’s 66th birthday.
The first single off the digital release – “Pieces Of A Man”, is now available for listening. Being a sad two-chord blues hymn, the song strips down the simplicity and genius of Scott-Heron’s nature, making one dreaming and replacing the listener somewhere dark and lonesome. A real piano blues beauty, some might say.
Nothing New, which was a first artist’s release since his death back in 2011 (not including Gil’s post-mortem collaboration with Jamie XX), is described in a press release as featuring these stripped down versions of some of Gil’s best (though not necessarily best known) songs, as well as excerpts of conversations between takes.
“Pieces Of A Man” is a lost person’s monologue, who doesn’t want to be found.
Click “Play” below and listen to yourself.