First Blues: Rags, Ballads and Harmonium Songs
composed by Allen Ginsberg, 1926-1997; produced by Samuel Barclay Charters, 1929-2015 and Ann Charters, 1936- (Folkways Records, 1981), 52 mins
Details
- Field of Interest
- World Music
- Composer
- Allen Ginsberg, 1926-1997
- Description
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.
- Content Type
- Music recording
- Duration
- 52 mins
- Format
- Audio
- Sub Genre
- Poetry, American Folk
- Label
- Folkways Records
- Producer
- Samuel Barclay Charters, 1929-2015, Ann Charters, 1936-
- Release Date
- 1981
- Subject
- World Music, American Music, Music & Performing Arts, American Studies, United States and Canada, Estados Unidos y Canadá, Estados Unidos e Canadá, United States
- Keywords and Translated Subjects
- Estados Unidos y Canadá, Estados Unidos e Canadá