Kalyanji Anandji: Bairaag (1976)

'Bairaag'; a mid-seventies effort from Kalyanji Anandji... half of which won't be of much interest to non-Hindi speakers as it's all dialogue. The other half though, should be; it's all very good music. Three highlights on it for me: 'O Shankar Mere Kab Honge Darshan Tere (Part II)', traditional but with a kind of manic urgency that I love; 'Peete Peete Kabhi Kabhi Yun Jaam' which is nice and bouncy and has a cool accordian intro; and finally the absolutely killer 'Dance Music', prime cut Bolly-funk as we know and love it.

Nuff said.

Track listing:
1. Dialogues featuring Dilip Kumar in two roles as Kailash Nash Mathur and his son Sunjay
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Chhoti Si Umar Men Lag Gaya Rog
3. Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi & Chorus: Main Bairagi Nachoon Gaoon
4. Mahendra Kapoor & Chorus: O Shankar Mere Kab Honge Darshan Tere (Part I)
5. Dialogues featuring Dilip Kumar as Bhola and Saira Banu as Chhoti Malkin "Tara"
6. Dialogues featuring Dilip Kumar in two roles as Kailash Nash Mathur and Helen impersonating as Sonia
7. Asha Bhosle & Mohd. Rafi: Peete Peete Kabhi Kabhi Yun Jaam
8. Asha Bhosle & Mohd. Rafi: Sare Shaher Men Aap Sa Koi Nahion
9. Dance music
10. Mahendra Kapoor & Chorus: O Shankar Mere Kab Honge Darshan Tere (Part II)
11. Dialogues featuring the voices of the Police Inspector and Dilip Kumar in three roles, as Father Kailash Nash Mathur

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Salil Chowdhury: Mere Bhaiya / Usha Khanna: Honeymoon (1972)

This one came out of left field: Neither Salil Chowdhury nor Usha Khanna have ever struck me as the most exciting of Bollywood composers (although rumour has it that the latter made some good ones); then I stumbled over this two-fer real cheap, figured I'd have a listen... and guess what? It's excellent! It's an unassuming sleeve (unassuming? downright awful more like it), but inside lie a couple of ace songs.

The 'Mere Bhaiya' tracks are mostly traditional, but of the sort I like... 'Pyas Liye Manwa' for instance, very nice. 'Chanchal Man Par Chhaye' also has a certain charm to it, even though Chowdhury's attempt at rock 'n' roll isn't on par with, say Shankar Jaikishan at their best. It's the 'Honeymoon' side however that's the main point of interest, with two killer tunes included: 'Jeevan Hai Ek Sapna' gallops off like a Morricone western thing (whistling, guitar twangs and whip cracks) and has a great soaring melody, while 'Mere Pyase Man Ki Bahar' begins really lovely with the two singers calling to each other, then a cool shuffling beat starts up, and then the main melody which reminds me a bit of Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra's 'Summer Wine' - something that can only be a plus (that might be just me though), absolutely great stuff!

Yup, I really need to check up on Usha Khanna a bit more.

Track listing (1-4: Mera Bhaiya, 5-8: Honeymoon):
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Chhod Chali Ghar Tera
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Manna Dey: Marzi Hai Tumari
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Pyas Liye Manwa
4. Manna Dey: Chanchal Man Par Chhaye
5. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Mere Pyase Man Ki Bahar
6. Mohd. Rafi: O Sathi, O Sathi, O
7. Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Jeevan Hai Ek Sapna
8. Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Do Dil Mile

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Rahul Dev Burman: Aap Ki Kasam (1973)

Here's one I think is ace: It's hard to define though, just why I like 'Aap Ki Kasam' a lot, and not 'Mere Jeevan Saathi' (below) so much... maybe it's just a subjective thing, how you respond differently to different music. Or perhaps it's the quality of the songs?

Because on this, they're top notch: 'Suno Kaho, Suna Kaha' has a great melody, chirpy as spring, sounds like it could have been on 'Yaadon Ki Baaraat'. 'Jai Jai Shiv Shankar' tends to have me bouncing about the floor with its percussion drive and catchy tune. 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke' features Lata Mangeshkar duetting with a sitar, interspersed with subtle strings. And the three others, all on the likeable side. Recommended!

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar: Karvaten Badalte Rahe
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Suno Kaho, Suna Kaha
3. Kishore Kumar: Zindagi Ke Safar Men
4. Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar & Chorus: Jai Jai Shiv Shankar
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Chori Chori Chupke Chupke
6. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Paas Nahin Aana Bhool Nahin Jana

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Rahul Dev Burman: Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972)

"Mind melting jazzy psych-ish soundtrack by Burman"... is how 'Mere Jeevan Saathi' was once described on eBay. I'm not sure I get it though... I've played this a number of times, and apart from 'Kitne Sapne Kitne Arman' which I think is pretty cool, it's a soundtrack that fails to ignite me. I mean, it's not bad (hey, it's Burman after all), it just never really seems to get beyond OK. A few nice details in the instrumentation (opening seconds of 'Diwana Karke Chhodoge' for example), but that's it - the songs mostly leave me less than satisfied. A far cry from mind melting.

Am I wrong?

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar: Diwana Leke Aaya Hai
2. Asha Bhosle: Aao Na Gale Lag Jao Na
3. Kishore Kumar: Aao Kanhai Mere Dham
4. Kishore Kumar: Chala Jata Hoon
5. Kishore Kumar: O Mere Dil Ke Chain
6. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Diwana Karke Chhodoge
7. Kishore Kumar: Kitne Sapne Kitne Arman

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Khaiyyaam: Kabhi Kabhie (1975)

Getting back to regular posts though, here's 'Kabhi Kabhie' - a massively popular soundtrack from a most successful film. Hauntingly beautiful songs, exquisite arrangements, soulful lyrics, one of music director Khaiyyaam's finest achievements, a Bollywood masterpiece!

Or so everyone seems to be saying.

Me on the other hand (seldom willing to concede to popular opinion), I find this album very dull! Now I obviously can't comment on the lyrics or any poetry contained within - or how much of a selling point they might be - but come on, isn't the music on this just really bland? Yeah, maybe you can objectively describe the title track and a couple of others as pretty, sort of... but only in an overtly sentimental, saccharine and sleep inducing way though... no?

Tell me, what am I missing here? Why is this a classic?

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh: Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Khayal Aata Hai
2. Mukesh: Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shair Boon
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Tere Chehere Se Nazar Nahin Hatati
4. Amitabh Bachchan: Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Khayal Aata Hai
5. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Tera Phoolon Jaisa Rang
6. Mukesh: Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Khayal Aata Hai
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Mere Ghar Ayee Ek Nanhi Pari
8. Mukesh: Main Har Ek Pal Ka Shair Hoon
9. Lata Mangeshkar: Surkh Jodeki Yeh Jagmagahat
10. Kishore Kumar: Pyar Kar Liya To Kya

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Music From The Third Floor: Vol. 1

Taking stock, some 30 albums down the road... quite a bit of good stuff has been posted I think, some bloody marvelous in fact, and of course some not so good. So partly for my own sake, and partly because someone asked me to, I've compiled a best of/sampler kind of thing; 75 minutes worth of my favourites so far, totally subjective, making no pretence at being representative of anything other than my own preferences at this particular moment in time. Made to fit onto a CD-R.

I reckon this project will eventually result in 5 or 6 of these...

Track listing:
1. Title Music (from Teesri Manzil)
2. Hum Se Kar Le Dosti (from Chori Chori)
3. Gulabi Raat Gulabi (from Upkar)
4. Tere Bina Jiya (from Ghar)
5. Ankhen Meri Maikhana (from Sawan Bhadon)
6. O Babuaa Yeh Mahua (from Sadma)
7. Chura Liya Hai Tum Ne (from Yaadon Ki Baaraat)
8. Cabaret Dance Music (from Dharmatma)
9. Hello Darling (from Darling Darling)
10. Kiss Kiss (from Tumse Achha Kaun Hai)
11. Mere Jeevan Saathi (from Saathi)
12. Aplam Chaplam (from Azad)
13. Mera Naam Hai Shabnam (from Kati Patang)
14. Come Closer (from Kasam Paida Karnewale Ki)
15. Mera Raja Beta Boojhe Ek Paheli (from Anuraag)
16. Theme Music (from Anita)

Listen on Mixcloud.

Cover star: Asha Parekh (from 'Kati Patang', 1970)

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C. Ramchandra: Azad (1955/1978)

Another one, the last 50s soundtrack for the moment, here's 'Azad', scored by one Nahar Chitalkar (C.) Ramchandra. Several good tracks to be found; I'm really fond of the ones sung by 2 x Mangeshkar sisters, especially the joyous 'Aplam Chaplam'. And for those who think Western influences was something they first introduced to Hindi film music in the 60s (I used to), listen to the pretty 'Jari Jari O Kari Badariya', with an intro sounding as if it belonged in a South American cantina. A soundtrack definitely worth checking out.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Na Bole Na Bole
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Jari Jari O Kari Badariya
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Usha Mangeshkar: Aplam Chaplam
4. Raghunath Jadhav & Party: Marna Bhi Mohabbat Men (Qawwali)
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Dekho Ji Bahar Aai
6. Lata Mangeshkar & Chitalkar: Kitna Haseen Hai Mausam
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Kitni Jawan Hai Raat
8. Lata Mangeshkar & Usha Mangeshkar: O Balliye Balliye
9. Lata Mangeshkar: Kabhi Khamosh

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Naushad: Deedar (1951/1975)

More of the same. The songs on Naushad's 'Deedar' aren't quite as memorable as on some of his more famous scores... but still, a pleasant enough soundtrack, recorded in the early 50s. 'Bachpan Ke Din' and 'Le Ja Meri Duaen' are my favourites from this I think.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Shamshad Begum: Bachpan Ke Din
2. Mohd. Rafi: Hue Ham Jinke Liye Barbad
3. Shamshad Begum: Chaman Men Rah Ke Virana
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Le Ja Meri Duaen
5. Durrani & Shamshad Begum: Nazar Phero Na Ham Se
6. Mohd. Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar: Dekh Liya Main Ne
7. Mohd. Rafi: Meri Kahani Bhoolne Wale
8. Lata Mangeshkar: Too Kaun Hai Mera
9. Mohd. Rafi: Nasib Dar Pe Tere
10. Lata Mangeshkar: Duniya Ne Teri Duniya Wale

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Chitragupta: Bhabhi (1957/1978)

A change of era, and a change of pace... I've seldom consciously searched for Bollywood soundtracks from before the introduction of (modern) Western elements - mainly because it's the resulting mix of that which appeals to me most - but sometimes sellers were willing to throw some in for a buck or two a piece, and I was usually game. Of which I'm glad, because there really is some good stuff to be found from the 50s. 'Bhabhi' for instance, while hardly the most interesting score from the period, has a certain nostalgic feel to it... songs such as 'Kare Kare Badra' and 'Chhupa Kar Meri Ankhon Ko' exude an old world charm that I kind of like. Well worth a listen I think.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Chali Chali Re Patang
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Kare Kare Badra
3. Mohd. Rafi: Jawan Ho Ya Budhiya
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Tie Laga Ke
5. Mohd. Rafi: Chal Ud Jare Panchhi
6. Mohd. Rafi: Chal Ud Jare Panchhi
7. Mohd. Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar: Chhupa Kar Meri Ankhon Ko
8. Lata Mangeshkar: Jare Jadoogar
9. Manna Dey & Balbir: Nautanki 'Laila Majnu'

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Rahul Dev Burman: Adhikar (1971) / Rani Mera Nam (1972)

By popular demand (well, one request); a couple of R.D. Burman EPs. 'Adhikar' has a quite good beat-tinged number in 'Fashion Ki Diwani', with the remaining tracks more traditional - nice but nothing spectacular. 'Rani Mera Nam' - the film something of a rarity I think, looking like the sort of sleazy exploitation flick I'd probably love to see - is more pleasing. 'Andhera' is the highlight; a great nightclub number with an uptempo intro and a cool jazzy feel throughout. 'Hum Bhi Jhoote' is more poppy, full of wonderful Burman trademark details. And there are lovely bouncy rhythms on the last two as well.

BTW, I think the songs on these EPs are shortened - the fadeouts seem to be coming a lot sooner than they're supposed to. Which is a shame...

Track listing, 'Adhikar':
1. Manna Dey: Fashion Ki Diwani
2. Asha Bhosle: Tum To Ho Sab Ke Rakhwale
3. Mohd. Rafi: Rekha O Rekha
4. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Koyi Mane Ya Na Mane

Track listing, 'Rani Mera Nam':
1. Asha Bhosle: Andhera
2. Asha Bhosle & Manna Dey: Sare Jag Se
3. Asha Bhosle: Ruk Ja
4. Asha Bhosle: Hum Bhi Jhoote

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Shankar Jaikishan: Tumse Achha Kaun Hai (1969/1978)

Moving backwards in time again, here's a great Shankar Jaikishan score. 'Tumse Achha Kaun Hai' [review] (1969; soundtrack first released in 1978 though) is an album of two halves - side 1 all sweetness and light, gorgeous melodies, check out 'Janam Janam Ka Saath Hai' and the delightful 'Rangat Teri Surat Si' - and full on Masala Beat when flipping the record over... if you like 'Jan Pahechan Ho' (the one from 'Ghost World'), you're gonna love Mohd. Rafi's similarly flavoured 'Kiss Kiss'. Great fun!

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi: Ganga Meri Maan Ka Naam
2. Mohd. Rafi: Janam Janam Ka Saath Hai
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Rangat Teri Surat Si
4. Mohd. Rafi: Kiss Kiss
5. Mohd. Rafi & Sharda: Pyar Ka Lekar Ukar Khatola
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Mujhe Kuchh Hota Hai
7. Mohd. Rafi: Tumse Achha Kaun Hai

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Pictures!

I've decided it would be nice to make a gallery of sorts, collecting all the (lovely) album covers I'm posting in one place... so I've set up a Flickr page in order to display them. What you'll find there at any given time, are the albums currently on the blog... in the order they're being posted, but also as sets where they'll be listed chronologically by composer. And as an added bonus, in the event I already know what I'm going to post next (I don't always) and I've done the scanning, you'll get a sneak peek at coming attractions. Sound good?

Oh, and if any of you have Flickr accounts of your own, feel free to add this one to your contacts.

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Ilaiyaraaja: Sadma (1983)

The last of this 80s batch is by Ilaiyaraaja, whom I know very little about. I'd like to find out though, because if the two stand-out tracks on 'Sadma' are anything to go by, his stuff is something worth checking out. 'Yeh Hawa Yey Fiza' has a beautiful acoustic guitar and flute intro, followed by wordless vocals one could easily imagine Edda dell’Orso doing had this been an Italian soundtrack, before turning into a great piece of percussion-heavy orchestral funk. 'O Babuaa Yeh Mahua', one of my favourite 80s soundtrack songs, also begins Italian sounding (the harpischord I suppose), has an ingenious staccato yet smooth rhythm, sax solos, and a super cool melody. Magic! If I didn't already have this album, I'd be willing to shell out quite a bit for these two tracks alone.

BTW, the alternate spelling of Asha's last name is something I've seen on occasion, especially on movie credits - can anyone explain to me what that's about?

Track listing:
1. Suresh Wadkar: Aye Zindagi Gale Lagaa Le
2. Asha Bhonsle: O Babuaa Yeh Mahua
3. Yesudas: Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein (Happy)
4. Kamal Haasan & Sridevi: Ek Dafa Ek Jungle That
5. Asha Bhonsle, Suresh Wadkar & chorus: Yeh Hawa Yey Fiza
6. Yesudas: Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein

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Bappi Lahiri: Kasam Paida Karnewale Ki (1984)

Bappi Lahiri: Very popular among DJ-types a while back, possibly he still is... me, I'm not a big fan. Most of what I've heard is dull, tacky to the extreme, his songs often bland rip-offs from other people's hits. It's with good reason he's referred to as 'The King of Copy'. Some of his soundtracks used to fetch ridiculous sums on eBay; 'Gun Master G-9 Surakksha', 'Jyoti' and 'Disco Dancer' to name a few... they might be among the better ones, I wouldn't know. A few of his are OK though, like 'Kasam Paida Karnewale Ki'.

Hardly a trace of traditional Indian sounds on this... 'Dance Dance' is the kind of 80s disco you either love or hate (or say you hate but secretly love), 'Jeena Bhi Kya Hai Jeena' is in fact quite good despite (or because of) its shameless steal from 'Billie Jean', and the anthemic title track has its funky moments. But my favourite is 'Come Closer' (now why isn't that on YouTube?), a gorgeous slowburning lounge-funk number that I once saw described as "Donna Summer meets Ravi Shankar". Sweet!

Track listing:
1. Salma Agha: Dance Dance
2. Salma Agha & Bappi Lahiri: Jeena Bhi Kya Hai Jeena - Part I
3. Salma Agha: Come Closer
4. Vijay Benedict: Kasam Paida Karnewale Ki
5. Salma Agha & Bappi Lahiri: Jeena Bhi Kya Hai Jeena - Part II
6. Salma Agha & Bappi Lahiri: Dance Dance

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Rahul Dev Burman: Saagar (1984)

A trio of soundtracks from the mid-80s coming up, beginning with the most recent R.D. Burman album I own. Apparently 'Saagar' is considered something of a classic... I wouldn't go that far. It contains a few half decent tracks along with at least one that makes me cringe a bit... but what does makes it worthwhile is the wonderful, seductively sexy (check the video for visual proof) 'Jaane Do Naa'. That, and the cover image of beautiful Dimple Kapadia.

I don't actually have many Hindi records made after 1980, as I find most of them lack the imagination and verve present on so many from the previous decade-and-a-half. Even people like Burman and Kalyanji Anandji kind of lost it I think... but maybe that's just me... I'll let the floor decide. There are exceptions though, naturally, as you'll see shortly.

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle & S.P. Balasubrahmanyam: O Maria
2. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar: Saagar Kinare
3. S.P. Balasubrahmanyam: Sach Mere Yaar Hai
4. Kishore Kumar: Sagar Jaisi Aankhonwali
5. Asha Bhosle & Shailendra Singh: Jaane Do Naa
6. Kishore Kumar & S.P. Balasubrahmanyam: Yunhi Gate Raho
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Saagar Kinare

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S.D. Burman: Abhimaan (1973)

'Abhimaan', a moderately charming Burman Sr. score. The songs are quite pretty and pleasant I guess, 'Meet Na Mila Re Man Ka' probably the best one, but it's not an album I'm able to get very excited about. Hope some of you like it though.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina
2. Kishore Kumar: Meet Na Mila Re Man Ka
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Ab To Hai Tum Se
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Teri Bindiya Re
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Piya Bina Piya Bina
6. Lata Mangeshkar & Manhar: Loot Koi Man Ka Nagar
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Nadiya Kinare

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Kalyanji Anandji: Johny Mera Naam (1970)

Super cool modish cover art, a great 'Title Music', two nice (if unspectacular) duets in 'O Mere Raja' and 'Pal Bhar Ke Liye', the atmospheric 'Babul Pyare', the loungy 'Husn Ke Lakhon Rang'... 'Johny Mera Naam' never used to be among my favourite Bollywood soundtracks, but after listening to it now I think it might be growing on me.

Track listing:
1. Title Music
2. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: O Mere Raja
3. Kishore Kumar & Usha Khanna: Pal Bhar Ke Liye
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Mose Mora Shyam Rootha
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Babul Pyare
6. Kishore Kumar: Nafrat Karne Walon Ke
7. Asha Bhosle: Husn Ke Lakhon Rang
8. Instrumental Music

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Anita (1967)

A while back I promised to post a decent Laxmikant Pyarelal album; here's one that is such and more so. Technically this isn't my record as I bought it for and gave it to my girlfriend (guess what her name is), but she wasn't really into it so it ended up in my box - she doesn't mind though. Anyway, 'Anita'; a horror film I think, with a soundtrack to match. Lots of atmospheric things going on throughout, and a couple of great songs. Like the lovely Latin flavoured 'Karib Aa' and the more frantic 'Pichhware Budha Khansta'. There's plenty of dialogue on here as well... is it just me, or does the guy sound really sleazy? What puts this album on my list of favourites however are the two instrumentals - spooky bossa beats, creepy organs and massive John Barry-esque orchestrations - the second one in particular is truly amazing.

I wanna see this film!

Track listing:
1. Mukesh: Gore Gore Chand Se Mukh Pe
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Samne Mere Sanwariya
3. Mukesh: Tum Bin Jeevan
4. Title Music
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Pichhware Budha Khansta
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Karib Aa
7. Lata Mangeshkar & Usha Mangeshkar: Hai Nazar Ka Ishara
8. Theme Music

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