Another weird record I have never seen or heard referenced before, it showed up at the store randomly as a part of a collection I was asked to process, and I’ve been obsessed with it since I first dropped a needle on it. Dr. Sperling created (I guess?) the Sperling Institute of Self-Hypnosis, and this record is intended to educate the listener on the fine art — and importance — of hypnosis and self-hypnosis.
Side A acts as an introduction to the arts of hypnosis and self-hypnosis, and Side B is the actual attempt to hypnotize the listener. I’ve tried listening to it once or twice to put myself in the headspace that will allow myself to be hypnotized (even though I don’t believe it is truly possible) and I can’t stop focusing on the unusual quality of the narrator’s voice. By the way, is that Dr. Sperling? The cover of the record doesn’t contain much in the way of liner notes, and the labels list an address in Hawthorne, California but otherwise there isn’t much to go on. The album was pressed by Capitol Custom, which means there could not have been many of these made when it was registered in 1964. How many exist? Were they specifically for patients? Was this an attempt by Dr. Sperling to monetize his hypnosis technique? Is Sperling still alive and practicing? What on earth made him think that his voice was capable of hypnosis. I mean…LISTEN TO IT!
Dr. Herbert Sperling
Relaxation Hypnosis Self-Hypnosis
(Capitol Custom, 1964)
MediaFire DL Link
Side A: Introduction
Side B: Relaxation & Hypnosis
