hypersongs

Song of the Avatars: The Lost Master Tapes

A five-disc, 54-track set of unreleased studio recordings from roughly 1965 to 1985.
Robbie Basho, 2020

Barker arranged it with Basho's estate and the tapes' custodians; the booklet carries notes by Barker, Henry Kaiser, Steffen Basho-Junghans, Glenn Jones, Richard Osborn and Robbie Dawson, and Barbara Bersche designed it. A Record Store Day 2020 single LP, Selections from Song of the Avatars, held seven pieces. Barker became interested after buying the 2006 Tompkins Square reissue of Venus in Cancer. KLOF said in October 2020 that it looked to be the ultimate treat for any Basho fan. Release dates conflict: KLOF says December 4, 2020, while the Bandcamp page shows March 5, 2021 for the digital edition. The tapes' labeling was poor, so no source gives individual recording dates or personnel.

Track listing

  1. Harakiri, Kali Style15:54
  2. If I Had Possession4:19
  3. Bengali Prayer1:18
  4. Brahman's Blues7:18
  5. Tatanka2:41
  6. Medieval Nocturne7:36
  7. Autumn Child3:31
  8. Priest Spring Jazz5:12
  9. Hippie Song3:56
  10. Swamp Song4:17
  11. Rosey Bush10:08

Sources

  1. Song of the Avatars: The Lost Master Tapes, Tompkins Square
  2. Robbie Basho, Song of the Avatars, KLOF Mag (2020-10-20)
  3. Song of the Avatars resurrects guitarist Robbie Basho's lost recordings, NPR (2020-12-04)