We’ve been waiting for this for a long time and, courtesy of Ace Records of London, England, it’s finally out! – Steven Taylor‘s definitive renditions of William Blake – Songs of Innocence & of Experience – Shewing The Two Contrary States of the Human Soul (tuned by Allen Ginsberg and Steven Taylor and played, posthumously, by Steven Taylor).
From the Ace Records site
“In July 1948 Allen Ginsberg hallucinated the voice of William Blake chanting two songs from his Songs Of Experience. He later started setting Blake’s songs to tunes of his own invention. In 1976 he began an association with guitarist Steven Taylor, who would accompany Ginsberg’s performances of Blake for the next 20 years. This CD contains Taylor’s own arrangements and recording of Blake’s two books. Taylor (as well as producer Scott Petito) has been a member of the Fugs for 35 years, and Blake’s songs frequently feature in their concerts. (The CD) contains an in-depth note with a biography of Blake and many illustrations from the US Library Of Congress’ 1794 copy of Songs Of Innocence and Experience.”
[ 2022 – We initially featured a number of cuts from this remarkable CD ( sadly, they are no longer on line, but we hope to have them back up again soon]
[2024 – The recordings are now happily back up and available – see here]
I Debbie Fein want to say I knew Allen personally. Allen was my Uncle’s (by marriage – my uncle was married to my Aunt – one of my moms sisters) first cousin. I am Allen’s top fan because he was so warm and loving. I spent many happy hours with Allen.
Allen would be touched by this and his Facebook page, however, he would say it isnt necessary. Allen was a very humble human being.
Allen also used to say poetry is open to interpretation. That it doesn’t matter what the poet meant, the only interpretation that matters is the readers.