Rare Amjad Ali Khan 1974 'Ustad Amjad Ali Khan'

I posted this in January, but only offered the MP3. I have re-digitised this LP and also spent quite a while restoring the cover on the computer, which was pretty beat up. Record is in fairly good shape but some surface noise. This is a rare LP released in India in 1974. I searched a while for a copy of this in decent condition. To my knowledge it was never re-released in a digital format or CD. I have heard a copy online, however it was not downloadable and the quality wasn't great. I hope you enjoy!

Label: His Master's Voice - EASD 1405

Tracks:
A - Raga Rageshwari - Aochar, Madhya And Drut Gat In Teen Taal
B1 - Raga Kirwani - Aochar & Gat In Rupak Taal
B2 - Bihari - Drut Gat In Teen Taal

FLAC unaltered

FLAC cleaned

MP3 cleaned

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 16 Highest Level 8, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low settings) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -1.5db in Audacity and exported as FLAC Highest Level 8 and MP3 320kbps.

Rare Ram Narayan 1970 'Sarangi Recital'

Here is a rare 1970 Indian release of Ram Narayan. These solo Sarangi performances are unique in that the instrument has mainly been sidelined to accompanist status for Vocalists etc. - similar to Harmonium. I find the sound of Sarangi and Dilruba (Ram's father Pt. Nathuji Biawat was an accomplished Dilruba player) hauntingly beautiful. In fact I think I heard a dilruba in a soundtrack for a few minutes in a movie (along with Tabla) when I was a child - which I think was the seed to my interest in India / Indian Instruments much much later.

An interesting fact I was unaware of - Ram Narayan's brother was legendary Tabla maestro Chatur Lal. Chatur Lal was there at the beginning of the Indian Classical LP inception in the 50's accompanying the likes of Ali Akbar Khan. Some of you might be aware of Ali Akbar's first LP the 1955 'Music of India (Morning and Evening Ragas)'.

Back to this LP! On this album we have the evergreen Raga Yaman - a major sounding scale with a raised 4th. On side B we have Rishabh Asavari - an early morning melody creating a mood of pathos and separation.

Label: His Master's Voice ‎– EASD 1361

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Yaman (Teentaal)
A2 - Thumree (Raga Desh - Teentaal)
B1 - Raga Komal Rishabh Asavari (Jhaptaal)
B2 - Dhun (Rupak)

WAV 16/48 unaltered

FLAC cleaned

MP3 320kbps cleaned

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

Jaya Bose & Himangshu Biswas ‎1968 'Sitar & Flute'

Hello Friends, as promised here is the other 1968 album by Jaya Bose (A.K.A Joya Biswas) with Himangshu Biswas on Bansuri (who also played on the LP I posted not long ago with Dulal Roy on Santoor). That's it! Short and sweet. Feel free to comment on the artists or the music - or anything music related :-)

Label: His Master's Voice ‎– ECLP 2372

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Alahia Bilaval (Alap, Jhalla and Gat in Teentaal)
B1 - Raga Desh (Gat In Dipchandi)
B2 - Bhatiali - Dhun

FLAC unaltered

FLAC cleaned

MP3 320kbps cleaned

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.

Rare Sundaram Balachander 1970 'A Homage...'

Here is a 1970 release of S. Balachander on the King of string instruments the 'Been' or 'Veena'. I am not very knowledgeable about South Indian (Carnatic Music), but I really enjoy listening to it. It is quite different to the North Indian Hindustani Classical that I mainly post. To me Carnatic melodic lines are more driving and ornamented (or in my own technical words... Wiggly!). I guess this is what give it the uniqueness and charm. I have a couple of other south Indian LPs I will dig out and post in the future.

Label: His Master's Voice ECSD 2443

Tracks:
A1 - Raagam Sankarabharanam
B1 - Raagam Shanmukhapriya

WAV 16/48 unaltered

WAV 16/48 cleaned

MP3 320kbps cleaned

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 settings) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -1.5db in Audacity and exported as WAV 16/48 and MP3 320kbps.

Hariprasad Chaurasia 1977 'Thumriyan Vol. II'

Here is another lovely flute LP by Hariprasad Chaurasia 1977. Unfortunately there is an ugly sticker on the cover! I got annoyed with it only after I had packaged everything up in ZIPs.. and did a basic cover up in Paint. You can copy the picture from below.

"Thumri can be described as the final phase of the chequered evolution of Hindustani music which began with the massive, dignified dhrupad and dhamar, followed by the ornate, inventive khayal and lilting, racy tappa. Distinctly erotic or devotional in content, it originated from the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh and eventually branched off into two different traditions of Lucknow and Benaras. Although thumri has broadly evolved as a vocal form, many instrumental masters of initiative and vision have successfully given a new elan to its niceties and beauties by their sheer originality and virtuosity".

Label: EMI ‎– ECSD 2781

Tracks:
A1 - Thumri Mishra Khamaj (Roopak Taal)
A2 - Thumri Pilu (Dadra Taal)
B1 - Thumri Pahadi (Kaharwa Taal)
B2 - Thumri Bhairvin (Roopak Taal)

FLAC unaltered

FLAC cleaned

MP3 320kbps cleaned

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 16 Highest Level 8, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low settings) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -1.5db in Audacity and exported as FLAC Highest Level 8 and MP3 320kbps.

Drums of North & South India 1967

This is a live recording of some drum masters released in 1967. I found this LP in a local shop a few weeks ago, it was pretty beat up, so sorry for that, but it plays pretty good considering. I like these thick 60's pressings, they are so much more sturdy than the slim flimsy pressings that started being made in the 70's on-wards. I am learning tabla myself so I enjoy the opportunity to listen to Tabla and other drum solo performances. It's probably not every ones cup of tea to listen to solely percussion, but I think this is an important historical recording.

By the way - I was listening to an awesome Mridangam solo on the great Darbar Festival Channel on YouTube - worth having a listen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hQHRCNwzBc) - what a unique and groovy sound! There is great range of HD videos on this channel updated regularly - I strongly recommend it to any fellow Indian Classical lovers.

Label: World Pacific ‎– WP-1437 (Mono)

Tracks:
A1 - Allarakha - Tala Sawarib (11 Matras) with intro by Ravi Shankar
A2 - Chatur Lal - Ek Taal (12 Matras)
B1 - Ramabhadran & Sivaraman - Variations In Khanda Chapu Tala (5 Matras)
B2 - Kanai Dutta - Jhap Tal (10 Matras)
B3 - Kanai Dutta - Teen Tal

WAV 16/48 unaltered

WAV 16/48 cleaned

MP3 320kbps cleaned

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 settings) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -1.5db in Audacity and exported as WAV 16/48 and MP3 320kbps.

Rare Prabha Atre 1971 'Prabha Atre'

Here is a lovely 1971 vocal release. I think this may be one of Prabha Atre's only vinlys? I love the delightful first track on B1... I'm pretty sure I had the pleasure of hearing this live two weeks ago by a visiting singer from India performing in Melbourne. Talk about coincidence! I never heard this LP before a few days ago.

"University educated Prabha Atre has opted for a career in vocal music. And rightly so, because, amongst the younger set of the present day veterans, she ranks very high. Gifted with a very sweet and melodious voice, she had the good fortune of being groomed at the hands of Hirabai Barodekar and her talented brother, the late Suresh Babu Mane. Added to the awareness of innate musicality of the Kirana School she displays a rare melange of originality, virtuosity, ingenuity and craftsmanship which mark her recitals and put her in a class by herself. Her khayal singing is particularly striking for its creative revelations and is punctuated with richly decorated alaps, gliding 'sargams' and the vibrant yet intricate and picturesque taans that present to listeners a very pleasing and euphonious picture of the raga. In thumri, she conceives tender, lyrical ideas with such lavity and richness that one feels her creative resources are inexhaustible".

Label: His Master's Voice ‎– ECSD 2490

Tracks:
A1 - Kal Nahin Aaye - Raga Marubihag,Vilambit - Ek Taal
B1 - Tan Man Dhan Tope Varun - Raga Kalavati - Ek Taal
B2 - Kaun Gali Gayo Shyam - Thumri Mishra Khamaj - Taal Deepchandi

FLAC unaltered

FLAC cleaned

MP3 320kbps cleaned

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 16 Highest Level 8, and then separately edited with: Clickrepair (low settings) then slight reduction on surface noise + normalised to -1.5db in Audacity and exported as FLAC Highest Level 8 and MP3 320kbps.