Artist:  Shakti with John McLaughlin

Title:  A Handful of Beauty

Date:  1977

Label:  CBS Records   PC 31372

Cover Photo:  Steinbicker-Houghten

Back Cover Photo:  Richard Laird 

Notes: A frantic blend of Indian ragas and western guitar strums coalesce into a single vibration. Anyone familiar with  McLaughlin will not be surprised at how natural the music sounds. From a standstill to the sped of light the guitar floats, soars and streaks across the musical landscape. The violin and percussion act as a catalyst to allow the result to exceed the sum of the parts. I'm not sure about the cover photo...is this what "bliss" is supposed to look like?

Line Up:

John McLaughlin: acoustic guitar
L. Shankar: violin
Zakir Hussain: tabla
T. H. Vinayakram: ghatam (claypot), mdidangam

Track Listing

Side 1

La Danse Du Bonheur
Lady L.
India

Side 2

Kriti
Isis
Two Sisters