Complete Songs of Innocence and Experience

Liner Note Author: Pat Thomas .Recording information: Pacific High Studios, San Francisco (07/1971-08/1971).Photographers: Fred McDarrah; Gordon Ball; Jerry Schmidt; Barry Miles.In 2016, Omnivore and producer Pat Thomas delivered the definitive issue of Allen Ginsberg's landmark First Blues album under the title The Last Word on First Blues. It coupled the original tracks with 11 previously unreleased cuts from at least two recording sessions that took place years apart. The same path is followed on this double-disc package. Much of the music on Complete Songs of Innocence and Experience: William Blake Tuned by Allen Ginsberg pre-dates that on First Blues by almost three years. Ginsberg began working on setting the visionary English poet's famous collection to music on a pump organ in upstate New York in the aftermath of the Democratic National Convention in 1968 "Tear Gas Chicago." Nineteen of the 21 recordings on disc one took place in June and July of 1969 in New York City. Produced