Jack Kerouac had released the albums Poetry for the Beat Generation and Blues and Haikus in 1959, following the publication of his book The Dharma Bums.

The opening track, "San Francisco Scene (The Beat Generation)", is read from extracts of Desolation Angels.

The remastered edition also included liner notes on illustrated postcards by Kerouac's close friend and fellow Beat writer Allen Ginsberg.

In June 1990, Rhino Entertainment reissued the album on CD as part of the box set The Jack Kerouac Collection, also featuring Poetry for the Beat Generation, Blues and Haikus and The Last Word.

Allmusic reviewer Bruce Eder has since called Readings by Jack Kerouac on the Beat Generation "a solo performance that transcends poetry and music" and added "it's literally spoken jazz [...] Kerouac's most musical performance [...] using his voice and language the way a saxophonist might improvise on a particular melodic line or riff.