Milford Graves (percussion), Leroi Jones (vocals), Roswell Rudd (trombone), John Tchicai (alto saxophone), Lewis Worrell (bass).

Strikingly original, still: open and untethered, dreamily ramshackle and provisional, dazzlingly polyphonic.
‘All that is solid melts into air,’ as Marx puts it; ‘all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind.’
Tracks 1-4 comprised the eponymous release on ESP in 1964: Roswell Rudd, John Tchicai, Lewis Worrell, Milford Graves, with a walk-on by Leroi Jones (reciting Black Dada Nihilismus).
Tracks 5-9 were released on Fontana the following year, as Mohawk: Roswell Rudd, John Tchicai, Reggie Workman, Milford Graves.

The first disc presents the original MGM LP, with Ginsberg accompanying himself on piano and harmonium, supported by Don Cherry, Elvin Jones and Bob Dorough amongst others, in twenty-one vocal settings of Blake’s Songs Of Innocence And Experience. Plus an alternate take, as well as a song intended for the LP, but left off due to time constraints.
A couple of years later, in 1971, Ginsberg returned to the Blake material, recording eleven songs in San Francisco with none other than Arthur Russell. The ensemble also recorded three Tibetan mantras with a Buddhist choir. All on the second disc.

The classic session plus eleven previously unissued performances, featuring contributions from Bob Dylan, Happy Traum, Don Cherry, Peter Orlovsky, Arthur Russell and co, in a luxuriously turned out 28-page colour booklet with rare photos and new essay by the producer Pat Thomas.
John Hammond was chuffed by the original release of The First Blues in 1983: ‘I recorded Allen in 1976 but Columbia Records refused to issue the results, considering the songs obscene and disrespectful. I am thrilled to finally be able to present Allen… I will present ‘disrespectful’ music like this as often as possible.’

With Arthur Russell, Bob Dylan, Anne Waldman, Perry Robinson, David Amram and co, having a whale of a time in sessions which sound like the best kind of parties, between 1971 and 1981.
‘Rags, Ballads & Harmonium Songs. Chanteys, Come-All-Ye’s, Aborigine Song Sticks. Gospel, Improvisations, Renaissance Lyrics, Blake Hymns, Bluegrass, Hillbilly Riffs, Country & Western, 50’s R&B, Dirty Dozens & New Wave.’
The first-ever full vinyl reissue; gatefold sleeve. Photography by Robert Frank!

Classic New Orleans rhythm and blues, same cloth as Lee Dorsey and Ernie K Doe, before funk got a hold.

Plastic Products Pressing.