From South Africa to South Carolina | ||||
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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 | ||||
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Review scores | |
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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] |
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]
The album peaked at No. 103 on the Billboard 200.[11] "Johannesburg" was a moderate "disco" hit.[12]
The music was provided by the Midnight Band, led by Jackson.[13]
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]
CD reissue bonus tracks
"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