John Cage, Kenneth Patchen
The City Wears a Slouch Hat
** condition: M/NM ** Rare first CD re-issue on Cortical Foundation in an edition limited to 1000 copies of John Cage's 1942 electro-acoustic collaboration with experimental writer Kenneth Patchen with the addition of two more electro-acoustic pieces from the same period taken from the "music Before Revolution" compilation.
!Never-before-released radio play collaboration between John Cage and writer/artist Kenneth Patchen performed in 1942. In what has to be one of the oddest Cage pieces ever, professional radio voice talents unravel a truly surreal story in straight '40s radio drama style. Replacing the usual radio drama sound effects is a percussion ensemble led by John Cage which punctuates the dialog throughout. Along with muted gongs, tin can xylophones, and marimbula are an assortment of electronic gadgets, including an audio frequency oscillator, electric buzzers and recorded sounds. Also included on this disk is "Credo in us" with Genevieve Blons on shortwave radio, and a 1939 recording of Cage's "Imaginary Landscape" for shortwave radio."
Track 1 is from an original radio broadcast 1942 and is taken from the RRRip . Tracks 2 and 3 are taken off the 4 LP box set "Music Before Revolution"[/url]. In neither case are the original sources or performers credited. When confronted on this, Gary Todd responded that the "Credo In Us" was a piece for shortwave and record and the record used, just happened to be the box set in this case. Unfortunately, the score for "Credo In Us" calls for much more and the added shortwave intro does not change the fact that this track was lifted off the vinyl without permission or credit. Tracks 1 and 2 1942. Track 3 1939. "Panels For The Walls Of Heaven" by Kenneth Patchen, 1945. Liner notes written May-June 1942. Mastered and manufactured by Cortical Foundation. Special thanks to Laura Kuhn, the John Cage Trust and Miriam Patchen. For Miriam. Limited edition of 1000 copies. Clear Jewel Case with external wrapper.
