The moon has served as muse for countless numbers of poets, from the unnamed and unknown, to Shelley, Dickinson, and Kerouac. But only one of these had to worry about record label execs.
You’re on the Sound Beat.
You’re listening to Jack Kerouac reading his poem “The Moon Her Majesty”, on Dot Records’ Poetry for the Beat Generation, with piano accompaniment by Steve Allen. The recording is significant in that it was released and then immediately recalled after a label exec heard the content and Kerouac’s, lets say, state of mind.
The recall letter came from Bernice Mason: “You will receive a Dot album titled “Poetry for the Beat Generation”. Dot has cancelled the release of the album for obvious reasons. Please do not review it on your publications. Thank you for your cooperation.”
130 copies are believed to have escaped the recall, and this is one of them.