Various Artists - Windham Hill Records Sampler '94 (1994)

In today's world, there's no need for label samplers such as this because of streaming and file sharing. So this relic is a product of a bygone era (sheesh, Mark, melodramatic much?). Likewise, much has been made of the impending doom of the compact disc (ain't gonna happen if I can help it, folks). But it's a great time for CD buyers like myself as people are discarding CDs as if they were landlines and I'm here to happily pick up the leftovers like a dog under a dinner table. For example, I got this disc as part of a 39 CD lot recently purchased on eBay for only $10. I'll do the math for ya: just under 26¢ per CD.

In any case, this CD is as advertised. Tracks from Windham Hill label's New Age/World Music/ambient noodling/yoga music releases. To be honest, I'm unfamiliar with most of these artists as I had already been through my Windham Hill phase back in the '80s. However, it's very relaxing and I'm digging it more than I thought I might. I woulda paid twice the price. 😉 Surprisingly good compilation when considering the label, then 18 years old, was in flux (Windham Hill was purchased by BMG through a series of buyouts from 1992 through 1996).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Peak on the US Billboard New Age Chart: #2*

Tracks: 13 tracks, 61 minutes

1. Bright Sky by Alex De Grassi ✔
2. Love on Three Levels by Psychograss
3. Sentimental Walk by Philip Aaberg ✔
4. Pavanne by Steve Erquiaga ✔
5. Night In That Land by Nightnoise ✘
6. Patu by Aquarela Carioca
7. Firewater by Gaia
8. How Insensitive by Liz Story ✔
9. A Happy Home in Kathmandu by Will Ackerman
10. Redonda by Modern Mandolin Quartet
11. Pas de Deux by Scott Cossu 
12. My Heart by Øystein Sevåg ✘
13. Ivory by Ray Lynch ✘

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

*I had no idea until today that Billboard had ever produced a New Age album chart and evidently it's still going strong. In any case, this particular sampler was kept out of the top spot on said chart by a live Yanni album.

William Ackerman - In Search of the Turtle's Navel (1976)

"LET'S GET IT OVER WITH" WEEK (OCTOBER 15-21, 2012)

Early New Age solo acoustic guitar noodling. According to Allmusic, "For many people, this is the album that invented new-age music." Whatevs. It's a little too folksy/bluegrassy for my tastes. I purchased this CD simply because it was $1 and it was on the Windham Hill label (this album was actually the first release on Windham Hill, which was founded by Ackerman and his wife). Not my bag, but I've wasted $1 on worse things. For more info and original album art, click here.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: For the most part, the track titles are more creative than the music.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.