Back in 1992 Rhino
Records put out the incredible The Beat Generation 3 CD box set.
This impressive collection is a must for anyone interested in
the history of the beats or is into the music and poetry of the
era.
Rhino went full
out and all the big boys get their chance to shine including rare
poetry readings by Kerouac and an insane interview between obnoxious
reporter Ben Hecht and Kerouac. Mr. Hecht argues with
Kerouac over the amount of sleeping pills it takes to kill oneself!
Allen Ginsberg reads his ferocious poem America, while the great
William Burroughs is represented by his reading from
Naked Lunch.
On the musical
side this set jumps with many classic beat era jazz and spoken
word gems. Charlie Parker Quartet tears it up with the like way
cool song COSMIC
RAYS while cool ass Phillipa Falon warns us that, "tomorrow is
a big time drag man, tomorrow is a king size bust."
Dizzy Gillespie
& His Orchestra are included with the catchy tune OOP-POP-A-DA,
Kenny Clarke & His 52nd Street Boys perform one of my favorites, OOP-BOP-SH-BAM.
The set comes with a 57 page booklet jammed with great photos
and information put out by Rhino Records as part of their WORD
BEAT collection.
