Winter in America is a studio album by American soul artist Gil Scott-Heron and musician Brian Jackson, released in May 1974 on Strata-East Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during September to October 1973 at D&B Sound Studio in Silver Spring, Maryland. It contains introspective and socially-conscious lyrics by Scott-Heron that reflect on African-American culture at the time of the album's conception. While Jackson's piano-based arrangements are rooted in jazz and the blues, their stripped-down production for the album resulted in a reliance on more traditional African and R&B sounds.
The album serves as Scott-Heron's and Jackson's debut release for Strata-East Records, following a dispute with their former label and departure. It proved to be their sole release for the independent jazz label. Upon its release, Winter in America featured limited distribution in the United States and quickly became rare in print. However, with promotional help from its only single "The Bottle", it obtained considerably larger commercial success than Scott-Heron's and Jackson's previous work. The album debuted at number six on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums chart and ultimately sold over 300,000 copies in the United States.
While it was critically overlooked upon its release, Winter in America earned retrospective acclaim from several writers and music critics as Scott-Heron's and Jackson's greatest work together. Along with its critical recognition, it has been noted by several critics for its influence on derivative music forms such as neo soul and hip hop music, as many artists of the genres have been influenced by Scott-Heron's and Jackson's lyrical and musical approach on the album. On March 10, 1998, Winter in America was reissued on compact disc for the first time in the United States through Scott-Heron's Rumal-Gia Records.
| Peace Go With You, My Brother (As-Salaam-Alaikum) | 5:30 | |
| Rivers Of My Fathers | 8:29 | |
| A Very Precious Time | 5:13 | |
| Back Home | 2:50 | |
| The Bottle | 5:14 | |
| Song For Bobby Smith | 4:42 | |
| Your Daddy Loves You | 2:57 | |
| H2O Gate Blues | 8:23 | |
| Peace Go With You Brother (Wa-Alaikum-Salaam) | 1:11 |
Discography - Studio albums:
| 1970 - | Small Talk at 125th and Lenox | Flying Dutchman Records |
| 1971 - | Pieces of a Man | Flying Dutchman Records |
| 1972 - | Free Will | Flying Dutchman Records |
| 1974 - | Winter in America | Strata-East Records |
| 1975 - | The First Minute of a New Day | Arista Records |
| 1976 - | From South Africa to South Carolina | Arista Records |
| 1976 - | It's Your World | Arista Records |
| 1977 - | Bridges | Arista Records |
| 1978 - | Secrets | Arista Records |
| 1980 - | 1980 | Arista Records |
| 1980 - | Real Eyes | Arista Records |
| 1981 - | Reflections | Arista Records |
| 1982 - | Moving Target | Arista Records |
| 1994 - | Spirits | TVT Records |
| 2010 - | Malik & the OG's - Rhythms of the Diaspora Vol 1 | MCPR Music - Featured artist |
| 2010 - | I'm New Here | XL Recordings |
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