Pat Thomas author
@patthomashistorian.bsky.social
author of “Allen Ginsberg: Material Wealth”and “Listen Whitey! Sounds of Black Power” and “Did It! Jerry Rubin”
- reissue producer / liner note writer for
Fire Records
- reissue producer / liner note writer for
Fire Records
Pinned
I have a new book coming via Fantagraphics Press - a visual & oral history of Barney Rosset - Grove Press - Evergreen Review magazine 1957-1973:Bernadette Devlin, Germaine Greer, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Amiri Baraka, Eldridge Cleaver, Tim Leary, Dennis Hopper, Jean Genet, etc
In France - back in the day - The Stooges were briefly on Atlantic - not Elektra!
November 26, 2025 at 4:39 AM
In France - back in the day - The Stooges were briefly on Atlantic - not Elektra!
November 22, 1976
Joni perfects her jazz-folk blend with brilliant engaging songs and a sublime band to play them. I pity the fools that haven’t grasped this masterpiece yet. She built with her bare hands what autotuners, sampling, and ten co-writers and five producers still can’t do today.
Joni perfects her jazz-folk blend with brilliant engaging songs and a sublime band to play them. I pity the fools that haven’t grasped this masterpiece yet. She built with her bare hands what autotuners, sampling, and ten co-writers and five producers still can’t do today.
November 26, 2025 at 2:38 AM
November 22, 1976
Joni perfects her jazz-folk blend with brilliant engaging songs and a sublime band to play them. I pity the fools that haven’t grasped this masterpiece yet. She built with her bare hands what autotuners, sampling, and ten co-writers and five producers still can’t do today.
Joni perfects her jazz-folk blend with brilliant engaging songs and a sublime band to play them. I pity the fools that haven’t grasped this masterpiece yet. She built with her bare hands what autotuners, sampling, and ten co-writers and five producers still can’t do today.
If you dug the Waterboys “life, death & dennis hopper” CD - you’ll want to check out this ‘odds & aids’ collection coming soon. There’s lyrical gems as well as instrumentals. However, if you haven’t gotten the first album yet - start there! This one is for the already converted
November 25, 2025 at 6:47 PM
If you dug the Waterboys “life, death & dennis hopper” CD - you’ll want to check out this ‘odds & aids’ collection coming soon. There’s lyrical gems as well as instrumentals. However, if you haven’t gotten the first album yet - start there! This one is for the already converted
“Blues for Terry Southern”
November 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
“Blues for Terry Southern”
“David Bowie’s The Jean Genie, a one-page advert in Melody Maker, November 25, 1972.”
- via Glam Slam
- via Glam Slam
November 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
“David Bowie’s The Jean Genie, a one-page advert in Melody Maker, November 25, 1972.”
- via Glam Slam
- via Glam Slam
Early 1970s Van Morrison recording - released as the b-side to the “Jackie Wilson Said” ‘45 - but has never been reissued on a compilation or on CD - so you probably haven’t heard it before
youtu.be/QYDbyqJiKS0?...
youtu.be/QYDbyqJiKS0?...
you've got the power Van Morrison
YouTube video by clash1954
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Early 1970s Van Morrison recording - released as the b-side to the “Jackie Wilson Said” ‘45 - but has never been reissued on a compilation or on CD - so you probably haven’t heard it before
youtu.be/QYDbyqJiKS0?...
youtu.be/QYDbyqJiKS0?...
49 years ago today - the Belfast Cowboy and The Band did this in San Francisco. Some numbnut was trying to tell me that this wasn't that exciting of a performance. Sad to think how many guys on this stage aren't here anymore.
youtu.be/44wDwMQVqCc?...
youtu.be/44wDwMQVqCc?...
The Last Waltz - Van Morrison - Caravan
YouTube video by BastiVineta
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 1:04 PM
49 years ago today - the Belfast Cowboy and The Band did this in San Francisco. Some numbnut was trying to tell me that this wasn't that exciting of a performance. Sad to think how many guys on this stage aren't here anymore.
youtu.be/44wDwMQVqCc?...
youtu.be/44wDwMQVqCc?...
The Beatles Apple Records’ advertising soliciting demos from unsigned talent.
November 25, 2025 at 6:29 AM
The Beatles Apple Records’ advertising soliciting demos from unsigned talent.
Hollywood Bowl, June 17, 1972. This was the last live Grateful Dead performance with Pigpen. Photo (c) Ron Rakow.
November 25, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Hollywood Bowl, June 17, 1972. This was the last live Grateful Dead performance with Pigpen. Photo (c) Ron Rakow.
Draw your own conspiracy theory today.
1) Carpenters hit comes via TV commercial for Crocker Bank that Paul Williams writes that Richard Carpenter hears and turns into a real song
2) then Patty Hearst & the SLA rob the Crocker Bank near Sacramento
See below for video
1) Carpenters hit comes via TV commercial for Crocker Bank that Paul Williams writes that Richard Carpenter hears and turns into a real song
2) then Patty Hearst & the SLA rob the Crocker Bank near Sacramento
See below for video
November 25, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Draw your own conspiracy theory today.
1) Carpenters hit comes via TV commercial for Crocker Bank that Paul Williams writes that Richard Carpenter hears and turns into a real song
2) then Patty Hearst & the SLA rob the Crocker Bank near Sacramento
See below for video
1) Carpenters hit comes via TV commercial for Crocker Bank that Paul Williams writes that Richard Carpenter hears and turns into a real song
2) then Patty Hearst & the SLA rob the Crocker Bank near Sacramento
See below for video
“I want to feel the way Miles Davis’ music sounds”
November 24, 2025 at 11:04 PM
“I want to feel the way Miles Davis’ music sounds”
After The Gold Rush. here’s the original uncropped cover photo (with Graham Nash) by Joel Bernstein - taken on northwest corner of Sullivan Street and West 3rd Street, Greenwich Village. CSNY were in town to play the Fillmore East.
November 24, 2025 at 9:55 PM
After The Gold Rush. here’s the original uncropped cover photo (with Graham Nash) by Joel Bernstein - taken on northwest corner of Sullivan Street and West 3rd Street, Greenwich Village. CSNY were in town to play the Fillmore East.
This is a previously unseen photo of Syd Barrett taken by Kenneth Ekberg when Pink Floyd played at the Golden Circle, Stockholm Sweden
September 10th 1967
September 10th 1967
November 24, 2025 at 7:34 PM
This is a previously unseen photo of Syd Barrett taken by Kenneth Ekberg when Pink Floyd played at the Golden Circle, Stockholm Sweden
September 10th 1967
September 10th 1967
“I am just one of the people who is sick of the social order, sick of the establishment, sick to my soul of it all. To me, America’s society is nothing but a cancer, and it must be exposed before it can be cured. I am not the doctor to cure it. All I can do is expose the sickness.”
— Nina Simone
— Nina Simone
November 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
“I am just one of the people who is sick of the social order, sick of the establishment, sick to my soul of it all. To me, America’s society is nothing but a cancer, and it must be exposed before it can be cured. I am not the doctor to cure it. All I can do is expose the sickness.”
— Nina Simone
— Nina Simone
We’ve all had interesting & cheap vinyl finds at some point, but has anyone ever stumbled upon someone else’s sound files, streams, iClouds, iTunes, or apps for a quarter at a thrift store?
November 24, 2025 at 6:39 PM
We’ve all had interesting & cheap vinyl finds at some point, but has anyone ever stumbled upon someone else’s sound files, streams, iClouds, iTunes, or apps for a quarter at a thrift store?
Jimmy Cliff is gone
I loved him for these two songs and others
Speaking out against the Vietnam War!
These live tracks produced by Andrew Loog Oldham - who helped put The Rolling Stones on the map
I loved him for these two songs and others
Speaking out against the Vietnam War!
These live tracks produced by Andrew Loog Oldham - who helped put The Rolling Stones on the map
November 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Jimmy Cliff is gone
I loved him for these two songs and others
Speaking out against the Vietnam War!
These live tracks produced by Andrew Loog Oldham - who helped put The Rolling Stones on the map
I loved him for these two songs and others
Speaking out against the Vietnam War!
These live tracks produced by Andrew Loog Oldham - who helped put The Rolling Stones on the map
David Bowie
Nov 23, 1972
Bowie’s early masterpieces finally hit America – the Ziggy invasion begins!
David Bowie’s Two New Old Albums, a one-page advert for the reissues of Space Oddity and The Man Who Sold The World in Rolling Stone, November 23, 1972. - (courtesy of Glam Slam)
Nov 23, 1972
Bowie’s early masterpieces finally hit America – the Ziggy invasion begins!
David Bowie’s Two New Old Albums, a one-page advert for the reissues of Space Oddity and The Man Who Sold The World in Rolling Stone, November 23, 1972. - (courtesy of Glam Slam)
November 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
David Bowie
Nov 23, 1972
Bowie’s early masterpieces finally hit America – the Ziggy invasion begins!
David Bowie’s Two New Old Albums, a one-page advert for the reissues of Space Oddity and The Man Who Sold The World in Rolling Stone, November 23, 1972. - (courtesy of Glam Slam)
Nov 23, 1972
Bowie’s early masterpieces finally hit America – the Ziggy invasion begins!
David Bowie’s Two New Old Albums, a one-page advert for the reissues of Space Oddity and The Man Who Sold The World in Rolling Stone, November 23, 1972. - (courtesy of Glam Slam)
I’m at the Hopper House -
What ?!? Dennis didn’t live here ?
What ?!? Dennis didn’t live here ?
November 24, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I’m at the Hopper House -
What ?!? Dennis didn’t live here ?
What ?!? Dennis didn’t live here ?
Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, and Brian Jones at a reception for The Supremes on King's Road in London, January 1968.
November 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, and Brian Jones at a reception for The Supremes on King's Road in London, January 1968.
The former chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and Black Panther Party Member ‘H Rap Brown’ has passed away November 23, 2025
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 AM
The former chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and Black Panther Party Member ‘H Rap Brown’ has passed away November 23, 2025
memory from a few years ago today:
got a phone call from Baton Rouge - from Joan Baez's long time producer - he says, "Joanie is sitting about 5 feet from me and spent Thanksgiving at my house reading your book “Listen Whitey: the sounds of Black Power 1965-75” from cover to cover"
got a phone call from Baton Rouge - from Joan Baez's long time producer - he says, "Joanie is sitting about 5 feet from me and spent Thanksgiving at my house reading your book “Listen Whitey: the sounds of Black Power 1965-75” from cover to cover"
November 23, 2025 at 11:52 PM
memory from a few years ago today:
got a phone call from Baton Rouge - from Joan Baez's long time producer - he says, "Joanie is sitting about 5 feet from me and spent Thanksgiving at my house reading your book “Listen Whitey: the sounds of Black Power 1965-75” from cover to cover"
got a phone call from Baton Rouge - from Joan Baez's long time producer - he says, "Joanie is sitting about 5 feet from me and spent Thanksgiving at my house reading your book “Listen Whitey: the sounds of Black Power 1965-75” from cover to cover"
Two titans
November 23, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Two titans
The Clash in Belfast
“Tony went to fight in Belfast
Rudi stayed at home to starve
I could make it all worthwhile as a rock & roll star”
“Tony went to fight in Belfast
Rudi stayed at home to starve
I could make it all worthwhile as a rock & roll star”
November 23, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The Clash in Belfast
“Tony went to fight in Belfast
Rudi stayed at home to starve
I could make it all worthwhile as a rock & roll star”
“Tony went to fight in Belfast
Rudi stayed at home to starve
I could make it all worthwhile as a rock & roll star”
When Nile Rodgers first called Bernard Edwards - Nile suggested using Fairport Convention and Country Joe & The Fish as starting points. Edwards said “lose my phone number” - then a year later Rodgers saw Roxy Music and told Edwards, “we need to do the black version of this” - Chic was born.
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
When Nile Rodgers first called Bernard Edwards - Nile suggested using Fairport Convention and Country Joe & The Fish as starting points. Edwards said “lose my phone number” - then a year later Rodgers saw Roxy Music and told Edwards, “we need to do the black version of this” - Chic was born.