TOMMY NEWMAN'S CHILDRENS GROUP - "FROSTY THE SNOWMAN AND OTHER CHILDREN'S FAVORITES" - 1988 Golden Circle Cassette

Hello, Sanctum Dwellers! My deepest apologies for not being able to share anything over the past few weeks as originally intended; several hardships befell my family and friends, including a death in my family. Hopefully this upload can make up for it.

First off, I hope everyone who celebrates had a very Merry Christmas weekend!

What I'm sharing today is a cassette rip (Thank You, as always, Under Design) of a children's choir singing numerous Holiday staples. The music is credited to "Tommy Newman's Childrens Group", of which I can barely find any information outside of a second album dedicated to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

I can't find any information on Tommy himself. There's an award-winning composer and a theatre writer both with the same name, but I don't think this Tommy is either of them.

While this album seems sweet and innocent enough, there's a tiny bit of controversy that lies within the tracklisting. You may notice that it states "Gene Autry" in parentheses next to the "Frosty" track beginning Side B. Well, that's because that track is quite literally nothing more than a muffled recording of the actual "Frosty The Snowman" performed by Mr. Autry himself!

You see, this compilation was produced and distributed by Golden Circle, who were well-known in the 1980's and 1990's to put out bargain-priced counterfeit copies of already-released albums from other record labels. Remember coming across cheap cassettes at the gas station or low-tier grocery store with super-generic covers? Yep, those are the types of albums I'm talking about.

Because of this, I am purposefully omitting Track 6 from this archived upload, since that song can be legally purchased via the copyright holder(s) of Gene Autry's catalog at a variety of places online (and in much better quality, too!).

Hopefully this small stain on the album doesn't take away from the otherwise humble and straightforward recordings of an average children's choir merrily singing their way through Christmas classics.

Enjoy, and once again Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

192kbps CBR

"ANNABELLE'S WISH" - 1997 Soundtrack CD

It's December, and that means just like the past two years I'll be sharing something Holiday Season - related every Friday this month!

I'm kicking things off with the soundtrack to the long-forgotten TV movie "Annabelle's Wish".

Bits and pieces of this album are online, but not in its entirety, and definitely not for sale or streaming anywhere. That's a shame, because there are some great Country tunes here from Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Randy Travis, and more!

The entire movie is on YouTube if you'd like to watch it; it's your typical cutesy wholesome Holiday Fluff. And don't forget to grab the soundtrack afterwards! Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

320kbps CBR

FEELING BLESSED.

This month marks my fourth decade around the Sun, and I just want to say... I feel blessed.

I'm by no means a religious person, so I don't use the term lightly. Between the success of the recent First Annual Blue Hen Comic Con, to the growth of Blog followers, to the sales I've had on eBay, and the feedback I've received from folks who've stumbled upon my Archival uploads... I'm really feeling like I've found a place in the "geek" community.

I love thrifting, I love sharing, and I love that even a fraction of what I enjoy doing becomes something that others can also enjoy.

So I just want to say THANK YOU to anyone who's ever visited the blog, my online storefronts, or interacted with me in a positive way.

As is tradition, starting next week I'll be sharing Out-Of-Print Holiday Season goodies... STAY TUNED!

"TELL-TALE HEART" & "ADVENTURE OF THE GERMAN STUDENT" - 1997 Win Phillips Audiobook

This is a post I've wanted to make for a long, long time.

Way back in 2008, I shared some of my OOP media with the Children's Records and More blog. In the collection was an audio cassette containing two classic Horror stories narrated, and featuring music by, the legendary Winifred Phillips.

This original rip was very poor (I recorded it using the Aux Out on an old cassette player), but I always figured I could update it at some point.

Years passed, I moved houses, and the cassette was seemingly lost forever. I swore I searched everything I owned, everywhere I had anything stashed, but I simply could not find the cassette.

I tried to find other copies online, but could never find one. I emailed Ms. Phillips herself, hoping I could obtain another copy, but I never received a response.

I felt all hope was lost... until one day this past week. I had moved a bucket of old papers, drawings, and magazines from my shed to my house, in the hopes of digging out a magazine I could've sworn I had still owned to possibly send to CGC for an upcoming signing.

...and there it was.

I have no clue how it got there, but I didn't care. I immediately sent it off to Under Design to get digitized, hoping it would be ready in time for Halloween. Talk about a miracle right at the eleventh hour!

The stories included are Edgar Allan Poe's timeless "The Tell-Tale Heart", and Washington Irving's romantic horror classic "The Adventure of The German Student". Each tale clocks in at a little under a half hour apiece.

These are excellent adaptations. Winifred's slow (and somehow sensual) narration works well in accompaniment with her lush, Gothic orchestral compositions. This is the woman who brought us the music behind "God of War", after all.

In fact, this take on "Heart" is my personal favorite, just edging out the revolutionary UPA short.

If you're a fan of either story, or a fan of Winifred's music, you must give these a listen. This cassette is as rare as it gets, and I'm proud to be able to finally share a quality copy with the world.

Please enjoy, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 🎃

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

YouTube

192kbps CBR

NOCTURNAL - 1999 Self-Titled Cassette - Kaos Music

I'm just gonna come right out and ask... if anyone, anywhere, has a shred of info about this band or this album, could you please contact me?

This is "Into The Darkness", by the band Nocturnal. Good luck finding any info on this band, or this release, aside from what's printed on the inner fold of the cassette sleeve.

I vaguely remember getting this album in 1999 via a mail-away offer. There was an ad in some sort of guitar or Rock magazine for a free cassette, so I figured "what the Hell" and asked for one. That's it. That's all I remember.

The cover art, album title, and even the band name do NOT fit the music that lies within. The songs (of which there are no titles printed anywhere, so I just call them "Tracks 1 through 4") are a hodgepodge of Classic Rock influences.

"Into The Darkness" is an unpolished, unfocused oddity... and that's basically the reason I'm sharing it here. That, and the hopes that someone out in the ether of the Web can divulge any further information about this outfit or its works.

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

192kbps

"DR. SYN" - BBC Audiobook Series - narrated by Rufus Sewell - 2006-2010

art by Bret Blevins

This post is a stark reminder as to why digital archival is so damned important.

Between 2006 and 2010, BBC Radio aired abridged versions of the stellar "Dr. Syn" book series by Russell Thorndike. They were narrated by Rufus Sewell, and are above and beyond the most entertaining adaptation of the stories aside from the watered-down (yet still fantastic) Disney miniseries.

If you're unfamiliar, the stories are about Dr. Christopher Syn, a polite and courteous Parson by day, and a swashbuckling cloaked avenger called "The Scarecrow" by night. With the first book being published in 1915, one could say this type of hero predates both Batman and The Shadow; however the first book focused more on Syn's Pirate life, and the "masked vigilante" alias of "The Scarecrow" didn't come about until the 1930's with the subsequent novels.

Up until at least 2019, the Sewell recordings were publicly available via the BBC's own website. However, between then and now, they have all been wiped out. Even the reuploads on YouTube (which is where I ended up securing the third installment of the series) have disappeared.

These stories are timeless. They're exciting. They're excellent listening material for the Halloween season. And they deserve to be heard and archived.

The tales are encoded in 128kbps, which was the only way I was able to originally save them from the BBC's site. I added accompanying artwork depicting Disney's take on "The Scarecrow" drawn by the incredible Bret Blevins.

I have no idea whether or not the BBC will try to have these recordings removed - again - from the web, so I'd urge anyone who believes they may enjoy these stories to please listen to them as soon as possible. I have a feeling you won't regret it.

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

128kbps CBR

ELEKTRONIKA - "NIGHT & DAY" - 2003 Electronic Gothic Synth Rock CD

Just in time for Autumn, here's an obscure little collection of dark tunes from a now-disbanded group, Elektronika, whose music combined Gothic Rock with late 1990's/early 2000's Electronic music.

Not much info exists anymore about this band beyond a woefully-outdated Indie Music site post, and a rarely-updated Facebook page. It appears that this album, "Night & Day", is the complete collection of everything the group recorded between 2001 and 2003, and after that frontwoman Dawn Wood and guitarist Dan Hoyer regrouped in 2015 for a new project, Murder Weapons.

This one isn't really my cup of tea, but I know there are people who have a soft spot for tunes that sound like they could've fit on the "Spawn" or "Matrix" soundtracks, so this one's for you. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

320kbps CBR

EXODUS - "GOOD FRIENDLY VIOLENT FUN" - 1991 Thrash Metal CD

When you think of bands who defined "Thrash Metal", you usually think of one of (or all of) the four bands considered to be the "Four Horsemen of Thrash": Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax.

But during the height of Thrash's popularity, there were plenty of other bands worthy of playing on the same bill as the aforementioned giants. Exodus was one of them.

While most of Exodus' studio output can still be found easily online today, for some reason their 1991 live album, "Good Friendly Violent Fun", has all but disappeared. It's a great live recording with songs that perfectly encapsulate the Thrash scene's imagery, ending with a nice and heavy cover of AC/DC's classic "Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)".

If you're a fan of late 1980's / early 1990's Heavy Metal, make sure to check this one out!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

320kbps CBR

CRAZY ALICE - "BENDER" - 1993 Grunge CD

Today I'm sharing an album from the early 1990's Grunge/Alternative band Crazy Alice, their sophomore effort, 1993's "Bender".

For some reason, other albums released by Crazy Alice are currently on Spotify, but not this one. This album's been lost to time, with only 30-second clips existing on the Internet Archive. After coming across this disc at a flea market last month and having a good laugh at the cover, I felt I had to pick it up and give it a shot.

It's a pretty solid album; exactly what you'd expect from the post-Nirvana boom. Catchy hooks, grungy tones, feedback, and scratchy, off-kilter singing. Highlights include "Only Friend", "Fast", "Bleed", and "Trash Heap".

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

320kbps CBR

WE'RE ON WHATNOT!

Hey there, Folks! In case anyone missed it in our previous blog post, The Random Sanctum is now a seller on WHATNOT!

I'm trying to do at least one Live Auction every weekend, and I'll always announce the auction well in advance directly on my Whatnot profile... so make sure to Follow and Bookmark upcoming auctions! Once an item sells, it's GONE!

As of right now I'm focusing on comic books and video games, but many more goodies will be made available as time goes on. Don't miss out!

https://www.whatnot.com/user/randomsanctum

THE ORIGINAL CYNDI - "THE POWER WITHOUT THE PRICE" - 2009 CD

Well Hello, Sanctum Dwellers! I know it's been a while. AGAIN.

This has been one hectic summer for me; between getting ready for my first-ever comic convention in November, and doing weekly auctions on the Sanctum's new Whatnot store, I've had a hard time being able to gather together OOP oddities.

But today I have a real doozy for you; an album by a group known as "The Original Cyndi". I honestly can't even describe it. A little Jazz Fusion, a little Electronica, a little Experimental, even Comedy... it's a hodgepodge of bizarreness that has to be heard to be believed.

I can't seem to find much information about the group beyond this release's Discogs page, and the site devoted to the recording studio used (of which one of the band members runs). If anyone has any other info I can share here, please let me know!

Stay tuned for more obscure audio shared here in the coming weeks!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

320kbps CBR

"BACK TO THE BEACH" - 1987 CD Soundtrack

I know it's been a while, but rest assured that loads of OOP media is being archived behind the scenes! Thanks to all Sanctum Dwellers for your patience!

With the Summer heat upon us, this seemed like a great time to share the soundtrack to the long-forgotten 1987 flick "Back To The Beach"!

The film was a tongue-in-cheek parody / homage to the "beach party" movies that were wildly popular during the 1960's. In fact, this movie's two leads were both major stars during that era via those exact same movies: Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, both of whom also perform songs for the film!

Along with Annette and Frankie, the soundtrack is loaded with great tunes from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie Money, Herbie Hancock, and best of all... Pee-Wee Herman! Some of these songs were made available on other various compilation albums, but this complete soundtrack is currently unavailable for digital purchase, streaming or download.

So kick back in the buggy and take your gals n' pals down to the surf while cranking these rockin' tunes!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

320kbps CBR

EXENE CERVENKA - "SURFACE TO AIR SERPENTS" - 1995 Spoken Word / Poetry CD

In the mid-1990's, thanks to the tail-end of the Grunge and Alternative movements, and the rise in Pop Punk, interest in Punk in general started to arise again in popular culture.

Taking advantage of this, Exene Cervenka (legendary frontwoman for late-1970's Punk band X) collaborated with another well-known figure in the Punk scene, former Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins, and his label 2.13.61 to publish a poetry album.

The album was called "Surface To Air Serpents), and it was released in 1995.

It's a pretty unique, artsy piece, and a must for any fan of modern poetry, or any fan of Exene's.

Strangely enough, it's no longer available via 2.13.61's store, and is not available on any major digital storefront (although Exene's more straightforward music albums are).

As a Punk (and poetry) fan myself, I'd hate to see this album fade into obscurity. Please listen, and enjoy!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

192kbps VBR

"THE LITTLE MERMAID COLLECTION" 1990, 2000 Read-Along Triple Pack CD

The legendary Roy Dotrice narrated three Read-Alongs in 1990, all adapted from Walt Disney's classic "The Little Mermaid".

In the year 2000, all three stories were packaged in a bundle called "Disney's The Little Mermaid Collection - Triple Story Pack".

While some copies of these stories exist on YouTube, they're usually being read by the uploader. Finding the original audio has been tricky... until now!

All three stories are presented here, with full voice work from the cast of the film, and parts of Alan Menken's iconic score!

These are great tales for any fan of Ariel and her dreams of becoming "part of our world"... Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

YouTube

192kbps VBR

*NOTE: Ads may be running on the YouTube upload,
as the music within has been Copyright Claimed.*

"JAILBAIT!" 2000 MTV TV Movie

"JAILBAIT!" was a made-for-TV movie released in the year 2000 exclusively on MTV.

It was a pretty terrible movie then, and it's definitely a terrible movie now. However, it has Matt Frewer, and I'm a sucker for pretty much anything he's ever been in.

I have very vivid memories of this movie when it was first announced/aired. It was a big deal for MTV to be airing an R-rated movie that featured nudity. Of course, it was all for the sake of the film's message, which is to exercise caution when engaging in premarital sex. At least, I'm sure that's what the folks working on the movie told themselves while making it.

I've uploaded it to Archive.org because it is absolutely impossible to stream anywhere, and is only available on physical media via third-party sellers who are charging ridiculous amounts for it.

If MTV asks me to remove it, I will; but until then, have a laugh or two... whether intentionally or not!

ARCHIVE.ORG

MYSTIC FORCE - "ANOTHER WORLD" - 1992 Heavy Metal EP CD

Mystic Force (sometimes labeled with a hyphen as "Mystic-Force") is a Maryland Heavy Metal band in the tradition of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, etc.

While they never hit the heights of the bands that preceded/inspired them, the members are still active!

I came across this EP, "Another World", when I was out thrifting and I knew I had to get simply based on the cover. There's just something about the traditional "wizards, skulls, demons, dragons", etc Fantasy art on Heavy Metal albums that makes the cash fly out of my wallet.

Even with only 3 songs, and with nothing majorly original about them, this is still a pretty good EP.

Seems to be HTF online aside from a few YouTube rips, so I figured I'd share the individual tracks in high quality.

Bang Your Head and Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

320kbps CBR

"BLUE'S BIG MUSICAL MOVIE" - 2000 Nick Jr. / Kid Rhino Soundtrack CD

As if one hard-to-find "Blue's Clues" album wasn't enough, it appears that the Soundtrack to the 2000 film is also absent from streaming/download services!

This film was one of my son's favorites; we actually wore out a copy of the DVD. The soundtrack is great, and features the legendary Ray Charles and vocal group The Persuasions.

From beginning to end, this album tells the musical tale of putting together a production, explaining what Notes, Tempo, and Rhythm are, and teaching young ones the fundamental basics of songwriting and performing.

Like the other "Blue's Clues" album I shared, this one's a definite for any fan of everyone's favorite clue-hunting puppy. Give a listen, and Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

320kbps CBR

"GOODNIGHT BLUE: A NIGHTTIME MUSICAL ADVENTURE" - 1999 Nick Jr. / Kid Rhino CD

I am amazed that, somehow, there are little-to-no digital versions of classic "Blue's Clues" albums to stream or download. My son was absolutely obsessed with this show when he was a toddler, and so I ended up having to hunt down every CD, DVD, and toy I could find.

This album was one of the first I bought him, way back in 2007 via Amazon. It's a great little album that sequences a typical child's nighttime routine: getting in your PJ's, brushing your teeth, reading a story, and drifting off to Dream Land. The bonus track even has some ambient nighttime sounds to help your little one doze off!

Once I saw that no major streaming site or storefront had this, I knew I had to share my son's copy. Download and Enjoy... and sleep tight!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

192kbps VBR

"POKEMON GOLD & SILVER" 2000 Promotional CD-ROM

What we've got here is a tiny little CD-ROM (and I mean tiny; the overall size of the entire disc is under 70MB) that was released in the year 2000.

It was made by Nintendo / GAME FREAK to promote the upcoming "Gold" and "Silver" titles in the "Pokemon" game series, as well as promote the upcoming "Pokemon: The Movie 2000".

It's got a few wallpapers, some music tracks, video clips, and other goodies reminiscent of Promo CDs of the time.

Perfect for a little nostalgia trip!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

.ISO Format

"GARFIELD: THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR" - 1984 Kid Stuff Read-Along Record

Happy New Year, Sanctum Dwellers! Hopefully you're ready to tackle 2022 as confidently as Garfield tackles a dragon in his 1984 Read-Along "Garfield: The Knight In Shining Armor"!

This cute little 7-minute tale is intended for very young audiences, and teaches the lesson that appearances are deceiving!

As a little kid, I wore the Hell out of this record. I've always had a soft spot for the jaunty little opening and closing theme. Both sides of the record contained the same story, so I'd just flip it over and over.

However because of this, this is one of my most worn-out records. Under Design digitized both sides as best they could, and then I painstakingly cobbled together a Frankenstein'd version using the cleanest bits from each side, removing the heavy skips (of which there were at least a half-dozen), and taking out as much static as I could. You won't find a better copy of this tale anywhere, probably ever, unless I can find a sealed copy in the future.

** UPDATE: Jon from GenXGrownUp informed me that he also had a copy of this story, and supplied me with a digitization! I've included it in the downloads below. Thanks, Jon! **

If you're a lifelong "Garfield" fan and want to hear Lorenzo Music's take on the tubby tabby, in perhaps a story you've never heard before, then this one's for you. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD 1

DOWNLOAD 2

Internet Archive

YouTube

DOWNLOAD 3 (GenXGrownUp rip)

192kbps CBR