Tuesday 17 April 2007

Laxmikant Pyarelal: Loafer (1972)

Loafer

'Loafer' then, by request. It's one of those albums people kept telling me was highly sought after... I don't know, I didn't have any trouble finding a copy. Oh well, no matter. More importantly, is it any good?

I think so. Several nice songs (the percussion heavy 'Main Tere Ishq Men', 'Koi Shahri Babu' with a great string arrangment, the very cool 'Motiyon Ki Lari Hoon Main') and one awesome one upon which the album's popularity mainly rests: Jazzy (Cuban-style) 'Kahan Hai Woh Diwana' is brilliant, full of wonderful details - tuned drums, horns, organs, gunshots, surf-guitars... the works. And Asha Bhosle sounding sexy as ever.

Yup, definitely good.

Track listing:
1. Mahendra Kapoor: Duniya Men Tera Hai Bada Naam
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Main Tere Ishq Men
3. Asha Bhosle: Kahan Hai Woh Diwana
4. Asha Bhosle: Koi Shahri Babu
5. Mohd. Rafi: Aaj Mausam Bada Be-Iman Hai
6. Asha Bhosle: Motiyon Ki Lari Hoon Main

12 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this GEM. Yes, this is out of print & to make matters worse, they did a remake of this score thereby canceling out this as a reissue. Really. I adore this fine score.
    I hope you tried a few of those that I posted. JT

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think it is important to grade this music on its own terms. Forget all that Bollywood funk stuff. This music is its own universe. OK?
    When I go to eat Indian food I don't expect "Pad Thai".

    ReplyDelete
  3. There isn't one false note on this MASTERPIECE. I could listen to this 5 times in a row & never be bored.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I actually never judge music on it's own terms, I wouldn't know how to. I judge it on my terms, how I as a listener feel, react, and relate to it. That goes for all music, Hindi included. My posts and evaluations are totally subjective - I write it as I hear it - when I call something dull, or claim a song is wicked cool, that's my take. If it seems I'm judging some of these against the funk/westernized stuff (I'm not really), it's only because I, personally, prefer the latter. But it does please me that others are enjoying the ones that don't interest me as much - gives meaning to me actually posting them :-)

    PC x

    ReplyDelete
  5. hey, thanx mate. I'm into this kind of music ever since I visited India in 1995. This stuff is so hard to find so keep on posting.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Others are!! :) Motiyon ki lari and Aaj mausam do it for me (Tracks 6 & 5 resp).

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks alot!
    another fantastic record!

    love your blog

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi , thanks for all this great music you are sharing with us all, theres a lot of stuff here that i probably would have never heard had it not been for this blog. Keep doin your thing!

    P.s - do you have any babla?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Whew! I got 'em all. Every posting. Took awhile, but it was worth it. Looking forward to many more to come. This is one of the best blog projects on the web at the present time. Indian music has been spotty and hard to come by in the blogosphere until now. Highest kudos from all who love to expand their musical/cultural horizons. _EG

    ReplyDelete
  10. the vocals on Kahan Hai Woh Diwana are so amazing! Fantastic song...wow.

    ReplyDelete
  11. hi there who did the title music from
    this bollywood blockbusting movie i
    like that surf instro like guitarsound on this title track ?????


    Toine Willekens
    The Instrophile from the Netherlands

    ReplyDelete
  12. One time only reup: http://lix.in/-14483ef

    ReplyDelete