Well I just have something by this guy, don’t I? Really an author and somewhat filed under spoken word but this album was also the second and last album credited to the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy who’s played all the music. It’s one of the last recordings William S. Burroughs himself did before he passed away in 1997. Almost all of the recordings after his death were recorded much earlier. Released in 1993 so perfect timing for me and my 90’s albums obsession.
So should this be under “B” not “W” for his last name because of my backwards alphabet order but I’ve done given first name before, it’s like how iTunes or iPod would do it anyway even if I totally dislike Apple company.
If you have no idea about William, incredibly briefly he’s was a beat poet and author first published in 1950’s and then publishing novels and other writings in the last half of the 20th Century. His most well-known novel is The Naked Lunch. This album takes parts of his writings of all that time and then he just reads it aloud, some even called it kind-of old man rap.
Origin of the WSB’s spoken sections:
• track 2 & 13 from Interzone (1989)
• track 4 from The Last Words of Dutch Schutz (1969)
• track 6 from Exterminator! (1973)
• track 7, 10 & 15 from Nova Express (1964)
• track 8 from The Cat Inside (1986)
• track 9 from The Naked Lunch (1959)
• track 11 from The Western Lands (1987)
• track 14 is unpublished and comes from a live performance

Hal Willner was the genius behind the idea to doing this album who was the producer, recording Burroughs near his home in Lawrence, Kansas and then all the music was done after in San Francisco with him and finally the editing and sequencing it in New York as we can hear it now. The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy very soon split up after this album, the two members Michael Franti formed Spearhead while Rono Tse worked with the Mystik Journeymen.
That’s it for my classic album today, enjoy!
Spare Ass Annie And Other Tales track listing and times:
1. Interlude 1 (Wrinkled Earlobes Are A Sign Of Impending Heartattacks) – 0:25
2. Spare Ass Annie – 4:30
3. Interlude 2 (This Is Insane) – 0:20
4. The Last Words Of Dutch Schultz (This Is Insane) – 2:22
5. Interlude 3 (The Vultures Are Gone And Will Never Come Back) – 0:17
6. Mildred Pierce Reporting (Old Sarge) – 2:05
7. Dr. Benway Operates – 2:45
8. Warning To Young Couples (Huntsmen’s Hounds) – 2:13
9. Did I Ever Tell You About The Man That Taught His Asshole To Talk? – 6:18
10. Last Words With Ras I. Zulu – 1:02
11. A One God Universe – 3:32
12. Interlude 4 (Fletch Is Here) – 0:36
13. The Junky’s Christmas – 15:54
14. Words Of Advice For Young People – 4:41
15. Last Words With Michael Franti – 0:47
So this list below are my 109 favorite albums, so far because I’m still counting them up. Now Spare Ass Annie And Other Tales by William S. Burroughs is the 110th album post!
- Tales From The Australian Underground – Volume 1 & 2 by Various Artists
- Station To Station by David Bowie
- Unplugged In New York by Nirvana
- Rust In Peace by Megadeth
- Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs by Marty Robbins
- Henry’s Dream by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
- Whatever You Love, You Are by Dirty Three
- Gala Mill by The Drones
- Black Monk Time by The Monks
- Ex Tropical by Lost Animal
- Work (Work, Work) by HTRK
- In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra
- The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Pink Floyd
- Songs Of Love And Hate by Leonard Cohen
- Warm Leatherette by Grace Jones
- The White House by The Dead C
- Silence Is Sexy by Einstürzende Neubauten
- Lulu by Lou Reed & Metallica
- Kaira by Toumani Diabaté
- Kings Of The Wild Frontier by Adam And The Ants
- Drowning In The Fountain Of Youth by Dan Kelly And The Alpha Males
- Aerial by Kate Bush
- The Future by Leonard Cohen
- Rock For Light by Bad Brains
- Last Splash by The Breeders
- Sex by The Necks
- Emergency Ward by Nina Simone
- Paradise by My Disco
- Batman by Prince
- Sings Christmas Carols by Mark Kozelek
- What Are Rock Stars Doing Today by Magic Dirt
- Love Of Life by Swans
- Big Name, No Blankets by Warumpi Band
- Blue Valentine by Tom Waits
- In The Pines by The Triffids
- Where Joy Kills Sorrow by Various Artists
- TV Sky by The Young Gods
- King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime by Faith No More
- Jean Lee And The Yellow Dog by Ed Kuepper
- Law Of Nature by Laughing Clowns
- (I’m) Stranded by The Saints
- Super Ape by Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Upsetters
- The Soft ‘N’ Sexy Sound by Dave Graney ‘N’ The Coral Snakes
- Mutiny/The Bad Seed by The Birthday Party
- Bahdeni Nami by Omar Souleyman
- Ascension by John Coltrane
- The Definitive by Blind Willie McTell
- Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey
- Horses by Patti Smith
- Vespertine by Björk
- Hex Enduction Hour by The Fall
- Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood by DMX
- I’m New Here by Gil Scott-Heron
- Charcoal Lane by Archie Roach
- In My Own Time by Karen Dalton
- Stay Sick! by The Cramps
- Primary Colours by Eddy Current Suppression Ring
- Veedon Fleece by Van Morrison
- Trainspotting by Various Artists
- After School Session by Chuck Berry
- Body Language by Kylie Minogue
- Bricks Are Heavy by L7
- Trailer Park by Beth Orton
- Arular by M.I.A.
- Moon Pix by Cat Power
- White Light/White Heat by The Velvet Underground
- Y by The Pop Group
- The Human Jukebox by Scientists
- The Shape Of Things by Pere Ubu
- Congotronics by Konono Nº1
- High Voltage by AC/DC
- Self-tilted by The Seeds
- His Best by Bo Diddley
- Embracism by Kirin J Callinan
- Benji by Sun Kil Moon
- Betty by Helmet
- Late Registration by Kanye West
- Under The Western Freeway by Grandaddy
- What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have by Sarah Blasko
- Regret Is An Inevitable Consequence Of Life by Ricaine
- Tu-Plang by Regurgitator
- Hourly, Daily by You Am I
- In A Bar, Under The Sea by dEUS
- Gurrumul by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
- Twin Peaks by Angelo Badalamenti
- Some Girls by The Rolling Stones
- Adult Themes For Voice by Mike Patton
- Candy Apple Grey by Hüsker Dü
- This Is It by The Strokes
- To Record Only Water For Ten Days by John Frusciante
- How I Love You by The Angels Of Light
- Soaking Red by Tendrils
- Rock Action by Mogwai
- Rock And Rollin’ With Fat Domino by Fat Domino
- The Axeman’s Jazz by Beasts Of Bourbon
- This Is Not The Way Home by The Cruel Sea
- Black & White Self-titled by Primitive Calculators
- Still Life by The Paradise Motel
- Messenger by Jimmy Little
- Conatus by Zola Jesus
- Zuma by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
- It’s Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- At Home With You by X
- Dear God, I Hate Myself by Xiu Xiu
- Cellulite Soul by Witch Hats
- We’re All Gunna Die by Don Walker
- Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes
- Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan
- Chocolate And Cheese by Ween
Who else digs this William S. Burroughs album then? Or is it something else by him you like better?
Cheers 🙂
I love Burroughs’ voice, and like his recorded stuff that I’ve heard. I didn’t know about this album, though. I’ll check it out.
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I hope you do dig it when you do have a listen! 🙂
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