real prizes

Two items I found after Christmas are absolute gems, and I'd never have found them if not for that vast, drooling maw of capitalism known as the Amazon search engine. One is the CD version of Caedmon Audio's recording of "Charles Bukowski Uncensored (from the Run With the Hunted sessions)". It's a nicely packaged two-CD set that has some very good readings down, along with some conversation, and it's just a joy to listen to. If you have the old cassette version and want to trade up, or have always wanted a good CD of Bukowski's stuff, try this one. It's right up there with "Hostage" as primo suggested listening.

Also, I came across Gregory Corso's "Die On Me" recordings. This CD is mostly Corso reading his work a mere week before his death, with a few earlier taped readings in there as well. In the newer material, he was 70 years old, ailing, and spoke in a faint crackle of a voice. It's terrific stuff, though, and well worth the trouble if you're interested in such things. I will assume as hard to find as those rare Bukowski CDs that crop up here and there on eBay and in dingy, back-alley book stores. Give these poor mothers a look and don't tell me you aren't moved by the work.