David Naegele - Soothing Seas (1994)

I'll start off by saying that this tape was a complete let down. It was supposed to be music by Steven Gruskin, but all it is are tracks from David Naegele's Temple In The Forest, Journies Out Of Body, and Tranquilities (Musical Sounds Of Relaxation Series) with ocean sounds added. It is relaxing and pretty, and the tape rip quality is excellent. However, it's nothing we haven't heard before. Those who are new to the blog and are not familiar to Naegele may like this, since it has good selections from him. But I'm not too happy with this release that had so much potential to be new material.
Again, apoligies for not updating frequently. I have been very busy archiving audio of different music genres and making music of my own.

                                        David Naegele - Soothing Seas (1994)

Natopus - Transition (1985 CD Rip, HQ!)

Hello! Sorry for neglecting this blog, however this new batch of posts will make up for it. A few months ago, I acquired the CD rip of Transition by Natopus (Jim Bertucci). This was always a favourite of mine, and the fact that the version we had before this was such poor quality was truly a let down. I had to do some hiss removal and EQ on the CD, but you'll find it sounds delightful. Finally hearing it in pristine quality was a dream come true. I hope you enjoy this lovely release. Made by Jim Bertucci, with help from Robert Slap. 12/8 - FIXED LINK



Natopus - Transition (New Link)

Robert Slap - Fitness Walking, Tape 1-4 (1990)

Happy Fourth Of July! And here we have four tapes in a series released in 1990 by the good 'ol Great American Audio Corp, the Fitness Walking series. There were a number of installments, the ones here are Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert. There are other versions that include country or big band music, but these four are all great, fast paced, dreamy electronic masterpieces by Robert Slap. You couldn't ask for anything better than this. Think of a cross between Drive and Sedona: The Psychic Vortex Experience Soundtrack. Each tape has a faster pace with a metronome keeping in time to the music to show how your walking pace should be. Needless to say, I'm considering using these myself while walking to see how it goes. I'm gonna put 'em all in one folder for your convenience. It looks a little overwhelming, but it's worth going through it all.

Robert Slap - Fitness Walking (1990)

Dick Sutphen - Alpha Wave Theta Wave (2000)

Hello! We've got a real drone record here, one I've used many times to help me sleep. This is 2000's Alpha Wave Theta Wave, Which as suggested are alpha and theta waves meant to cause an altered or meditative state of consciousness. Great background noise for those who have tinnitus. Please enjoy!

Dick Sutphen - Alpha Wave Theta Wave (2000)

Interludes - Hidden Lake (1987)

Greetings! I didn't think I'd still be finding out about "new" releases, but there was yet another Interludes tape, and I managed to get a copy. This is Hidden Lake, a nice blend of flute and ocarina, with some bells and marimba on occasion. Minimal but nice. If you enjoyed Tropical Beach, you'll enjoy this one. I have no idea who plays the instruments on this.

I wonder if, at long last, we have completed the entire Interludes series....

Interludes - Hidden Lake (1987)

Interludes - Tropical Beach (1991)

Hello! I recently ordered a tape that I never knew existed until the day I purchased it. It came, and it didn't disappoint. Here we have yet another installment in the always awesome Interludes series. Comforting sounds of the beach - ocean waves, birds, wind. This is mixed with bells and bamboo flute performed by Steven Bergman and John Maragos. Fairly minimal, but very beautiful.

The biggest treat was buying this factory-sealed, as when I opened the big box it came in, I found a promotional flyer that you could write into the New Rochelle NY branch of Great American Audio Corp for a free cassette or a list of their catalogue. Imagine if I wrote it now - and sent it to a now abandoned building! Included at the bottom is a scan of the flyer for curious minds.
                                 
                                            Interludes - Tropical Beach (1991)

Majestic Moods - Celtic Glow (1997)

Greetings! Here's a nice release from Majestic Moods, which was a series put out by Sunshine Mountain Productions. Much like the Mystic Harp release from Musical Sounds Of Relaxation, this is a straight harp album with some instruments backing on a couple tracks. You will hear some piano, bells, keyboard and even some nature sounds in this album. Beautiful arrangements in this one. The artist is not listed, but I would assume it is by Mark Britten, because he played harp on other "celtic" releases from Majestic Moods. Harp fans have come to the right place.


Majestic Moods - Celtic Glow (1997)

Various - New Age Sampler, Vol II (1986)

Another Valley Of The Sun sampler I had forgotten to upload. The best part about it (Besides the comfy album cover) is that we get to hear a snippet of "Transition" by Natopus in high quality. The only full copy we have of that is very poor and distorted. There are also appearances by David Storrs, Robert Slap, Steven Cooper and more.

Various - New Age Sampler Vol II

Various - New Age Sampler, Vol I (1985)

Hello, I am long overdue uploading this here. I have had this (as well as volume II in this series) for over three years or so on my computer collecting dust. This is a sampler of tracks from various VOTS releases, mostly Upper Astral ones.

                                          Various - New Age Sampler

Dick Sutphen - The Zapper (20XX)

Recently got this, it's from Sutphen's site, not sure when it was released. I've been really into the Hypnogogic sound/vibration tape lately, and this is something similar. It's got delta waves and deep pulses for relaxation and though I haven't tried it yet, I bet this would be good to help me with sleep and meditation. Check it out.

                                                    Dick Sutphen's The Zapper

Hymns By The Sea - Ebbing Tides (1995)

Greetings, friends! I've digitized the second Hymns By The Sea tape I purchased. This Time, Steve Gruskin partners up with cellist Thomas Goode. This might be my favorite out of the three tapes I got. The synths and cello blend so perfectly together. Side A and B are printed on the wrong sides, and I kept it like that in the files to preserve it the way it is.

Hymns By The Sea - Ebbing Tides (1995)

Hymns By The Sea - Sunset Sea (1995)

Today, a package arrived in my mail with three cassettes: Three of the albums from the Hymns By The Sea series, released by Majestic Moods! I uploaded a CD version of "Gentle Waves" a few years ago, but I am not sure if the copy I got online was the full album. Hymns By The Sea is religious tunes mixed with nature sounds, performed by Steve Gruskin and another guest musician. On this album, Sunset Sea, We have guitarist John Foley. It's very beautiful and a must-listen! 

Hymns By The Sea - Sunset Sea (John Foley & Steve Gruskin, 1995)

I apologise that the tape art is somewhat cut off.

The Majestic Moods series was released by Sunshine Mountains Productions in 1995.

There are four (known) tapes in this series, and I own three of them. The only one I don't have was a special holiday album called Holiday Sunset. 

Steve Gruskin - Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep: When Baby Sleeps Soundly, So Do You! (1990)

Third post this week! I just got this in the mail today. Was kind of making a gamble, because there are several lullaby tapes that Great American Audio Corp released and I wasn't sure of the contents on this. 

These are nicely done synthesized bible songs set to ocean sounds with singing by a woman thar I assume is Sherri Huffman, who sang on another Great American Audio Corp lullaby tape. There are two versions of each song on this CD for some reason. There seems to be little to no difference between these versions other than ones being slightly longer or shorter than their counterparts. Sherri Huffman(?)'s singing is soothing and is not too loud or anything, so it is easy to relax to this CD. Originally released on tape in 1990, re-issued in 2000.
I also found another one of the lullaby tapes posted by someone online, so I will download that and upload it too. you'll be getting a lot of new posts from me!

Steve Gruskin/Sherri Huffman - Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (1990)

Jerry Crocker - Feather In The Wind (2000)

Yes, it's finally here! Feather In The Wind, a 2000 release with an incredible performance by Jerry Crocker. This album is absolutely beautiful and must be heard to be believed. Flutes and synthesizer are perfect together.

From the press release:
Feather in the Wind is a collection of soothing Native American flute compositions to quiet your mind and invoke images. Close your eyes and drift away to Southwestern canyons and high mesas where eagles soar in the cloudless skies. Transcend time to perceive an echo of distant drums—forgotten dreams of peaceful times when the people lived in harmony with nature. A master of various wooden and clay flutes, Jerry Crocker also weaves goat-skin drums, synthesizer, effects and nature sounds into his dreamy music.

I am in love with this album, and you will be as well! I have about 4 more releases to post here within the next couple of weeks when they arrive in the mail! I finally got a cassette player/digitizer.

Jerry Crocker - Feather In The Wind

Various - Interludes: Meditation (199X)

Hey, friends! I am back with a couple goodies to bring you over the next week. I found an Interludes CD that I never even knew existed before I found it while scrounging eBay over the weekend. This is called Meditation Interludes, which features various artists (mostly orchestras) covering music from classical composers such as Bizet, Beethoven, and Bach. This is one of the rare Interludes releases that doesn't feature Steven Gruskin. No nature sounds, just straight-up classical. The musicians do a darn good job at it - nothing spectacular, but if classical is for you, this non-electronic album is right up your alley!

Meditation Interludes (199X)

Robin Miller - Magical Spheres (1987)

This is not a VOTS release, but it is an album from Robin Miller, a talented musician who has released tapes on the label. This time, it's Magical Spheres from 1987.

Robin Miller - Magical Spheres (1987)

Dick Sutphen and Upper Astral - Ascent Of The Eagle (1988)

Hello, friends! Happy belated New Year. We still exist, and for further proof, besides the fact that I'm writing this, is a newly unearthed tape from 1988. Another joind release between Dick Sutphen and Upper Astral, which of course was made up of David Naegele, David Storrs (and later, Robert Slap). This tape features the Robert Slap incarnation, with Ascention To The All That Is playing in the background while Dick talks.




Ascent Of The Eagle (1988)