- Format: CD
- Label: Water
- Genre: 60s Garage / Surf / RnB
Beat generation poet Allen Ginsberg was also a singer/songwiter who was encouraged to write and record by none other than Bob Dylan, who took Allen into the studio his first ever "music" recordings. Those 1971 recordings with Dylan, as well as sessions from 1976 with members of Dylan's Rolling Thunder Review band produced by maverick John Hammond (Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and Bruce Springsteen), and additional recordings from 1981 were gathered together and released as the double LP First Blues in 1983. Many of the recordings feature cello player Arthur Russell (known for his 1970's Flying Hearts band and his ground-breaking 1980's solo recordings). First time on CD: 24 songs on 2 CDs. Cover photography by the legendary Robert Frank. Original detailed liner notes by Allen Ginsberg.
Track listing -
Disc1: 1. Going To San Diego 2. Vomit Express 3. Jimmy Berman (Gay Lib Rag) 4. NY Youth Call Annunciation 5. CIA Dope Calypso 6. Put Down Yr Cigarette Rag 7. Sickness Blues 8. Broken Bone Blues 9. Stay Away From White House 10. Hard-on Blues 11. Guru Blues
Disc2: 1. Everybody Sing 2. Gospel Nobel Truths 3. Bus Ride Ballad To Suva 4. Prayer Blues - 1972 5. Love Forgiven 6. Father Death Blues 7. Dope Fiend Blues 8. Tyger 9. You Are My Dildo 10. Old Pond 11. No Reason 12. My Pretty Rose Tree 13. Capitol Air
