From South Africa to South Carolina
From South Africa to South Carolina is a studio album by the American vocalist Gil Scott-Heron and the keyboardist Brian Jackson. It was released in November 1975 by Arista Records. Scott-Heron performed "Johannesburg" and "A Lovely Day" on "Saturday Night Live" in December 1975. The album was reissued in the late 1990s via Scott-Heron's Rumal-Gia label, distributed by TVT Records. The album peaked at No. 103 on the "Billboard" 200. "Johannesburg" was a moderate "disco" hit. Production. The music was provided by the Midnight Band, led by Jackson. Critical  reception. The "Houston Press", reviewing a reissue, wrote that the album's "best moments are the beautiful lament 'Beginnings', which is rife with bittersweet harmonies, and 'A Lovely Day', a light, poppish, medium-tempo number that builds to a smart climax." The "Chicago Tribune" thought that it was one of a handful of albums that "brought a new depth and political consciousness to the urban vision of the '70s." "The Wire" praised "Essex", calling the song "probably the most out thing this team ever tried: freeform intro, mordantly twining vocals, Jackson's darting, flickering flute." Track listing. Bonus tracks. CD  reissue bonus tracks Personnel. "Let Me See Your I.D." performed by Big Youth, Ray Barretto, Brian Jackson, Duke Bootee, Peter Garrett, Grandmaster Melle Mel and Gil Scott-Heron