Ghulam Ali Discography -- Part I.
S44218
Sorry for the delay in getting this out. I have been searching my collection
looking for cassettes and what not. This is part of what I have and will try to
get out the remaining within a couple of days, when my schedule clears out a
bit and I have a bit more time. There is still more to come, but hopefully this
will help. This not as complete as I would like it to be.. but here we go.
Sandip.
(1)The Latest and the Best: Ghazals from Ghulam Ali.
HMV, 1981
Cassette
Mastana Piye Ja Yun Hi
Hangama Hai Kyon Barpa Thodi Si Jo Pi Li Hai
Baharon Ko Chaman Yaad Agaya Hai
Who Kabhi Mil Jayen To
Dil Men Ek Leher Si Uthi Hai Abhi
Jinke Honton Pe Hansi Paon Me Chhale Honge
Apni Tasvir Ko Aaankho Me Lagata Kya Hai
(2) The Best of Ghulam Ali
HMV, 1984
Cassette
Zakhme Tanhai Me Khushboo
Kaisi Chali Hai Ab ke Hava Tere Sheher Mai
Kehete Hai Mujhse Ishq Ka Afsana Chahiye
Chupke Chupke Raat Din Aansoo Bahana Yaad Hai
Yeh Dil Pagal Dil Mera
Dil Men Ek Lehere Si Uthi Hai Abhi
Woh Kabhi Mil Jayen To Kya Kijiye
(2) Jashn-E-Bahar.
EMI, Odeon (HMV ?), 1984 ?
Cassette
Patta Patta Boota Boota
Kya Hai Pyar Jise Hamne Zindagi ki Tarah
Roya Karenge Aap Bhi
Yeh Baten Jhooti Baten Hai
Musafir Chalte Chalte Thak Gaya Hai
Main Nazar Se Pee Raha Hun
Kabhi Aah Lab Pe Machal Gaye
Dil Walo Kya Dekh Rahe Ho
Ched Kar Tazkiraye Daur-E- Jawani Roya
(3) Ghulam Ali Live in Concert Vols. 1 and II
HMV, 1984
Cassette
Vol . 1
Ham Ko Kiske Gham Na Mara Yeh Kahani Phir Sahi
Fasele Aese Bhi Honge Yeh Kabhi Socha Na Tha
Kuch Din To Baso Meri Aankho Men
Tumhare Khat Men Naya Ek Salam Kiska Tha
Vol. II
Mere Nazar Se na Door Ek Pal Ke Liye
Vo Jo Hum Men Tum Men Qarar Tha
Itni Muddat Baad Mile Ho
Koi Ham Nafas Nahi Hai Koi Razadaan Nahi
Tu Ne Kuch Bhi Na Kaha Ho Jaise
With the still unreleased Ghulam Ali Live in Concert Vol. III, this I think
would
Make up the Ghulami Ali Golden Collection CD and cassettes released recently
by HMV. All I can say about all of these is that the recordings and singing
represent Ghulam Ali at his peak. The music arrangment is wonderful, the
delivery impeccable, and the attention to mood exemplary.
What is curious, however, the music arrangment on Jashn-E-Bahar. The first side
contains full use of synthesizer, sarangi, sitar, harmonium, tabla, guitar. But
the second side is much more simple with much more shorter interludes which are
less grandiose and very restrained. Doesn't take away from the quality of the
music, but it makes for an interesting look at how different sets of ghazals
were handeled by Ghulam Ali on that album.
(4) Ghazalsara - Ghulam Ali Live in Concert
HMV, 1985. Double Cassette set.
Mere Subah Maikade Men
Qurbaton Mai Bhi Judaai Ke Zamane Mange
Turdeya Mahi Sanoon (Punjabi Geet)
Hangama Hai Kyon Barpa
Aise Chup Hai Ke Yeh Manzil
Gori Tore Nain (Thumri in Pilu)
Jiska Koi Bhi Nahi Uska Khuda Hai Yaro
Live concert by Ghulam Ali that hasn't been released as far as I know yet on
CD.
He sings this with harmonium, guitar, and flute . It was fine, but represents
some of the things I don't like about Ghulam Ali meaning the vocal gimmicks and
his playing up to the audience. His concert version of Hangama Hai Kyon Barpa
and his studio different are SO different with the studio version being much
better. Slower speeds, more attention to mood make for a better listen, than
the concert version with the fast speeds, sargam patterns, and the occasional
slurring of words to imitate someone who is drunk. The last track - Jiska Ko
Bhi Nahi - was really beautifully sung , that I must say. Good old-fashioned,
solid singing.
(5) Meraj-E-Ghazal
HMV, 1983.
This has been listed already and has rightly gone down as being a solid piece
of singing by Asha. I thought the first cassette was wonderful. The singing was
solid and the music arrangment very full and vibrant with Sarangi, tabla,
dholak, guitar, santoor. Asha sang incredibly well on the first cassette but
the second cassette faltered. The music arrangment was far less than on the
first cassette and did not hang well together especially the sarangi player who
was out of tune when playing his interludes for "Phir Savan Rut ki Pavan Chali"
. I am not sure what happened on the second cassette. If one listens to "Karoon
Na Yaad Magar" by Ghulam Ali on a EMI Pakistan cassette and compares it to
Asha's version, the music arrangement was identical !!!! The singing was fine,
but it made me wonder if cassette 2 (and number 1) used the exact same
arrangements that Ghulam Ali used when he sang some of the ghazals himself.
What was more bothersome about all of Meraj-E-Ghazal was Ghulam Ali himself. He
seemed rather disnterested in singing for some reason (at least to me) while
Asha is giving it her all. Worth having in the collection for the first
cassette and to hear Asha sing quality music . Just wish it wasn't so uneven.
(6) Husn-E-Ghazal..
Concord Records, 2 Cassettes. No date.
The tracks for this have been posted already ( I think). I liked the
compositions but it showed some of the recycled singing and repetitiveness that
makes me want to avoid Ghulam Ali nowadays. It made for some nice listening,
but nothing moving. Music arrangement by Y.S Mulky was nice and simple: violin,
tabla, guitar, harmonium, and a dholak for the Punjabi Geet. Nothing to rave
about and certainly not at the heights of the early HMV recordings.
(7) Guldasta - Ghulam Ali Live in Concert
Concord Records, 2 Cassettes
1992.
Bata do Tum Hamen Bedad Karna
Khile Jo Phool to Moonh Chup
Juz Tere Koi Bhi Din Raat Na Jang Mere
Kabhi Kaha Na Kisise Tere Fasane Ko
Kal Chaundhavi Ki Rat Thi
Dil Mein Ek Leher Si Uthi Hai Abhi
Not sure what to say about this. This was apparently recorded in London
according to the credits. I was not pleased with this at all. The recording was
poor, the singing just sort of tired and having heard many of these ghazals
sung before in other formats, all I can say is that this was not impressive. It
is not worth the money or the time to listen to it unless you are a diehard
Ghulam Ali.
(8) An Evening With Ghulam Ali - Vol. 4
EMI Pakistan, Cassette.
Hey Dua Yaad
Mardala Najariya (Thumri)
Shidat-E-Garmiye
Kasi Chali Hai Ab Ke Hava
I don't know how many cassettes are in this series, but if anyone knows PLEASE
let me know. This was a really nicely recorded set of ghazals by Ghulam Ali
live in concert which are on par with the HMV vols. 1-2 live in concerts. This
really has given me lots of wonderful listening pleasure and represents just
wha a fine ghazal singer Ghulam Ali is. He just sang very solidly with no vocal
gimmicks or playing to the audience. Accompanied by sarangi, tabla, and
surmandal, this was real pleasure to listen to.
More to come.... Stay tuned.
Sandip.
S44218
Noticed some small typs and errors that need correcting.
(1) Apni Tasveer Ko Aankhon was in "The Best of Ghulam Alii" NOT "The Latest,
The Best."
(2) Meant to say that "Guldasta" was only for Ghulam Ali diehard fans.
Sorry for the typos.. will try to keep them to a minimum for the next post.
Sandip.