Classic Albums: Spare Ass Annie And Other Tales by William S. Burroughs

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Written by William

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• track 14 is unpublished and comes from a live performance

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Rono Tse (left) and Michael Franti (right) of The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and William S. Burroughs (middle) together.

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

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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!

Who else digs this William S. Burroughs album then? Or is it something else by him you like better?

Cheers 🙂

 

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