Cargo Records

First Blues

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