Description
Reissue: 07-04-2013
Del Jones, a poet, and proto-rapper, recorded Court is Closed in 1973. It was underground Philadelphia’s response to Amiri Baraka’s and Gil Scott-Heron’s indictments of the Black American experience – a call to action not just for his city, but for the nation. The set includes an oversized 10 page booklet by Jeremy Cargill, with contributions by Now-Again founder Eothen “Egon” Alapatt which delves into Jones’ music, milieu and life as an author, activist and orator, shining a light not only on his prescient awareness of hip-hop, but also on the struggles he confronted, and his urgent, current mandate. Court is Closed, equal parts psychedelic rock and deep funk, had a limited release of 500 copies and was rarely heard before Jones overdubbed horns on the album, remixed and augmented it with additional music, and issued it as the better-known Positive Vibes. Here are both versions of the album on the 23rd release in the deluxe “Now-Again Reserve Edition” series. Jones’ story, and that of his family, is like his music: a loud, vital voice long silenced. Understanding it now is not just a visceral musical experience, but an essential dissection of racism and classism in America.
Tracklist:
-
- 1. Court is Closed
- 2. Inside Black America
- 3. Times Are Hard, Friends Are Few
- 4. Prelude To Hell
- 5. Needle N’ Spoon
-
- 1. Vibe-Ing Theme
- 2. Prelude Ta Hell
- 3. Needle ‘N Spoon
- 4. Cold Turkey
- 5. Soul of Black Folks
- 6. Court is Closed
- 7. Inside Black America
- 8. Times Are Hard, Friends Are Few
