Classic ISKCON Vinyl – Radha Krishna Temple (Los Angeles) – “Gopinatha”
Radha Krishna Temple (Los Angeles) – Gopinatha/Ohe Vaisnava Thakura (7″ Single)
Golden Avatar Productions
GAP-1002
By 1975, ISKCON was in high gear and doing pretty well for itself. However, that didn’t mean they still couldn’t try to milk the 1969 George Harrison-produced Radha Krsna Temple for all it was worth. This single, though it may have the “Radha Krishna Temple” moniker, has nothing at all to do with the Radha Krsna Temple of London, 1969.
Most of the ISKCON records from the 70s came from Europe. Very few were produced in America. Golden Avatar Productions, in conjunction with the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, put out three (that I know of). The Radha Krishna Temple (Los Angeles) single may have been their last vinyl release. Mostly, they focused on cassette tapes.
Unlike a lot of the strange European releases, there isn’t much of a history here. GAP’s founder, Krishnakanti das, produced two songs and then released them. There’s no information on where or why or who played what on which song.
Side One
Gopinatha
Side Two
Ohe Vaisnava Thakura
You could hardly call these songs traditional Indian bhajans. Western instruments and a hippy folky feel dominate both sides. Thankfully, it doesn’t come of as contrived. The fact that the songs aren’t in English helps quite a bit, I’m sure.
The first song starts off like something from an early 70s Pink Floyd album, but with a violin thrown in for good measure. On vocals, we’ve got the amazing Agnidev. His voice is sweet, and pretty well saves the song. I think this song is trying to be a little trippy.
Side Two’s “Ohe Vaisnava Thakura” starts with a pretty Spanish guitar and Mangalananda sings sort of like if Jim Croce were a troubadour. It’s a simple song backed up with the obligatory (and sporatic) kartals and mrdanga drum.
My first copy of this 7″ was so bad that I never bothered posting it. It was just a scratched up record in a paper sleeve. However, along with the Visnujana 7″, came a pristine copy of the “Gopinatha” 7″ complete with picture sleeve. Both came from my friend Alan. Thanks a bunch!
So should you download this? Yes. Why not? You’ve probably never heard the songs before and that’s usually reason enough for me.
If anyone has more information about this release, please let me know. I’m always interested in learning more about these releases.
Listen, if you like…
Gopinatha
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Ohe Vaisnava Thakura
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Just click on the button and it’ll start to download the zip file. Then open the zip file with WinZip (or whatever program you use to open zip files). Add to your MP3 library or burn it to a CD-R. Easy as pie!
Download the FLAC files here, if you like.
Technical Information:
Media Used:
Vinyl 7″ from my personal collection.
Hardware Used:
Turntable: Audio Technica PL-120A
Cartridge: Shure 97x
TCC TC-750LC Audiophile Phono Preamp
Soundcard: Roland Edirol UA-1EX USB external soundcard
Software Used:
Audacity 1.3.12 on Linux Mint 10
-Digital recording from soundcard
-Editing and splitting of tracks
Gnome Wave Cleaner 0.21-12
-Manual and automatic click/pop removal
SoundConverter 1.4.1
-Converted WAV to 320kbps MP3 and FLAC
Artwork Scanned from Original @ 300 dpi with XSane .996
Edited and Restored Using GIMP Image Editor 2.6.6
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02/26/2011 at 8:19 am
wonderful!
i like this so much better than the ~modern~ stuff the devotees have been churning out. i think my heart just about stopped when i heard krishna techno blearing through the kc speakers, traumatic!
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02/26/2011 at 11:32 am
Wow, prestine sound! Such clarity, Eric! I know I’ve said this before…but, you are truly a technological wizard!
I was thinking more like Harry Chapin on “Ohe Vaisnava Thakura”, lol.
[Reply]
02/28/2011 at 7:18 am
Im humbly asking you, can you send me FLAC Vinyl Rip files, Classic ISKCON Vinyl – Radha Krishna Temple (Los Angeles) – “Gopinatha”
[Reply]
eric Reply:
February 28th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Haribol! I’m working on uploading all of the FLAC files that I have. Every piece of vinyl (except for the India LP, I seem to have misplaced those) will also be available as FLAC files.
[Reply]
eric Reply:
February 28th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
All the FLAC that I have are now uploaded and ready for you to download. Unfortunately, I no longer have FLAC files for Prabhupada’s Govinda LP or the India LP. They must have gotten lost along the way. Eventually (like years from now, probably), I’ll rerip them.
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06/06/2011 at 8:58 pm
i dont know how 2 download…………..plz krishna help ………………
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06/06/2011 at 9:00 pm
i want krishna at each second of my life…………………will u krishna?????????????????? plz………………
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07/24/2011 at 8:55 am
I remember purchasing a “Radha Krishna Temple” cassette with the original LP as well as these two tracks. I have been looking for these since then and did not know why they were “excluded” from other releases. Thanks for posting these and giving the back-story. As much as I am really impressed with the new generation of kirtaneers, there is something about these old recordings that are so sweet and soulful. Maybe I’m just an old dog. Thanks again. SRd
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