Haribol! And welcome, won’t you?

This week’s selection is one that’s pretty available on Ebay, Gemm.com, etc. It’s Acyutananda Swami’s India LP. It’s comprised of seven studio tracks, recorded in Mayapura. It’s a great album to listen to and you’ll be very happy with it.

RKP #1001 – Acyutananda Swami – India

But just because it’s a solid record doesn’t mean there isn’t mystery behind it. With this recording, there are two main mysteries (aside from when it was actually recorded).

The first is why it was released under the Radha Krsna Productions label. It is the first of five records to be released under that moniker. Upon closer inspection of the record itself, while the label clearly states that it’s Radha Krsna Productions, the etching in the center of the vinyl reads: “HKR – 1005 – A” (or “- B” depending on which side).

HKR stands for Hare Krsna Records, Hamsadutta’s label. There were, as far as I can tell, only four LPs released by Hare Krsna Records (all of which I’ve uploaded). They were catalog numbers 1001 – 1004. If this were to be their #1005, it would have been the only LP where Hamsadutta played no role in the production.

To me, that seems reason enough for Hamsadutta to kick it to another label even after Hare Krsna Records pressed it. But what is the real story? Beats me.

The second mystery is this…

It’s a “cut out” … sort of…

In the recording industry, a cut-out refers to a deeply-discounted or remaindered copy of an LP…. When LPs were the primary medium for distribution or recording, manufacturers would physically cut the corner, punch a hole, or add a notch to the spine of the jacket of unsold records returned from retailers; these “cut-outs” might then be re-sold to record retailers or other sales outlets for sale at a discounted price. A special section of a record store devoted to such items was known as the cut-out bin or bargain bin. – Wikipedia (lazy me)

But the mystery is this: The cover that I have is not a cut out. It’s a photograph of a cut out. The photograph used on the cover of this LP was made from a cut out version of the same LP. Why?

What this seems to indicate is that someone wanted to print more covers, but the only covers they had were ones with cut outs. So they photographed a cut out cover and used it. I’ve only personally seen one copy of this LP (though there are tons out there), so I don’t know if this is common to all of them, but it’s weird.

Again, I’m wildly speculating, but a guess would be that maybe Hamsadutta actually released this one, made a bunch of copies and then “destroyed” them via the cut out process. But really, who knows (and probably who cares).

Though, keep in mind, Hare Krsna Records and Radha Krsna Productions did share at least one release: Hare Krsna Festival – HKR #1003/RKP #1004 – as reviewed last Ekadasi. So why this is HKR #1005/RKP #1001, I’ve got no idea.

So let’s get to the record…

Side One

1) Gaya Gour
2) Radha Govinda
3) Jasomati Nandana
4) Kesava Kali Mala

Side Two

1) Manasha Deha Geha
2) Nama Sankirtana
3) Gopinatha

On the back cover of the LP there’s a bit of a write up. Here it is…

Acyuthananda Swami is an American sannyasi, who left his homeland at the age of 16 years and has been living in India since the last 10 years studying the spiritual culture and music of India. He is world renowned for his masterful singing of Bengali Vaisnava folk songs and playing on mrdanga (clay drum, unique to Bengal).

The recordings on this LP were taken in Mayapura, India, and we beg the listeners to excuse the obvious shortcomings due to circumstances beyond our control. This record has been produced especially with the idea of helping the needy people of Bengal by sending the profits above the cost of actual production to our international center in Mayapura, India (Bengal), where thousands of people are fed each day from contributions coming through the sale of this record. Give generously.

I wonder if the needy people of Bengal got anything from this.

Ok ok, I’ll shut up.
Download it here.

Related posts:

1. It’s Ekadasi! Let’s hear it for the LAST Hare Krsna Festival!
2. Classic ISKCON Tape #18 – Acyutananda Swami – Hindi Bhajans
3. Classic ISKCON Tapes #13 – Hare Krishna Kirtans – Acyutananda Swami – 1975
4. It’s Ekadasi! The Beautiful Hare Krsna People DOUBLE LP!
5. It’s Ekadasi! Radhagovinda Productions