Hariprasad Chaurasia 1968 'Music Of India - Flute Recital'

This is Hariprasad Chaurasia's first LP released in 1968. This was re-released on CD in a small series of 'First LPs' by Saregama in 2005, however they are hard to find and often crazy priced online. I also don't know the quality, but it probably isn't so bad. This performance is really quite delightful and lively, even in the early days one can hear the great musicianship of the Bansuri Master. They didn't have access to all the standard effects that we use today like reverb etc. So it's nice to hear a clean performance - as it would have sounded sitting in a room with the musicians having a jam...

Label:  ‎His Master's Voice – ECSD 2388 & Odeon S-MOCE 1152

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Marwa (Vilambit Ektaal, Drut Teentaal)
B1 - Raga Des (Rupak Taal)
B2 - Raga Mishra Pilu (Teentaal)

WAV (Unaltered 16/48)

WAV (Cleaned 16/48)

MP3 (Cleaned 320kbps)

Digitised with: Project Essential II Turntable, Ortofon Red Stylus, recorded as WAV 16/48 in Audacity and saved unaltered (apart from track separation/info tags) as WAV 16/48, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low setting) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -2.0db in Audacity and exported as WAV 16/48 and MP3 320kbps.

Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande 1984 'Introducing… Ashwini Bhide'

This is Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande's only LP released in 1984 (as far as I know). I am really fond of Hindustani Vocal music, but don't have as many Vocal LPs as I do Instrumental. I wanted to share this LP as I don't think it is very common. Ashwini has a sweet voice. She would have been around 24 in this recording.

Courtesy of Wiki: "Born in Mumbai into a family with strong musical traditions, Dr. Bhide-Deshpande started her early classical training under the guidance of Narayanrao Datar. She then completed her Sangeet Visharad from the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. Since then, Dr. Bhide-Deshpande has been under the tutelage of her mother Smt. Manik Bhide, who has been instilling in her the intricacies and traditions of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana. Dr. Bhide-Deshpande also received guidance from, Pt. Ratnakar Pai until his death in 2009".

Label: EMI ‎– ECSD 2973

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Yaman
B1 - Raga Tilak Kamod
B2 - Bhajan Meerabai

WAV (Unaltered 16/48)

WAV (Cleaned 16/48)

MP3 (Cleaned 320kbps)

Digitised with: Project Essential II Turntable, Ortofon Red Stylus, recorded as WAV 16/48 in Audacity and saved unaltered (apart from track separation/info tags) as WAV 16/48, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low setting) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -2.0db in Audacity and exported as WAV 16/48 and MP3 320kbps.

Nikhil Banerjee ‎1967 'Raga Malkauns, Raga Hem-Lalit'

This is Pandit Banerjee's second LP from 1967, released in India. It was later released in the US in 1969 and then on cassette apparently in 1990... What strikes me first is the beauty of the original cover art. If only there were more like it! On top of that another great recording of Pandit ji.

Label: His Master's Voice - EASD 1318 (India 1967) & Capitol Records - ST-10502 (US 1969)

Tracks:
A - Raga Malkauns 20:00
B1 - Raga Hem Lalit (First Part) 14:53
B2 - Raga Hem Lalit (Second Part: Baul) 5:02

WAV (Unaltered 16/48)

WAV (Cleaned 16/48)

MP3 (Cleaned 320kbps)

Digitised with: Project Essential II Turntable, Ortofon Red Stylus, recorded as WAV 16/48 in Audacity and saved unaltered (apart from track separation/info tags) as WAV 16/48, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low setting) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -2.0db in Audacity and exported as WAV 16/48 and MP3 320kbps.

Nikhil Banerjee Rare ‎1966 'Nikhil Banerjee'

This is Nikhil Banerjee's first LP from 1966. Interestingly it was released in India and Australia - making it easy for me to track down a copy a few years ago, but maybe harder for people in other countries. Thanks to one of my comment posters for suggesting. I forgot what a nice album this is and haven't played it for a while. I hope you enjoy.

Label: His Master's Voice ‎– OASD 7536 & Odeon ‎– S-MOAE 155

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Komala Rishab Asawari
B1 - Raga Maluha Kalyan
B2 - Raga Mishra Gara (In Thumree Style)

WAV (Unaltered 16/48)

WAV (Cleaned 16/48)

MP3 (Cleaned 320kbps)

Digitised with: Project Essential II Turntable, Ortofon Red Stylus, recorded as WAV 16/48 in Audacity and saved unaltered (apart from track separation/info tags) as WAV 16/48, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low setting) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -2.0db in Audacity and exported as WAV 16/48 and MP3 320kbps.

Rare Ravi Shankar & Ali Akbar Khan 1963 'Classical Indian Music'

Behold, a 1963 Indian release of Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan. Unfortunately this is not a Jugalbandi where both musicians play together, rather one side per artist. I'm not sure if this vinyl was ever re-released in a digital format. I have decided to upload this as an unaltered WAV, so that you can listen to it straight from the vinyl and/or self edit if you wish. As usual also the slightly cleaned high quality MP3.

What's interesting is the tabla player for Ali Akbar Khan listed on the back cover as 'Sashi Bellari'. I have never heard of him? If anyone knows anything feel free to comment.

Label: Odeon ‎– PMAE 502

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Jhinjhoti
A2 - Raga Bahar
B - Raga Yamankalyan (Teental)

WAV (Unaltered)

MP3

Digitised with: Project Essential II Turntable, Ortofon Red Stylus, recorded as WAV in Audacity and saved unaltered as WAV 16bit 44k, and then as 320kbps MP3 with: slight reduction on surface noise + click removal. 

Rare - Rais Khan 1969 'Instrumental Sitar'

Here is an awesome early LP by Rais Khan. There are not many releases by this Master on vinyl - I'm not sure why - if anyone knows, please enlighten me! His first LP (before this one) from 1968 is even rarer - working on getting a copy...

I ordered this record originally from India, the cover was in good condition but the vinyl was warped... Fortunately I eventually found another copy online in good condition but had a generic cover - and finally matched the good cover with the good vinyl... Talk about being OCD!

I also found a obscure remastered version of this album on CD. Although the CD version was done pretty well, it's missing the brightness in frequency range that's apparent on the vinyl. This is quite typical for CD mastering to cut out a lot of frequencies in the high and mid-range. I was startled by this difference when comparing my Ravi Shankar LP collection to the CD re-masters on my Yamaha studio monitors (I had assumed most of the CD re-masters would sound better... goes to show...).

Label: His Master's Voice ‎– ECSD 2412

Tracks:
A - Raga Darbari Kanada (Gat Teental, Dhun Dadra)
B - Raga Tilak Kamod (Gat Teental, Dhun Dadra)

WAV

MP3

Digitised with: Project Essential II Turntable, Ortofon Red Stylus, recorded as WAV in Audacity (sound reduction on surface noise + click removal) and then saved as WAV and 256kbps (variable) MP3. 

Thanks for the support

After a few weeks break I have returned to see growing interest in my blog. I will try to post some new stuff shortly.

This is a great encouragement to continue sharing from my collection. I look forward to your comments and please enjoy this music as much as I do.

There are so many possibilities in the electronic era -- but nothing will ever match the mastery of a traditional instrument and the years of disciplined study and practice many of the great Hindustani performers went through to achieve this. This is clearly what we hear and enjoy in these amazing vintage recordings and a rarity in any other modern forms of music.