Vinyl 45 rpm Record (#284/300) I STARTED TO DRINK: Bukowski’s Final Live Reading (Sweetwater in Redondo Beach, California, March 31, 1980)

This is the only copy of this vinyl record I have ever seen. The cover says the record was produced by Warhead Productions and that this is War 003. It is hand-numbered #284/300.

This recording captures Bukowski’s final live reading. It took place at the Sweetwater in Redondo Beach, California, on March 31, 1980.

I am not a record collector, but I think this is a 33 rpm record the size of a 7-inch 45. I say that because the second side runs around 14 minutes, but I only know that because I heard a recording of the section of the reading on YouTube. I had a Who record like this growing up.

There are two well-known recordings of this event:
The Last Straw (2008)
One Tough Mother (2010)

This recording includes one poem on each side not listed on either of the above recordings:
Joint
Giving a Poetryroom

Here is the playlist listed for side 1:
Joint
Trouble
Competition
The Secret Of My Endurance

Side 2 (which is what I found on YouTube) runs 14 minutes and has the following playlist listed:
I started to Drink
Giving a Poetryroom

Although I have not listened to this record, listening to the YouTube video leads me to believe side 2 really contains the following poems:

Joint
Trouble
Competition
The Secret Of My Endurance
Giving a Poetryroom

But again, I have not listened to the record.

I have no training to grade records, but if this was a book I’d grade it Very Good ++ with a few wrinkle and edgewear to the black sleeve.

Shelf 2