Tompkins Square label presents have announced the release of the 8th volume of Imaginational Anthem, the acclaimed series focusing on acoustic guitar, particularly in the American Primitive vein.
Since 2005, the series has revived interest in old masters of the genre while also giving many folks their very first taste of artists like William Tyler, Steve Gunn, Chris Forsyth or Daniel Bachman.
Volume 8, compiled by hardcore record collectors Michael Klausman (former used LP buyer for NYC’s recently shuttered Other Music) and Brooks Rice, features some of the best and most obscure private press guitar records virtually no one has heard. In fact, so-called guitar soli expert, Tompkins Square owner Josh Rosenthal, had never heard of a single artist on the comp (except for Perry Lederman, whose track was Josh’s sole contribution to the collection). “Just goes to show what a bottomless pit music discovery from the past continues to be. There’s just no end to all the riches from past decades.”
Amidst the obscure entries are bits of rock-star lore; Joe Bethancourt was supposedly given a sitar by an admiring Jimi Hendrix, and Perry Lederman was reportedly responsible for teaching Bob Dylan how to fingerpick. But the true joy of this collection is derived from discovering incredible acoustic guitar performances completely lost to time. Until now.
Take a listen to The Secret Forces Of Nature by Gary Salzman (’68) below:
If you’re new to this series then why not take a listen to Vol. 1-7 on Spotify: