Beat Jazz: Pictures From the Gone World

This could be my all time favorite compilation. Released by a label called Pesky Serpent, this record came into my life, like all the best things unexpectedly, back in 1996 when I was at South By Southwest for the first time. There it was on a table of merchandise for sale in front of the wonderful Continental Club. I immediately recognized the brilliance of this collection & picked up a vinyl copy for $10 (I really doubt it was available yet on CD back then). It soon proved to be one of the best purchases of my life! It could be worth it alone for "Travelin' Blues" by Slim Gaillard or "Picasso" by Coleman Hawkins. Track listing:

01. Frosty & the Diamonds - Destination Mars
02. Slim Gaillard - Travelin' Blues
03. Kenneth Rexroth - State & 32nd
04. Coleman Hawkins - Picasso
05. Gregory Corso - Bomb
06. Scotty McKay - Black Cat
07. Jack Hammer - Like
08. Gil Melle - the Gears
09. Doctor Bop - Satin & Velvet
10. Anita Ellis & David Amram - The Crazy Daisy
11. Bob Dorough - Dog (by Ferlinghetti)
12. Harvey Anderson - Monday Night At 8PM
13. Jack Kerouac - Cockroach
14. The Cosmic Rays w/Sun Ra - Dreaming
15. Roy Glenn - Big High Song For Somebody
16. Ada Moore - Devil
17. Moondog - Up Broadway
18. Woody Leafer - Drums In My Typewriter
19. The New Bangs - Go Go Kitty
20. Ellie Girl & 7 Beat Beat Sulks - Lets Make It
21. Jack Hammer - Rebellion (CD version bonus cut)
22. Jim Henson - Tick Tock Sick (CD version bonus cut)
23. Aggie Dukes - Swing Low Sweet Cadillac (CD version bonus cut)
24. Kenyon Hopkins - Get Crazy (CD version bonus cut)
25. Shel Silverstein - Have Another Espresso (CD version bonus cut)

Listen to Beat Jazz: Pictures From the Gone World (MP3 zip file)

Buy Beat-related books & CD's. I'd especially recommend The Beat Generation boxset on Rhino: