|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 14, 2011 15:31:06 GMT
Hi Bill, Debashish Bhattacharya is a wonderful musician and his slide guitar playing does have that something that appeals to both eastern & western tastes. Not only is he a wonderful musician, but he is great company to hang out with. The originator of Indian slide guitar and the man Debashish learnt from is Brij Bhushan Kabra, he has made many records, but one that fits into your excellent description of Debashish's music, maybe even more so for fans of western slide guitar, is an album called 'The Lure Of The Desert'. It is a stunning album and possibly one of my desert island discs.  Shine On Michael |
|
|
|
Post by SoloBill on Aug 15, 2011 22:37:32 GMT
Hi Michael,
Does your 'Lure of the Desert' have 6 or 8 tracks? I can find one with a different cover and 6 tracks or I see the cover you posted associated with 8 tracks on the internet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 15, 2011 22:56:20 GMT
Hi Bill, My CD has eight tracks, which without digging through piles of records, I am pretty sure is the same as the vinyl. Are you sure the one you have seen has only six tracks, or has the package been printed wrong? Tracks are; 1 - Badila Bega Aaijo 2 - Bayeria 3 - Panihari 4 - Holi 5 - Charkho 6 - Bidaai 7 - Mishra Maand 8 - Raga Maru Behag As well as 'The Lure Of The Desert', a superb Brij Bhushan Kabra and Shivkumar Sharma record is 'The Call Of The Valley'.  It is an older less hi-fi recording from 1967, but it is a wonderful album. I only have it on vinyl, not CD. Shine On Michael |
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 15, 2011 23:22:44 GMT
I just found this information about Call of The Valley on Wikipedia. I had no idea this album was as influential as it is. I bought it in the mid 1980s in ABC Records in Southall, London, and have loved it ever since!
>>>>FROM WIKIPEDIA >>>
Call of the Valley is a 1967 Hindustani classical music album by Hariprasad Chaurasia, Brij Bhushan Kabra, and Shivkumar Sharma. It was recorded for the label EMI.
The instrumental album follows a day in the life of an Indian shepherd from Kashmir. It is one of the most successful Indian albums and one that became popular with an international audience. It was very important in introducing Indian music to Western ears and internationally the best selling Indian music record. George Harrison, David Crosby, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and Roger McGuinn are fans of the album.
The atmospheric music is traditional, but the innovative use of guitar and flute make the sound more acceptable for Western audiences. Kabra plays slide guitar, Sharma santoor and Chaurasia bansuri. The artists became well known musicians and the instruments they used became acceptable in traditional Indian music. Today Call of the Valley is considered a classic and a milestone in world music. Allmusic advises: "If the newcomer buys only one Indian classical recording, it should be "Call of the Valley"."
The remastered edition has three bonus tracks.
It is listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery and Michael Lydon.
--------------------------
Shine On
Michael
|
|
|
|
Post by SoloBill on Aug 17, 2011 7:20:38 GMT
Thanks Michael,
I couldn't find the Lure of the Desert CD so I've ordered a Vinyl LP that looks like it's an original with 6 tracks on it. I wonder if the CD has two 'bonus' tracks? I'm still happy to buy vinyl as the medium anyway.
I've also ordered the Call of the Valley on CD.
I like tracing back through influences to origins, it has been a good way to find 'new' music that I enjoy. It is, after all, how I 'found' the blues.
This new board is going to cost me a fortune ;-)
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 17, 2011 8:54:37 GMT
Hi Bill,
I found my vinyl Lure Of The Desert and it is a six track record. It was so long since I heard it as I have listened to the CD for ten years or so that I had forgotten which was which. The two tracks, Mishra Maand and Raga Maru Behag are the additions on the CD.
Enjoy!
Shine On
Michael
|
|
|
|
Post by SoloBill on Aug 19, 2011 22:27:51 GMT
'Lure of the Desert' arrived on vinyl that was advertised as 'new' and do you know, I think it is!
For the origins of Indian slide guitar it is remarkably deep and full. The guitar on the track Charkho made the back of my neck shiver.
On the whole LP, for me, the percussion sets the mood and a solid foundation for the guitar.
It gives a perspective on Debashish Bhattacharyas music, he has built on that and taken it further.
Enjoy, I certainly did!
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 20, 2011 8:06:46 GMT
Hi Bill,
I am pleased you like that record - it is one of my favourites.
Shine On
Michael
|
|
|
|
Post by SoloBill on Aug 20, 2011 20:29:16 GMT
I've now listened to "Call of the Valley" and it's so enchanting.
As the sleeve notes say, there is a wonderful dialogue between the guitar and santoor throughout.
The Flute and Tabla playing is also wonderful, the Tabla player is not credited but seems to be ManikRao Popatkar.
Assuming the three bonus tracks on the CD are tracks 7, 8 & 9, 7 fits in with the theme reasonably well but the other two don't. Don't get me wrong, track 8 Dhun is an absolute tour de force of santoor playing and there's some great playing on the last track but they don't fit the mood of the rest of the CD and really ought to be played separately not immediately after the main theme.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 21, 2011 9:57:00 GMT
Hi Bill,
Call of The Valley - is a stunning album, I am pleased you like it. I had a feeling you would. I only have it on vinyl, so I have not heard the extra tracks. I have never liked the idea of bonus tracks on CDs that are re-releases of vinyl albums. Musicians and producers put their heart and soul into making an album and getting the sequencing (running order) and track choice just right to take the listener on a journey through their music, and record companies in their infinite wisdom think it would help sell CDs to wack a couple of bonus tracks on from the sessions that were most likely left off the album for a very good reason. The sequencing of tracks is a vital part of making a great record and the last track is as important as the first, so to bury it in the album before two extra bonus tracks.......uuuurrrggghhhh!!!!
Call of The Valley is a wonderful Sunday morning record.
Shine On
Michael
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 25, 2011 14:01:53 GMT
Another beautiful Indian slide guitar record is 'Music of India Volume II' (EMI - The Gramophone Company of India - ECSD 42001) - Shiv Kumar Sharma, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Brij Bhushan Kabra.
I have listed that detail because I am unable to find it on the Internet, maybe somebody will find it. I bought it on vinyl in 1985 and have had it ever since. I have never seen a CD, but if anyone can find this album, it is really beautiful music - santoor, flute and slide guitar.
Shine On
Michael.
|
|
|
|
Post by SoloBill on Aug 25, 2011 20:17:09 GMT
Hi Michael,
Are two of the tracks on "Music of India vol II" not also on "Call of the Valley"? e.g. Piloo (spelling on Call of the valley) and Pilu both in Teen Taal and Gara Dadra.
The only copy of "Music of India Vol II" I've found so far is too expensive if I already have two of the tracks (it's a bit expensive anyway) :-(
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 26, 2011 8:53:53 GMT
Hi Bill,
Yes those two tracks are on both albums. I just tend to think of the two albums as one and have listened to both so many times. From a listening point of view it doesn't worry me as love the tracks in both settings, however I only paid a fiver for each album in ABC in Southall nearly thirty years ago. I would think twice if it was expensive.
I love Brij Bhushan Kabra's playing and would buy any record that he has been involved with.
I am surprised it has not been released on CD
Shine On
Michael.
|
|
