FARID EL ATRACHE - NGHAM FI HAYATI / (1LP) VINYL 12" / WEWANTSOUNDS [NEW]

$

40

| Farid El Atrache - Ngham Fi Hayati | Label: Wewantsounds |

Wewantsounds presents Nagham Fi Hayati, the classic by Farid el Atrache, released in 1974 on the Voice of Lebanon label and soundtrack to the eponymous film. Sampled by the Beatles and nicknamed “the King of Oud”, El Atrache is one of the major artists of Egyptian music with Oum Kalthoum and Abdel Halim Hafez. One of Brian Eno's favorite albums, the disc is reissued for the first time since the 70s and also contains the complete version of “Takassim Oud” which highlights his superb oud playing. Born in Syria in 1916, Farid El Atrache moved to Egypt very early with his family.

Influenced by his mother who sang and played the oud, he learned both disciplines and quickly got noticed. He began his professional career at the Egyptian National Radio in the 1930s and quickly became one of the most prominent singers in Cairo as well as a promising actor in the thriving Egyptian film industry. One of his songs recorded in the 60s, "Awel Hamsa", was even sampled by the Beatles in the title "Revolution 9". Nagham Fi Hayati ("Melody in My Life") was released in 1974, the year of his death. It is also the music of the film by the famous Egyptian director Henry Barakat with Mervat Amin. The album is made up of four tracks. “Alachan Malich Gheirak” and “Ya Habaybi Ya Ghaybin” are long romantic tracks typical of El Atrache's style, alternating lush instrumental parts played by a full orchestra and sung parts. “Takassim Oud” is a superb instrumental revealing his virtuoso oud playing. The song is present here in its entirety for the first time. The highlight of the album is "Hebina Hebina", a classic of Arabic groove over the years with a funky loop and groovy organ. Originally released on the Voice of Lebanon label, Nagham Fi Hayati was recorded by engineer Nabil Mumtaz at his Polysound studio in Beirut. Wewantsounds is pleased to reissue it for the first time in all its glory, with audio remastered by Colorsound, original cover art and a new introduction by Mario Choueiry of the Institut du Monde Arabe.