TRACKLIST
The Court Is Closed
A1 Court Is Closed
A2 Inside Black America
A3 Times Are Hard, Friends Are Few
B1 Prelude To Hell
B2 Needle N' Spoon
B3 Cold Turkey
Del Jones' Positive Vibes
C1 Vibe-ing Theme
C2 Prelude Ta Hell
C3 Needle N' Spoon
C4 Cold Turkey
D1 Soul Of Black Folks
D2 Court Is Closed
D3 Inside Black America
D4 Times Are Hard, Friends Are Few
DESCRIPTION
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.
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 we present 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.
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.