95 thoughts on “Windham Hill Records Discography”

1. Excellent resource. i’d wondered about the “missing numbers” in the listings of releases on early windham hill albums. would be nice if the odd ones (basho, linda waterfall, kidd afrika) got rereleased sometime, perhaps by the artists themselves.

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2. Thanks! It was the “missing” early albums that got me started on this project. I had always wondered over the years why some were skipped.

   Of course the real crime is that many of the core Windham Hill albums are not in print, or available digitally. Try buying “Turning: Turning Back.”

   The interest I’ve seen from other Windham Hill fans makes me wonder about the viability of re-issuing a series of the original Windham Hill albums on audiophile vinyl and CD pressings. Many of the original albums were mastered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs. I like what Music Matters did with their Blue Note series, or the Classic Records reissues. Chime in via comments if this is something you’d be interested in.

   Regarding the “lost” releases: Linda Waterfall has said she’d love to see Mary’s Garden re-released. I’m not sure who owns the rights to it, presumably she does, but it could be Will Ackerman. In the meantime, vinyl sales sites will be the only place to get it. I’ve traded emails with her, and she has promised to provide more information on the album and her experiences recording it.

   Kidd Afrika on the other hand has made the album available through Rhapsody and other digital sites, and it’s a really fun album. Nothing like the other Windham Hill releases. There’s a link to the Rhapsody site on the Kidd Afrika page.

   Basho’s Visions of the Country is a brilliant album, and very compelling, although it took me a few listens to wrap my head around Basho’s vocals. He has quite a passionate following, and I’m really surprised that the album wasn’t re-issued as a Lost Lake Arts album, or otherwise re-released over the years.

   There are also a few later catalog numbers that are as yet unexplained. I hope to research and find out more about those.

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3. Your list seems to be mssing WH-1042: Ira Stein & Russel Walder – Transit (see: http://www.discogs.com/Ira-Stein-Russel-Walder-Transit/release/762846). released in 1986. I don’t like it nearly as well as Elements, their first release, but it’s still a worthwhile album.

   Some additional Lost Lake Arts releases:

   LL-85 Shadowfax – Watercourse Way
   LL-86 Scott Cossu – Still Moments
   LL-87 John Renbourn – The Lady and the Unicorn
   LL-88 Pierre Bensusan – Early Pierre Bensusan

   LL-91 Paul Horn – Sketches: A Collection
   LL-93 Puck Fair – Fair Play
   LL-94 Tim Story – Untitled
   LL-95 Modern Mandolin Quartet – Modern Mandolin Quartet

   I hope this helps

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   • Holy Cow! Transit is one of my favorite albums – I know it won’t be universally appreciated – but I’ve always loved Transit. I can’t believe that I missed it. Thanks also for the Lost Lake releases. I’ve never collected them, so I’m less familiar with those. I’ll add them in over the next few days.

     Caitlyn, I appreciate your comments! Make sure to sign up for the RSS updates of the Facebook and comment as you see fit.

     Best,

     John

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4. Hi John- I came to your site from your link on AudioEvo.org and have to say that I’m very impressed with your work here. I guess I grew up in a cave because all of this is new to me. But I’m going to see if I can find one of the Alex de Grassi pressings from Windham Hill. Thanks for turning me on to this resource.

   Jon Brink
   AudioEvo.org/jbrink

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5. John,
   Nice site you have here. I have been compiling a list of the Windham Hill family for years now and collecting the music. I would be glad to forward a copy of the list. Also, I have started to scan the album artwork. I have CD/LP copies up to 01934-11381-2 – Thanksgiving – A Windham Hill Collection – Various Artists [1998] as well as the WH Jazz, Lost Lake Arts, Open Aire, Dancing Cat, Magenta, and Rabbit Ears labels. Still on the hunt to add to the collection and the list.

   Dan

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   • Thanks, Dan! Good to have you join in. I’ve collected a number of the CD’s as well as I found them used, but never made a concerted effort to grab those. I did just add the entire LaserDisc series to my collection thanks to an eBay seller. Did everything come out in CD? Also, if you have better scans of the artwork than I do, please let me know, I’d be happy to give the best possible images.

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6. Hi, John,

   It’s a pity you haven’t gotten around to collecting the Lost Lake Arts releases yet. It’s a very small number of albums and there are some real gems in there, including some of my all time favorites. Most are reissues or earlier albums by Windham Hill artists while a couple are original material, including “Fair Play” by Puck Fair, which I highly recommend. If you like Nightnoise it’s three of the musicians who either were or later would be part of that group. The sound is more Celtic than Nightnoise and the album is truly outstanding.

   I also rate Tim Story’s “Untitled” (originally released on the great Uniton label) and Scott Cossu’s “Still Moments”. I prefer Passport Records original mix of “Watercourse Way” by Shadowfax. The Windham Hill/LLA version was notoriously toned down to better fit the Windham Hill sound. John Renbourn’s “The Lady And The Unicorn” is also a classic, a mix of instrumental folk and renaissance music.

   Anyway, you’ve done a great job documenting the early and best years of Windham Hill here. It’s much appreciated.

   All the best,
   Cait

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   • I would add Pierre Bensusan to the list of recommended Lost Lake Titles. Musiques is really tremendous.

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7. This is a great site! Bravo to you for putting it together. I myself started hunting down WH after hearing M. Hedges aerial boundries on an AM new age station in San Francisco in 1986. I found most of the early samplers in thrift stores but after working at Amoeba records in LA a few years ago, the collection became a lot more fleshed out. I think the amazingly strict numbering system really appealed to ‘completist’ in me. I also got the laser discs but recently sold them after transfering them to Dvd. Not really an audiophile by nature (and wishing to shed a few hundred pounds of vinyl!) I’ve been digitizing everything album by album, transfering all my WH to (gasp!) Mp3. Please don’t hate me! I really do love this music! I figure with other people preserving WH as it deserves, I should worry too much.

   Incidentally can any one identify these albums?
   Open Air – OA-0307
   WH Jazz – WD-0137
   WH Jazz – WD-0138
   WH Jazz – WD-0139
   WH Jazz – WD-0140
   WH Jazz – WD-0145

   Thanks.

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8. Open Aire – AO 307 – The Nylons – The Nylons [1982] (not 100% sure on this)
   WH Jazz – WD-0137 – ????
   WH Jazz – WD-0138 – Blues & More Vol, 1 – Henry Butler [1992]
   WH Jazz – WD-0139 – Down the Road – Andy Narell [1992]
   WH Jazz – WD-0140 – Premonition – Paul McCandless []
   WH Jazz – WD-0145 – A Change of Heart – John Beasley [1993]

   Dan

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   • Me and my excel file thank you!

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9. I have a pretty extensive listing that I’ve been compiling for several years in Word format. Also about 1/2 of that listing in MS Access database format if anyone wants a copy. This started with the listing on http://www.bsnpubs.com/aandm/windhamhill.html. When I saw that site I realized that a piece of history was fading away and began to research and collect in earnest. I have every recording up to about 1998 with several in hand after that. Alas, the releases became so much repackaging as the label attempted to milk every last ounce of blood from a dying genre and I realized that the talent had moved on and there would be no more music like the early years.

   Dan

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   • Wow, Dan. You’re pretty dedicated. Since I’ve done the site, I’ve realized it’s really the first 50 that are meaningful to me. Of course, there are some later gems like Mark Isham’s “Tibet” and the later Hedges releases. I’ve also purchased several albums from the artists on other labels. Philip Aaberg, Liz Story, Ira Stein and Russel Walder have all put out amazing albums on other labels.

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   • Hey Dan,

     I have been looking at your list that you posted the link to for years now. Nice work!

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     • Marwatso,

       As much as I would like to claim ownership of the BNS listing (and John’s site here), I can’t. Except I did send an updated list to the BNS website and they updated their list from mine. I filled a lot of holes in for them.
10. I really enjoy this website. Some of the windham people I have seen over the years and conversed with are true artists. I have fond memories of most of Windham Hill music, and own most of it except for a few of the later releases. This kind of music seems lost for the most part, I wish this label still existed, it was a lifeline to me……

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    • Thanks for the great comments, Jerry. Of course most of the artists are still performing and recording in one way or another. I think that’s what’s missing is a well-curated collection – one where you know that the level of taste will be there regardless of the exact form of the music. Ackerman was a master at that, and I think that the first 50 records stand with Blue Note, and maybe ECM as one of the greatest highly-curated collections of music of the 20th century.

      For something in between Windham Hill and ECM, look at MA Recordings, curated by Todd Garfinkle. Great music and beautifully recorded. http://www.marecordings.com

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11. AWESOME!!!!!! Great work Dan. I am a long time Windham Hill Collector. I would be more than happy to help/share any information that you may need. Although, it looks like you have a good handle on everything.

    I have every LP and CD released on Windham Hill, Lost Lake Arts & Dancing Cat. I have many promotional items from the 80′s/90′s as I was in contact with the PR person there for years. I stopped collecting a couple years after Will left the company though. I still keep track of my favorite artists.

    I was actually listening to my copy of Robbie Basho’s Vision of the Country this morning and thought to look at see what people were asking for it these days. That is how I found your blog. I immediately went all smiles and today is my birthday. Thanks for the unintended birthday present Dan!

    The biggest question I have been trying to answer and purchase is the last remaining releases that went to LP. I have Phil Aaberg, Upright, Pierce Pettis, While The Serpent Lies Sleeping, and even George Winston’s Summer on LP. Do you know of any others that go put to vinyl this late?? I would cry if I found Taproot on vinyl.

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12. Hey everybody! I am looking for a complete list of the DMM Vinyl Releases for Windham Hill. I have several already and they are very impressive acoustically.

    Dan’s the man.

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13. Hey marwatso,

    Glad you like the site! This is John – the creator of the site. Thanks so much for the posting. I’ve never seen a DMM pressing – or at least one that’s indicated as such, but would love to. Starting google….

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14. Well, I got so excited upon finding Windhaming, I confused Dan for the brilliant creator of this site, John. I’m sure Dan’s still the man. But John’s Da Bomb! Sorry about that John.

    I read your bio at the beginning. I think we might be the same person. …really.

    Hey, I’ll give you $4.00 for that signed Robbie Basho. You’ll have doubled your money. That is an incredible album. One of my top ten across any genre.

    I too have frequented the bay area stores as well and many others across the country trying to complete the entire label on Vinyl. This for me means getting everything on WH and WHS-C and C-. Although I am not sure if the C-10XX numbers are a phase out of the WHS-C’s anyway.

    I have everything on CD already, because like you I was in high school from 89-92, collecting everything as it was released. In long boxes no less! Dang, I should have never thrown those away.

    I also am in continuing pursuit of earlier and earlier versions of WHS-C-1001. I think I have the original hand pressed. (with the funky label of a tree and fence) But I’ve thought that twice before. Woman She Rides is great!!! Will should have kept singing and let Basho do the same!!! It would have been a folk revolution! Actually…I think it was anyway.

    Do you have any specifics about the earliest version of WHS-C-1001?

    Thanks again for doing this John.

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    • I have to correct this. I do actually have what I believe to be the first “Turtle’s Navel” The one Will was toting around to radio stations – according to legend. The jacket is cardboard with paper covers glued on. The back is just text, no graphics. The labels are in a funky font with a green turtle design that is unique to each side. Side One label and the back of the jacket have a rubber stamp that says P 1975 William Ackerman. Does anyone know if this is indeed the legendary first record?

      The one I have has Aimee’s written on the bottom right of the front jacket.

      So, John, Dan or anybody else: Do you know how many of this record were produced?

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      • There are a few pictures of some of the early, alternate printings of Turtle’s Navel. There are a few shots on the listing that another reader gave me of his collection. I sure wish I knew better, but send us a shot and I’ll post your version as well.
15. DMM Release list I have (from a Vinyl Sleeve):

    I call dibbs!

    TA-C-1012 – George Winston – Autumn
    TA-C-1014 – William Ackerman – Passage
    TA-C-1016 – Scott Cossu – Wind Dance
    TA-C-1018 – Alex de Grassi – Clockwork
    TA-C-1019 – George Winston – Winter Into Spring
    TA-C-1020 – Ira Stein/Russel Walder – Elements
    TA-C-1021 – Darol Anger/Barbara Higbie – Tideline
    TA-C-1022 – Shadowfax – Shadowfax
    TA-C-1023 – Liz Story – Solid Colors
    TA-C-1024 – Windham Hill Records Sampler ’82
    TA-C-1025 – George Winston – December
    TA-C-1026 – An Evening With Windham Hill Live
    TA-C-1027 – Mark Isham – Vapor Drawings
    TA-C-1029 – Shadowfax – Shadowdance
    TA-C-1030 – Alex de Grassi – Southern Exposure

    Can anybody fill in? I regard these pressings as noticeably better than any Windham Hill regular release. FYI – I regard the WHS-C pressing to be of better audio quality than the WH releases.

    Windham Hill also did “Audiophile” quality versions of their releases. I have found two and also call dibbs on everything else out there. I have seen one Aerial Boundaries on Ebay for this. Sadly I did not bid enough.

    I have WHS A-C1006 and WHS A-C1021. They are also superior in audio quality than the other releases.

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    • What does DMM stand for?

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      • Direct Metal Mastering

        It’s a mastering technique in the creation of LPs.

        Here’s a good overview:
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_metal_mastering
      • The DMM releases are only identifiable by their labels and a logo on the back of the jacket.
    • Thx Johnny! Just when you think you know it all . . .

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16. Excellent data – except now I must chase some of these DMM releases down. I regard the “standard” releases as outstanding audiophile LPs. I would agree that at least in theory the C-10XX should sound better than the A&M releases because they could be using earlier stampers. In practice, it’s less clear, at least for the few where I’ve done head to head comparisons. Additionally, RTI was still doing most of the A&M era releases, so they likely would have been creating their stampers in the same way as the original pressings. Also, I’ve never seen the A-C1006 numbering – what did the “A” designate?

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    • My comparisons between the WHS-C-10XX and the WH-10XX have shown only modest gains in quality. But, it is noticeable, if I have two good copies that is. It’s nothing like a DMM or an WHS-A-C-10XX though. That is clearly brighter and richer.

      The A designated “Audiophile Edition”. The jackets are identical to the WHS-C10XX catalog releases. There is one small sticker at the top right of the front of the jacket that has the WHS-A-C10XX number and the words audiophile edition below. The record labels have an off-white or tan tone with burgundy ink, and an all cap bright red “audiophile edition” in the center. The label also shows the WHS-A-C10XX.

      Don’t buy them all, I’m still looking.

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      • Finally found a DMM copy. In this case it was “Tideline”. I paid all of a dollar in the clearance bin at the Amoeba in San Francisco, today. Yes, it clearly sounds different than the regular issue. A lot more high-frequency information, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the naturalness it brought to the violin in particular was really impressive.

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18. Thanks for the great resource! I’ve been collecting Windham Hill music in various formats since I worked at Sam Goody’s in Stamford CT in 1982-83. I discovered the Windham Hill Sampler ’81 in a large stack of promo records (mostly pop) and the album cover drew me in. I managed the audio department at the back of the store, next to the glassed-in classical room. Once I started to play the WHS ’81 in the back of the store, nearly everyone that ventured back to the classical and jazz sections wanted to know what it was. Needless to say, our sales of Windham Hill releases increased every week and we just couldn’t keep them in stock.
    A few years later I was living in Denver and a good friend was a cameraman at the local Boulder public television station and filmed the Darol Anger, Barbara Higbie and Alex De Grassi concert. Not only did I get to attend the show, but met them all and watched the video of the show with them afterward.
    I agree that the first 50 releases will always be the “Golden Age” of Windham Hill, and I listen to those much more that the ones that followed. Despite the downward spiral of the label, that music has and always will be magical for me and a part of my listening life.

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19. Thank you so much for sharing the information in this form.

    I had often wondered at the “missing numbers” – even “missing” on the plastic sleeve liner lists for the Windham Hill vinyl releases.

    When filling in “gaps” I have found the vinyl to be typically in excellent condition – Windham Hill listeners are clearly ones who handle such fine records with particular care.

    I don’t have any of the Windham Hill laser discs but I did find a couple of Windham Hill DVDs – I assume there were VHS tapes too at some point?

    I also have picked up some Windham Hill casettes over the years – often for just a few cents.

    I will try and spreadsheet all this at some point and I will happily share it with you.

    Sincere best wishes,

    Steve

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20. I heard some really spiritual bagpipe music awhile back, something like Windham Hill would do. (It’s not Amazing Grace). If anyone would have any idea about who could have done something like this, etc., let me know!

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21. I noticed your list now stops at WH-1106. Well… WH-1107 is George Winston – Summer and was released on LP, CD, and cassette. I believe that is where the WH series ends. After that BMG took over and lots of things changed.

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22. I’ve been told that WD-1052, one of the three missing releases from 1986-87, was “Fair Play” by Puck Fair. For reasons unknown it was released on Lost Lake Arts instead. That would solve one of the mystery numbers if it’s true.

    I still have no clue at all about the other two lost releases.

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23. I’ve said this elsewhere on the site, but here I will say again what a fantastic resource you have created for Windham Hill fans. Thanks! (My posting this also has the second purpose of getting me on the list so I’m notified when people post follow-up comments on this page.)

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    • Thanks, Justin. I’ve learned so much from all of the passionate fans who have commented and shared their stories with me.

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24. Great site! I am a WH fan from ~1981 when I first heard Autumn playing in the Rizzoli bookshop in Water Tower Place, Chicago. Did some listening back then, but never fully explored the label. When I dove back into vinyl about a year ago, have been buying up a lot of the “first 50″ and really broadening my love of this music. Your next one to review, Southern Exposure, is one of my favorites – as are all of the Michael Hedges albums, Shadowfax, Liz Story and William Ackerman. I got to meet George Winston a few years back when he came to play at our hospital’s cancer center between concerts here in town – a very quiet, introspective, nice man. I really enjoyed reading some of your reviews today and will come back often to see what’s new! -J Smith, Des Moines, IA

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25. Dear Sir,
    I have been looking fo a cd by windham Hill Called In Search of Angels There aer various artist such as Tim Story, Jane Siberry, etc. but the song on the album is Star in the east By the ST. Olaf Choir. The CD was Manufactured and distributed by BMG MUSIC 01934 11153-2.
    can you help me find this album? It would mean so much to me.
    christopherfou@netzero.com Thank you so much

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    • There are two on eBay right now.

      http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=in+search+of+angels+windham+hill&_sacat=307&_odkw=in+search+of+angels&_osacat=307&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

      Dan

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26. Hello, I have opened a music group in Facebook featuring the music of Windham Hill Artists among others. I have found today this webpage that is so interesting. I am a music lover and as you I want this music not to be forgotten.
    I have some CDs of the label, two DVDs “Winter” and “Autumn” and a vinyl of W.A. Mathieu “Available Light” bought in Ebay because i could not find the CD version.
    Let me suggest you to search in http://www.gemm.com which is a website for collectors and people who sell and buy out of catalogue music.
    If you have a FB profile i invite you to join this group and help me to fill the collection.
    Regards
    Antonio, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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    • Hi Antonio,

      Thanks for the comment. Windhaming also has a Facebook page that you should check out, here: https://www.facebook.com/Windhaming

      Glad to see another enthusiast out there.

      Best,

      John

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27. Thanks! I´ll Check it!

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28. Windham Hill released a cassette with piano and cello. It was a wonderful album, but I cannot find the name so I could search for it. Do you happen to know the names of albums with solo cellos or cellos with piano?

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    • I wonder if you mean Darol Anger and Barbra Higbie’s Tideline, which was for piano and violin. I’m not aware of an entire album with piano and cello, at least not from the first 106 releases, which is all I track.

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      • He has to mean Scott Cossu & Eugene Friesen’s “Reunion” – WH-1049 released in 1986. Every song has cello and piano. Gwenlaise is the most beautiful piano and cello duet I have ever heard.
29. I just found it: Eugene Friesen and Paul Halley – New Friend. Released on the New Music label.

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    • Ah, so it wasn’t a Windham Hill title after-all. I still highly recommend Reunion. Glad you found what you were looking for. Eugene is a great artist.

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      • I am totally with you. I picked up “New Friend” for a dollar on vinyl a few months back and it’s been on heavy rotation ever since – I just played it again yesterday and truly wonder how I never heard of it until very recently.
30. First, I agree with the recommendations for “Reunion,” which is probably my favorite Scott Cossu album. Eugene Friesen and Paul Halley are best known for their work with the Paul Winter Consort, a group whose work will probably appeal to a lot of people who like Windham Hill music. In the U.S. “New Friend” is on Living Music, a label started by Paul Winter and eventually bought by Windham Hill, so there most definitely is a Windham Hill Connection. Both labels later ended up under the BMG umbrella. Unlike Windham Hill, there are still new releases on Living Music.

    For fans of WIndham Hill who are curious about Paul Winter I’d recommend starting with a Grammy Award nominated album called “Canyon” from 1985, mostly recorded in the Grand Canyon. Both Eugene Friesen and Paul Halley play on this album. Other great choices would be “Spanish Angel”, a Grammy Award winning live album from 1994 and “Sun Singer” (1983). People who know Paul Winter will immediately wonder why I don’t mention “Icarus” from 1972. It’s a great album but it predates both Halley and Friesen joining the Winter Consort (the name of the group at the time). David Darling plays cello on that album.

    Anyway, it’s all great stuff. I look forward to Johnny’s reviews getting to “Reunion”

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31. Pingback: Music: Accoustic / Instrumental; Meadowlark Records Sampler | Church Profiles

32. Okay – I collect Windham Hill things just because I liked their approach to music. I also found that those who OWNED Windham Hill material tended to take better CARE of their media (they also, in all likelihood, have better gear and take care of THAT better as well).

    I have a somewhat odd duck on a Windham Hill Cassette (MCT-001) – William Ackerman “Balancing” – subtitled “music for meditation” – it carries a 1980 Copyright (Windham Hill Records) and is generally okay (if slow-moving), but what attracted me was the cover photo (by Ron May) and the fact that I had NEVER heard of it (and had not seen it on any list).

    So what have I got here? Something very rare that would be worth sharing with friends and other collectors? It was $.49 at a Goodwill here in Phoenix. I also have a DMM of Liz Story’s SOLID COLORS which came from a different Goodwill some time ago for $.99. May you all find such wonderful treasures at such bargain prices.

    I apologize if this is a repost. I may have posted it once, but it did not show up.

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    • Hello! Regarding the William Ackerman cassette; it sounds like you have a cassette-single. Balancing is the second track from the album “It Takes A Year”. Though it is rare, cassettes don’t usually command a price of more than a couple dollars. Many sellers do charge a premium for some of the earlier Windham Hill CDs – anywhere from 30.00 to 120.00 each.

      The Solid Colors DMM is a nice find. If in NM condition the record is worth about 15.00. The most collectible LPs from Windham Hill are the “audiophile” editions of the LPs. Though some are considered quite rare. For example, I just paid 91.00 on eBay for a still sealed Windham Hill 1010 – Robbie Basho – Visions of the Country.

      Thanks for sharing your find, I was not aware of this particular single.

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      • It’s not a single – It’s a full album. Here are the track listings:

        Side 1:
        Balancing
        Sunday Rain
        Birdsong
        Ely
        It Takes A Year

        Side 2:
        Bricklayer’s Beautiful Daughter
        Processional
        Barbara’s Song
        The Impending Death of the Virgin Spirit

        These may correspond to another album, or this may be simply a re-labeled work or compilation of some of his other stuff simply for the sake of marketing. It does have a fairly early copyright date, though, for a compilation.

        I’m not interested in selling it – I’m a collector – but was more interested in learning if this stuff was known or not, and if anyone would want to have a listen.

        FWIW
33. I’ve scoured the discography and have found that these tunes all appear on other albums. They are drawn from “Turtle’s Navel,” “It Takes a Year,” and “Childhood and Memories.” I’d call it a compilation.

    Mystery Solved. It’s out there. Curious about the numbering, though – were there more in the MCT-xxx series…..

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34. Ah, a full album. You got me on the origin. I’ve never seen a cassette like that. Perhaps another Pastels release (German Windham Hill outlet from the early eighties). It should be noted that “Birdsong” is only available on a Pastels vinyl release of the same name. Does your research concur? Can you describe the cover photo?

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35. Working on getting a picture of the album cover. It’s on a cassette, so it’s small. But check this – Google does not HAVE an image for this cover that I can use. It’s just not there.

    So I’m working on that.

    While way out in the sticks (actually brush) of Arizona, I went to a thrift store and scored an audiophile pressing of George Winston’s AUTUMN (among other things) for a buck.

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36. We’ll see if this works.

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    • http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn98/Big_Daddy_Audio/DSC_0013.jpg

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37. Nice find on the George Winston Audiophile Edition. There’s one on Ebay for 24.99 right now. The picture/cover seems vaguely familiar but not enough for me to place it. Thanks for sharing!

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    • Definitely not a Pastels release though. How’s Birdsong? Any vocals?

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      • No vocals on any of the album. I’m trying to figure out how to share the cassette without causing trouble with Mr. Ackerman. I wish there was a way to do this for his fans.

        Birdsong is like the rest of the album – very soft and comforting; in the oevre of Windham Hill, the opposite would be Shadowfax Shadowdance (just for reference).
38. Rip it and share it. It’s not like you’ll taking away sales from anyone. Will sold Windham Hill (guaranteeing its demise) and the label became a shell of its former glory, simply repackaging the music until all the lame ideas were exhausted. It no longer exists and when we are gone, I don’t know who will keep the memory alive. I stopped my collection around the the mid 90′s since everything released after that, I already owned. I’ve never seen this cassette and would love to hear what’s on it. I love Will’s work, his music and production.

    BTW, does anyone have a Windham Hill “Tune In” transistor radio? I have one . . .

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    • Once I have the tune ripped, where I do I post it? Is there some sort of “hosting site” (e.g. photobucket) for songs? I don’t have a website or anything.

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      • Remember MegaUpload, the site the FBI shut down? It was such a site. Lots of them have been shut down because ripping and sharing copyrighted material is illegal. It’s called piracy.
      • I’m no expert at this, but it seems like the best and most legal way is to turn the image into a video and post it to YouTube. Just put a copy of the album cover as the image part. That way a record company can add a link to iTunes or other in order to monetize their content, and YouTube worries about the licensing. If you just post it to Soundcloud or another hosting service, then you might be responsible for the rights.

        Best,

        Johnny
      • This was my ethical dilemma from the start. An image is one thing – it’s just packaging. The actual material is another issue altogether. It’s not worth getting fined or going to jail for.
    • What insanely bad advice! Ripping and sharing copyrighted material is called piracy. Sony, who own the current rights, can and may very well go after people who do this.

      All of William Ackerman’s music is readily available legally. Support the artists and get your music that way.

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      • You’re right, Caitlyn. So tell, where can I buy this album? That’s the first time I ever saw it, and I’ve been collecting WH since 1984. But, I’m sure you can offer advice on where to purchase it. BTW, I own most of the WH catalog, including videos, laser discs, and memorabilia, all paid for. I don’t pirate. Most of what I own however, I bought used. Sony didn’t make a nickel on it. So, if there is only one copy left, do we let it die so Sony doesn’t get cheated? Or do you just think we going to sell copies on pirate sites? Tell me . . .
39. Any information about Turtle Island String Quartet’s first recording on Windham?

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    • Not yet – if you’d like to contribute a posting on this, I’d entertain it. Thanks, Johnny

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      • Turtle Island String Quartet’s first album was WINDHAM HILL JAZZ #WH-0110.
        All their early releases were also on the Windham Hill Jazz imprint, although their
        ’95 release “By The Fireside” was a “crossover” title, as both its catalogue
        number (#1175) and logo correspond to the parent label…..this brings up an
        interesting point, because beginning in the mid-90′s, the the line between “WINDHAM HILL” and “WINDHAM HILL JAZZ” becomes increasingly blurry. Several artists from the jazz label produced albums on the parent label (Andy Narell, Ray Obiedo, etc) at this time. And to further confuse things, beginning in ’96 or ’97, most, if not all “WINDHAM HILL JAZZ” releases bore catalogue numbers corresponding to the main sequence of the parent label (i.e., #1934-11xxx, instead of #1934-10xxx).
40. I have a tough one. I used to own a laserdisc in the 80′s that had Windham Hill artists on it. The disc was a winter setting. There were scenes of a river at the beginning, a train, and also a cabin in the woods. I have been looking for it for a long time in audio format or at least a list of songs so I can find the artists. I has one song on it that has a lot of memories tied to it. Would love to find it but have not been able to. If anybody knows of this laserdisc it would be great to know if any of the songs are available.

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    • Almost certainly this video, which originally came out on VHS and LaserDisc. http://www.amazon.com/Windham-Hill-Winter-Will-Ackerman/dp/630585789X/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3

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      • Glad to see someone mentioning the Windham Hill video releases…..the titles that I know of are : “AUTUMN PORTRAIT” (1985), “WATER’S PATH” (1985),
        “WESTERN LIGHT”, “WINTER”, “SEASONS”, “CHINA”, and “TIBET”. There is
        also the infamous “Windham Hill In Concert” film (infamous because the bulk of the footage was actually recorded on a studio sound-stage, and interspersed with “crowd scenes” and ovation from a 1986 show at Wolf Trap). The only other
        video titles I know of are “George Winston – Seasons in Concert” and “Solace”, although Solace contains a lot of excerpts from the original ’80′s releases (as well
        as short interview footage with most of the artists).
        ……I think there is also a Liz Story in Concert video…..anyone know for sure ?
      • Yes, Liz Story – Solid Colours was made into DVD by Quantum Leap. It is from an old video, but it is great to see and hear her play.

        Still for sale on Amazon:

        

        Solid Colours

        

        By-the-way, some of the concert footage from Windham Hill In Concert is from Colorado’s Red Rocks.

        There are also VHS copies of “An Artists Portrait” of Michael Hedges and Michael Manring. Both are FANTASTIC but I have yet to find them converted to DVD.

        There is a PBS release featuring Philip Aaberg called “11th & Grant with Eric Funk” on DVD,

        There is a DVD called the “Six-String Workshop” with Alex DeGrassi. It is an educational video.

        That’s all I know of.

        Mark
      • @Carl – the 11 song video can also be watched on YouTube. I posted a link to it on the Windhaming Facebook timeline – https://www.facebook.com/Windhaming?ref=hl you can see it on February 24, 2013. If you enjoy it, I would encourage you to also buy some of Liz’s music on iTunes so she can profit from her work. https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/liz-story/id11470
41. Hello friends Windham Hills, i am a regular listener of some artists and composers of this house
    pity that here in Brazil , we do not have accaes to every work.
    Happiness and succses.

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42. Don’t know if anyone else has mentioned this, but looking through the discography, I noticed that the listing for Paul McCandless “Hearsay” is reversed…artist on the right, title on the left.

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    • it’s fixed now.
      Thanks!

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43. Not sure where else to ask this question, but “When did Windham Hill officially cease to exist ?”
    I recently picked up two George Winston albums, (“GULF COAST BLUES, VOL. II”, and
    “LOVE WILL COME, Music of Vince Guaraldi, Vol. II”)….and noticed that NEITHER of them
    bear the Windham Hill label. (They are on Dancing Cat, which I know is Winston’s own label……although he has previously always put his solo albums on the Windham Hill label, despite
    owning Dancing Cat for decades)…..also, the catalogue numbers don’t seem to be in sequence anymore.
    I’ve been researching online to make some sense, but from about 2002 on, I can’t seem to
    make heads or tails out of what happened with Windham Hill, even though it seems clear that there have been several legitimate releases, besides the rehash compilations which they seem
    to have put out boatloads of !!

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    • Windham Hill still exists as a subsidiary of Sony/Legacy. Inquiries into the Sony/Legacy legal department have confirmed that they still own Windham Hill and retain all of the rights (unrelated to Windhaming, I heard this from someone who was trying to do business with the label).

      So what are the harbingers of the end? Will Ackerman left is something like 1986. It appears that Dawn Atkinson remained the lead on Windham Hill matters at whatever company owned Windham Hill for another 15 years or so. Her name popped up on the last samplers as recently as 4 years ago (maybe she’s still there.)

      The most recent original artist release that I’ve seen was from the late 90′s (other than Ackerman’s Hearing Voices from 2001 and the George Winston releases). However, Discogs could probably answer this question with a little more research (strangely, sorting by year yields an Angelo Badalamente soundtrack released in Russia on the Windham Hill label in 2011… if you find out definitively, let us know.)

      In the end, there is a reason I chose the scope of this site to be the albums released on vinyl. First, I love everything in the first 30 releases. Secondly, I love most albums in the first next 20. Releases 50-100 get a little uneven for me. You have absolute classic albums mixed with some that were good but not groundbreaking, and some that are completely forgettable. After that it’s really mixed and a different label with different artists than the early and mid-80′s releases that made me passionate about the label.

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      • Johnny,

        The site was windham.com as windhamhill.com is owned by Windham Hill Inn. Windham.com redirects to legacyrecordings.com and you used to be able to buy the leftover stock. Windhamhillrecordings.com was never used as far as I can remember. Anyone know how to contact Dawn Atkinson so we can clear this up?

        Dan
      • You’re completely right about the URL. I’ve edited my original post to remove my error so it doesn’t get repeated.

        Regarding their Not sure what there is to clear up, Dan. Sony Legacy has the rights to the label, and are uninterested in promoting it, apparently. If you’re interested in the artists who made the label great, I would put my energy into following and promoting the great work being done by Will Ackerman at Imaginary Roads. However, I’ll PM you the one contact I have for WH.
      • Edited to delete my mistaken references to the correct web original Windham Hill web site.
      • I share your sentiments regarding Windham Hill in the late 80′s to an extent,
        although I didn’t actually discover the label until late ’88, so some of those releases were some of the first ones I acquired. It seems that Ackerman realized
        early on that the strength of the label came from the fans who were wiling to buy
        every release, so in a sense it really was truly a “Collectors Label”, much in the
        same way that labels like ECM had been in the past. So it seems that great care
        and attention was put in to making sure that new artists and releases would “fit” into the label as a whole; this phenomenon translated especially with the “Samplers”, so that every track would fit and flow together seemlessly. This may be one reason why releases by people like Kidd Afrika and Linda Waterfall were quickly deleted from the catalogue, because they didn’t quite fit with the overall “family” nature of the label (It is hard to imagine a Kidd Afrika song on one of the early Samplers, for instance).
        So later, when a broader spectrum of artists and style was again brought it, it challenged our notions of what was “right” for the label, especially since we as fans were committed to buying every release. I know for myself this first happened with the “folk” period in ’89, with the stuff by John Gorka, Pierce Pettis, etc. Although I bought the “Legacy” sampler, I didn’t buy any of the other “vocal” releases in the late 80′s…..it was the first time I violated my committment to buying everything !
44. Agreed, Johnny. My “Imaginary Roads” grouping in my iTunes library contains 1010 songs. I’ve bought everything Will has produced and even some of the artist’s earlier work. I have followed Will’s work very closely for a long time now.

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45. For anyone interested in Linda Waterfall’s “Mary’s Garden,” she appears to be selling vinyl copies on her website. Link to the order form where it’s listed: http://lindawaterfall.com/MailOrderForm.html

    On her discography pages, she lists it as “Trout,” which I understand is her own label, so you’d probably get the Trout release, and not the Windham Hill version.

    For those interested in Kidd Afrika, Amazon appears to have “The Windham Hill Record” available via MP3. Yeah, I know.

    

    Kidd Afrika – The Windham Hill Record

    

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46. Responding to Caitlyn’s repeated comments about “piracy”. Though ripping and sharing is illegal in some jurisdictions (e.g. US), the fact is that some Windham Hill music is no longer available legally in any shape or form. I refer in particular to WH 1031 – “Nightnoise” by Billy Oskay and Mícheál O’Domhnaill. Given that there is no inventory cost to offering digital downloads, there is no reason why that album should not be readily available via Amazon MP3, iTunes Music Store or wherever. I have just discovered you can listen to it on Spotify, but I can’t find it anywhere else. A real shame!

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    • 17 copies available on Discogs right now, starting at $2.99. http://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=214323&ev=mb

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47. It’s a brilliant album, one which turns up on the used market often. I found my copy on Discogs IIRC. Also check Gemm, MusicStack,EBay and Amazon. Prices are all over the place but if you’re patient you will find a copy in good shape at a reasonable price. I did and I am a notorious cheapskate when it comes to music.

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48. Caitlyn,
    Thanks for the suggestions (I was unaware of Discogs). However, I already have a copy on vinyl and another on CD. I also have a site about Nightnoise and regularly get queries from people looking to get a copy (admittedly, not a flood . It is ridiculous that you can get that album in minutes via BitTorrent or similar, for free (legally or illegally, depending on your jurisdiction) but you can’t purchase it in a way that pays money to the artists.

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