Bombay - The Easy Way!
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Artist:
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Album:Beginner's Guide to Bollywood - Vol. 1
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Track:O Dilibar Janiye
Bombay – The Easy Way!Beginner’s Guide to Bollywood Vol. 1Disc 1: Vintage Bollywood
I’ve been meaning to get to reviewing this incredible two volume, 6 CD box set of Bollywood music I purchased on my trip to Chicago about a month ago. Hopefully this will be Number 1 in a 6 part series. Bollywood film music (and Indian classical and traditional music) has long been an interest of mine. Bollywood hits being more of a casual interest. Lucky for me, I live in a city with an amazing community-supported radio station, which features a weekly Indian music and culture show. The two rotating hosts are like night and day. Outgoing, verbose and boisterous Muktar, and laid back, shy-and-polite Sarjit, take turns every other week to bring us their favorites. Muktar is Bollywood Man. “All the hits this side of Bombay, this side of town!” he exclaims, and away we go. Since I’ve never seen any of the films most of these songs are from, I have to leave it to the music to illustrate the action and story. That’s part of the joy in this music – it creates a film in your head. The complex rhythms, shifting tempos, high pitched female singing pry you off whatever your genre comfort cushion is, and get the synapses in your brain firing to a different beat. The "Nascente":http://www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk/nascente#News label out of London has put out two volumes of Beginner’s Guide to Bollywood. Both volumes consist of 3 discs each, and are very affordable – particularly considering how much music you get per disc. Each disc grouped by theme. In volume one we are gifted with: Vintage Bollywood; Funky Bollywood; and Modern Bollywood. The first two are the best in this set, with Vintage shining out as the best disc in the box. Covering popular films from the late 50s to the early 70s, this disc features the classic heavy hitters in Playback singing: Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Geeta Dutt. It’s a little heavy on the Asha cuts, but I love Ms. Bhosle so that doesn’t bother me in the least. [For those of you unfamiliar with Asha Bhosle, she’s who the band Cornershop wrote the song “Brimful of Asha” about. Great song, with lots of shout-outs to these Filmi singers].1. Anken Meri Maihana – from the film: Sawan Bhadon (1970) - Sung by Asha BhosleThis hyperventilated, chugging filmi rocker, centers around Asha’s persistent, penetrating, rhythmic vocals. A cascading drum solo leads into a tunnel of swirling, turning craziness. This song epitomizes the classic Bollywood filmi – a little bit of everything. Apparently the movie is about insane architecture, ruthless landlords, and go-go dancers. I can picture all of those listening to this song. 2. O Dilibar Janiye – from the film: Hasina Maan Jaayegi (1968) - Sung by Mohammed RafiThe sweet as mango chutney tones of legendary baritone Mohammed Rafi make this gong an alternatingly smooth and bouncy ride. Dramatic strings, clip-cloppy percussion and spy movie-style action guitar breaks make this one my all time favorites. 3. Nain Milakar Chain Churana – from the film: Aamne Saamne (1967) - Sung by Mohammed RafiThis is just a great pop tune, again with that nice cool, swinging guitar sound and Mr. Rafi singing a little higher than he usually does. 4. Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu – from the film: Howrah Bridge (1958) - Sung by Geeta DuttThis song is somewhere between hoedown, luau and Andrew Sisters swing. Borrowing heavily from American big band sounds, with a classic Indian rhythm break plunked down the middle of it. Sung wonderfully by Getta Dutt, I almost imagine the actress she is “picturizing” (a Bollywood term for doing playback singing) wearing a Patty / Maxine / Laverne type pinafore, hiking her skirt and waving a finger in the air a she jitterbugs around the market. I have no idea what the movie is about, but it stars the Anglo-Indian actress Helen Richardson who was suppose to be one heck of a dancer. 5. Ina Mina Dika – from the film: Aasha (1957) - Sung by Asha BhosleCool jazz, man. Another big band influenced hot-cha-cha number to jitterbug to. With a snappy, alliterative call-and-response chorus, I imagine all the girls cutting a rug to this one. Asha’s performance is extremely charming. 6. Diwana Parwana – from the film: Albela (1951) - Sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Chitakar“In de Soss American Way…” A little Sub-Continent rhumba for you? We now get to hear from Asha’s sister, Lata. It’s the boys turn to dance. Though upbeat, the chorus sounds a little melancholy, like they are lamenting what a great night it is, but that they have no dough. Nice sassy trumpet touches. 7. O Gadiwale – from the film: Mother India (1957) - Sung by Shamshad Begum and Mohammed RafiMuch more classical Indian style, or what westerners think of as typical Indian music. This song was featured in a film described as an epic socialist parable. 8. Mohabbat Ki Jhooti – from the film: Mughal-E-Azam (1960) - Sung by Lata MangeskarA beautiful performance by the Queen of Playback singers, Lata Mangeskar. Sweet and emotive, in a very traditional female singing style. The film’s title in English is The Great Mogul, regarded as one of the most expensive films in Bollywood history. 9. Aaj Mausam Bada from the film: Loafer (1973) - Sung by: Mohammed RafiThis is a cool, loping tune. It starts out sounding like the Indian equivalent to some late 60s American independent film about a guy hitting the road to find himself. I picture Mr. Rafi’s onscreen persona in jean and a jean jacket hitching for a ride on a lonely dirt road. 10. Baithe Hain Hya Usike Paas – Jewel Thief (1965) - Sung by Asha BhosleBachrach gone Bollywood! According to the description, this is a James Bond-type caper film. You can hear it in the dramatic, swinging score. Asha’s breezy vocals are far lighter than Shirely Bassey’s brassy one-two punch, but embody a devil-may-care attitude. Perhaps the Indian version of Pussy Galore or [insert Bond Girl here]. I have to find this film. 11. Jaan-E-Man – from the film: Chhalia (1973) - Sung by: Asha Bhosle and Kishore KumarMariachi trumpets, B-3 organ and wah-wah pedal. Groovy upon groovy. Plus a surf-rock guitar break. Doesn’t get any cooler than this. 12. Reshmi Ujala Hai – from the film: Sharmilee (1971) - Sung by Asha BhosleAnother South American-influenced, cool bossa nova with surprisingly restrained instrumentation (for a Bollywood number). Asha’s vocals give it a great touch of mystery and glamour. 13. Chura Liya – from the film: Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) - Sung by: Asha Bhosle and Mohammed RafiThis is a classic duet between two of Bollywood’s biggest stars. Beautiful. This can be played at my wedding or funeral.14. Kya Gazab Karte Ho Jee – from the film: Love Story (1973) - Sung by Asha BhosleNo, not the schmaltzy American movie, Love Story. Eeew. Asha is sweet and giggly in this light-hearted, Latin-ish number. I enjoy the acoustic guitar. It gives the song a down to earth feel.
I’ve been meaning to get to reviewing this incredible two volume, 6 CD box set of Bollywood music I purchased on my trip to Chicago about a month ago. Hopefully this will be Number 1 in a 6 part series. Bollywood film music (and Indian classical and traditional music) has long been an interest of mine. Bollywood hits being more of a casual interest. Lucky for me, I live in a city with an amazing community-supported radio station, which features a weekly Indian music and culture show. The two rotating hosts are like night and day. Outgoing, verbose and boisterous Muktar, and laid back, shy-and-polite Sarjit, take turns every other week to bring us their favorites. Muktar is Bollywood Man. “All the hits this side of Bombay, this side of town!” he exclaims, and away we go. Since I’ve never seen any of the films most of these songs are from, I have to leave it to the music to illustrate the action and story. That’s part of the joy in this music – it creates a film in your head. The complex rhythms, shifting tempos, high pitched female singing pry you off whatever your genre comfort cushion is, and get the synapses in your brain firing to a different beat. The "Nascente":http://www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk/nascente#News label out of London has put out two volumes of Beginner’s Guide to Bollywood. Both volumes consist of 3 discs each, and are very affordable – particularly considering how much music you get per disc. Each disc grouped by theme. In volume one we are gifted with: Vintage Bollywood; Funky Bollywood; and Modern Bollywood. The first two are the best in this set, with Vintage shining out as the best disc in the box. Covering popular films from the late 50s to the early 70s, this disc features the classic heavy hitters in Playback singing: Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Geeta Dutt. It’s a little heavy on the Asha cuts, but I love Ms. Bhosle so that doesn’t bother me in the least. [For those of you unfamiliar with Asha Bhosle, she’s who the band Cornershop wrote the song “Brimful of Asha” about. Great song, with lots of shout-outs to these Filmi singers].1. Anken Meri Maihana – from the film: Sawan Bhadon (1970) - Sung by Asha BhosleThis hyperventilated, chugging filmi rocker, centers around Asha’s persistent, penetrating, rhythmic vocals. A cascading drum solo leads into a tunnel of swirling, turning craziness. This song epitomizes the classic Bollywood filmi – a little bit of everything. Apparently the movie is about insane architecture, ruthless landlords, and go-go dancers. I can picture all of those listening to this song. 2. O Dilibar Janiye – from the film: Hasina Maan Jaayegi (1968) - Sung by Mohammed RafiThe sweet as mango chutney tones of legendary baritone Mohammed Rafi make this gong an alternatingly smooth and bouncy ride. Dramatic strings, clip-cloppy percussion and spy movie-style action guitar breaks make this one my all time favorites. 3. Nain Milakar Chain Churana – from the film: Aamne Saamne (1967) - Sung by Mohammed RafiThis is just a great pop tune, again with that nice cool, swinging guitar sound and Mr. Rafi singing a little higher than he usually does. 4. Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu – from the film: Howrah Bridge (1958) - Sung by Geeta DuttThis song is somewhere between hoedown, luau and Andrew Sisters swing. Borrowing heavily from American big band sounds, with a classic Indian rhythm break plunked down the middle of it. Sung wonderfully by Getta Dutt, I almost imagine the actress she is “picturizing” (a Bollywood term for doing playback singing) wearing a Patty / Maxine / Laverne type pinafore, hiking her skirt and waving a finger in the air a she jitterbugs around the market. I have no idea what the movie is about, but it stars the Anglo-Indian actress Helen Richardson who was suppose to be one heck of a dancer. 5. Ina Mina Dika – from the film: Aasha (1957) - Sung by Asha BhosleCool jazz, man. Another big band influenced hot-cha-cha number to jitterbug to. With a snappy, alliterative call-and-response chorus, I imagine all the girls cutting a rug to this one. Asha’s performance is extremely charming. 6. Diwana Parwana – from the film: Albela (1951) - Sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Chitakar“In de Soss American Way…” A little Sub-Continent rhumba for you? We now get to hear from Asha’s sister, Lata. It’s the boys turn to dance. Though upbeat, the chorus sounds a little melancholy, like they are lamenting what a great night it is, but that they have no dough. Nice sassy trumpet touches. 7. O Gadiwale – from the film: Mother India (1957) - Sung by Shamshad Begum and Mohammed RafiMuch more classical Indian style, or what westerners think of as typical Indian music. This song was featured in a film described as an epic socialist parable. 8. Mohabbat Ki Jhooti – from the film: Mughal-E-Azam (1960) - Sung by Lata MangeskarA beautiful performance by the Queen of Playback singers, Lata Mangeskar. Sweet and emotive, in a very traditional female singing style. The film’s title in English is The Great Mogul, regarded as one of the most expensive films in Bollywood history. 9. Aaj Mausam Bada from the film: Loafer (1973) - Sung by: Mohammed RafiThis is a cool, loping tune. It starts out sounding like the Indian equivalent to some late 60s American independent film about a guy hitting the road to find himself. I picture Mr. Rafi’s onscreen persona in jean and a jean jacket hitching for a ride on a lonely dirt road. 10. Baithe Hain Hya Usike Paas – Jewel Thief (1965) - Sung by Asha BhosleBachrach gone Bollywood! According to the description, this is a James Bond-type caper film. You can hear it in the dramatic, swinging score. Asha’s breezy vocals are far lighter than Shirely Bassey’s brassy one-two punch, but embody a devil-may-care attitude. Perhaps the Indian version of Pussy Galore or [insert Bond Girl here]. I have to find this film. 11. Jaan-E-Man – from the film: Chhalia (1973) - Sung by: Asha Bhosle and Kishore KumarMariachi trumpets, B-3 organ and wah-wah pedal. Groovy upon groovy. Plus a surf-rock guitar break. Doesn’t get any cooler than this. 12. Reshmi Ujala Hai – from the film: Sharmilee (1971) - Sung by Asha BhosleAnother South American-influenced, cool bossa nova with surprisingly restrained instrumentation (for a Bollywood number). Asha’s vocals give it a great touch of mystery and glamour. 13. Chura Liya – from the film: Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) - Sung by: Asha Bhosle and Mohammed RafiThis is a classic duet between two of Bollywood’s biggest stars. Beautiful. This can be played at my wedding or funeral.14. Kya Gazab Karte Ho Jee – from the film: Love Story (1973) - Sung by Asha BhosleNo, not the schmaltzy American movie, Love Story. Eeew. Asha is sweet and giggly in this light-hearted, Latin-ish number. I enjoy the acoustic guitar. It gives the song a down to earth feel.
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