There will be a celebration at CIty Lights tonight (Thursday the 22nd) for the Concord Music box-set re-issue, Allen Ginsberg reading “Howl”,
The Howl deluxe box set includes a reissue of the classic 1959 Fantasy Records red vinyl LP, a replica of the original poetry book, published by City Lights in 1956, a photograph of Allen, and a booklet with liner notes by Beat scholar Ann Charters and poet Anne Waldman.
Following opening statements by Garrett Caples (editor at City Lights), an appearance by Bill Belmont (producer of the set), and remarks by Ann Charters, the evening will continue with San Francisco’s Poet Laureate, Kim Shuck, reminiscences and readings by poet and Allen’s friend, Neeli Cherkovski, and spirited contributions by many others,
“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked,/dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix/angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of the night…”
See this interesting over-view from KQED – “Railing Against Facism and Complacency – “Howl” Relevant As Ever”
The record’s official release-date is tomorrow.