Alice Coltrane WORLD SPIRITUALITY CLASSICS 1: ECSTATIC MUSIC Vinyl

The title of this record is evidenced by the very first notes of opening track "Om Rama." A chorus of chanters armed with hand claps and tambourines light into a Hindu Bhajan, accompanied by Alice Coltrane's whirling Wurlitzer organ as she lays down brooding bass notes with one hand, moves her feet across those pedals with authority, and plays glissandi synth with the other hand -- immediate ecstasy. Then John Panduranga Henderson -- who sang with Ray Charles -- delivers a moaning, gospelized solo as Coltrane vamps on his blues. This isn't common Hare Krishna chanting, folks. This music is compiled from four privately pressed cassettes (Turiya Sings [1982]; Divine Songs [1987]; Infinite Chants [1992], and Glorious Chants [1995]) that Coltrane distributed to members of the Sai Antaram Ashram (which she founded) between 1982 and 1995. Some were recorded in professional studios; all were engineered by Baker Bigsby -- who oversaw the tape transfers here from the masters -- and represent a