Allen Ginsberg: First Blues: Rags, Ballads and Harmonium Songs { CD }

Title: First Blues: Rags, Ballads and Harmonium Songs
Artist: Allen Ginsberg
Label: Folkways Records
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 093073756028
Genre: Country, Folk
Release Date: 2012-05-30
Number of Discs: 1

Legendary Beat poet Allen Ginsberg explores the fusion of poetry and music in this rare 1970s recording. Called a "venerated bard of resistance" Ginsberg sought "how the raw mind actually works" through poetry. This collection of fun ditties spouts against capitalism, among other things, and is an amusing and enjoyable listen. Ginsberg accompanies himself with a small hand-pumped harmonium from India, occasionally adding his own guttural rhythms reminiscent of Dadaist sound-poetry (see for example "Put Down Your Cigarette Rag" and "Prayer Blues"), while other songs, such as "Bus Ride Ballad Road to Suva", echo folk ballads from yesteryear. Ginsberg prefaces each song himself. Liner notes include an introduction from Ginsberg.

Tracks:
1.1 Medley: 4 A.M. Blues/New York Blues/New York Youth Call Annunciation
1.2 Medley: Come Back Christmas/Macdougal Street Blues
1.3 Cia Dope Calypso
1.4 Put Down Your Cigarette Rag
1.5 Medley: Slack Key Guitar/Siratoka Beach Croon
1.6 Bus Ride Ballad Road to Suva
1.7 Prayer Blues
1.8 Dope Fiend Blues