CD REVIEW - A Witch is Born (Remastered)

[Mike]

A Witch is Born [CD] by Maxine Sanders © 2011 Logios 3
Tracks $19.00 (U.S.) Total Running Time: 49:45

The Initiation 31:09 The Legend of the Goddess 7:29 The
Great Rite 11:07

More than 40 years ago, in a move which was controversial even then,
the undisputed leader of the Alexandrian sect of Wicca (and highly
disputed “King of the Witches”) decided to bring the religion of Wicca
to the masses. To that end, he made appearances in various public
venues and made a recording (in a single take) of an Initiation
ceremony. It was released as a record in 1970 and has pretty much
disappeared from the public view and mind since then

A new version of that record has been done by Alex's former wife,
Maxine, with the assistance of modern-day members of the Alexandrian
sect, and the deletion of the original narration. This IS that disk.
It has been remastered from the original vinyl LP. Each of the
sections has been extended through an introduction and explanation.

Thanks to advances in technology over the past four decades the
original narration has been removed and replaced. The background
noise, which was noticeable in the CD made from the original LP, has
also been removed. There is no doubt that this is a much better
recording, if only on a technical level.

The new narration, as well as being clearer, also tends to be more
descriptive, thus allowing the listener to form a clearer
understanding of what is transpiring. The voice of the initiate (Janet
Owen [later Farrar] in the original) has been replaced as well. This
is definitely a plus, simply because it has been possible to raise the
level of comprehension – Janet was sometimes difficult to hear in the
original recording.

Comparing this current edition to the previously available disc (see
my review), this one comes away the winner, hands down. And I'm not
just saying that because I am an Alexandrian initiate of many years.
Nor am I say it because I have met Jimahl di Fiosa on a couple of
occasions. It is simply a better recording. The original LP was done
in a single take, and the new disc has the advantage of being able to
go back in and solve some of the difficulties encountered in such an
endeavor.

Admittedly, I am a collector by nature, with a predilection for Craft
history, but I really have to say that for anyone who is an
Alexandrian initiate, this CD is a must. You can pair it with the
release from Cold Springs (in the U.K.) if you want to, but if you
have to choose one or the other, this is the one to buy, if only
because it combines the past and the present so seamlessly.