Radiodiffusion Internasionaal Annexe

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It seems like almost every other week or so, I will stumble upon another blog that focuses on African music. I would say that its much less frequent for Asian music… Maybe once a month at best. But the lack of blogs or websites or what have you that feature the music of the Middle East never ceases to amaze me. There are a few… But not that many. And of the six or seven I can name off the top of my head, three are dedicated to the music of Iran.

The Golden Age of Persian pop music started as early as the 1950s under the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. During his rule, there was an emergence of a new Western-influenced middle class. Soon, record labels started popping up.

The first label in Iran was Ahang (“song”) in 1959 and pressed their records in Germany. Ahang records were distributed by the Beethoven Music Center based on Manuchehri Ave. in Tehran and owned by Karim Chamanara. By the following year, they were issuing more than two hundred records 45 rpm 7″ records. Six years later, the label change its name to Ahang e Rooz (“song of the day”).

Royal Records was probably the second largest label in Iran. They began by releasing more traditional Persian music on 78 discs, then reproducing old recordings in the 45 rpm format. Eventually Royal, as well as Ahang and a handful of other labels, started to release new recordings of different artists and in all genres of Persian music – including the new “Beat music”.

There were a number of Beat groups in Iran, including Flowers, Golden Ring, Littles, Maha Jamin, Ojoobeha (Remarkables), The Rainbow, The Rebels, Shabah. And while there is little information beyond a few photos and sound files, I have read accounts of Ojoobeha riding camels to the stage and The Rebels cruising around Tehran in a black Cadillac convertible. But beyond that… There is not a whole lot. I know that Golden Ring released at least two singles other than the one posted here. They were also the backing band for Aref on some of his earlier singles. The Rebels, also known as The Rebels 5 and The Rebel Kings, released at least three singles – one with a cover of The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There” and another with a version of The Rolling Stones’ “Mother’s Little Helper”. As for the rest, I have only seen one single by each of them.

Surprisingly, there has yet to be a compilation of any of the music, Beat or otherwise, from Iran from this time period on up until the revolution of 1979. I’ve heard rumors that at least three different people that I know of who are working on compilations. But if and when any those will ever see the light of day remains a mystery.

Thanks to Gökhan Aya for translating the Farsi for me.

Catalog number RT 1869 on Royal Records of Iran. No other information available.

Okay, you’ve gotta spill on (1) any of those blogs that aren’t in your links & (2) who might be compiling those Iranian beat cds.

Comment by Angela Sawyer October 19, 2008 @ 7:16 pm

Angela,

1) You can find those blogs / websites on my links page: Fars Funk, Iran Nostalgia and Persian Discography.

2) As for the compilations… There’s the “Pomegranates” compilation that Arash from Fars Funk told me B-Music was going to release last year… But for the other two, you know who they are (one of which is a label I purchased a record by from you recently)…

Stuart

Comment by radiodiffusion October 20, 2008 @ 3:57 am

Thanks. Enjoying this a lot. I’ve been hoping for an in-depth comp of the pre-Revolutionary Iranian scene for a long time. Seems like someone has to put one together eventually.

Comment by Joe October 20, 2008 @ 6:41 am

Why are the country links on the side gone? 😦

Comment by Upendra Samaranayake October 21, 2008 @ 3:43 pm

Are you mad because I bought all those records?

Comment by Upendra Samaranayake October 21, 2008 @ 7:49 pm

Upendra,

I fixed the Country Links…

I’m not mad… Crazy? Maybe.

What records are you talking about?

Comment by radiodiffusion October 22, 2008 @ 3:58 am

hey i just wanted to share a Persian/Iranian Synthpop Mix i recorded last night!

Persian/Iranian Synthpop Mix!

Tracklisting:

Dariush & Ebi – Noon o Panir o Sabzi
Shahram & Shohreh – Telesm
Mahasti – Mitarsam
Sattar – Chaador Namaaz Gol Goli
Nahid – Delakam
Serjik – Doset Daram
Morteza Shayasteh – Baz Mano Kashti Rafti
Siavash – Nagou Keeieh
Viguen – Zaneh Irooni
Shahram Shabpareh – Deyar (Disco Version)
Zia – Ringo
Faramarz Asef – Siminbar
Aref – Ey Del

josh

http://www.no-disco.blogspot.com

Comment by josh February 6, 2009 @ 4:32 pm

Hi there! I’ve been doing some research for a long time now, trying to identify the artist behind a Royal records EP i bought in a flea market in Paris. The cover is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gonzo440/3476746229/in/set-72157607766151869/. it looks like (a very young) Ravi Shankar to me, but I can’t be sure. The catalog number is RT-2400. Let me know if you have any idea of who this is, or if you need me to scan the back cover.

Cheers!

Jonathan

Comment by Jonathan October 1, 2009 @ 5:35 am

That would be Mehrpooya (also seen Mehrpouya / Mehr Pouya). He was Iranian. He started off as an Elvis knock-off. His first hit was “Dont be Krul” – and yeah, that is how it was spelled. He later got into sitar and Afro Funk, releasing a album called “Jumbo Africa”. What little I have heard of that record sounds kinda like Ananda Shankar’s “…and His Music” album. It’s one of those records that I’m amazed that someone like Finder’s Keepers or QDK Media hasn’t re-issued.

Comment by radiodiffusion October 1, 2009 @ 7:28 am

hello,

Someone in Europe (Spain or Germany?) published a compilation of Golden Ring. However I think at least one single is missing. I have reviewed the album on http://psychemusic.org/persiareviews.html#anchor_123
together with a review of the Mehr Pouya CD reissue and the Kourosh reissue, which are both available from Iranian shops in the US.
I have also ordered the other works from Kourosh there.

Mehrpouya and Kourosh best are highly recommended. The Golden Ring LP is fine too !

Gerald

Comment by Gerald Van Waes November 11, 2009 @ 9:50 am

In the meantime there are some reissues with persian music:

http://www.discogs.com/Raks-Raks-Raks-Persias-60s-By-Various-60s-By-17-Various-Persias-Garage-Bands/release/1705942

This record I’ve seen yesterday in a recordshop here in Berlin. It’s available at CD also

http://mygeneration60s.blogspot.com/2009/02/various-artists-waking-up-scherezade.html

The Mehrpouya LP is out and available at Honest Jons. I didn’t listen to the reissue. Another song of Mehrpouya, Ghabeile Leila was on another compilation. At my blog is another persian Track also. I’m about to make another compilation.

Comment by Peter November 27, 2009 @ 2:24 am