| Early version of his meditation on alcoholism that presaged his own struggles, and before he’d added the uplifting coda, “Celebrate your life.” Notable For: Mid-70s music video prototype blend of street and performance footage. |
| Gil’s warning of the perils of nuclear power, based on a near-meltdown outside Detroit, and featured in the “No Nukes” concert film. Notable For: His relaxed minimalist opening building to a full jazz-funk hybrid and back down to spoken word. |
| Scott-Heron’s spotlight on apartheid in South Africa, a decade before “Sun City” and The Specials did the same thing to much greater acclaim. Notable For: Prominent use of a harmonica in an R&B jazz band. |
| Gil’s history of jazz in a song, this is early rap, humoursly playing with the greats of music, blending genres and generations to make the point that labels are meaningless. Notable For:A healthy and happy Gil swinging in fine voice. |
| His classic song-poem was expertly set to a video collage in the style of the early 70s TV that the song references, and from where and when it was born. Notable For: Making contemporary and visual a poem that’s eternal and visceral. |