The Khalsa String Band - S/T
Posted on March 25, 2006 by canonical
This is a really nice, mellow hippie/folk album. Information on the internet was scarce, so I'd be happy to learn more. From what I could gather, the Khalsa String Band was comprised of Sikh's living in America and Americans won over to the Yogi craze in the 70's. Almost everyone in the band has the last name "Singh", which lead me to believe this was going to be a citar-psych-affair. However, the instrumentation is very simple with just guitar, drums, bass, flute, and keyboards. In fact, there is pretty much zero Middle-Eastern influence in the music. Lyrically they are very spiritually inspired, though. I believe they put out 8 albums, this one being their first.
I will post in full two very great songs. The upbeat "America" and the totally beautiful "Sing Of Bliss". This album is recommended for hippies and folkies. Get your sandals on and enjoy.
Filed under: Folk, Xian / Religious
8 Comments to “The Khalsa String Band - S/T”
Should be working now!
Hi,
While seraching for a remaster of the Khalsa string band I found you. I can tell you anything you would like to know about them, while I was not one of them I knew them all in the 70’s. We all lived in the 3HO ashram, look it up it still exists. The person singing the Song of Bliss is Singh Kaur, she was the best selling new age artist in the 70’s and 80’s, she died of cancer in the 90’s, she was an angel on earth. I still want the songs on that album, not just my over the hills tape!
With appreciation,
Devkirn Khalsa
i do not want to offend the author of this topic ye, there wud not be any middle eastern influence in this album since the sikhs r from india (far east). Sikhs r not hippies that would be the hindus, be it the very reason the sikh religion came to india to stop black magic and superstious belifs.
This music was not intended for people listen to while using recreational drugs.
Hi edd,
When I said “hippie/folk” I was refering to the sound of the music and not to the people playing it.
Thanks for your input.
- Aaron Levin
hello , Canonical ,thank’s a lot for review of that obscure superb album , can you left here your email please ?
Sure, my e-mail is
vilevin [at] gmail [dot] com
Thanks,
- Aaron Levin
I lived in the Phoenix 3HO ahsram, Guru Nanak Dwara, in late ‘72 and early ‘73. I never saw the Khalsa String Band play live but I had 3 of their tapes. “The Sons of the Tenth Guru” is an absolute standout in the New Age mystic/yoga genre. I’m going to order it again as I lost my old tape in ‘85.
I know Sat Kartar Kaur who has lived in Phoenix a lot. She was in the band. Sikhism isn’t Middle Eastern at all. It’s influences are Sikh from the Punjab of India. Sikhs are humble yet fierce people. The Punjabi Sikhs that I meet at the Guru Nanak Dwara temple are gentle and good people. But they will follow Guru Gobind Singh into battle in a minute (the men that is).
I also met and hung out with for an evening Vikram Singh (formerly Vic Briggs of the Animals). He was so cool and down to earth. We played soccer together. He co-wrote “Sky Pilot” and “San Francsican Nights”. He’s got a new name (Antion) and lives in Hawaii the last that I heard.
The song “Sons of the Tenth Guru” will make you cry and your perspective on self defense will become enlarged. My teacher, Maharaj Charan Singh (1917-1990) taught that to defend oneself to the fullest is the right thing to do.
There are two other great musicians from the early days in 3HO. Sat Nam Singh is one. He was head teacher at the Tucson ashram. He had a powerful tenor voice. The other is Bibi Bhani Kaur who has lived in Phoenix since the early ’70’s. She is still in 3HO and still makes music.
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the links to those songs aren’t working