John Giorno’s Dial-A-Poem/Giorno Poetry Systems series are a trove of recordings starting from 1972 and going strong until the last issue Cash Cow in 1993. The earliest collections being strictly poetry & literature, with a formidable roster including the likes of Amiri Baraka, Ted Berrigan, Taylor Mead, Joe Brainard, William Burroughs, & Jim Carroll to name just a few. Later the series expanded into more musical collaborations with Psychic TV, Meredith Monk, Laurie Anderson, Sonic Youth, Diamanda Galas, Philip Glass, Einstürzende Neubauten, David Johansen and many more. Almost the entire catalog is all available on line via ubuweb, but since they haven’t included the cover art, we thought we’d post a few for your amusement.
The very first Dial-A-Poem Poets record, 1972. “At this point, with the war and the repression and everything, we thought this was a good way for the movement to reach people.”
Totally Corrupt from 1976.
You’re the Guy I Want to Share My Money With. 1981. The original 2×12 LP features the last side cut as a triple-groove, so that where the stylus lands on the lead in-groove determines which artists’ track plays. My friend at the record store flipped when he first played it. Couldn’t figure out why a different track played every time he started it.
Sugar, Alcohol & Meat. 1980
A Diamond Hidden in the Mouth of a Corpse. 1985, with Hüsker Dü, William S Burroughs, Coil, Diamanda Galas, Sonic Youth, David Van Tieghem, Cabaret Voltaire and more.
So Dial-A-Poem – here, here, here, here and here
and, while we’re at it – here and here
Gratitude to Ubuweb
Dial-A-Poem recurved uncounted telegrams from the past present and future blossoms still falling outside this electronic devise well read moments firecracker poems stupid posts with grit and dead gods washed up on the sandy beaches of 🔥 island
Tip of the hat to all the keepers
This is a real amazing lists of the avant guard! What joy to read!