Haro Pourian

Artist: Haro Pourian

LP: Menank Hay

Song: "Armenouhi"

[ listen ]

My date this past weekend bowed out of our post-picnic movie plans while we were standing on a sidewalk a block-and-a-half away from a really good consignment record store. What was I supposed to do with my suddenly available two free hours? This LP from Armenian-Lebanese heartthrob Haro Pourian is one of the treasures I found that evening while I wasn't at the movies. The back of the album shows Haro performing to a well-dressed set of bored-looking spectators. One wonders what sort of entertainment this crowd could possibly be accustomed to, since they're clearly not wowed by the live performance of Haro Pourian—or "the Tom Jones of Lebanon," as he's known here in the USA (well, mainly just in my apartment). People have evidently paid $70.99 and even $173.25 for this record, but my copy was just $3. If you have information or funny stories about Haro Pourian, please speak up! There really isn't much about him on the web, at least not in English anyway.

[ Haro Pourian: The War on Boredom ]

Laila Matar

Artist: Laila Matar

LP: Cairo! The Music of Modern Egypt

Song: "Ishtagnalak Wallah (Part 2)"

[ listen ]

This Capitol Records various artists LP presenting "modern" Egyptian music to a Western audience was something I picked up last summer in Dayton, Ohio of all places. Along with Laila Matar, the record features tracks from Nagah Salamar, Tariq Abdul Hakim, and Ahmed Jabor. I've included an album review here from the May 5, 1956 edition of The Billboard magazine, and the LP's liner notes, which offer a range of tantalizing tips and ideas for your own Egyptian vacation, are included below. Personally, I'd like to spend a relaxing evening at one of Cairo's still-gay cafes!

The Aramite Band

 Artist: The Aramite Band

LP: Hot Sands

Song: "Hot Sands"

[ listen ]

Song: "Zungalo"

[ listen ]

Hot sounds from Hot Sands! This 1958 record by The Aramite Band features instrumental songs as well as tracks with vocals, so I've included one of each. I wasn't able to find much info about the group on the web, but the LP liner notes are included below, and you can hear (and briefly see) oudist Leo Barsamian working his musical magic at the 2009 St. Stephens Armenian Apostolic Church Picnic at Camp Haiastan, Massachusetts here. Please note that the exotic and captivating music included on this album was recorded in one of the finest studios in the East! ...at Ace Recording Studios in Boston, to be precise.

Anestos Athounasiou and His Ensemble

Artist: Anestos Athounasiou and His Ensemble

LP: Music For Belly Dancing: Instrumental Music of the Near East

Song: "Arapines (Arabian Girl)"

[ listen ]

The weekend is here, so I imagine everyone will be heading out to engage in the Middle Eastern form of dancing popularly referred to as "belly dancing." Here's a little song to help you practice. There's not much info on Anestos on the web, but I do know he's got a couple of debonaire fellas in his ensemble named Georgos and Visilios, and the lovely lady featured on the cover is British Jewish belly dancer Sultana Noga. You can listen to more of Anestos Athounasiou's fabulous oud playing here, and buy your own copy of his "Music For Belly Dancing" LP on vinyl here or on CD here.

Tarik Bulut and His Ensemble

Artist: Tarik Bulut and His Ensemble

LP: In An Egyptian Garden

Song: "Cifte Telli"

[ listen ]

Now that Egyptians have toppled the corrupt and repressive government of President Hosni Mubarak, it won't be long before the women of Cairo will be found lounging in sensuous abandonment in the city's public gardens, dressed in golden bikinis and eating seedless grapes by the bunches. For info on talented Turkish musician Tarik Bulut, click here.

Gus Vali and His Casbah Ensemble

Artist: Gus Vali and His Casbah Ensemble

LP: All Points East

Song: "Rampee"

[ listen ]

Song: "Misirlou"

[ listen ]

Gus Vali is of Greek heritage, but his terrific 1960 "All Points East" LP whisks listeners away on a musical safari that stops in several exciting locales in the mysteriously exotic near Orient—like Turkey! Track notes for "Rampee" (w/ vocals by Manny Ayvas) and Vali's ponderous interpretation of "Misirlou" are included below, along with LP liner notes by Val Arms in which he calls Gus "fresh." You can find more info on Gus Vali along with a list of his other records on the Hipwax website here.

 

Nese Karaböcek

Artist: Nese Karaböcek

LP: Nese Karaböcek

Song: "Sensiz Kalan Gönlümde"

[ listen ]

Song: "Bir Sevda Geldi Basima"

[ listen ]

Born in Istanbul, Turkey on April Fool's Day in 1947, Nese Karaböcek's career spans nearly 50 years. She's one of the most popular and beloved singers in Turkey, and she's got terrific hair—even if it isn't her own. As you can see for yourself here, the rumor that Nese Karaböcek has been hospitalized in America is totally false! She is actually doing quite well, thank you, currently living in Turkey and resembling Bette Midler. You can read more about Nece Karaböcek in Turkish on Wikipedia here. Sadly, Google's English translation of the page is rather garbled, listing the singer's name as "Joy Roach," for one thing. Here's a neat old Nese Karaböcek YouTube video from the '70s and some more pictures from the back and inside of her LP:

Nese Karaböcek on YouTube:

[ "Kemanci" ]

Sonny Lester, His Orchestra and Chorus

Artist: Sonny Lester, His Orchestra and Chorus

LP: How to Belly Dance For Your Husband

Song: "Boom Boom"

[ listen ]

Little Egypt's instructional belly dance bonus booklet wasn't included with my copy of this terrific Sonny Lester LP, so I guess my husband will just have to suffer through my earnest attempts at improvised simulation. Be sure to check out the funny liner notes below (as a conscientious blogger, I would be remiss in not advising that as a woman and a wife, something in your life is lacking...), and you can learn all about the life and career of musician, producer and WWII veteran Sonny Lester—who now lives in Florida and will be turning 86 this year—on Space Age Pop Music here.

Filmon Wahbi

Artist: Filmon Wahbi

LP: Lebanon Souvenir

Song: "Malli Al-Garra"

[ listen ]

Have you ever owned a souvenir from someplace you've never been? If this French-influenced Filmon Wahbi song is any indication of what I'd find in the record stores of Beirut, then I need to hop on a plane—pronto! Filmon Wahbi (more commonly spelled "Philemon Wehbe") is a popular Lebanese composer who wrote songs for iconic singer Fairuz, who is also featured on this terrific record I recently found in West Seattle. Liner notes and complete track list are included below, both in English and in Arabic.

[ Assi Rahabni ] 

ps. I sent a link to this posting to my boss, who was raised in Lebanon, and he told me the man in the photo above isn't Filmon Wahbi (as previously credited), but Assi Rahabni. He also told me about a dream he had last night, which is strange, since he rarely dreams and was never obsessed with Fairuz. Here are his notes about the Lebanese music scene and his dream, followed by actual photos of Filmon Wahbi:

The pic is that of Assi Rahabni. He was Fairouz's discoverer, husband, and primary composer. He died young due to a brain hemorrhage many years ago. Assi and Mansour (his brother) were a formidable composer/musician team. They composed many songs and music for Fairouz. The trio dominated the music scene in Lebanon for decades. Assi and Farouz had a son named Ziad. After Assi died, Mansour continued composing for other artists, but Ziad assumed the role of Fairouz's primary composer and took her into an entirely new "Oriental jazz" direction. It was a rebellion against the old tradition represented by his father and the state of the Lebanese music scene which emphasized folklore. At first, Lebanese people shunned the change en mass. They were used to the happy/romantic songs that the Rahabani Brothers and Fairuz were known for. At one point, many people walked out on a Fairouz concert in Paris because she sang mostly new jazzy songs composed by Ziad. But in the end there was finally acceptance of the new direction. 

Ziad is sort of a Michael Moore figure in Lebanon. He is known to be on the left politically and a very heavy drinker. Ziad is also a playwright. One of his famous plays was a beautiful adaptation of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" set in an insane asylum during the Lebanese Civil War.

Yesterday I had a very weird dream. I dreamed of being Fairouz's manager! It felt great to be close to her. At one point in the dream, Fairouz came back from a trip and we were all lined up to welcome her at the entrance of her house. She appeared in a white dress and gave me a hug when she entered the house!

 [ Filmon Wahbi ]