The Bottle

Recorded on October 15, 1973, at D&B Sound in Silver Spring, Maryland, with Gil Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson, bassist Danny Bowens, drummer Bob Adams, and producer-engineer Jose Williams. Released in 1974 on Strata-East, it became one of Scott-Heron and Jackson’s best-known singles and a cult favorite, with its social commentary on alcohol abuse giving it unusual crossover appeal. Contemporary commentary described it as a standout track from Winter in America, and it later helped raise the duo’s profile beyond jazz audiences. The track remained one of Scott-Heron’s signature recordings and entered later pop culture through covers and sampling, including Paul Weller’s cover and the sample used in Dr. Dre and CeCe Peniston’s 2000 song "My Boo."