Sit Properly

This tape needs no introduction. It’s the 1975 San Francisco Ratha-Yatra. This is THE best kirtan tape ever made. And in my estimation, it will never ever be surpassed.

KT-14 – Rathayatra Festival

I can’t remember who is singing where and can’t really find much on it. I believe it’s printed on the tape, but I can’t find my copy of it at this point (in the middle of moving).

There are four tracks on this. Three are kirtans, one is an address by Visnujana Swami. I’m betting that at least one of the kirtans are lead by him.

Click here to download. (22MB)
[The sound quality of this one isn't as good due to very low bitrate - 64kbps - on the encoding of the MP3s. Once I get everything set up again, I'll do it again and post it. This is way too good for such low quality. My apologies.]

Howdy folks! Hare Krishna to you and yours!

I bet you’re all excited because today’s selection is Acyutananda Swami, huh? Well, while Acyutananda beats Hamsadutta any given day, this just isn’t all that great.

KT-13 – Hare Krishna Kirtans – Acyutananda Swami – 1975

I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s just not. The first song, Damodarastaka, for example, is horrendous. It’s like he’s trying to sing in one meter and the mrdanga is trying to play in another. No idea how or why they tried this, let alone released this.

The second song isn’t too much better, but the rest of the tape is fairly easy on the ears.

One of the overall problems is that every song sounds exactly the same. These were clearly all done in one take during the same session. That is, with exception of tracks 7 and 12.

All that said, I still think it’s better than a lot of what was released around this time. Check it out and judge for yourself.

1) Sri Damodarastaka
2) Gopinatha
3) Srita Kamale
4) Nitaipadokamala
5) Sri Krsna
6) Sakhi-vrnde Vijnapti
7) Sri Prabhupada Mahima
8) Sri Radhika-stava
9) Yosomati Nandana
10) Hare Krsna
11) Govinda Hari
12) Srita-Kamala

Click here to download (83MB)

Welcome to another edition of Classic ISKCON Tapes. This instance brings us to KT-12 – Hare Krishna Kirtans by Dhira Krsna dasa.

Maybe my memory is shot, but I don’t remember who Dhira Krsna dasa is. Is he still around? Anyone know? Is he the astrologer?

Anyway, this is a quaint little tape. Mostly, it’s just him, kartals, a mrdanga and sometimes a sitar. The songs are short and sweet, but not rushed. He does some different arrangements on a few well known songs, as well as some rarities.

Definitely worth checking out.

KT-12 Hare Krishna Kirtans by Dhira Krsna dasa

1) Hare Krsna
2) Radha Syama
3) Sri Krsna Caitanya
4) Bhaja Hure Mana
5) Krsna Jinki
6) Sri Radhika-stava
7) Hare Krsna Bhajan
8) Srita Kamala
9) Radha Krsna bol bol
10) Ohe Vaishnava Thakura
11) Manasa dea geha
12) Hare Krsna

Click here to download (74 MB)

Note – I’ve pretty well given up on free file sharing/storage sites. I haven’t been able to find one that actually works well enough to use it in any real capacity. So I’m going to start using my own site. If I have to throw more money at it, so be it. If you have any issues with it, let me know, ok? Ok!

I wish I were familiar with Krishna consciousness in Latin America. Especially after hearing this one.

The only thing I really know about it is from a Prabhupada Memories DVD (#8), as told by Chitsukhananda:

I sat with him [Srila Prabhupada], and I felt happy and peaceful. I had a guitar with me, and he asked me if I would sing, so I chanted Hare Krishna. Throughout the years, even when we opened a temple in Mexico, we would play guitars in kirtan in Prabhupada’s presence. He would say, “Yes, yes, more. This is what’s making people dance and chant. Use it for Krishna.” It’s nice to hear the sitar and tambura, but it’s also nice for people to play the instruments of their own nation to worship God, and Srila Prabhupada was open minded about that. There are no hard and fast rules for chanting. He tried to accommodate everyone.

Now, the idea of guitar kirtans, especially Mexican guitar kirtans really thrills me. This tape, sadly, has very little guitar in it, which is a shame. I don’t know if the guitar kirtans were ever recorded.

KT-11 Caracas Temple Kirtans

But this is definitely a strong and steady tape. Well worth having. It’s pretty mellow. Not sad and droney or anything like that. But sober. The first half is with a bunch of devotees. The second sounds like it’s just two. It’s pretty cool.

1) Jaya Radha Madhava
2) Kirtan
3) Hare Krishna Kirtan
4) Sri Guruastakam
5) Gaya Goura Madhu Svare
6) Jai Jagganath
7) Sudha Bakata
8) Radha Krishna Bol Bol
9) Jasomati Nandana

Click here to download.