The Bottle

"The Bottle"
Single by Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
from the album Winter in America
B-side	"The Bottle (Drunken mix)"
Released	1974
Format	7" single, 12" single
Recorded	October 15, 1973 D&B Sound
Genre	Soul, jazz-funk
Length	5:14
Label	Strata-East
Writer(s)	Gil Scott-Heron
Producer	Perpis-Fall Music
Gil Scott-Heron chronology

"The Bottle" is a song by American soul artist Gil Scott-Heron and musician Brian Jackson, released in 1974 on Strata-East Records in the United States. It was later reissued during the mid-1980s on Champagne Records in the United Kingdom. "The Bottle" was written by Scott-Heron and produced by audio engineer Jose Williams, Jackson, and Scott-Heron. The song serves is a social commentary on alcohol abuse, and it features a Caribbean beat and notable flute solo by Jackson, with Scott-Heron playing keyboards.

The song was issued as the first and only single for Scott-Heron's and Jackson's album Winter in America (1974). It became an underground and cult hit upon its release, and the single peaked at number 15 on the R&B Singles Chart. Cited by music critics as the album's best recording, the commercial success of "The Bottle" helped lead to Jackson's and Scott-Heron's next recording contract with Arista Records. Similar to other compositions by Scott-Heron, the song has been sampled extensively by hip hop artists.

Composition

"The Bottle" is a social commentary on alcohol abuse with a Caribbean beat.[1] The song also became a popular song played at parties at the time. French music critic Pierre Jean-Critin later described it as "an epic song ... whose infectious groove can still set dance floors alight over thirty years later."[1] The song's pop/dance sensibilities and social message engendered its appeal to listeners following its release as a single. Scott-Heron later said of the single's success and style, "Pop music doesn't necessarily have to be shit."[1]

Cited by critics and music writers as Winter in America's best recording, "The Bottle" also addresses problems of drug addiction, abortion, and incarceration, while featuring Jackson on flute and Scott-Heron on keyboards.[1][2] Scott-Heron's high tempo vocal style and rhythmic lyricism shows similarity to later hip hop music, while the song's theme uses alcohol, or "the bottle", as a metaphor for ghetto life and alcoholism's long-term effects on its users.[3]

See that black boy over there, runnin' scared
his ol' man's in a bottle.
He done quit his 9 to 5, he drink full time
so now he's livin' in the bottle.
See that black boy over there, runnin' scared
his ol' man got a problem, and it's a bad one
He done pawned off damn near everything,
his ol'woman's weddin' ring for a bottle.
And don't you think it's a crime
when time after time after time, people in the bottle.

While its theme examines the plight of alcoholics and those who have to live with and cope with them, "The Bottle" became a concert favorite and one of Scott-Heron's most popular songs.[4]

Release and reception

"The Bottle" was released in 1974 as the only single for Winter in America. The song became an underground and cult hit upon its release.[5] Soon after, it also became one of Scott-Heron's most successful singles, as it reached the number 15 spot on the R&B Singles Chart.[2] The single's success helped lead to Jackson's and Scott-Heron's next recording contract with Arista Records, where they would enjoy more commercial success.[6]

"The Bottle" has been cited by critics as Winter in America's best recording.[7] Paul J. MacArthur of the Houston Press called it a "strong anti-alcohol rant with a funky bass hook and chilly flute fills."[7] Much like many of Scott-Heron's recordings, "The Bottle" has been sampled by several hip hop artists, including De La Soul and the Jungle Brothers.[8] "The Bottle" was later ranked number 92 on NME's list of The Top 150 Singles of All-Time and was included in Q magazine's 1010 Songs You Must Own! publication.[9]

Track listings and formats

These are the formats and track listings of the U.K. single releases of "The Bottle":[10][11]

Chart history

Billboard Music Charts (North America) – "The Bottle"[2]

• 1974: Top R&B Singles – #15

Personnel

• Gil Scott-Heron – vocals, electric piano
• Brian Jackson – flute
• Danny Bowens – fender bass
• Bob Adams – traps
• Perpis-Fall Music, Inc. – producer
• Jose Williams – engineer, production assistance

Sample use

The information regarding sampling of "The Bottle" is adapted from TheBreaks.com[8]

• De la Soul - "Area"
• Jungle Brothers - "Black is Black"
• Kenny Dope - "Hittin the Bottle"
• Stop the Violence Movement - "Self-Destruction"
• S'Express - "Theme from S'Express"

Notes

1. ^ a b c d Jean-Critin (2001), p. 2.
2. ^ a b c 20 People Who Changed Black Music – Revolutionary Poet Gil Scott-Heron, the First Rap Rebel. The Miami Herald Media Company. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
3. ^ "Review of Winter in America (Reissue)". Q: 141. April 1998.
4. ^ "Review of Winter in America". Soul Music: January 12, 2009.
5. ^ "Gil Scott-Heron at All About Jazz". All About Jazz. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=7597. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
6. ^ "Gil Scott-Heron: American Visions - Find Articles at BNET". CNET Networks, Inc.. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1546/is_n3_v13/ai_n27536095. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
7. ^ a b "Catching Up with Gil - Music - Houston Press". Village Voice Media. http://www.houstonpress.com/1998-09-03/music/catching-up-with-gil/print. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
8. ^ a b "Rap Sample FAQ Search: Gil Scott-Heron". The Breaks.com. http://www.the-breaks.com/search.php?term=Gil+Scott-Heron&type=0. Retrieved 2008-07-09. 
9. ^ "Acclaimed Music - The Bottle". Acclaimed Music. http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/S1780.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-08. 
10. ^ Discogs.com - Gil Scott-Heron / Brian Jackson* - The Bottle (7"). Discogs. Retrieved on 2008-08-24.
11. ^ Discogs.com - Gil Scott-Heron / Brian Jackson* - The Bottle (12"). Discogs. Retrieved on 2008-08-24.

References

• Gil Scott-Heron, Pierre Jean-Critin (2001). Winter in America (Charly) CD reissue booklet. liner notes. Charly Licensing Aps/Artistry Music Ltd./Snapper Music Plc., London, UK. 

External links

• "The Bottle" at Discogs
• Song lyrics at Scott-Heron's website
• Music video at YouTube