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The Beat Generation 1963-??-??
Howls, Raps & Roars, Compilation, Compilation
Set 1
Shorty Petterstein Interview - Lenny Bruce
Djinni in the Candy Store - Lenny Bruce
Enchanting Transylvania - Lenny Bruce
How to Relax Your Colored Friends at Parties - Lenny Bruce
Lima, Ohio - Lenny Bruce
Comic at the Palladium - Lenny Bruce
In Which the Artist Discusses ...The Philadelphia Hotel Room Raid - Lenny Bruce
Set 2
Howl - Allen Ginsberg
Footnote to Howl - Allen Ginsberg
Supermarket in California - Allen Ginsberg
Transcription of Organ Music - Allen Ginsberg
America - Allen Ginsberg
In the Back of the Real - Allen Ginsberg
Strange New Cottage in Berkeley - Allen Ginsberg
Europe! Europe! - Allen Ginsberg
Kaddish, Pt. 1 - Allen Ginsberg
Sunflower Sutra - Allen Ginsberg
Set 3
Thou Shalt Not Kill - Kenneth Rexroth
Autobiography - Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Statue of St. Francis - Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Moscow in the Wilderness, Segovia in the Snow - Lawrence Ferlinghetti
In the Fleeting Hand of Time - Gregory Corso
Vision of Rotterdam - Gregory Corso
Last Warmth of Arnold - Gregory Corso
Mexican Impressions - Gregory Corso
Botticelli Spring - Gregory Corso
Sun-A Spontaneous Poem - Gregory Corso
Ode to Coit Tower - Gregory Corso
I Am 25 - Gregory Corso
Rainbow - Peter Orlovsky
Morning Again - Peter Orlovsky
Poem for Cocksuckers - John Wieners
Poem for the Old Man - John Wieners
Rest in Peace, Al Capone
All Hail Pope John XXIII
From Hermit Poems - Lew Welch
Patna-Benares Express - Allen Ginsberg
May 22 (1962) Calcutta - Allen Ginsberg
From the Art of Literature - Philip Whalen
From Dark Brown - Michael McClure
From Ghost Tantras - Michael McClure
Baby's Hands - David Meltzer
Rain Poems - David Meltzer
Nerve Root Poem - David Meltzer
Two Poems to My Wife - David Meltzer
Poem for Lew Welch - David Meltzer
From Angel Faint
Grahhh! (Michael in the Lions Den) - Michael McClure
Comment
The subtitle -- "recordings from the San Francisco poetry renaissance" -- perfectly places in context the vitality of the contents of this multi-disc box set. While the Bay Area based Fantasy label is primarily known for its uncompromising and otherwise groundbreaking jazz releases, they were also home to some of the Beat Generations most prolific and genre defining figures. This collection gathers over four hours of recordings documented during the height of the Cold War in the late '50s and early '60s, historically reflecting the world as interpreted by such freewheelin' thinkers as Lew Welch, Michael McClure, David Meltzer, Kenneth Rexroth, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Allen Ginsberg. Under the influence and careful annotation of Ann Charters -- who is perhaps best known in the literary community for her valiant efforts as editor of the Portable Beat Reader -- Howls, Raps & Roars (1993) revisits some of America's most brilliant spoken-word recordings and aurally stimulating recitations borne of the tremendously prolific mid-century poetry scene. In addition to the definitively earnest efforts of the afore mentioned authors, also prominently featured on this collection is the work of comedian and social commentator Lenny Bruce -- who commences the set with over an hour's worth of his most profound recordings for Fantasy. His works -- most especially the irony-laden "Shorty Petterstein Interview" and equally strident "How To Relax Your Coloured Friends At Parties" are as over the top and deliciously ironic in the 21st century as they most assuredly were in the heart of the previous one. Also included are more established cornerstones of the Bay Area beats such as Ginsberg's "Howl" and the first part of "Kaddish" as well as Rexroth's biblically inspired "Thou Shalt Not Kill" and Ferlinghetti's epic "Moscow In The Wilderness, Segovia In The Snow" -- all of which have been previously issued, albeit difficult to locate. However the unqualified centrepiece of Howls, Raps & Roars is the plethora of unissued recitations -- including an entire disc of unissued masterworks corralled under the moniker "From The Mad Mammoth Monster Poetry Readings." On this volume are nearly an hour and ten minutes of rare recordings from the likes of well-known artists such as Ginsberg ("Patna-Benares Express") and McClure ("From Dark Brown") to the potentially less recognizable Lew Welch ("From Hermit Poems") and Phillip Whalen ("From The Art of Literature"). The importance of the works included in this aural compendium can not be overstated and remain as shimmering artefacts of reality from within a decidedly and increasingly image conscious post World War II America. Accompanying the discs is a 36-page liner notes booklet that includes copious eye candy and verbiage to accurately place the recordings in perspective for the modern consumer. This is an essential, if not somewhat compulsory release!
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Created At
Mon Jul 27 2009 16:41:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Updated At
Wed Dec 29 2004 18:15:39 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
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