Laxmikant Pyarelal: Night In London (1967)

For reasons now forgotten it took me a long time to decide 'Night In London' would be a worthwhile soundtrack to acquire, and subsequently an even longer time to actually locate a copy. The cost of dithering; man, some of these original pressings are pricey. I had to make do with one of somewhat dubious origin.

It's a wonderful score from Laxmikant Pyarelal though, from its exuberant, catchy title tune, through to the final rock'n'roll infused song to a dog (beginning with a bark) 'O Mere Yaar Tomi'. In between we're treated to a sweet, jazzy stroll through the English capital (and beyond) in 'Nazar Na Lag Jaye' before heading to Hong Kong for the rather dreamy 'Ba Hosh-O-Hawas'. And to top it all, the dazzling, emotion-charged, super-seductive cabaret number 'Mera Naam Hai Jameela'. Starring Helen. That riff from 1:45 onwards really gets stuck in your head, doesn't it?

Helen.... swoon.

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Night In London
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Mera Naam Hai Jameela
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Baagh Men Phool
4. Mohd. Rafi: Nazar Na Lag Jaye
5. Mohd. Rafi: Ba Hosh-O-Hawas
6. Mahendra Kapoor & Lata Mangeshkar: Sun Ai Bahar-E-Husn
7. Mohd. Rafi: O Mere Yaar Tomi


If the above post gave you some joy or value, if you've ever been inspired by the contents of this blog, please consider leaving a tip. In addition to showing your support, you could gain access to currently unavailable downloads. Or, maybe buy a copy of MFT3F's unique guide to 100 Bollywood Soundtracks Every Music Lover Ought To Hear. Either way, you'll be letting me know the work I've put into this matters to you, and you'll be motivating me to continue.

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Roop Tera Mastana (1971)

Quite a few vintage Bollywood soundtracks (like the ones on my want list) are becoming increasingly hard to find for less than silly money, so I was particularly pleased to get this nice copy of 'Roop Tera Mastana' from someone not out to fleece his customers. It's a great score too; a diverse collection of excellent songs on which Laxmikant Pyarelal's flair for dramatic arrangements is evident throughout.

Lovely opener 'Akash Pe Do Tare' is soulful and soaring; 'Haseen Dildruba' sounds exotic (looks erotic) and slightly dangerous. 'Ban Ke Than Ke' is more traditional yet poppy and catchy; 'Dil Ke Baten' is packed with all sorts of emotions and has a bit of a groove going on. It's my favourite track here, along with cool, jazzy 'Dekh Lo Woh Ghata Chand Par'.

I believe the film's title means "your beauty is intoxicating". I'm pretty sure many will be familiar with the fab S.D. Burman song of the same name.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Mahendra Kapoor: Akash Pe Do Tare
2. Mohd. Rafi: Haseen Dilruba
3. Mohd. Rafi: Buddhe Pe Aa Gayee Jawani
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Dil Ke Baten
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Ban Ke Than Ke
6. Mohd. Rafi: Bade Bewafa
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Dekh Lo Woh Ghata Chand Par


If the above post gave you some joy or value, if you've ever been inspired by the contents of this blog, please consider leaving a tip. In addition to showing your support, you could gain access to currently unavailable downloads. Or why not buy a copy of MFT3F's unique guide to 100 Bollywood Soundtracks Every Music Lover Ought To Hear? Either way, you'll be letting me know the work I've put into this matters to you, and you'll be motivating me to continue.

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Mera Jawaab (1984)

A blog reader first made me aware of 'Mera Jawaab', a few years ago now. I had to admit I'd never heard of this particular Laxmikant Pyarelal score, and considering the vintage I wasn't really expecting to like it should I at some point come across a copy. Now that I have, I find it... well not entirely great but one that has its moments.

Twice-featured 'Mere Liye Zindagi' might be the soundtrack's best known song. The initial duet has a pleasant poppy feel (I like the guitar picking; the easy listening strings are a bit much), while Anuradha's solo version is slower, more subtly arranged. I prefer the latter. I'm also quite partial to 'Aa Baitha Hoon Dar Pe Tere', how its intro seamlessly segues from electro-funk into a traditional sounding Indian groove and how those forms meld throughout the track. Catchy and danceable. Even more so is 'Main Hoon Hasina', an almost anthemic dance floor stomper that's sort of disco but not in any sense western ears will be used to. My favourite here.

'Main Usse Itna Pyar Karta' has some nice instrumental bits, but as a whole it doesn't do a lot for me. And I'm not very fond of Manhar's voice to be honest.

Track listing:
1. Manhar & Anuradha: Mere Liye Zindagi
2. Manhar, Anuradha & Chorus: Aa Baitha Hoon Dar Pe Tere
3. Manhar & Anuradha: Main Usse Itna Pyar Karta
4. Anuradha: Mere Liye Zindagi
5. Alka Yagnik & Laxmikant: Main Hoon Hasina


If the above post gave you some joy or value, if you've ever been inspired by the contents of this blog, please consider leaving a tip. In addition to showing your support, you could gain access to currently unavailable downloads. Or, maybe buy a copy of MFT3F's unique guide to 100 Bollywood Soundtracks Every Music Lover Ought To Hear. Either way, you'll be letting me know the work I've put into this matters to you, and you'll be motivating me to continue.

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969)

Sometimes it takes that one extra listen. See, I was about ready to categorize 'Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke' as another of those one-good-song-and-not much-else-on-it soundtracks that I arguably own too many of, when I suddenly found myself rather liking it more. Take the title track... traditional sounding, very percussive, didn't really fancy the melody much at first but then it slowly snuck itself into my head – it's actually quite catchy – at which point I started to notice a bunch of cool instrumental details as well. So yeah, it's good. As are Mohd. Rafi's equally drummy (but slower) 'Yeh Shama To Jali' and 'Bura Mat Suno'; they're growing on me too. And so is his 'Majhi Chal'; pastorally sweet and romantic and driven by a compelling soft groove.

My favourite is still that initial one song though, Asha Bhosle's superb cabaret number 'Main Ek Haseena'. Happy, boisterous, featuring horns, great guitar bits and a killer beat, spiritedly performed on screen by Laxmi Chhaya, the next best thing to Helen. The soundtrack would have been worthwhile just for that.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi & Chorus: Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke
2. Mohd. Rafi: Yeh Shama To Jali
3. Asha Bhosle: Main Ek Haseena
4. Mohd. Rafi & Chorus: Majhi Chal
5. Mohd. Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar: Saathiya Nahin Jaana
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Rama Duhai
7. Mohd. Rafi: Bura Mat Suno


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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Anhonee (1973) / Aaj Ka Mahatma (1975)

Two soundtracks that to the best of my knowledge were never released on LP, only as EPs. 'Anhonee' is the better of the pair. As is kind of expected from Laxmikant Pyarelal the songs are loud and dramatic, if not particularly memorable, most of them. 'Main To Ek Pagal' and 'Budhdhoo Pad Gaya Palle' aren’t bad, at least the instrumental parts, and they might conceivably grow on me over time. They will however pale drastically against what does in fact make this record essential, Asha Bhosle’s amazing drunk song 'Hangama Ho Gaya'. A fantastic track containing garage punk elements, jazz elements, psych elements… intoxicating, headbanging stuff. Some of you will have heard it on one of MFT3F’s special mixtapes; it was also remade as recently as 2014.



Unfortunately I find all of 'Aaj Ka Maratma' somewhat dull. 'Chandni Chand Se Hoti Hai' is OK I guess. It baffles me sometimes that there are so many Laxmikant Pyarelal made between 1972 and 1974 that I love, one fantastic score after another, but after that they only shone intermittently. Or is that just me?

Track listing, 'Anhonee':
1. Asha Bhosle: Balma Hamaar
2. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Main To Ek Pagal
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Budhdhoo Pad Gaya Palle
4. Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Hangama Ho Gaya

Track listing, 'Aaj Ka Mahatma'
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Kumda Babnu Ashiq Jhala
2. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Chandni Chand Se Hoti Hai
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Tum Aese Kahan Tak Chhupo Ge
4. Kishore Kumar: Ahe Woh Bhi Tha Kya Zamana


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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Kacha Chor / Pratiggya (1975)

I don't think 1975 was Laxmikant Pyarelal's finest year (1972-74 was their prime in my opinion), but I came across this cheaply priced two-fer by them, sporting a cover I found appealing, so I took a chance on it anyway, despite not having heard of it before.

'Kacha Chor' (the film apparently not released until 1977) begins on a high note. Cabaret number 'Pahle Ham Muskurae' is an excellent slice of orchestral exoticism with a good groove and the best thing on side one's predominately traditional and percussion heavy score. The remaining three tracks are OK in a rhythmic sense but hardly anything that sticks in the mind.

I prefer 'Pratiggya' [review]. Its music has much of the same quality as above, but 'Morni Se Morni' and 'Pardesi Aaya Des Men' are songs I'm more likely to return to. And I'm quite enamored with 'Uth Neend Se Mirzia Jaag Ja', an unusual sounding track that combines a strange and haunting melody with a non-stop train-wheel drumbeat.

Track listing, 'Kacha Chor':
1. Asha Bhosle: Pahle Ham Muskurae
2. Asha Bhosle & Mahendra Kapoor: Main Hoon Kacha Chor
3. Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar: Gharibon Se Pyar Kar Le
4. Asha Bhosle & Usha Mangeshkar: Dhola Dhola

Track listing, 'Pratiggya':
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Morni Se Morni
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Pardesi Aaya Des Men
7. Mohd. Rafi: Main Jat Yamla Pagla
8. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Uth Neend Se Mirzia Jaag Ja

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Khilona (1970)

A hunch that it wan't the most interesting of soundtracks is the reason I've passed on several copies of Laxmikant Pyarelal's 'Khilona' over the years. Finding a real cheap one I finally succumbed, but I have to admit my suspicions were confirmed.

Ok, it has 'Roz Roz Roz' which to be fair is a pretty cool jazzy rock 'n' roll number and the track that made me consider the album at all. It sounds like something Shankar Jaikishan could have done; good, upbeat fun, though not as memorable as either composing duo's best stuff. Apart from that there isn't anything here I find noteworthy. 'Khilona Jan Kar' is pleasantly atmospheric and might be growing on me, the rest, while not necessarily bad, fails to really grab me.

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi: Khilona Jan Kar
2. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Main Sharabi Nahin
3. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Roz Roz Roz
4. Mohd. Rafi: Khush Rahe Too Sada
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Sanam Too Bewafa
6. Manna Dey & Chorus: Yeh Natak Kavi

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Kala Dhanda Goray Log (1985)

You don't generally compare Laxmikant Pyarelal to Bappi Lahiri, yet 'Kala Dhanda Goray Log' reminds me, at least in part, of the previous score posted. It isn't a career highlight – the mid-1980s was hardly the best period for great soundtracks – but there are a few good moments on it.

It's quite percussive, persistently so on 'Ye Dastoor Hai Hazoor Kisi Ka Kya Qasoor' and 'Jab Jab Kisi Ladke Ko Kisi Ladki'. Waltz-timed 'Bul Bul Yeh Desh Paraya Hai' has a pleasant melody and loud drums; 'Allah Hoo Allah Hoo' comes with a Middle-Eastern feel. But the real highlight is 'Sha Shangrila Sha Shangrila' with its booming disco beat, electro effects and Annette Pinto's powerhouse vocals. An excellent track, which I wish had been a bit longer.

Track listing:
1. S. Janaki: Ye Dastoor Hai Hazoor Kisi Ka Kya Qasoor
2. Annette: Sha Shangrila Sha Shangrila
3. Shabbir Kumar: Bul Bul Yeh Desh Paraya Hai
4. Master Aziz & Chorus: Allah Hoo Allah Hoo
5. Anuradha Paudwal & Shabbir Kumar: Jab Jab Kisi Ladke Ko Kisi Ladki

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Aas Paas (1980)

The very first time I posted a Laxmikant Pyarelal soundtrack, I described the duo as "makers of many a fine score... and an equal number of not so fine". I reckon I've done pretty OK in locating and posting soundtracks belonging to the former category, and I hope a lot of you will find that 'Aas Paas' is one of them. For to be honest, most of it isn't for me. Most of it.

Songs seem to meander pleasantly along, without there being anything to really grab hold of. Even cabaret number 'Main Phool Bechti Hoon' sounds unassuming. 'Too Kahin Aas Paas Hai Dost' was apparently the last thing Mohd. Rafi did; his voice is as lovely as ever but it's hardly his most memorable moment. What is memorable though is 'Ham Ko Bhi Ghamne Mara', a complexly and exquisitely arranged psych-tinged Lata Mangeshkar ballad; conjuring up images of Spanish cantinas or Middle-Eastern bazaars, or both. It's quite hypnotic, and the album's undisputed highlight.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Dariya Men Phenk Do Chabi
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Main Phool Bechti Hoon
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Bhare Bazaar Men
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Ham Ko Bhi Ghamne Mara
5. Mohd. Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar: Shahar Men Charcha Hai
6. Mohd. Rafi: Too Kahin Aas Paas Hai Dost

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Anurodh (1976)

I'm on the fence about 'Anurodh'. Made during what I consider Laxmikant Pyarelal's least interesting couple of years (based on the stuff I've heard), it's the sort of soundtrack I have trouble qualifying. On the one hand I find every single melody forgettable (I've played the record four or five times and I'm unable to recall any of them), on the other hand I sort of appreciate its sparse arrangements including quite a few nice little instrumental details scattered throughout. Like the cool piano solo midway through 'Aapke Anurodh Pe', the atmospheric intro to 'Mere Dil Ne Tarap Ke' as well as a couple of pizzicato strings and saxophone interludes, and the variety of breaks on 'Aate Jaate Khoobsoorat' (accordion, mandolin, glockenspiel). The latter song also has a pleasant poppy groove and is the track I'd be most likely to return to. Otherwise this is an album probably not so much for me… one to find bits to sample from, if I'd been in the sampling business. Which I'm not.

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar: Aapke Anurodh Pe
2. Kishore Kumar: Mere Dil Ne Tarap Ke
3. Manna Dey & Chorus: Tum Besahara Ho (Sad)
4. Kishore Kumar: Aate Jaate Khoobsoorat
5. Manna Dey & Chorus: Tum Besahara Ho (Happy)
6. Kishore Kumar: Na Hansna Mere Gham Pe

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Karz (1980) / Iqbal Qureshi: Bombay By Nite (1970/1977)

I wouldn't normally post a soundtrack EP when I've previously posted the long playing counterpart (only the other way around) but this one is special. 'Karz' contains a track that for whatever reason didn't make it onto the LP, and what a track it is. 'Theme Music' is an exquisite instrumental, slow-burning and sexy with a distinct European sound, reminiscent of the themes Ennio Morricone made for Italian (s)exploitation movies in the 1970s. I adore it! Considering the EP also includes the two best songs from the soundtrack, the fantastic 'Om Shanti Om' in a long (if not entirely complete) version even, there's a case to be made for it being the release you primarily need.



It's only been a few months since I posted the original 'Bombay By Nite' EP; this is the subsequent one, released years later, as mentioned in the earlier post. To be honest it's very shabby. I've often bemoaned how they tended to truncate tracks for EP versions of Bollywood soundtracks; here they've taken that practise to a new low. Not content with fading out songs long before they end, they also start them anything from 20-40 seconds in; on 'Kaun Si Manzil Pe' it sounds so amateurishly random I thought it was the record skipping. And while I'm sort of glad to have the joyous 'Yeh Sham Mehkati Sham' on record, I'm gutted it's lacking its brilliant intro. Bah! (The video versions are more complete.)

Maybe I should look for the 78 rpms...

Track listing, 'Karz':
1. Kishore Kumar & Chorus: Om Shanti Om
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Main Solah Baras Ki
3. Theme Music

Track listing, 'Bombay By Nite':
1. Mukesh: Baharon Ne Kiye Sajde
2. Suman Kalyanpur: Kaun Si Manzil Pe
3. Kishore Kumar & Sulakshana Pandit: Dheere Dheere Dhal Na Jaye
4. Krishna Shinde: Yeh Sham Mehkati Sham

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Dil Aur Deewaar (1979)

'Dil Aur Deewaar' contains two songs I like; one good and one fantastic. 'Dhire Dhire Hole Hole' (along with the film's title music which is essentially the instrumental version) is a top pop song with a very catchy, beautiful soaring melody. (What to me at least sound like glitches at 2.01 and 3.56 aren't by the way; I had to double check and they're also in the clip.) The breathtaking 'Yeh Dhuaan' is one of Laxmikant Pyarelal's funkiest tracks; hearing it uncredited you'd be forgiven for thinking it might be Kalyanji Anandji who were responsible. It's chock-full of musical goodness; it's hot, cool, dramatic, raw, raunchy, sexy, sultry; it's superb!

The rest doesn't do a lot for me I'm afraid. The cover art raises a few questions though...

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar: Dhire Dhire Hole Hole
2. Asha Bhosle: Yeh Dhuaan
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Asha Bhosle: Tod De Too Is Bandhan Ko
4. Title Music
5. Kishore Kumar: Mujhse Poochhe
6. Mohd. Rafi: Logon Yeh
7. Mohd. Rafi & Chorus: Wo Shola Badan

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Mere Sajana (1975)

A comparatively unsung Laxmikant Pyarelal score; I don't think 'Mere Sajana' was on anyone's radar when I first started buying Bollywood vinyl.

For me, the highlight on a Hindi soundtrack will often be the Asha Bhosle-sung (and Helen-performed on screen) nightclub number, but not so here. 'Tumhari Aankh Se Joda' is OK, and certainly nice to look at, but somewhat unremarkable. Instead it's Lata Mangeshkar's songs that stand out; 'Ye Kaun Hansa' with its lovely melody, rollicking beat and her slightly maniacal giggling being my favourite. 'Pani Ki Boond' and 'Mere Sajana Teri' are both good too, the first upbeat and playful, the second slower; trippy almost. And then there's Kishore Kumar's contribution 'Main Ne Kuchh Khoya Hai' with it's quirky rhythm and luscious instrumental details... all in all this is an excellent album.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Yeh Kaun Hansa
2. Asha Bhosle: Tumhari Aankh Se Joda
3. Kishore Kumar: Main Ne Kuchh Khoya Hai
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Pani Ki Boond
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Mere Sajana Teri

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Jaani Dushman (1978)

I really want to like 'Jaani Dushman' [review]. And I've played this LP a lot more times than I usually afford a record before blogging about it. Why? It's Laxmikant Pyarelal scoring a horror film; that should, in my mind, signify quality. And does it? I'm not entirely convinced.

The music sounds sumptuous, from start to finish, filled with lovely, lush orchestrations. So what's missing? Drama perhaps; something (other than the great artwork) to suggest that this is a horror film. Not the clichéd big loud kettledrums, screaching violins and that sort of thing, but a sense of foreboding, tension… what Laxmikant Pyarelal so often did so well. And more memorable songs. 'Aasi Waise Na', 'Chalo Re Doli' and 'Sara Rishte' (my favourite) all make for pleasant listening, but I don't find any of them particularly attention-grabbing.

A few more listens then?

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Sare Rishte
2. Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor & Chorus: Are Sun Bhai
3. Asha Bhosle & Shatrughan Sinha: Aasi Waise Na
4. Kishore Kumar & Anuradha: O Meri Jaan
5. Mohd. Rafi, Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Tere Hathon Men
6. Mohd. Rafi: Chalo Re Doli

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Keemat (1972) / Ravi: Vandana (1974)

Here are a couple of early 1970s EPs, the first of which is a slightly rubbish (noisy) pressing. Luckily, 'Keemat' [review] [2] isn't the most essential record I've ever posted. Don't get me wrong, it's nice, and it's hard not to be charmed by songs such as 'Rang Roop Ka Yeh Bazar Hai' and 'Main Ne To Pani Piya Tha' (I love Asha's yelps on the latter), but it doesn't excite me quite as much as many Laxmikant Pyarelal soundtracks a year or two down the line would do.

Or maybe it's just that it pales when compared to 'Vandana'.



I have over the years heard one or two Ravi songs that I've fancied but without really being convinced that he's a music director for me. So when I stumbled over 'Sochta Hai Kya' on YouTube and liked that a lot (who wouldn't? It's bright and breezy, super charming, summery folk-pop to die for), I decided to look for the soundtrack it was from, without expecting too much from the rest of it. Imagine my surprise in finding out it's not even the score's best song.

'Rut Hai Jawan' (which is) is essentially a remake of the Mexican standard 'Bésame Mucho'. Lovely as that song is, in many of its countless versions, I can't recall last I heard one I've liked as much as this. Ravi has rewritten the melody just enough to actually possibly improve it, given it a cool Merseybeat-ish backbeat (there are also versions of the song recorded by the early Beatles) and turned it into a superbly catchy pop song that I often find myself humming for hours on end. And, unusually for an EP, we get the full 6 and a half minutes.

So what are the chances the record's third and final track is going to be any good? Guess what, 'Too Jo Bhi De' is gorgeous. Wow.

I've seen but been unable to obtain a second EP containing more songs from the film (I'm unaware of any LP having been released); while I fear it might not be quite as good I'd still like to get my hands on a copy eventually.

Track listing, 'Keemat':
1. Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Rang Roop Ka Yeh Bazar Hai
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Main Ne Poochha Meri Shadi Kab Hogi
3. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar: Maaf Karo Baba
4. Asha Bhosle: Main Ne To Pani Piya Tha

Track listing, 'Vandana':
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Rut Hai Jawan
2. Asha Bhosle: Sochta Hai Kya
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Too Jo Bhi De

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Jaal (1966) / Iqbal Qureshi: Bombay By Nite (1970)

If you ask me, nobody in Bollywood did suspense in music better than Laxmikant Pyarelal. So it comes as no surprise that they're the ones responsible for the score to 'Jaal' [review], described by some as a Hitchcockian thriller. That said, these aren't their most dramatic of songs, even though you can hear traces of what the pair were capable of on the intro to Mohd. Rafi's 'Akela Joon Mai'. It's a gorgeous, hypnotic track, the best thing on the record. Lata Mangeshkar's 'Mere Zindagi Ke' and 'Rokna Hai Agar' are pretty too, if not quite as gripping. But considering I primarily bought this EP for its cool sleeve, I have no complaints.



Compared to Laxmikant Pyarelal, Iqbal Qureshi is a fairly unsung music director. Despite him being responsible for at least a dozen scores (granted, that's not very prolific by Bollywood standards) I can't remember ever having seen his name before. Which is a shame, at least if his work on 'Bombay By Nite' is anything to go by.

By all accounts an obscure film; it seems to have been made around 1970 (that's when this EP came out) but not released until much later (1976 or 1979; opinions differ). By then, songs such as 'Dheere Dheere' and 'Husn-E-Baharan Tauba' may have sounded a bit dated. To me they're great though; happy, lively and packed with fun. There's also a deliciously cool cabaret number that unfortunately isn't on the record, but – and this is where things get confusing – may be on one of three 78 RPMs (in the 1970s!), or on a second EP that possibly only saw the light of day in 1977. I'd love to see track listings for all of them.

A big thank you to long time MFT3F reader Deewani for invaluable input on this one.

Track listing, 'Jaal':
1. Mohd. Rafi: Akela Joon Mai
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Mere Zindagi Ke
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Rokna Hai Agar
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Mizaj Girami

Track listing, 'Bombay By Nite':
1. Kishore Kumar & Sulakshana Pandit: Dheere Dheere
2. Sharda & Chorus: Husn-E-Baharan Tauba
3. Mukesh: Baharon Ne Kiye Sajde
4. Mahendra Kapoor, Krishna Kalle, Sharda & Chorus: Khubsurat Badan

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Prem Shastra (1974)

As a rule, Laxmikant Pyarelal soundtracks from 1973-74 are worth paying attention to. 'Prem Shastra' is no exception. Perhaps not among their very best scores, it nevertheless has some fine moments. There's an odd kind of country & western feel to a few of the songs; on the charming 'Tip Tip Tip' (I love the Hawaiian guitar solo and percussion break) and the cool 'Main Sharaab Pee Raha Hoon' (Peggy Lee's 'Fever' also springs to mind) especially. 'Main Hoon Dekhane Ki Cheez' is several songs in one, all of them good; I'm additionally fond of its loungy instrumental interludes (and, admittedly, Bindu in the movie clip). Rounding things off, there's a gorgeously atmospheric title theme tune. Can't ask for much more.

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Mujhe Pyaar Kar
2. Asha Bhosle: Tip Tip Tip
3. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Naam Hamara Mashahoor Ho Gaya
4. Kishore Kumar: Main Sharaab Pee Raha Hoon
5. Asha Bhosle: Main Hoon Dekhane Ki Cheez
6. Title - Theme From The Film

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Bandish (1980)

As anyone who's been following this blog will know, Laxmikant Pyarelal are responsible for some amazing soundtracks. But they've also made their fair share of not-so-great scores; those that may contain one or two semi-decent songs, but mixed in with several unexciting ones.

Initially, 'Bandish' sounded as if it belonged in this category. Not unpleasant, the odd nice detail here and there, but mostly it didn't seem like much. A forgettable album, until I came to the final track: Something different altogether, something absolutely gorgeous. 'Main Kaun Hoon' is one of those beautiful, evocative and mysterious sounding songs that nobody in Bollywood did better than Lata Mangeshkar. And featuring those dramatic, haunting, horror movie- (it's not) type instrumental details that nobody in Bollywood did better than Laxmikant Pyarelal.

Suddenly, this wasn't such a bad soundtrack after all. 

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Rang Bharey Mausam Sey
2. Asha Bhosle: Sanyaji Ney Ghar Banwaya
3. Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Arey Bhago, Arey Dhodo, Arey Dheko
4. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Mere Hosh Ley Lo
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Main Kaun Hoon

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Jalte Badan (1973)

'Jalte Badan' [review]; a film about the perils of drug addiction. They tend to be quite fun. I don't know if the Bollywood ones were made with sincere intentions in mind or if they (too) were just exploitation, but either way, when trip-out songs were required for such films, music directors often excelled.

'Aag Se Aag Bujhale' is no exception. It starts with a long intro (sadly missing from the otherwise fantastic YouTube clip) that has the orchestra in a fast-paced and savage mood, sounding as if Keith Moon and Pete Townshend from The Who are guesting. And it continues with an utterly compelling melody, hypnotic and groovy, interspersed with demented (and loud) instrumental details. Fantastic stuff; if Punky Indian Soul Jazz were a genre, this is the track that would epitomize it.

The whole soundtrack is excellent though; the instrumentals perhaps being the other highlights. Both "Titles" and "Fire Dance" are captivatingly dramatic, as is the ominous horror music making up the majority of "Vada Bhool Na Jana Pt. 2".

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Vada Bhool Na Jana
2. Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Laxmikant & Chorus: Aag Se Aag Bujhale
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Vada Bhool Na Jana Pt. 2
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Gaon Gaon Ghoomi
5. "Titles" - Music
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Ham Woh Hain
7. Fire Dance Of The Snakegod - Music

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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Naatak (1974)

A Laxmikant Pyarelal score from 1974 (in addition to 1973, their best year I think) sporting a wonderfully cool cover; I couldn't resist picking this one up. 'Naatak' may not be quite on par with some of their best efforts from the period, but a few songs on the album strike my fancy. 'Zindagi Ek Naatak Hai' (I'm partial to the sad version) is packed with passion and drama, with an enticing intro, a stirring melody, and several nice little interludes. And is it just me, or are Bollywood songs sung by drunk leading ladies always good? 'Sabse Buri Sharab Hai' is a sexy and evocative, boozy, bluesy gem.

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle: Zindagi Ek Naatak Hai (Happy)
2. Asha Bhosle: Zindagi Ek Naatak Hai (Sad)
3. Asha Bhosle: Main Kaisi Lagti Hoon
4. Mohd. Rafi: Sagar Nahin Hai To Kya Hain
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Jo Main Chehre Se
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Sabse Buri Sharab Hai

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