MUSIC FAUCET, THE: NEAL CASSADY MEMORIAL BROADCAST (RADIO)
Summary
This is the first section of a program which pays tribute to the "great prankster" of the Beat writers, Neal Cassady. Highlights of this program, recorded at Fez in Manhattan, include the following performances, among others: Kim Spurlock reads a poem about the dead and a piece by Neal Cassady; Ken Babbs introduces Allen Ginsberg by telling a story about his experiences with the Beat poet; Allen Ginsberg talks about his diet and then reads "The Weight of Song" which is about love, "On Neal's Ashes" which is about the death of Neal Cassady, and "I Went to the Movie of Life" which explains a dream he had about the adventures of Ken Babbs and Neal Cassady; Ken Babbs comments on his first meeting with Cassady and about Cassady's two-year incarceration; Peter Orlovsky expresses his support for Mayor Dinkins, talks about his book of poems entitled "Clean Asshole Poems," and discusses the cause of Cassady's death; Orlovsky then reads "Keep It Clean In Between" and yodels; Orlovsky explains the origin of Doha poems and then gives a spontaneous example of one; Marshall Efron comments on the 1960s search for the "higher high," explains how he used to roll his joints, tells an adventurous tale of buying peyote, describes Lenny Bruce's performance on an amateur talent show, and recalls the first time he saw Neal Cassady; Peter Orlovsky expresses his opinion of Hillary Clinton and Eleanor Roosevelt; Richard Hell reads a brief poem entitled "Telegram"; Matthew Courtney comments on allowing gays in the military; Janine Pommy Vega reads "Earl the Pearl," a poem about a blues singer; Vincent Katz describes Neal Cassady by reading a description of a Greek philosopher whom he feels Cassady resembles; Katz reads a section of Cassady's book "The First Third" in which Cassady describes the way he felt when his brother got trapped inside the family's fold-away bed; Reg E. Gaines reads a poem which describes the life of the modern slave in America; Bahia Watson reads one of her poems; Maggie Estep reads "I'm Not a Normal Girl" which explains her concept of panty economics; Edwin Torres reads his poem "Dirty Brown Birdy"; Ken Babbs, Kim Spurlock, and Nicholas Hill comment on the "language virus" Cassady created; recordings by Cassady's priest explaining why he holds mass for Cassady's soul and a 1979 recording of Billy Burroughs, Jr., reading a poem in which he reflects upon of Neal Cassady's accomplishments, are played; Bob Holman reads "Neal Cassady"; "Rehear the Cold War," which comments on the plight of all of the out-of-work spies, is read; and Max Blagg reads a poem about his need for a Cadillac.
Details
- NETWORK: WFMU-FM
- DATE: February 7, 1993 Sunday
- RUNNING TIME: 1:58:52
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R:9923
- GENRE: Radio - Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Biography; Poetry; Poets; Specials
- SERIES RUN: WFMU - Radio, 1993
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ken Babbs … Host
- Nicholas Hill … Host
- Kim Spurlock … Host, Performer
- Max Blagg … Performer
- Billy Burroughs … Performer
- Matthew Courtney … Performer
- Marshall Efron … Performer
- Maggie Estep … Performer
- Reg E. Gaines … Performer
- Allen Ginsberg … Performer
- Richard Hell … Performer
- Bob Holman … Performer
- Vincent Katz … Performer
- Peter Orlovsky … Performer
- Janine Pommy Vega … Performer
- Bahia Watson … Performer
- Huge Voodoo … Music by, Performers