Vernal Equinox (album)

Vernal Equinox is the debut studio album by Jon Hassell, released in 1977 by Lovely Music, Ltd.

Vernal Equinox
Studio album by Jon Hassell
Released	1977 (1977)
Recorded	October 1976 (1976-10) – October 1977 (1977-10)
Studio	Various York University Electronic Media Studios (Ontario, CA) Mastertone Recording Studios (New York City, WA)
Genre	Ambient
Length	51:03
Label	Lovely Music, Ltd.
Producer	Jon Hassell
Jon Hassell chronology
Vernal Equinox (1977) Earthquake Island (1978)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Pitchfork	8.8/10

In 2016, the album was rated by Pitchfork magazine as one of the fifty best ambient albums.[1]

Track listing

All music is composed by Jon Hassell

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Toucan Ocean"	3:42
2.	"Viva Shona"	7:04
3.	"Hex"	6:20
4.	"Blues Nile"	9:51

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Vernal Equinox"	21:56
2.	"Caracas Night September 11, 1975"	2:10

Personnel

Adapted from the Vernal Equinox liner notes.

• Jon Hassell – trumpet, electric piano (A1, A3), production

Musicians

• Miguel Frasconi – bells and claves (A3)
• Andy Jerison – synthesizer (A3)
• Nicolas Kilbourn – mbira and talking drum (A3)
• David Rosenboom – synthesizer (A1, A3), mbira (A2), rattles (A3), goblet drum (B1), recording
• Naná Vasconcelos – congas (A1, B1, B2), shakers (A1, A3), bells (A2), talking drum (A2)
• William Winant – kanjira and rattles (A3)

Production and additional personnel

• Michael Brook – recording
• Andy Jerison – recording
• Rich LePage – mixing
• Ariel Peeri – design

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United States	1977	Lovely Music, Ltd.	LP	1021
	1990		CD

External links

• Vernal Equinox at Discogs (list of releases)