Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - Secrets '1978/2009

Tracks list

 Secrets was released in September 1978 by Arista Records[3] and debuted at
number 31 on the Billboard magazines jazz chart on September 9.[4] According to
Arista executive Clive Davis, the album was Scott-Herons first since 1975s The
First Minute of a New Day to reach the top 100 of Billboards top albums chart,
while the single Angel Dust nearly became a hit.[5]

Reviewing for The Village Voice in 1979, Robert Christgau lamented the lack of
hooks on songs such as Third World Revolution but appreciated Show Biznesss
tribulations-of-stardom theme and educational refrain. His main point of praise
was for Scott-Herons political flair, writing that he stokes the protest-music
flame more generously than any son of Woody, and in sheer agitprop terms Angel
Dust, one of those black-radio hits that somehow never crossed over, is his
triumph--haunting music of genuine political usefulness.[6] People magazine
appreciated the records jazz sounds from Jackson and the Midnight Band, while
calling Secrets another angry, robust collection of song-poems, this time
exploring injustice, drug addiction and revolution.[7] Tristan Bath of The
Quietus later said it departed from the jazz chords, faint keyboard, and
Afrocentric themes of Scott-Heron and Jacksons previous recordings together in
favor of disco and futurist dance music tropes.[8] Colin Larkin gave the album
three out of five stars in his Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music (2002).[9]
AllMusic assigned it three-and-a-half stars on its website and three stars in
the print All Music Guide to Soul, but omitted a review in both
instances.[3][10]

The album track Better Days Ahead was later reworked and released on
Scott-Herons 2014 posthumous compilation Nothing New
:: TRACKLIST ::

1 Angel Dust 4:16
2 Madison Avenue 3:09
3 Cane 3:32
4 Third World Revolution 4:22
5 Better Days Ahead 3:27
6 Three Miles Down 4:17
7 Angola, Louisiana 5:31
8 Show Bizness 2:50
9 A Prayer For Everybody/To Be Free 6:26

Personnel
 Gil Scott-Heron – production, vocals, rhythm piano (tracks 2, 3, 6, 7,
and 8)
 Brian Jackson – production, flute, piano, keyboard bass (synthesizer),
TONTO synthesizer, drums (tracks 3 and 4)
 Malcolm Cecil – associate producer, production assistance, engineering,
and mixing
 Lenny Peterzell – production assistance, engineering, and mixing
 Barnett The Doctor Williams – congas, Batá drums, assorted percussion
 Leon Williams – tenor saxophone (tracks 4 and 9)
 Harvey Mason – drums (tracks 2, 6, 7, and 8)
 Greg Phillinganes – electric piano, Polymoog synthesizer, TONTO
synthesizer
 Alvin Taylor – drums (track 1)
 Ralph Penland – drums (tracks 5 and 9)
 Julia Waters – backing vocals
 Marti McCall – backing vocals
 Maxine Waters Waddell – backing vocals

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