Rough Guide To Bollywood

“Rough Guide to Bollywood” (Rough Guides/World Music Network, 2010)
Reviewed by Abu Ramses – ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN. Track 2 has “take a hit” (of bhang/cannabis). But it’s in Hindi, so ok?

2nd edition of this sampler of classic Bombay (Mumbai) film music compiled by British music critic Ken Hunt. Except for track 13, he prefers the vintage films. It’s about the feeling, not the words (most Indians don’t understand Hindi). Tracks 2 & 9 with Asha Bosle & 3, 5, 8 with Lata Mangeshkar showcase two sisters who are the great divas of the genre. 9 of 13 tracks are composed by R.D. Burman, limiting the scope of the collection.

Try tracks 2, 3, 9, 13

Tracks
1. Dance Music (I), R.D. Burman – hint of James Bond & West Side Story - 2:17
2. Dum Maro Dum Mit Jaye Gham, Asha Bhosle – Hair! revisited. - 2:36
3. Raina Beeti Jaye, Lata Mangeshkar – slow, plaintive - 4:17
4. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha, Kumar Sanu – walking tempo - 4:35
5. Tere Bina Jiya, Lata Mangeshkar – slow, dramatic intro to haunting female vocal - 5:46
6. Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu, Geeta Dutt – boogie-woogie beat - 4:26
7. Yari Hai Imaan mera, Manna Dey – male vocal, improv-style intro, Middle Eastern style percussion - 6:18
8. Dilbar Dil Se Pyare, Lata Mangeshkar – upbeat; choral backup - 4:43
9. Aaya Hoon Main Tujhko Le Jaoonga, Asha Bhosle - a Middle Eastern, flamenco, Latin mashup -7:57
10. Pyar Hua Chupke Se, Kavita Krishnamurthy - soaring female vocal- 5:14
11. Dukh Bhare Din Beete Re Bhaiya - pentatonic, Chinese sound – 3:08
12. Dance Music (II) R.D. Burman – mostly percussion - 1:30
13. Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte, Sonu Nigam – rai-influences, and more; from “A Match Made in Heaven” (2008) - 6:31