Throughout the 80s, Giorno Poetry Systems label (run by a poet John Giorno) released a series of compilations combining music and spoken word. Some of them are now available for download (thanks to UbuWeb online archive), including original 1985 LP โA Diamond Hidden In The Mouth Of A Corpseโ. Download it here.
Hereโs a breakdown of the content available on the compilation:
Husker Du contributed their track โWonโt Changeโ, which was recorded in 1983. It never appeared on any of official bandโs recordings, but it also appeared on two compilations GPS compilations โ 1987 โSmack My Crackโ and 1993 โCash Cow โ The Best Of Giorno Poetry Systemsโ.
David Johansen (former lead singer for sleaze kingpins New York Dolls) contributed his track โJohnsoniusโ, which also appears on GPS compilation โSmack My Crackโ.
John Giorno Band contributed their track โScum & Slimeโ, video version of which appears on 1987 โItโs Clean, It Just Looks Dirtyโ compilation.
William Burroughs contributed an excerpt from his novel โThe Western Landsโ to the compilation, which also appears on 1998 compilation of his work called โThe Best Of William S. Burroughs From Giorno Poetry Systemsโ.
Sonic Youth contributed their track โHalloweenโ, which was recorded in 1985 and also appears on their 1986 โBad Moon Risingโ album, 1986 โFlower / Halloweenโ single, 1995 โScreaming Fields Of Sonic Loveโ compilation and their 1990 split with Mudhoney.
Cabaret Voltaire contributed their track โDead Manโs Shoesโ, which also appears on GPS compilation โSmack My Crackโ, as well as a collection of unreleased/rare CV material calledย โListen Up With Cabaret Voltaireโ, which came out in 1990.
Diamanda Galas contributed an excerpt from her piece โEyes Without Bloodโ, which appeared in its entirety on 1982 cassette from Audio Textures label.
Coil contributed their track โNeither His Nor Yoursโ, which also appears on GPS 1993 compilation โCash Cowโ, as well as 1997 โUnnatural History |||โ, a third volume in the series collecting rare/unreleased tracks by Coil.
Michael Gira (Swans) contributed his spoken word piece โGameโ, which is exclusive to this compilation.
David Van Tieghem (Flying Hearts, Love Of Life Orchestra) contributed his piece โOut Of The Frying Panโ, which is exclusive to this compilation.
Jessica Hagedom & The Gangster Choir contributed their track โTenement Loverโ, which is exclusive to this compilation.
Artwork for the compilation was created by New York artist Keith Harring (1958-1990).
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