CD-Charts Position 1
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Word Of Mouth - The Very Best Of John Cooper Clarke

CD-Charts > Music > Poetry
by: John Cooper Clarke

Release Date August 05, 2002
A must for anyone who is capable of thought, this collection will stun you on its first hearing (this is normal, it will always happen), the lyrics/poems having a raw power that will make you wonder why you have never been able to write as he can. Scared of no-one, there can be no doubt JCC is fearless in what he does write, but that's not to be thought of as arrogance in any way at all, no, it's observation of the highest order - he has something to say for sure. As for others here commenting on the music accompanying the words, I can only say that the strident/near discordant style actually enhances the tracks for me, in that respect Beasley Street is a tour de force - it's not music plus lyrics, it's music times lyrics. A great collection ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

CD-Charts > Music > Poetry
by: Gil Scott-Heron

Release Date April 15, 1989
Gil Scott-Heron is one of the great recording artists of the 20th century. It is a shame that most people know almost nothing about him.

He work is almost always interesting and I would recommend (almost) all of his albums. If you are unfamiliar with his work then this compilation album is a very good place to start.

Gil Scott-Heron draws on a wide range of influences: the music of John Coltrane, the blues, the oral traditions of the American South and many others to create fantastic music in a variety of different styles from spoken word/rap to (almost) soul.
He is perhaps best known for his searing political (and personal) lyrics that are often so good that they can be read as poetry. However, he is also an excellent ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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A Gift of Love Vol.1: Music Inspired By Love Poems of Rumi

CD-Charts > Music > Poetry
by: Deepak Chopra

Release Date January 28, 2002
This is simply the most beautiful sound I ever heard. Give it to the one you love and you will both tanscend this earthly world and float in a sea of love. It is magical and evocative and everyone should hear it. Its pure escapism and yet it reminds us what is real. We should send it to the world leaders so they might realise that life is love, no more, no less.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Winter in America

CD-Charts > Music > Poetry
by: Gil Scott-Heron

Release Date April 25, 2005
This is indeed a great album - it's one of my favourite Gil Scott-heron CD's - but you need to know that he's always had a policy of recycling song titles and album titles, and even book titles into songs, albums, etc. Thus the SONG 'Winter In America' came later, and is featured on an album called 'The First Minute Of A New Day'. If that's what you're looking for, don't buy this. But it IS a great album. 'Peace Go With You, Brother' is especially good. 'The Bottle' is a classic, and 'H2Ogate' Blues is still worth listening to.

CD-Charts Position 5
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Pieces of a Man

CD-Charts > Music > Poetry
by: Gil Scott-Heron

Release Date November 10, 2001
Soul-jazz legend Gil Scott-Heron delivers a fine album here with some of the best tracks of his career.
"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is mesmeric, sharp, intelligent and innovative. "I Think I'll Call It Morning" is charming, sweet and soulful. "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" is socially aware and tight and the title track is moving and thoughtful.
"Lady Day And John Coltrane" is a sublime peice of tight funky jazz (as opposed to jazz funk know what i mean?).
A very good album. Worth exploring the man's back catalogue.
Intelligent, excellent, soulful music.

CD-Charts Position 6
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Saul Williams

CD-Charts > Music > Poetry
by: Saul Williams

Release Date April 11, 2005
Okay, perhaps not for everyone's taste, but this is a refreshing antidote to the commercial mess that 'hip hop' has become. Along with The Coup, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique and a few others, Saul Williams has succeeded in resisting the tendency to 'sell out' (a rare accusation these days, as so many have done). Although I agree to a degree with the reviewer who criticised the 'unpolished' feel of some of the production, isn't that what hip hop was always about? If you are looking for a bubbly, idiotic, moronic corporate puppet, look elsewhere. If you are looking for intelligent, soulful hip hop, (and probably if, like me, you grew up with 1980s and early 1990s hip hop) you can't go wrong with this.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Poets of the Great War: Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Etc. (Poetry)

CD-Charts > Music > Poetry
from: Naxos AudioBooks

Release Date April 06, 1998
Okay, perhaps not for everyone's taste, but this is a refreshing antidote to the commercial mess that 'hip hop' has become. Along with The Coup, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique and a few others, Saul Williams has succeeded in resisting the tendency to 'sell out' (a rare accusation these days, as so many have done). Although I agree to a degree with the reviewer who criticised the 'unpolished' feel of some of the production, isn't that what hip hop was always about? If you are looking for a bubbly, idiotic, moronic corporate puppet, look elsewhere. If you are looking for intelligent, soulful hip hop, (and probably if, like me, you grew up with 1980s and early 1990s hip hop) you can't go wrong with this.

CD-Charts Position 8
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Without a Worry in the World: Greatest Hits

CD-Charts > Music > Poetry
by: Rod McKuen

Release Date May 22, 2006
Okay, perhaps not for everyone's taste, but this is a refreshing antidote to the commercial mess that 'hip hop' has become. Along with The Coup, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique and a few others, Saul Williams has succeeded in resisting the tendency to 'sell out' (a rare accusation these days, as so many have done). Although I agree to a degree with the reviewer who criticised the 'unpolished' feel of some of the production, isn't that what hip hop was always about? If you are looking for a bubbly, idiotic, moronic corporate puppet, look elsewhere. If you are looking for intelligent, soulful hip hop, (and probably if, like me, you grew up with 1980s and early 1990s hip hop) you can't go wrong with this.

CD-Charts Position 9
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Snap Crackle and Bop

CD-Charts > Music > Poetry
by: John Cooper Clarke, The Invisible Girls

Release Date June 20, 2005
That young Johnny Clarke's been at it again. More 'produced' than his first outing, but a fine performance from himself and his Invisible Girls. As I get older I tend to prefer his raw unaccompanied solo live rants, but there's a hazy pleasure to be had from the studio tracked backs as well.

I used to think he'd be back.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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A Flat Man

CD-Charts > Music > Poetry
by: Ivor Cutler

Release Date March 17, 2008
That young Johnny Clarke's been at it again. More 'produced' than his first outing, but a fine performance from himself and his Invisible Girls. As I get older I tend to prefer his raw unaccompanied solo live rants, but there's a hazy pleasure to be had from the studio tracked backs as well.

I used to think he'd be back.