Nothing New is an album of stripped down vocal and piano versions of songs from Gil Scott-Heron’s back catalogue, recorded in New York with producer Richard Russell between 2005 and 2009.

The genesis of the album dates back to 2005, when Richard Russell first approached Gil with the suggestion of making a new record.

Part of the initial suggestion was to record spartan versions of some of Gil’s old songs, something that both parties thought intriguing.

Although recording initially started off that way, the album gradually evolved into something very different: 2010’s acclaimed I’m New Here album which, as the title suggests, didn’t touch on any of Gil’s previous recordings

In November 2011, six months after Gil sadly passed away, Russell sat down to listen to his catalogue in its entirety - including acoustic piano versions of Gil’s old songs that they’d captured during the sessions.

They were remarkable, entirely different versions to the originals, full of magic and simplicity. They had in fact made the album they originally set out to.

Nothing New features these stripped down versions of some of Gil’s best (though not necessarily best known) songs, as well as excerpts of conversations between takes.

The songs were chosen by Gil himself and it was only when compiling the album that Russell realised that each song was taken from a different album, Gil having carefully curated his selection.

Vinyl LP.

Tracklist:

Did You Hear What They Said

Better Days Ahead

Household Name (Interlude)

Your Daddy Loves You

Changing Yourself (Interlude)

Pieces Of A Man

Enjoying Yourself (Outro)

Alien (Hold On To Your Dreams)

Before I Hit The Bottom (Interlude)

95 South (All The Places We’ve Been)

The Other Side

The On/Off Switch (Interlude)

Blue Collar

On Bobby Blue Bland (Outro)

Barcode: 0634904057503

Catalogue Number: XLLP575   

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