Sit Properly

Sarah just returned from visiting Pennsylvania and while there, stopped at my parents’ house to retrieve the big box full of cassettes I left there thinking I wouldn’t want them.

This box contains a bunch of classes from 1994-96 that happened at Columbus and New Vrndavana (these were recorded by me), some Krishnacore demos (Prema, 108, Bala!), a few odds and ends here and there and, most importantly, the Classic ISKCON Tapes that I wanted to rerecord, much like I’m rerecording the Classic ISKCON Vinyl.

These will be recorded, cleaned up and made available in 320kbps MP3s and FLAC files. I did all of these before, but they were saved in such low quality that I can’t even listen to them.

Also, as it was recently brought to my attention, I used the Archive’s version of KT-14 (the *amazing* San Francisco Ratha Yatra 1975) which omits a song and is encoded in the amazingly crappy 64kbps.

Remember a few years ago, the BBT/Archives released a few MP3 CD-ROMS full of a bunch of older KC music and vintage Prabhupada? Well, as nice as it seemed, it was in such a low bitrate that it’s near worthless. Sadly, KT-14 was on that disc and even sadder, I used it instead of recording it myself. I don’t remember why, but it was a dumb mistake that I’ll make up for soon.

When? That brings me to the begging portion of this blog post. Not only do I have tapes KT-1 – 20, but I also have Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas by Acyutananda Swami and Mrdanga Lessons by Srila Prabhupada. Since they are on cassettes and I have no cassette player, getting them digitized poses a bit of a problem.

If anyone out there has a pretty decent tape player that wouldn’t mind letting me borrow it for a spell, I could record these and send it back to you. It don’t think it would take me too long. Even doing one a day would be less than a month.

Any help would be … helpful.

*

Someone is bound to bring this up, so I’ll address it. The KT series originally ran from 1-25. I have 1 – 20, which is what was rereleased in 1995 and 1996 by the BBT. For some reason, 21-25 were never rereleased (as far as I know). They are available for download somewhere online, but the MP3s are very low quality, they are not tagged and no song titles are given. Mostly, it seems like a waste of time. Sad, because it’s some good music.

All this said, if anyone has any other early ISKCON cassettes and would like me to convert them to digital, please let me know. Golden Avatar had a series that wasn’t so good, but would be fun to preserve. Also, I remember something called “The Hare Krishna Hootenanny” that I’ve always wanted to hear.

Please Help!

This is the last of what I have of the “KT” series. I believe that there are several more, but I don’t have them.

I hope you enjoy this one.

Benediction Moon — Bengali Bhajans at Mayapur Festival, 1976

1. Ohe! Vaisnava Thakura
2. Hare Krsna
3. Krsna Kin-ka Nam Hai
4. Hare Krsna

Click here to download. (99MB)

No, it’s not really a rocker. It’s simply a devotee chanting sastra over the drone of a sitar. I’m not really sure when this came out or why it was recorded and released, but here it is.

KT-19 Sruti-Smrti

1. Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 12)
2. Srimad Bhagavatam
3. Dasa Avatara
4. Sloka Mala
5. Cintamani Prayers
6. Mangalacarana
7. Sri Sri Guruv Astaka
8. Sri Siksastaka
9. Upadesamrta
10. Sri Isopanisad
11. Damodarastaka

Click here to download (80MB)
[or right click and save link as…]

This is probably not a very widely circulated recording, but it’s typical Acyutananda Swami. Check out the far out Tulasi Arati. Well worth it.

KT-18 – Acyutananda Swami – Hindi Bhajans

1. Sri-guru-carana-kamala
2. Krsna Jinlka
3. Radhe Shyama
4. Jaya Radhe
5. Tulasi Arati
6. Jaya Radha Madhava
7. Vande Krsna
8. Yasomatinandana
9. Hare Krsna

Click here to download (95MB)
[or right click and save link as...]

Here’s a tape full of some rather traditional sounding bhajans. Sat-Cit-Ananda das takes side one while Dheer Krsna das has side two.
Side one, the first four songs, seem really well produced. Side two, on the other hand, have more of a home grown feel to them. I personally like side two better, but that’s just me.

KT-17 – Temple of the Mind – Sat-Cit-Ananda das & Dheer Krsna das

1. Mama Mana Mandira
2. Bhaja Hure-Mana
3. Ani Yamuna Puline
4. Narada Muni
5. Jaya-Radha-Madhava
6. Krsna-Jinlki-Nam
7. Damodarastaka
8. Hare Krsna
9. Guruvastaka

Click here to download.
[or right click and save link as...]

Here’s a whole tape full of Bengali songs by Jai Sacinandana! See?

KT-16 – Bengali Bhajans by Jai Sacinandana das

Pretty basic stuff here. Mrdanga, kartals, sometimes a sitar. And of course, Jai Sacinandana’s great voice. There are a few pretty uncommon songs on here. All good stuff. I really dig Doyal Nitai Candra, personally.

Bengalis are known for cooking food and singing bhajans… and they’ve just run out of bhoga.
Get ready.

1. Mama Mana Mandire
2. Sri-Godruma-Candra
3. Doyal Nitai Candra
4. Hare Krsna
5. Gauranga Karuna Koro
6. Nadiya Godrume
7. Vaisnava Ke
8. Gay Gauracand
9. Hare Krsna

Hey! Click here to download! (71MB)
[or right click and choose “save as”]

Haribol! How about some Agnidev? Ok? OK!

KT-15 – Live in New Dvarka–Agnidev das, 1976

According to the cassette, both tracks (side one and side two) were recorded in February of 1976 during Sandhya Arati at the Los Angeles temple.

Both tracks start slow and then build. They’re typical Agnidev kirtans, which means they’re pretty much amazing.

You want this.

Click here to download. (99MB)
[or right click and choose "save as"]

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 Sri Radhika-stava
9) Yosomati Nandana
10) Hare Krsna
11) Govinda Hari
12) Srita-Kamala

Click here to download (83MB)

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Want to listen to Damodarastaka?

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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 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!