The Ballad Of The Skeletons, by Allen Ginsberg, Paul McCartney, Philip Glass, Lenny Kaye

The Ballad Of The Skeletons

by Allen Ginsberg, Paul McCartney, Philip Glass, Lenny Kaye

supported by

MingTubbs I didn't buy/spend time with this when it first came out on a CD-single in 1996 because I witnessed Allen perform this final Great piece of his live with Marc Ribot at The Cooler, NYC that same year and knew that no recording of it could compete with that godhead experience. BUT, hearing this for first time since, I realize that this recording should have been at my ready for each of the intervening years. With Beatle McCartney on drums & organ in one of his great late period works. Favorite track: Ballad of the Skeletons.

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$9.99 USD or more

1.	Allen Ginsberg, Paul McCartney, Philip Glass, Lenny Kaye - Ballad of the Skeletons 07:49	info	buy track
2.	Allen Ginsberg, Paul McCartney, Philip Glass, Lenny Kaye - Ballad of the Skeletons (Edit) 04:10	info	buy track
3.	Allen Ginsberg, Paul McCartney, Philip Glass, Lenny Kaye - Amazing Grace 02:50	info	buy track
4.	Allen Ginsberg, Paul McCartney, Philip Glass, Lenny Kaye - Ballad of the Skeletons (Clean) 07:48	info	buy track

about

Ballad of the Skeletons was Allen Ginsberg's final audio project, released in July 1996, 9 months before he passed away. Three takes: original, 'clean, and short, with the bonus New Stanzas for Amazing Grace (which he composed at the request of Ed Sanders for his production of The New Amazing Grace, performed November 1994 at St Mark's Church in New York City.) As he typically was wont, he invited his wide circle of musician friends on board to back him up, Philip Glass on piano, Marc Ribot on guitar, Lenny Kaye on bass, David Mansfield on guitar, Paul McCartney on guitar, organ, drums, and maracas. All xixed by Hal Willner, and produced by Lenny Kaye.

The poem was composed in February 1995. The massive Republican victory in congress had just been sworn in weeks before, with Newt Gingrich as the new speaker of the House brandishing his 'Contract with America' promising to shrink government, lower taxes, and sweeping welfare reform. This is very much front and center as Allen writes the poem.

From Dangerous Minds:

“The Ballad Of The Skeletons” with Philip Glass, Lenny Kaye, session guitarist David Mansfield, Marc Ribot and Paul McCartney (on organ, maracas and drums) was Ginsberg’s final 1996 release and in many ways, it’s probably the best of his recorded work. Even at nearly 8-minutes in length, the number never never gets dull—well with a backing band like that one…—as Ginsberg voices the lines of 66 skeletons representing American culture and hegemony. The poem was first published in the pages of The Nation in 1995.

credits

released October 8, 1996

1996, Allen Ginsberg LLC

license

about

Allen Ginsberg New York, New York

Renowned poet, world traveler, spiritual seeker, founding member of a major literary movement, champion of human and civil rights, photographer and songwriter, political gadfly, teacher and co-founder of a poetics school. Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997) defied simple classification.

Ginsberg parlayed his fame and network of connections into a modestly successful career in music. ... more

contact / help

Contact Allen Ginsberg

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like The Ballad Of The Skeletons, you may also like:

Bonjour Mon Amour
by Camille Bertault

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jun 6, 2023
go to album
Hope/Currency
by rPH and Kins of Spade

This album by Kenyan electronic producer rPH and poet Kins of Spade reflects on the impact of religion in their lives and society. Bandcamp New & Notable May 12, 2023
go to album
Playing with Esu / Where will Ogun Live
by Neo Griot & The Afrocentric Prince

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jan 25, 2022
go to album
Fodder
by Douglas Kearney & Val Jeanty

Poet Douglas Kearney and composer/producer/drummer Val Jeanty link up for a a compelling LP that feels like the written word come to life. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2021
go to album
Nekomata EP
by Mikado Koko * o g i v e

On her new EP, Japanese producer Mikado Koko deconstructs the traditional, mixing avant-garde vocals and glitch breaks with koto. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 15, 2020
go to album
aint about me
by aint about me

In a lane all his own, aint about me lays moody spoken word over rippling soundscapes on songs that feel cinematic in scope. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 23, 2020
go to album
This Is Madness
by The Last Poets

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jun 23, 2020
go to album