Cold Fact

I caught a documentary on AXS TV channel about this artist. It peaked my interest in his material. So I decided to see if Amazon had anything on him. And...voila!...they did. So I purchased and downloaded this album. It is really a great piece of work in my humble opinion. Being a child of the 60s-70-s etc. I am familiar with the cultural and social unrest of the day or rather daze...This artist is a very deep thinker and I like that type of music that has a message and makes you think about things that are going on I have coined a new Genre in fact...I call it Intellectual Rock! or Inteli-Rock.While I do not necessarily agree with his ideas or politics I do like and support his freedom to "tell it like he sees it" in the interest of American Freedom of Speech Act which is by the way quickly fading away sadly...his music style is also very stimulating with some Bob Dylan, type of lyrics and melody to some more heavy rock style ballads. He has passion and he is not afraid to put it out there for the world to hear and I admire that in an artist.

It's hard to know what to say about how this album disappeared within the streets of Detroit, and watching Searching for Sugar Man makes it harder.First, the global impact. Detroit was a center of black American culture, and for immigrants from Latin America and Eastern Europe as well. But it was built on industries that left for cheaper (automobiles) or more glamorous (music) locales. So the symbol of urban decay and destruction, of white flight abandoning a poor black center, of then pretending that the fall of Detroit was the fault of those left behind rather than those who left, produced an album that went halfway across the world to South Africa of the 1970s and 1980s.Cold Fact in South Africa became amazingly popular among young white Afrikaaners, a musical guide to liberation from the oppressive system of their parents and grandparents. "The Establishment Blues" says "this system's gonna fall soon, to an angry young tune, and that's a concrete cold fact". This was not so accurate as a prophecy about America. But it was taken as an order by young South Africans. It weakened the Apartheid system for the white community, and made Rodriguez one of the most popular musicians there.Sixto Rodriguez, though, albums commercial failures in the US, returned to working construction - which in Detroit often meant deconstruction. This university philosophy major and rare person deserving the title "bard" without irony or silliness implied, worked hard jobs and long hours and maintained a life of poverty of material goods.But he was a father to several daughters, whom he instilled with curious minds and confidence that goes beyond class or race, bringing them to the museums of arts and sciences and to all the cultural wonders Detroit had gathered when it was a wealthy center of world industry. We can easily find stories of great artists of all sorts leaving their children to servants or televisions, here we have someone more devoted to fatherhood than commercial artistry.In Searching for Sugar Man, we see Sixto Rodriguez mostly through the eyes of others. And it is because he has the balance of mind to remain who he is regardless of situation. And that person is of the humbleness that comes with the knowledge that self importance is a greater fault than self denial, but also knows that the humble man can walk on any path offered and appreciate the voyage. Rodriguez is like a character from a 19th century American novel: the person with the knowledge of what is right and who will stay true to the right when the outwardly righteous will do whatever wrongs it takes to maintain the visage of righteousness.Other people in the film, including Rodriguez's daughters, speak of money made from his musical works, including his daughters, but he does not. Others show anger at widespread possession of Cold Fact and Coming From Reality. Rodriguez shows none. It is clear from the scenery in the film that Rodriguez's daughters have a higher material standard of wealth than he. Rodriguez still lives in the same Detroit building he has for 40 years, seeming to use a small stove and scrap wood for warmth. There are questions about where the money made from the albums went. But the money made from touring in South Africa and elsewhere was mostly given away by Rodriguez.This is a man who gives, but will only give the truth as he sees it, and believes that wealth obscures the view. Rodriguez has been rediscovered by the world, thanks to the dedication of South Africans, but he is only more of a mystery when seen than when hidden.The truth as I see it, though, says that Cold Fact deserves a 6th Star for having one of the best album covers ever.

We bought this after watching the documentary "Finding Sugarman." The documentary is fantastic and features much of the music (including the title song which became an anti-apartheid anthem in South Africa in the 1980s, unbeknownst to the artist in the US). The CD is consistently good throughout with biting social commentary woven into the amazingly poetic lyrics that is at the same time beautiful and depressing (to face directly social and racial inequality that still pervades many of our communities). Due to some lyrics, parents may want to review before playing around younger children; on the other hand, maybe if parents expose their children to challenges brought about by these inequalities, children might be better able to address them later in life.

Well i was shown the DVD of the Academy Award Winning Documentary in 2012 named "LOOKING FOR SUGAR MAN". I loved it and felt affected by this mans story. His music his poetry, lyrics are so beautiful. How could he have been overlooked and where did the money go from the sales in South Africa. Well this guy is very grounded and when he did not sell in the US he thought well go back to normal life and earn a days work for pay. He worked very hard, he had a wife and 3 daughters. He has lived in the same home he bought in Wayne County, Detroit Michigan. He worked harder than many other people would do. He is very grounded and never saw a cent of money from sales in South African. All i can say is if you are not emotionally affected by his story you must be a very hard person. As for his 2 DVDS 'COLD FACT' and 'COMING FROM REALITY" i love them both. Presently i have "COLD FACT" CD playing over and over in my car cd player. I know what is coming up next. He has a great voice and he is a great lyricist and poet. In a world where all write about Love his albums are very different. If you are looking for a type who comes to mind is Bob Dylan who changed his sir-name. Bod is also a very good musician and was fortunate to have the backers he had but he was also a very fine musician BUT i prefer RODRIGUEZ. Buy the DVD and buy his 2 DVDs. It will not change his life but it may change yours. Any money he made from his South African tours he gave away to family and friends. His life remains the same. He still lives in the same home of some 40 years and has remained unchanged & true to himself. I would compare his journey a little like John Fogerty. In those days it was precarious to deal with Record Companies. It would be different today an artist would have a Lawyer look at the contract. As for what happened to the money of 500.000 albums sold in South Africa in the 70's when apartheid reigned supreme, no one seems to know. It was news to RODRIGUEZ he was a super star in SOUTH AFRICA in the late 60's and 70's. Buy and enjoy.

I went to see Sixto Rodriquez in Bristol on the 1st December and bought his CDs afterwards. I saw him due to all the hype I'd read about the documentary Searching for Sugarman, had seen him on Later With Jools and also because I love the Bristol band that were supporting him during all his UK tour dates; Phantom Limb.I wasn't expecting much, knowing that his CDs were recorded in 1970 and 1971 and I don't think there is much music from that era that stands up that well now - apart from the absolute greats e.g. Beatles, Stones, Who, Kinks, Pink Floyd, Dylan, Fleetwood Mac. However, all the songs were instantly memorable and I'd only heard Sugarman before the gig. His voice was much better than it was on Later With Jools and indeed his voice is really distinctive - in a good way. He sounds like a cross between, Donovan, Rod Argent, Nick Drake and Dylan (but better tone than Dylan). The audience were very responsive, knew all his lyrics and welcomed him as the long-lost hero he surely is. They particularly went mad for Sugarman, Climb Upon My Music, I Think of You (just lovely - beautifully poignant lyrics and melody), Inner City Blues, I Wonder and To Whom It May Concern, but most of all the other numbers were given a standing ovation too. The support he got from Phantom Limb was amazing - you would think they had played back-up to him for years. They really deserve a big break too. Yolanda Quartey's voice is HUGE, she'd blow Aretha out. I think Elbow was the last gig when I came out on a similar high and where the audience reaction was so voluble.Some of the lyrics are those of that time and I think they might sometimes be "American-specific", but they have a poetic kind of beauty. I've come across descriptions of his work as "psychedelic", which I find odd. To me his music is in the folk-rock/singer-songwriter genre. The majority of his songs have really beautiful melodies too. My iPod is constantly playing his stuff and am never bored. I have pre-ordered the Searching for Sugarman DVD but am gutted that it isn't out before Xmas - that must rank as the biggest marketing faux-pas in many a year - missing out on the Xmas market. No doubt now Rodriguez is becoming a legend, he will get the worldwide recognition that he so thoroughly deserves. A real fairy tale/Cinderella story to warm your heart and just shows you should never give up! I'd recommend that you buy both albums, as both are equally good.

After watching the Searching For on terrestrial tv for the first time I have to admit, to my great shame, that I had never even heard of Rodriguez. And I guess that there is the conundrum. WHY did this guy never make it bigtime.A very humble guy, even in his resurgence, who just wrote some of the best songs you will ever hear.Far superior vocally than Dylan, and yet who wrote heart wrenching songs on life and the darker side of it . Rodriguez wrote about life as he knew it and experienced it, ergo making the songs all the more poignant.It would seem that there was a lot going on during this time,70/71, external factors and corporate greed that ultimately dashed any prospects of worldwide recognition of his talent.He did sell a substantial ammount of albums in South Africa and Australia and yet he made nothing off the back of it.In this day and age whereby a tv show can make squillions for an average at best singer or band it is a tragedy when a TRUE talent like Rodriguez can go unnoticed and relatively unrewarded for so long.Newcomers take note, as I did, watch the documentary, get caught up in the myth which even the best script writer couldn't have wrote, be humbled by the man, but more so, get hooked on this fabulous music.

There is a reason why this album has some many reviews. There is a very good reason why this album has such high rates.Before spring 2014 I hadn't heard about this special folk-singersongwriter. It was my youngest brother who let my listen to two songs of Rodriguez. He also told me about a certain wonderful excellent documentary.I don't know why, but it took me a few months to actually see the documentary. As a lover of singer songwriter music I was hooked. Very quickly I bought the two Rodriguez records. And the only thing I have regret is that I didn't bought them earlier. "Cold Fact" is a clear, good folk-singersongwriter album. Fine guitarplaying, good voice, good lyrics, well produced music: the bass loop in "I wonder", the rather intence "crucify your mind" and the other subtle songs, It just makes me wonder why this record wasn't a succes at the time.

Watch the film " Searching for Sugarman" and like me you will hit the laptop keys and get this album. I had known of this guy and had dismissed the album based on what I heard on the 20 second samples through the laptop speakers. BIG MISTAKE. You cannot judge any musicians talent on such "tinny output with no bass. The poetry contained in each of the songs is extraordinary, his ability to convey the events of life back then [ the 60's and 70's ] is so touching and yet quite harsh on the reality front. His refusal to exploit the riches that his recent rebirth in popularity in the West have brought, he gives most of the Royalties away to help others. Absolute favourite track is " I Wonder " this would, should he ever call into Glastonbury, become the greatest anthem of them all. Compared to Bob Dylan, ........ not fair on Dylan as Rodriguez does not write pretty stuff, just hard reality, but beautifully, intelligently and so good. Just FACT.

Like many, I was introduced to Rodriguez through "Searching for the Sugerman". I was totally sold on the music after watching the film and ordered both his albums.I like them both but Cold Fact is my favourite.It is certainly a sound of the era but equally it survives the test of time. Other than some use of instruments that were a fad when it recorded, it would be quite hard to place when it was produced if you didn't know.There quality of the audio is surprisingly good. It is a very very clean sound.The lyrics aren't cheerful or remotely PC but quite poetic and easy to comprehend.My music taste are broad and often not quite to the family's liking but both my wife and my son also enjoy this. It is poetic, tuneful, restful, witty and distinctive.