“The ‘Priest’ They Called Him” is a collaboration between the American novelist William S. Burroughs and musician Kurt Cobain. Released on July 1, 1993. On the piece, Cobain provides noisy, discordant guitar backing based on “Silent Night” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” to Burroughs‘ deadpan reading. Originally released as a limited edition 10-inch picture disc on Tim/Kerr Records in 1993, it was subsequently re-released on CD and 10-inch vinyl.
Kurt Cobain was first exposed to the work of beat poet William S. Burroughs while a senior in high school, and Burroughs‘ writing became an influence on his songwriting. In 1992, Cobain contacted Burroughs about possibly doing a collaboration. Burroughs responded by sending him a recording of “The Junky’s Christmas” (which he recorded in his studio in Lawrence, Kansas). Two months later in a studio in Seattle, Cobain added guitar backing based on “Silent Night” and “To Anacreon in Heaven“. The two would meet shortly later in Lawrence, Kansas and produce “The ‘Priest’ They Called Him”, which is a spoken word version of “The Junky’s Christmas“.
The cover artwork and treatment was by Mark Trunz, who also took the picture of Cobain. Krist Novoselic is featured on the cover as the Priest. The picture of Burroughs was taken by Gus Van Sant for his book 108 Photographs. Steve Connell created the jacket design.
William Burroughs recorded at Red House Studios in Lawrence, Kansas, on September 25, 1992. It was engineered by Brad Murphy. Cobain‘s guitar part was recorded in November 1992. Barrett Jones pushed the record button straight to DAT at Laundry Room Studios in Seattle, Washington. The mixdown was engineered by Ed Rose with James Grauerholz at Red House Studios; Grauerholtz also produced. Thor Lindsay served as executive producer.
Tracklist:
- The ‘Priest’ They Called Him
Credits:
Performers
William S. Burroughs: voice
Kurt Cobain: guitar
Technical personnel
James Grauerholz: producer, mixing engineer
Thor Lindsay: executive producer
Brad Murphy: engineer
Barrett Jones: engineer
E. J. Rose: mixing
Design personnel
Steve Connell: design, layout
Mark Trunz: photography
Gus Van Sant: photography
Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994)
William Seward Burroughs II (February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997)
