Big confusion settled here for Th’ Gaussling. What I had always believed was a Gil Scott-Heron piece was actually Les McCann performing a Eugene McDaniels song. Here is a link to a track from Montreaux in 1969. Not the highest quality recording, but a great tune nontheless.
Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton have a version that is competent, but lacks the spark that McCann put on it. It really should be delivered as an edgy piece and the Beck/Clapton version with vocalist Doyle Bramhall lacks the anger that makes the song. It is a protest song after all.
The Taylor Hicks version is not worthy of comment.
[I fixed the Link to Les McCann- sorry!]
Lamentations on Chemistry 
I don’t know about other recordings but “Compared to What” is one of the first tracks on the “Swiss Movement” album from Les McCann and Eddie Harris, recorded live at Montreux.
Hey! Thanks for the info. As you can tell, I’m pretty green on this topic.