Bahadur Khan: Sarod Recital (Multitone ZSAV 1041) a cassette released in the UK in 1995

Up next is a cassette release of a sarod recital by the relatively under-documented sarod maestro Bahadur Khan (January 19, 1931 - October 3, 1989). Khan was a cousin to Ali Akbar Khan, and for a time taught at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California. His students include Tejendra Majumdar.

There's only a couple LPs on EMI and a few other obscure recordings on CD and YouTube, which is a regrettable situation. He is a very interesting sarod player who deserves to be more widely known. 

It's not clear when this recording was made or under what circumstances (possible an All India Radio broadcast?) and I was unable to find any information about it on this release or on the internet.

Transfer: Nakamichi Dragon cassette deck, extensively refurbished and rebuilt.

Pre-amplification: refurbished Pioneer SX-780.
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 24bit/96kHz resolution
Software: Audacity and xAct.

downloads:

24bit, 96kHz FLAC files (580 MB)

very high resolution lossless FLAC files

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (194 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (123 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

S Balachander: Man from Madras (WPS 21457) an LP recorded in India and released in the US in 1968

The great South Indian Veena maestro Balachander (18 January 1927 – 13 April 1990) is no stranger to this blog. He is one of the best-known Carnatic performers in the West, thanks in no small part to a series of recordings released by World Pacific Records in the US. 

This is a wonderful 1968 recording which was engineered by James Rubin, who was a student of the famous singer M.S. Subbulakshmi. He recorded concerts at prestigious venues, house concerts, and from All-India Radio in South India from 1964-87. His collection of recordings currently resides at the Harvard University Library.

   

  

Equipment used in this transfer: 
Preparation: Ultrasonic cleaning for 10 minutes in clean water.
Turntable: Technics SL-1200
Cartridge: Audio-technica VM540ML
Phono Pre-amp: Parks Audio Puffin
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 96kHz resolution
Software: Audacity, iZotope RX 10 Elements, and xAct. 

downloads

24bit, 96kHz FLAC files (883 MB)

very high resolution lossless FLAC files

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (257 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR

320 kbps mp3 files (118 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Ashish Khan: Sarod (Polydor 2392 900) an LP recorded and released in India in 1979 -- test pressing

Next up is a transfer of a test pressing I recently acquired of a 1979 album by the great sarod master Ashish Khan and his brother tabla maestro Pranesh Khan. 

Test pressings are manufactured as an example to be approved by the various parties (label head, division head, engineer, artist). If there are issues with the record, they are identified and addressed at the test pressing stage. Occasionally a new master must be made to correct an issue; usually they are approved.

    

Most of the time a very small number are made -- certainly fewer than 10 copies. Because they are the copies that are first off the presses using the stampers with the least amount of wear, they are often coveted as being the best-sounding LPs of an edition. More information about these types of pressings can be found here.

Equipment used in this transfer: 
Preparation: Ultrasonic cleaning for 10 minutes in clean water.
Turntable: Technics SL-1200
Cartridge: Audio-technica VM540ML
Phono Pre-amp: Parks Audio Puffin
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 96kHz resolution
Software: Audacity, iZotope RX 10 Elements, and xAct. 

downloads

24bit, 96kHz FLAC files (851 MB)

very high resolution lossless FLAC files

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (238 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR

320 kbps mp3 files (119 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

TN Seshagopalan: Vocal (Sangeetha PIX 1065) an LP recorded and released in India in 1981

We are back -- a few weeks past the 10th anniversary of the start of this blog -- with a relatively rare Carnatic LP from the great TN Seshagopalan on the Sangeetha label which was based in Madras. This (currently) 44 year-old album has never had any copies sold or offered for sale on Discogs (the most popular online marketplace for records). I was very fortunate to be able to pick it up as part of a large collection of both Hindustani and Carnatic LPs at my local used record shop.

Equipment used in this transfer: 

Preparation: Ultrasonic cleaning for 10 minutes in clean water.

Turntable: Technics SL-1200

Cartridge: Audio-technica VM540ML

Phono Pre-amp: Parks Audio Puffin

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 96kHz resolution

Software: Audacity, iZotope RX 10 Elements, and xAct. 

downloads

24bit, 96kHz FLAC files (844 MB)

very high resolution lossless FLAC files

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (232 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR

320 kbps mp3 files (109 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Bismillah Khan: Shehnai Nawaz (EALP 1306) an LP recorded in India in 1966

 Here is another lovely shehnai recital LP by the great Bismillah Khan. It contains a side-long exploration of a late night raga, a light "dhun" and a popular bhajan (devotional song).

Equipment used in this transfer: 

Preparation: Ultrasonic cleaning for 20 minutes in clean water.

Turntable: Technics SL-1200

Cartridge: Audio-technica ATmono33

Pre-amplification: Vintage refurbished Pioneer SX-780.

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 96kHz resolution using 32bit float

Software: Audacity, iZotope RX 10 Elements, and xAct. 

24bit, 96kHz mono FLAC files (564 MB)

very high resolution lossless FLAC files

16bit, 44.kHz mono FLAC files (208 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR

320 kbps dual mono mp3 files (158 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible