K. Babuji: Naya Bakra (1977)

'Naya Bakra' is kind of an odd soundtrack. On my first, cursory listen it didn't seem like much; nothing out of the ordinary. But then I began to notice things... moog stabs and other electronic effects unexpectedly popping up ('Rekha Tujhe Dekha', 'Naya Bakra'), certain melodies getting stuck in my head ('Aap Se Dil Mila', 'Nayi Nayi Jawani'), a discernible RD Burman influence ('Sajna Bin Tere'), and the album suddenly sounded a lot more interesting. I wanted to play it again, which is always a good sign.

Having listened to and written about Bollywood soundtracks for the better part of a decade, it is undeniably refreshing to once in a while come across a music director I haven't heard before. I really don't know a thing about K. Babuji though, and if the Internet is anything to go by, neither does anyone else. He doesn't appear to have been very prolific. But this wasn't his only soundtrack, and as good as it has turned out to be, nor was it his best...

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Rekha Tujhe Dekha
2. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Aap Se Dil Mila
3. Asha Bhosle & Amit Kumar: Chatura Sundari
4. Asha Bhosle: Pyar Ki Kitab
5. Amit Kumar, Bhupinder, Ganga Prasad & Omi: Naya Bakra
6. Asha Bhosle & Amit Kumar: Sajna Bin Tere
7. Asha Bhosle: Nayi Nayi Jawani