Playlist : "Psyche van het Folk", Radio Centraal, Antwerpen 2004-02-18 : ARAB, ARMENIAN & PERSIAN CROSSOVERS Most records & comments by Marthy Coumans, with a few additional remarks & records. * RICHIE ALLEN : In a Persian Market (Polydor,'62) Single with surf bass, exotic rhythm, with violin pizzicato's, and additional Hollywood like violin section. * JOHN BERBERIAN : "Music and Gibran" LP : perfection (Verve,'68) Famous Armenian ? oud player who released various records on the Mainstream label. This comes from his 4?th LP, on Verve records, Music and (Khalil) Gibran, with texts performed by Rosko, black poet ? and WNEW-FM disc jockey. This gives it a kind of beautiful "psych/semi religious hippie" touch. 3 records were re-released by him. :"Ode to an oud" (his first) "Music from the Middle east" and "Middle Eastern Rock" which comes later in this show. Info : http://www.johnberberian.com/about.html Contact : john@johnberberian.com http://www.forcedexposure.com/artists/john.berberian.ensemble.the.html with soundfragments http://www.alphamusic-online.de/5614297.html * (F) LES SUITES LOUCOUME : la danse du ventre. In France were released various "exploited"/World crossover records with middle eastern influences. This influence is because France had various colonial areas in Northern Africa.This single is performed like a middle eastern dance instruction. °* (Roulette Rec.) GOMIDAS BAND : Rendezvous in Istanbul : Ipek Sia Mantolu (lady with the black silk coat), Helvaci (Halva (bread) seller). Some of the so called "greetings from.." introduction records does not always contain the best music or traditional folk. There are exceptions that sound better than the average. Marthy like this one. First track is an easy sounding song accompanied by oud and a couple of other instruments. Second track is a bit more up tempo. It's also a traditional popular folk melody. I left out both for time limitation, and because these were more traditional. http://www.pekorecords.com/GaroArmPop.html * (UK,1967) ALI BEN DHOWN : Turkish Delight 3 min A nice easy / exotic psych track with middle eastern melody, partly played by toy piano, hand percussion, brass, oud, (reverb) electric guitar, electric bass, gong, cowboy like horse-clapping. PS. Op "Petal Pushers" a compilation album from '67 we find this and another track from Ali Ben Dhown. * (publ.US, 1958) ARAM ARAKELIAM ENSEMBLE : Arabian Waltz First middle eastern records for the West were released under influence of American soldiers who brought with them some bellydance records telling wild stories about these performances. In the 50's first some bellydance records were released followed by showcase records, with an introduction to the oud as one of the most poplar amongst them. Chosen for the adaptation of a waltz into a middle eastern style. Oud with percussion. * (F) KEMAL RACHID et ces Ottomans : "Ali" & "Nargille" In France you had the chachacha oriental, slow oriental, bolero oriental, cucaracha oriental, jurk oriental, surf oriental, all popular dance possibilities. First is a chachacha oriental, with French singing. Second track is even more crossover styled with beautiful relaxed guitar. * (US) TONY SCOTT : "Homage to Lord Krishna" : title track. The American jazz & fusion clarinettist Tony Scott always was open to lots of crossover & fusion experiments. He spend many years in Africa, playing along with traditional music over there and learning lots of African styles. Then he also travelled for years in the far east. When he came back he had a varied experience. Most known album is his "Zen Meditation" album, a rather soft approach in ideas and instrumentation. Also the LP "Music for Yoga Meditation and other joys" (1968) was an approach of a combination of Indian music with clarinet. The sitar was played by fusion sitar player Colin Walcott (known also from the fusion band Oregon, solo works, other cooperations). This track was with John Berberian on oud (?) & Collin Walcott on sitar. The style here is actually more Indian mixed with jazz fusion. Info : http://www.tonyscott.it/ Contact : info@tonyscott.it http://www.collinwalcott.com/discography/yogameditation.htm http://www.collinwalcott.com/discography/tonyscott.htm * (US,1966) MOROCCO : Opa Kukla & El la 'tho (MGM) Great garage freakbeat single. First in/with middle eastern mode/theme. With electric oud ? in stead of electric guitar. And more middle eastern percussion. Powerfully fitting North African high tone hysterical "lilili"singing (I don't know the name for this), followed by beautiful brake, and then middle eastern freakbeat, with heavy drumming, electric oud. A masterly very powerful crossover from middle eastern elements with 60's music. Unique. Released in 1966. Also came from the New York underground. * (US,1961) THE SHEIK'S MEN : the belly dancer (Reprise) American band who tries something more middle eastern, within a certain easy jazzfusion-rockn'n roll style or something with middle eastern hand bells, jazzy piano, brass, surf like guitar. Info on group : http://www.shanmonster.com/belly/gallery/albums/belly221.html Cover and info : http://www.radiobastet.com/covgal/covgal18.html Cover : http://freespace.virgin.net/love.day/coverheaven/pages/y6703.htm * (IS, '67) DAVID THE RED SEA SINGER : The oriental beat goes on. Second single (from the 3 he made for Raam Rec. in Holland) from this singer, an ex- Israeli soldier, who used middle eastern & Israeli themes. Although the themes are serious, there's a very funny edge in use of voices & with text use ("respect your father and a little bit your mother"). * (LEB,'74) OMAR KORSHID : bellydance : "warakat na nassib" 5 min Famous actor in the middle east, who made also various fantastic bellydance & middle eastern music with his skilful middle eastern electric guitar, middle eastern percussion & moog synthesizer, ..Incredible guitarist. I played his music in my radioshow before (: the first of the three "magic guitar" albums). Info : http://progressive.homestead.com/MiddleEast.html * GANIMIAM : "come with me to the Cashba" Famous Arab who made the earliest Arab crossover record in the US, "come with me to the Kashba". His "Asia Minors" group is a classic in the Las Vegas grind, a kind of GoGo orchestra with Arabic crossover edge. The single is known now because it can be found on various compilations. It's a great rhythmic, very jazzy (with sax solo, some brass), middle eastern dance track. It starts and end with a funny semi-erotic low male & female voice introduction of the title. On the 50's LP with the same name, "come with me to the Cashba" we can hear an instrumental version of it. The LP is a crossover between the usual bellydance records, and some Arabic exploits. Marthy choose 3 tracks, but time limitations only let me to play two : * GANIMIAM (and his oriental orchestra): "Sing the blues", "Daddy solo" (with the Asia Minors) With some Armenian influences we can hear that this music and the clarinet solo's easily lean perfectly to jazz. This first track is jazzy middle eastern blues. The second track is also a very early crossover example (50's). * HÜSNÜ ÖZKATEL ORCHESTRA : "Oglan Oglan" While in fifties we had the bellydance records that showed semi-erotic pictures, we have to say erotism on record covers in fifties in US was strictly committed, with assignment to National Geographic to show only let's say tits of some certain ethnic groups, or with exotic associations. Of course in 70's there were more often semi-erotic records with the excuse of an "exotic" association, with girls in beach dresses. Most of the music on such records was pretty bad, but there are exceptions. This is a Turkish 70's record with erotic picture. One would expect exotic flavoured orchestral music. It's anadulo folkrock with additional fuzz guitars and drums. * (F,'60s) STAFFI & SES MUSTAFAS : Masubida -chachacha oriental- A combination of a French and a middle eastern dance sunch in French, with middle eastern percussion. °* (US) ARTI BARSENIAN & HIS ORCHESTRA Belly Dance music with Armenian touch. In Us was published lots of Armenian music. * (LEB) SEA-DERS : "Thanks a lot" & "undecidedly". In 1966, The Cedars in recorded in Beirut, Lebanon, 5 tracks and pressed a limited edition single. In UK the single was re-released by Decca. The group also played in the Pickwick club with success. First track is fantastic powerful freakbeat with genius Birds-like guitar. With Beatlesque voices and a strong composition. Unique in its kind. Second track is Beatlesque too, but with middle eastern flavoured electric guitar. * CEDARS : "For your information" & "Hide if you want to hide" Also in Israel the Cedars released a single in 1967. But this was bad timing, because the Israeli war had started too and because Lebanon now became Israel's enemy the single was taken from the market. Cynically this way the most rare single in Israel became this single from an "Arab" group. In 1969 in Turkey another single by the Cedars was released, "For your information". It became a number one hit, and was later covered a couple of times by various Turkish bands (Mavi Isiklar's version scored another hit) with success as well. This is understandable, because it had first of all a Beatles flavour, but also electric saz, in stead of electric guitar, and driving bass, with a sound close to the best Anadolu rock tracks (Mogollar,..). The single was released already after the disbanding of the group. It was very odd that a single became number one without anyone knew anything about the band except that they came from Lebanon. Nobody even ever saw a picture of them at that time. Also "Hide if you want to hide" in similar style, with electric oud ?, became another hit in Turkey with many follow-up covers. The band even didn't receive money for the rights then. You can also find this second track at http://www.turnmeondeadman.net/ADM/GPComps/Pebbles12.html * (LEB) THE CEDARS : "I like the way" The fourth and last single from the Cedars for Decca (1968). Because of their early success they had received permission to stay in England for a while. But after this fourth single the Decca label suddenly dumped the band. They got serious money problems, sold all their instruments and equipment, broke apart and were forced to go back to Lebanon. They published different singles under differently written names. This is another very beautiful and strong Beatle-esque track. Instead of electric guitar we hear electric oud. It's very sad to hear such story from a group which had in fact an incredible powerful and talented sound. Marthy managed to trace the lead writer. He heard that he had 3 unpublished recordings of songs from the first session. With those 11 songs in total he will publish an album with them later this year. * (ARM) JOHN BERBERIAN : "the oud and the fuzz" From "Middle Eastern Rock" I couldn't help playing this fantastic track again, of oud (JB) with fuzz guitar by Joe Beck. Joe Beck did more fusing projects. His other very known project is with Sabicas, the flamenco guitarist. This track has a complex middle eastern rhythm combined with rhythm and blues. * (I,60's) PAOLO ROME ORCHESTRA : "Toetankhamon theme" Kitchy, little bit a gogo styled orchestra, with organ, brass, middle eastern electric guitar, drum section. °* (I,early 60's) PPR FATIKONE : "Alimo Etakitu" Sung in Italian, but with "Arab exploited" theme into Italian ball-orchestra version. * (SP,60's) LOS SONADORES (=the dreamers) : "El Kasbah" A crossover easy beat song from Spain with Middle eastern inspiration. A kind of influence which you should not expect in Spain, because usually middle eastern influences can be noticed more directly in Andalousian music forms. This is different. Of course the Moors lived in Spain for many centuries. And many traces (like beautiful buildings,..) can still be found in Spain, that the flavour still hangs there at places. * (I,60's) IL LATINI (=The Latins) : "Habibi Twist" (RCA) Recorded in Italian and Arabic language. Sounds very much like an Anadolu pop early beat track. Funny track, with surfing electric guitars, rock'n roll piano, early beat vocals. Same song by Dr.Zoil : http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/ram/habibi_twist01.ram * (B,) ADAMS : "Uskuhdara" Turkish folk song successfully performed by Belgian beat band. Could fit perfectly with the Anatolian pop scene. * (NL,) BUTLERS : "Ali Baba" In Holland it's a bit more difficult to find a good track with Arab or middle eastern influences. The biggest hit was "Turkey Turkey, you're a lovely country" Dizzy Man's Band. It even scored in Turkey. This band with Claus Van Mechelen (of Wim T. Schippers fame) had hits like "Nasi Goring, Bami, Saté, neem ook nog een loempia mee" ("Nasi goring, bami, saté, take also a lumpia away"). This comes from the LP "Hee hatsekidee". Like many more LP's from Holland this is not really 100 % serious music. The wah wah like guitar sounds though are real special. Other tracks from this album : "wat een gedoe met die kakatoe" en "bardend, waar is jou servet ?", "de fiets is weer in" * (US) THE FEENJON GROUP : "Sisheler" (&..) Armenian group that played in New York in Armenian bars, but became also popular in a coffee house that showed talents like Fred Neil, Ritchie Havens, John Sebastian, Cass Eliott. After jamming with them in the same bar there was formed a new group, the Devil's Anvil, who combined a mid hard 60's rock sound with Arabian songs. A promising sound, still somewhat young and freshly new, they released an album summer of 1967. A bad timing because the Israeli/Arab war started. With a cover with one musician in Arab dress, and a group called devil's Anvil, with the title of the album "hard rock from the middle east" it became too provocative to become successful then. But it showed a beautiful early crossover style : Info http://www.radiobastet.com/covgal/covgal7.html * (US,1967) THE DEVIL'S ANVIL : "Sisheler" & "Selim Alai" This is the second version that shows the nice combination of both styles. For me the album needed a few listens, because it's still pretty close to the Arab style, and it didn't develop yet many of the 60's rock ideas. I find the sound promising but not completely developed yet. Marthy finds it a classic of the crossover genre. I choose to play "Selim Alai" for its nice psych organ and aggressive powerful crossover style. It has oud, rhythm guitar, electric bass, organ, drums and vocals in Arabic. I believe it are all Arab folk songs. Review : http://progressive.homestead.com/MiddleEast.html & http://www.lysergia.com/LamaReviews/reviews4.htm#DEVIL'S%20ANVIL * THE CATCHER IN THE RYE : Egyptian navel exploration Easy Beat psych crossover with fuzz guitar, child story-like flutes. Handclap and middle eastern theme. * (UK,'67?) ORIENTAL EXPRESS : "Azhar" American oud and sitar player, Belgian minitar,.. player and Persian percussionist. Great album that combines Persian themes, has Indian influences, and end 60's progpop style. Very good album with very original sound. I played it before but it fits too well in this concept to leave it out here. Review and info : http://progressive.homestead.com/MiddleEast.html * (US/IR) MOHAMAD & DAVID : Persian/American rhythm and Blues : Dawn A 70's ? A German LP holding a cooperation between a Persian percussionist and an American guitarist. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some other middle eastern crossovers : http://www.hipwax.com/music/orient_j.html http://www.radiobastet.com/covgal/covgal17.html http://www.hipwax.com/music/orient_j.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some reviews of Middle eastern crossovers & prog : http://progressive.homestead.com/MiddleEast.html http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/Turkey.html http://progressive.homestead.com/PERSIAreviews.html http://progressive.homestead.com/Persiareview.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other playlists : http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/2004.html General index page : www.radiocentraal.be/psychevanhetfolk More detailed index page : http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/index.html Receive weekly this playlist before the radioshow with new reviews and additional comments : / ontvang wekelijks playlist vòòr de radio-uitzending : Subscribe / schrijf u in : psychevanhetfolk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BEST WAY TO VIEW THE LINKS : SAVE THIS AS TEXT-FILE, OPEN AS WORD FILE, AND ALL LINKS WILL WORK !!!