Mike
2010-10-08 19:26:19 UTC
Circle Magick Music CD by Jim Alan and Selena Fox © 2010 13
Tracks
Running Time 56:48 $14.00 www.circlesanctuary.org
This CD is available as a part of a 4 disk set for $49 including
“Circle Magick Music,”
“Songs of Pagan Folk,” “Magical Journeys”, and “Magick Mirror: Past
Life Journey” (a savings of $7 over the cost of each purchased
individually.
The Magician Watchers' Chant The Dancers
The Warrior Pentagram Chant Witches' Song
Talking Wicca Blues Song of the Witch Magick Song
Merlin's Song Follow the Moon
The Escape In a Magick Circle
Confession time: I began writing this review before I had the CD in
hand. I had several copies of the original tape which I had worn out
over the years and could easily remember how I felt while listening to
them. The only thing I was vague on was which songs were on which
album, so I cheated and dived into my archives to find one of Circle's
catalogs from 1984 to refresh my memory. Yeah, I know I could have
looked it up online, but I love an excuse to dig out out issues of
magazines and catalogs – it's a whole different experience.
If you are less than 30 years old, you most likely have never heard
the songs contained on
this CD (and that's too bad). It was recorded as an audio tape in
1976 and enjoyed a great deal of popularity among the Pagans of the
time. It contains a mixture of songs ranging from light-hearted,
whimsical to magickally inspiring. At the time of this tape's release
Jim Alan and Selena Fox were a mainstay of the Midwest Pagan
community. They were responsible for the publication of Circle
Network News (which has since evolved from a newspaper-format into a
slick publication available around the country), as well as the
organizing force behind the Midwest Pagan Festival annually. This
album, and a few others, helped to raise the concept of being proud to
be a Pagan (and publicly admitting it) among some of the first- and
second-wave Pagan/Craft initiates in the US, not to mention providing
a good source of income to keep things happening.
This was Circle's first album. It includes 13 songs and chants
including “Talkin' Wicca Blues” (this one has to be heard, and
enjoyed, by more people. Suffice it to say that it is even more
relevant today than it was when first recorded). Humorous
storytelling songs have been in short supply, so far as I can tell,
among the current crop of Pagan music, so don't miss “Talkin' Wicca
Blues”
Unheard for decades, these songs won't appeal to everyone, but for
some of us old-timers they will kindle fond memories of sitting around
campfires with friends (or sitting around an indoor circle) and
singing songs that everyone knew. There are songs for inspiration
and songs for fun; songs that tell stories we all know (and many have
experienced). Jim Alan wrote wonderful songs, and his voice carries
you along.
Jim Alan was one of the premiere songsmiths of the movement, and his
work with Selena produced some of the most popular songs of our Pagan
generation.
The first five tracks are considered to be “Musical Tales of Magic”
while the remaining eight tracks comprise “Chantsongs for Circle
Working”. The final song on this disk (“Magick Song”) is an
instrumental offering which, while not energetic enough for raising a
cone of power, certainly can assist with the performance of a ritual.
The price is certainly reasonable, the quality reflects favorably on
what we have come to expect from Circle, and this is a great way to
sit back and remember what it was like “back when” or to experience it
for the very first time. I sincerely missed hearing these songs after
I wore out my tapes. Now I have them back in my library, and intend
to listen to them again...frequently.
Do yourself a favor and add this CD to your collection
Tracks
Running Time 56:48 $14.00 www.circlesanctuary.org
This CD is available as a part of a 4 disk set for $49 including
“Circle Magick Music,”
“Songs of Pagan Folk,” “Magical Journeys”, and “Magick Mirror: Past
Life Journey” (a savings of $7 over the cost of each purchased
individually.
The Magician Watchers' Chant The Dancers
The Warrior Pentagram Chant Witches' Song
Talking Wicca Blues Song of the Witch Magick Song
Merlin's Song Follow the Moon
The Escape In a Magick Circle
Confession time: I began writing this review before I had the CD in
hand. I had several copies of the original tape which I had worn out
over the years and could easily remember how I felt while listening to
them. The only thing I was vague on was which songs were on which
album, so I cheated and dived into my archives to find one of Circle's
catalogs from 1984 to refresh my memory. Yeah, I know I could have
looked it up online, but I love an excuse to dig out out issues of
magazines and catalogs – it's a whole different experience.
If you are less than 30 years old, you most likely have never heard
the songs contained on
this CD (and that's too bad). It was recorded as an audio tape in
1976 and enjoyed a great deal of popularity among the Pagans of the
time. It contains a mixture of songs ranging from light-hearted,
whimsical to magickally inspiring. At the time of this tape's release
Jim Alan and Selena Fox were a mainstay of the Midwest Pagan
community. They were responsible for the publication of Circle
Network News (which has since evolved from a newspaper-format into a
slick publication available around the country), as well as the
organizing force behind the Midwest Pagan Festival annually. This
album, and a few others, helped to raise the concept of being proud to
be a Pagan (and publicly admitting it) among some of the first- and
second-wave Pagan/Craft initiates in the US, not to mention providing
a good source of income to keep things happening.
This was Circle's first album. It includes 13 songs and chants
including “Talkin' Wicca Blues” (this one has to be heard, and
enjoyed, by more people. Suffice it to say that it is even more
relevant today than it was when first recorded). Humorous
storytelling songs have been in short supply, so far as I can tell,
among the current crop of Pagan music, so don't miss “Talkin' Wicca
Blues”
Unheard for decades, these songs won't appeal to everyone, but for
some of us old-timers they will kindle fond memories of sitting around
campfires with friends (or sitting around an indoor circle) and
singing songs that everyone knew. There are songs for inspiration
and songs for fun; songs that tell stories we all know (and many have
experienced). Jim Alan wrote wonderful songs, and his voice carries
you along.
Jim Alan was one of the premiere songsmiths of the movement, and his
work with Selena produced some of the most popular songs of our Pagan
generation.
The first five tracks are considered to be “Musical Tales of Magic”
while the remaining eight tracks comprise “Chantsongs for Circle
Working”. The final song on this disk (“Magick Song”) is an
instrumental offering which, while not energetic enough for raising a
cone of power, certainly can assist with the performance of a ritual.
The price is certainly reasonable, the quality reflects favorably on
what we have come to expect from Circle, and this is a great way to
sit back and remember what it was like “back when” or to experience it
for the very first time. I sincerely missed hearing these songs after
I wore out my tapes. Now I have them back in my library, and intend
to listen to them again...frequently.
Do yourself a favor and add this CD to your collection