Allen Ginsberg/ William Blake - Songs Of Innocence And Experience

The original volume of William Blake’s collection of poems Songs Of Innocence And Experience Showing the Two Contrary States Of The Human Soul was published in 1789 and since then many have tried their hand at putting some of his “songs” to music, including poet Allen Ginsberg who believed that Blake himself had originally intended for his poems to be sung. Ginsberg also believed that by studying their meter and verse he could roughly figure out how Blake would have performed them. This album then, originally released in 1970 on Verve, is the result of his efforts. Here Ginsberg sings – as well as plays the piano and harmonium – on the 21 “songs”, accompanied by partner Peter Orlovsky, and jazz musicians Don Cherry (finger cymbals, trumpet, wood flute, sleigh bells, beaded gourd), Bob Dorough (harpsichord, organ), Cyril Caster (guitar, trumpet), Hanet Zeitz (flute), Jon Sholle (drums), and Herman Wright (bass).

Track listing

Side A: (Songs of Innocence): 1. Introduction 2. The Shepherd 3. The Echoing Green 4. The Lamb 5. The Little Black Boy 6. The Blossom 7. The Chimney Sweepers 8. The Little Boy Lost 9. The Little Boy Found 10. Laughing Song 11. Holy Thursday 12. Night Side B (Songs of Experience): 1. Introduction 2. Nurses Song 3. The Sick Rose 4. Ah! Sun-Flower 5. The Garden of Love 6. London 7. The Human Abstract 8. To Tirzah 9. The Grey Monk

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