Sahra With Popular Chaabi Music (Moriphon, Egypt)

This was a great find at this week's car boot sale. Any info or translations would be greatly appreciated as I'm in the dark as to what exactly this is. I think its from Egypt, the recordings were possibly made in the '70s and its a fantastic listen!

Here's a taster of one of the tracks from the album:

Tracklist:

01- Hassan (Shiek Taha).
02- Cho Cho (Samir Sorour).
03- El-Derbake (Ahmad Hamouda).
04- Houda (Hani).
05- Ya Ma'alm (Samir Sorour).
06- Mouled El-Said (Farouq Salameh).
07- Mahasen (Samir Sorour).
08- Bulbul (Fikri El-Jazzar).
09- Samiya.
10- Khaled El-Bizeh (Samir Sorour).
11- Mouled El-Hussien.
12- Harat El-Awalim (Farouq Salameh)

Thanks to Hammer for the translations and see his comments for the lowdown on this album.

Get it HERE.

Abdul Halim Hafez - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

Abdel Halim Hafez was, alongside Oum Kalsoum, one of Egypt and the Arabic speaking world's most popular singers. Here's what the liner notes have to say about his 1967 performance at the Royal Albert Hall:

"For the first time in the long history of the Royal Albert Hall, this great and world famous auditorium was transformed for one evening in November 1967 into something resembling the palace of a great Caliph in the golden age of the Arab empire. It was filled to capacity with an audience of Arabs and thier friends of various nationalities, all of whom have a tremendous affection for the popular singing star of the Middle East - Abdul Halim Hafez"

The audience response on this album is rapturous, Abdel walks on the stage and the crowd go wild, it really is something special to hear. The music is often solemn and gentle in pace but its a beautiful melencholy sound which complements the singer's powerful voice perfectly.

Enjoy.


Tracklist:

Side One - Adda Al-Nahar / Ala Hisb Wihad / Al Tuba

Side Two - Sawwah / Al Masih

Get it HERE.

Farid el Atrache - Awal Hamsa (1972)

This is an awe-inspiring live recording from 1972 of Farid el Atrache, 'the King of the Oud', which captures the fevered atmosphere of one of his concerts. Farid is considered to be one of the greatest oud players in the world and one of the most important Arabic artists. He was born in 1915 in Syria, but moved to Egypt as a child. His musical career started in the 1930s and then in the 1940s he embarked on a career in the movies, acting and composing soundtracks.

Farid was something of a playboy and refused to marry arguing that marraige kills art. There's more info to be found HERE and a bunch more mp3s over HERE.

Here's a great clip from one of his films:

The oud solos on this recording really are something special and I hope you enjoy this as much as I am.

Tracklist:

01 Awal Hamsa (Part 1)
02 Awal Hamsa (Part 2)

Get it HERE.

Om Kalsoum - Fakkarouni

Om Kalsoum (or Umm Kulthum, Om Koultoum, Om Kalthoum, Oumme Kalsoum, or Umm Kolthoum) was Egyptian and recognised as one of the most important Arabic singers of the 20th Century. Rumour has it that more than a million people filled the streets of Cairo on the day of her funeral, a measure of the extent to which her songs touched the hearts of the Egyptian people.

On this album she sings one long, plaintive song that aches and gnashes its teeth and claws at its tear-stained cheeks.

Here's a snippet of the the lady herself performing this very song:

Tracklist:

01 Fakkarouni (Part 1)
02 Fakkarouni (Part 2)

Get it HERE.