The Seal of the Blue Lotus

The Seal of the Blue Lotus
Studio album by Robbie Basho
Released	1965 (1965)
Recorded	1965
Genre	American Primitivism
Length	45:33
Label	Takoma
Producer	Robbie Basho, ED Denson
Robbie Basho chronology
The Seal of the Blue Lotus (1965) The Grail & the Lotus (1966)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
The Great Folk Discography	7/10

The Seal of the Blue Lotus is the debut studio album of composer and guitarist Robbie Basho, released in 1965 by Takoma Records.

Release and reception

Skip Jansen, of Allmusic, favorably compared Basho's Eastern-influenced musical approach to that of John Fahey and noted the influence of Ravi Shankar. Jansen gave the album four out of five stars, concluding that it is "An essential document for folk guitar fans."

In 1996, Takoma Records issued The Seal of the Blue Lotus for the first time on Compact Disc, with an alternate cover. The album has again been re-issued by 4 Men With Beards on 180 gram vinyl

Track listing

All music is composed by Robbie Basho

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Seal of the Blue Lotus"	7:40
2.	"Mountain Man's Farewell"	8:38
3.	"Dravidian Sunday"	6:36

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bardo Blues"	7:27
2.	"Sansara in Sweetness After Sandstorm"	6:08
3.	"Black Lotus (Hymn to Fugen)"	9:04

Personnel

Adapted from The Seal of the Blue Lotus liner notes.

• Robbie Basho – steel-string acoustic guitar, production, cover art
• ED Denson – production

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United States	1965	Takoma	LP	C-1005
United Kingdom	1996		CD
United States	2012	4 Men With Beards	LP	4M223

External links

• The Seal of the Blue Lotus at Discogs (list of releases)