January 6, 2024

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
Pre-amplification: Vintage refurbished Pioneer SX-780.
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 96kHz resolution using 32bit float

Software: AudacityiZotope RX 10 Elements, and xAct



very high resolution lossless FLAC files


these lossless files can be burned to CDR


highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 


December 18, 2023

Bhimsen Joshi: Raga Bhairavi and Aabhogi (HMV 7EPE 1234) an EP recorded and released in India in 1961

Today we have an EP from the brilliant vocalist Bhimsen Joshi (1922-2011) with short pieces in ragas Bhairavi and Aabhogi. These were later collected, along with a few other pieces of about the same length, in a 1977 EMI LP entitled Evening and Morning Melodies (ECLP 2779).



An EP from Joshi from the following year can be found here at the wonderful Music Republic blog, together with an LP from 1961.

Equipment used in this transfer: 
Preparation: Ultrasonic cleaning for 20 minutes in clean water.
Turntable: Technics SL-1200
Pre-amplification: Vintage refurbished Pioneer SX-780.
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 96kHz resolution using 32bit float

Software: AudacityiZotope RX 10 Elements, and xAct



very high resolution lossless FLAC files


these lossless files can be burned to CDR


highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 



December 17, 2023

Omkarnath Thakur: Raga Todi and Malkauns (Columbia 33ECX 3252) an LP released in India in 1964

Here is a 1964 album by Omkarnath Thakur (1897-1967) an exponent of the Gwalior gharana, a tradition which dates back to 1542. He sings pieces in ragas Todi, Desi Todi, Nilambari, Sughrai, and two in Malkauns.



Equipment used in this transfer: 
Preparation: Ultrasonic cleaning for 20 minutes in clean water.
Turntable: Technics SL-1200
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



very high resolution lossless FLAC files


these lossless files can be burned to CDR


highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 



December 9, 2023

Bismillah Khan and VG Jog: Jugalbandi (EALP 1279) an LP recorded and released in India in 1963

Both shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan and violin maestro VG Jog have been well-represented on this blog. Way back in February 2018 I shared a lovely 1968 jugalgandi (duet) LP from these two -- here is another one, from 1963.






Equipment used in this transfer: 
Preparation: Ultrasonic cleaning for 20 minutes in clean water.
Turntable: Technics SL-1200
Pre-amplification: Vintage refurbished Pioneer SX-780.
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 96kHz resolution using 32bit float

Software: AudacityClickRepair, and xAct



very high resolution lossless FLAC files


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


highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 





December 4, 2023

Amjad Ali Khan: self-titled (EMI EALP 1316) an album recorded and released in India in 1967

 This was Amjad Ali Khan's first album, released in 1967, when he was 22 years old. The tabla is performed by Samta Prasad. 





Equipment used in this transfer: 
Preparation: Ultrasonic cleaning for 20 minutes in clean water.
Turntable: Technics SL-1200
Pre-amplification: Vintage refurbished Pioneer SX-780.
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 96kHz resolution using 32bit float

Software: AudacityClickRepair, and xAct



very high resolution lossless FLAC files


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


highest quality lossy mp3 files possible