Oracle (Michael Hedges album)

Oracle is a recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label. It won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album. Oracle peaked at number seven on the Billboard New Age Albums chart.

Oracle
Studio album by Michael Hedges
Released	October 1, 1996
Recorded	Speech & Hearing Clinic, Mendocino, California
Genre	New-age, world
Length	40:20
Label	Windham Hill
Producer	Michael Hedges
Michael Hedges chronology
The Road to Return (1994) Oracle (1996) Torched (1999)

The album was reissued in 2009 by Valley Entertainment.^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

Music critic Jason Anderson, writing for AllMusic, wrote "On an album that is mostly instrumental and generally concerned more with melody than thematic cohesion and quirky technical breakthroughs, Hedges relies on his past offerings and simplest musical instincts for inspiration, and the results are splendid... this offering is consistent in its quality, and rare in its musical commitment."^[2]

Track listing

• All compositions by Michael Hedges except as noted.
• "Greensleeves" was not listed in the liner notes. It was originally recorded for The Windham Hill sampler Carols of Christmas.

1. "The 2nd Law" – 3:07
2. "Ignition" – 3:28
3. "Baal T'shuvah" – 2:10
4. "Dirge" – 3:29
5. "Jitterboogie" – 2:37
6. "Oracle" – 4:08
7. "Gospel" – 2:22
8. "Tomorrow Never Knows" (Lennon–McCartney) – 4:01
9. "Theme from Hatari!" (Henry Mancini) – 3:19
10. "Aura Müünta" – 2:58
11. "Jitterboogie (Family version)" – 2:09
12. "Sofa No. 1" (Frank Zappa) – 2:42
13. "When I Was 4" – 4:19
14. "Greensleeves" (Traditional) – 3:08

Personnel

• Michael Hedges – guitar, bass, harp guitar, synthesizers, harmonica, vocals, alto flute
• Michael Manring – fretless bass ("Ignition", "Dirge", "Gospel", Tomorrow Never Knows")

Production notes

• Produced by Michael Hedges
• Engineered by Rob Griffin + Michael Hedges
• Mastered by Bernie Grundman