Saturday, March 31, 2007

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

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

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

Sunday, March 25, 2007

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 '

Friday, March 23, 2007

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

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

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

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

Sunday, March 18, 2007

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

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 Din2. Mohd. Rafi: Hue Ham Jinke Liye Barbad3. Shamshad Begum: Chaman Men Rah

Saturday, March 17, 2007

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

Friday, March 16, 2007

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

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

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'

Sunday, March 11, 2007

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

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,

Saturday, March 10, 2007

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

Friday, March 9, 2007

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'

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Sachin Dev 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 Raina2. Kishore Kumar: Meet Na Mila Re Man Ka3. Lata Mangeshkar: Ab To Hai Tum Se4.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

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 Music2. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: O

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