It’s been awhile since I posted a classic ISKCON record. And though Janmastami is a busy time, I thought I’d post it today.

So if you have time, you can download it and play it while you and your family lovingly hang the Janmastami ornaments upon the gentle branches of the Janmastami tree. Let these songs be the Janmastami songs you sing as you bundle up to go Janmastami caroling throughout your neighborhood. And at the end of the day, long after you’ve opened the Janmastami presents, you and yours can burn the annual Janmastami log while the kids gather round the hearth to hear stories of the ghosts of Janmastami past, present and, of course, Janmastami yet to come.

However, I thankfully digress.

Way back in December I found one of the missing links in my collection of Classic ISKCON Records. It was the third release by Radha Krsna Productions, a label that released both Acyutananda Swami AND Hamsadutta Swami records. Maybe they were trying to keep the peace? Or maybe it was just a way to repackage previously released material.

Such was the case with their fourth release, Hare Krsna Festival, a full LP of Hamsadutta’s moaning. And such is sort of the case with their third release, Krsna Meditation. I say “sort of” because I’m mostly assuming it is.

See, I can’t find out what their second release was. No idea. However, their fifth release was a reissue of some of the material from this LP. They even used the same name and same album cover. Lazy, folks!

The fifth release (RKP #1005) took Side One, Disc One along with Side Two, Disc Two of the third release (RKP #1003). Was Side Two, Disc One and Side One, Disc Two of the third release originally released as RKP #1002. No idea, but it would make sense.

Anyway, enough mental speculation.

I love records. I love how huge the artwork is, compared to CDs. And what I love most of all about records are gatefold sleeves. And Radha Krsna Productions’s third release, Krsna Meditations, is a gatefold, double LP set! If my kali-yuga memory serves me well enough, it’s the only gatefold, double LP that was released by devotees.

Radha Krsna Temple (released by Apple Records) was a beautiful gatefold, but only a single LP. This one, well, this one is double. And my copy of it is in unplayed condition.

The center picture is of Srila Prabhupada in the studio with Hamsadutta, Haimavati and, I assume, Cakravarti or Purijit das brahmacari. It makes sense that it would have been taken during this recording session.

Thankfully, Srila Prabhupada sings on all of the tracks. And these are long, beautiful renditions of the tunes. It’s all music, without purport.

Here’s the track list:

Disc One – Side One
1) Prayers to the Six Goswamis

Disc One – Side Two
1) Gaura Pranam
2) Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu

Disc Two – Side One
1) Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna

Disc Two – Side Two
1) Yasomati-nandana
2) Cintamani

And if you like, you can download it here! Happy Janmastami!

Related posts:

1. A Janmastami Lecture by Srila Prabhupada
2. Classic ISKCON Tapes #1 – Srila Prabhupada Leads Kirtan
3. Following Srila Prabhupada DVD Set
4. Questioning Srila Prabhupada
5. The Bajaj connection to Srila Prabhupada