Ali Akbar Khan 1966 'Morning and Evening Ragas'

[Re-post and Re-transfer with WAVs]

Today is a special treat! This LP was released in the USA in 1966. It is one of my favourites and a beautiful recording. It was digitised in 2011 by 'Sinetone AMR', however I have heard this MP3 version on the American iTunes store and was disappointed with the quality. This led me to buy a copy of the original LP from the US.

Connoisseur Society released many Ali Akbar Khan LPs throughout the 60s and 70s and all of them are wonderful. Furthermore, the quality of these particular LPs by Connoiseur Society is really great. Fortunately several of Connoisseur Society's recordings were remastered on the AMMP label in the 90s and re-released on CD. This LP album was not however part of these 'Signature Series' volumes.

Make sure you read the notes on the back cover, pretty detailed!

Label: Connoisseur Society - CM 1766

Tracks:
A - Goojjari Todi (Morning Raga) - Dhammar Tala (14 beats) and Jhaptal (10 beats)
B - Misra Mand (Evening Raga) - Kaharwa Tala (8 beats) and fast Tintal (16 beats)

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

Ali Akbar Khan 1965 'Raga Multani & Hindol-Hem'

[Re-post and Re-transfer with WAVs]

Here is a 1965 LP by Ali Akbar Khan, released in India in Mono and Stereo. This LP has been digitised in Mono by Saregama (a primary Indian music label - formerly 'The Gramophone Company of India Limited', however like a lot of Saregama digitisations, was done pretty poorly! I acquired this LP last year after deciding the digital version I was listening to was not good enough. Indeed the LP sounds so much better and I'm happy to share.

Label: His Master's Voice ‎- EALP1301

Tracks:
A - Raga: Multani
B - Raga: Hindol-Hem

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

Ali Akbar Khan 1964 'Raga Prabhakali / Kaushi Bhairavi'

[Re-post and Re-transfer with WAVs]

Yet another 1964 India release in Stereo. This is another lovely LP that to my knowledge was never digitised or re-released. I acquired this last year, and was allured by the beautiful cover art. The original recording quality is a bit dull, but was probably done several years before the pressings were even made. Unfortunately there is a strange hiss at around 10:30 on the first track which lasts for a minute and a half. I have heard that other versions of this also have the hiss so I think it is a fault in the recording...

Label: His Master's Voice ‎- EALP1286 and Odeon - MOAE145

Tracks:
A - Raga Prabhakali
B - Raga Kaushi Bhairavi

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

Ali Akbar Khan 1964 'North Indian Master Of The Sarod'

[Re-post and Re-transfer with WAVs]

This vinyl was released in the US in 1964 as a Mono and a Stereo version. I'm not aware of any remastered versions or re-releases. Another digitised copy of this LP was also posted on 'oriental-traditional-music.blogspot.com.au', however that file also has a bit of surface noise. Overall a lovely performance by Ali Akbar Khan (as always) with some lovely call-response or 'imitation' between the sarod and tabla towards the last halves of both sides.

Label: World Pacific WPS-21433

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Darbari Kanara (Evening Raga) Alap 9:55
A2 - First Gat In Raga Misra Mand (Jor) / Tala Kaharwa 8 Beats (Jhala) / Second Gat In Tal Chachar 14 Beats 12:40

B1 - Raga Basant Mookhari (Morning Raga) Alap 9:40
B2 - Slow Gat In Tintal 16 Beats (Jor) / Fast Gat In Tintal 16 Beats (Jhala) 13:21

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

Ali Akbar Khan 1977 'Raga Malayalam'

Here is an Ali Akbar Khan LP from 1977. This LP was posted on oriental-traditional-music blogspot in 2011, but only as MP3. Here is my version in lossless format. Raga Malayalam is another Raga composed by Ali Akbar and dedicated to his mother 'Malaya' and father 'Alam'. Malayalam is a morning melody derived from traditional ragas Megh, Asavari, Kukubh Bilawal and Tilang.

Label: His Master's Voice ‎– ECSD 2548

Tracks:
A - Raga: Malayalam - Alap
B - Raga: Malayalam - Gat: Vilambit & Drut: Trital

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 Shobha Joshi 1986 'In a Classical Mood'

Here is a 1986 LP of Shobha Joshi. I had not heard of her before finding this LP. I could also not find any other copies of this available online or digitised. 'Shobha Joshi comes of a cultured family. She took to singing even as a young school girl. Realising her artistic potential, her parents encouraged her in her pursuits. She has learnt classical and light classical music from many eminent mentors, who include such veterans as Dr. Prabha Atre, Agashe Buva, Yeshwantbuva Joshi, Manik Verma and Niwrutti Buva Sarnaik, all classicists Eminent composers like Gajanan Watwe, Ram Phatak and Yeshwant Deo imbibed in her the fineries of light music'.

Label: Music India ‎– 2394 881

Tracks:
A1 - Raga Charukeshi
B1 - Raga Bahar
B2 - Thumri - Kanha Karat Manmani

WAV 16/48 unaltered

WAV 16/48 cleaned

MP3 320kbps cleaned

RAGA CHARUKESHI: This is a charming "raga" of Carnatic origin, now adapted to the Hindustani tradition with a few variations. The melody now enjoys tremendous popularity among North Indian vocalists and instrumentalists alike. The artiste renders the "raga" first in a composition in slow tempo ("Vilambit") set to "Ektal" of twelve beats ("Matras"), and then in a .fast tempo ("Drut") number set to "Trital" of sixteen beats ("Matras") Both the songs and their tunes have been composed by her eminent mentor, Prabha Atre.

RAGA BAHAR: This is one of the ancient but most popular "ragas" associated with the Spring season. Rendered towards midnight, it has a bright, colourful character, depicting the mood of the season. The presentation is heard here in a fast-tempo ("Drut") composition in "Ektal" of twelve beats ("Matras").

THUMRI: This is also sensitive lyric composed by Prabha Atre. Cast in the "Thumri" style, the tune, also composed by her, evokes the emotion contained in the song. It is set to "Deepchandi Tal" of fourteen beats ("Matras").

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 Sharan Rani 1963 'Sarod Solo'

Hey friends. I'm pleased to share this rare 1963 Indian LP of Sharan Rani. I have only ever heard bad versions of this from different Saregama sources. A fairly good result with this vinyl, but I feel like the actual recording was a bit quiet on the LP, not as much clarity as I want and bass from the tabla, but oh well... I'm sure you will enjoy anyway! It's the best version you will probably hear online (please prove me wrong if you have a copy and would like to share!!!) I love Sharan Rani and find her playing very exiting. Most of her few LPs that were pressed are very rare, apart from the 1962 'The Music of India' (World Pacific 1418), which had many re-releases.

Label: His Master's Voice ‎– ECLP 2283

Tracks:
A - Raga Darbari Kanada (Alap & Gat in Teentaal)
B - Raga Nat Bhairav (Gat in Roopak Taal)

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 -1.0db in Audacity and exported as WAV 16/48 and MP3 320kbps.