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This was an inspirational period, not only because I met Allen Ginzburg and performed with him, but I also had fallen in love with a Russian Ballerina who I met at a rehearsal of Kaddish. With Allen's beat phrasing fresh in mind, I composed a few poems for her. The first five songs are from readings and performances with Allen, the next three were poems I wrote at that time for my new love. Poetry wasn't new to me but was revived around that time. When I was 18 I had a Winnipeg girlfriend who was a very talented artist. She turned me on to Garcia Lorca, Malcolm Lowry, Rimbauld, Villon and many other artists. I wrote a song inspired by Lorca years later called 'Ode to Lorca'. The last song in this player was an Ode to Allen Ginzburg called 'Beatnick Daddy'.

I have an interesting poetry story. My brother Howie also met Allen at this time and asked him a question. Many years later he had some business with Leonard Cohen and invited me backstage to meet him after a concert. He asked Leonard Cohen the same question. The question was 'What is the most important rule for a poet'. Ginzburg said, 'First thought best thought'. Cohen said 'Last thought, best thought'. I agree with both of them. I used to play a song with The Basics called 'Too Much Sorrow'. It was never quite right. Ten years later I completed it and you can hear it now as 'Running Dry' on the Mystical Mood Album. On the same album is a song called 'Modern Idols'. That song was written during a 20 minute break at an excusrion gig. I remember it was a bar on College and Clinton, Neil said what are you doing? We're going to go on soon. I answered, just finishing a grocery list, Ill be there soon.

Ron /Allen Ginzburg / Keith McKie