Monday 25 June 2018

Ravi Shankar ‎1963 'The Exciting Music Of Ravi Shankar'

Hi friends. Here is a 1963 UK pressing of Ravi Shankar. Fairly sure it's only released in mono. Not the worst recording! It's fairly easy to get a copy of this LP online. A friend has told me there are a few various compilation CDs from India with these tracks. Hopefully this is better than those.

Label: Melodisc (3) ‎– MLP 12-151, EALP 1273 & MOAE 126

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Hema-Bihag
B1 - Raga Malaya Marutam
B1 - Raga Mishra-Mand


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/FLAC, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low settings) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -1.5db and tracks merged to MONO to reduce noise, in Audacity and exported as FLAC and MP3 320kbps.

Tuesday 19 June 2018

Ravi Shankar 1967 'In New York'

Hi friends. Here is a nice 1967 US pressing of Ravi Shankar In New York. I have compared it to the Angel CD release. The vinyl has a bit more space/ambience, where as the CD version sounds slightly flat but louder. Also on the vinyl the Sitar lies a bit more to the right of the stereo spectrum. The tabla sounds a bit more open and sustained on the vinyl as well. Anyway - you can choose yourself which versions you prefer! Enjoy. 

Label: World Pacific ‎– WPS-21441

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Bairagi
A2 - Nata Bhairavi
B1 - Raga Marwa


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/FLAC, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low settings) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -1.5db in Audacity and exported as FLAC and MP3 320kbps.

Monday 18 June 2018

Ali Akbar Khan 1964 'The Classical Music of India'

[Re-post and Re-transfer with FLACs]

This vinyl was released in the US in 1964 as a Mono and a Stereo version and re-released in 1972. There was also a CD released of the Stereo version in Europe, which is almost impossible to find. I have a copy - quality isn't much better but it's louder with more bass in the tabla. Some mono versions also exist on some other CD's such as 'The Emperor of Melody'. However, they sound a bit flat. Here is the 1964 Stereo digitised version that I acquired in January 2018. There was also an Indian pressing from earlier than 1964 with Ali Akbar Khan sitting on the floor.

Label: Prestige ‎– PRST 1079

Tracks:
A - Raga Lajwanti 13:47
B - Raga Todi 13:45



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 FLAC, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low settings) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -1.5db in Audacity and exported as FLAC and MP3 320kbps.

Thursday 7 June 2018

Nazakat Ali - Salamat Ali 1964 'Raga Abhogi Kanada, Thumree'

As promised - a second LP post before I go on vacation. An early 1964 recording by Nazakat and Salamat Ali - I believe it is their second LP? Feel free to comment on this duo. I really enjoyed the first LP "Classical Music From Pakistan" 1959, which was beautiful transferred on Flat, Black, Classical blog: (http://flatblackandclassical.blogspot.com/2018/03/nazakat-and-salamat-ali-khan-clp-1308.html). Enjoy!

Label: His Master's Voice ‎– EALP 1282

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Abhogi Kanada
B1 - Raga Gavati
B2 - Raga Mishra Khamaj


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, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low settings) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -1.5db in Audacity and exported as FLAC and MP3 320kbps.

Wednesday 6 June 2018

Savita Devi ‎1985 'Shyam Mori Gali Aaja'

Hi friends. I haven't been able to post much lately due to my work. Anyway, I am going to post two LPs now before I go away for a short vacation. This is an Indian pressing of Savita Devi. As far as I know, this may be her only LP? I don't know much about this artist so feel free to comment with any facts and trivia - but I've also included some more biography info below.

Label: His Master's Voice ‎– ECSD 3116

Tracks:
A1 - Shyam Mori Gali Aaja - Thumri Bhairvi
A2 - Zulmi Sanvaria Na Jane Kadariya - Bhairavi Dadra
A3 - Salone Sawan Aayo Re - Kajri
B1 - Mooratiya Man Men Basi Tori - Thumri Based On Misra Tilang
B2 - Banke Saiyan Na Jane Man Ki Batiyan Ho Ram - Dadra Based On Pahari
B3 - Hori Main Kheloongi Shyam Se Dat Ke - Hori Based On Shahana


Some more info from the cover:

SAVITA DEVI hails from a well-known musical family in Benares which has given us many memorable exponents of classical and light classical music since the last hundred years or more. Maina Devi, her daughter Rajeswari Devi, the latter's daughter Siddheswari Devi (who was our contemporary until 1977), and her illustrious and versatile daughter SAVITA DEVI - have all been names to conjure with in the field of light classical varieties of the Poorab ang. As long as Siddheswari Devi dominated the world of light classical music, Savita was content to remain in her mother's shadow as a supporting singer imbibing her mother's rich musical traditions with deep devotion. However, after Siddheswari Devi's death in March 1977. Savita has risen to prominence as the heiress to the musical wealth and rich repertoire of her reputed mother. Providing vocal support to Siddheswari Devi in various public concerts and radio programmes, Savita received excellent training as a concert-artiste. Endowed with a charming stage-personality, pleasing "mukha-vilas", and a melodious, widely-ranged voice that can easily cover three octaves, Savita is a versatile artiste who can sing anything from a Khayal to a Kajri or a Poorbi Dhun with ease and emotion. A graduate from the B.H.U., an MA. in Music and a Sangeet-Alankar", Savita Devi who is a well-graded broadcaster of Vocal music and Sitar, is Head of the Department of Instrumental music in a College of the Delhi University. Although she has received years of training in Khayal from Pdt. Mani Prasad, a well-known vocalist of the Kirana gharana, her forte is the light classical form, and she has already earned a prominent place for herself as an exponent of the "Benares ang" light classical iwrieties.

______________________________________________________________________________

Digitised with: Project Essential II Turntable, Ortofon Red Stylus, recorded as WAV 16/48 in Audacity and saved unaltered as FLAC, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low settings) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -1.5db in Audacity and exported as FLAC and MP3 320kbps.