Radiodiffusion Internasionaal Annexe

♬ Musiqaa Li’aghanaa Earabia / موسيقى لأغانى عربية

400th post? Seems like just yesterday I hit 300. And much like the 300th post, I’m going to post a cassette by a keyboard player that I’ve already covered before. This time, it’s Magdy el Hosseini.

With the recent releases of Sublime Frequencies’ Baligh Hamdi compilation and Souma Records’ Hany Mehanna compilation – plus reissue of Omar el Shariyi’s first album. from We Want Sounds – there has been an abundance of Egyptian organ music. But for some reason, other than the lone “Music de Carnaval” track, nothing by Magdy el Hosseini has been reissued. So to rectify that, I decided to post a whole bunch of his stuff. First up is the cassette only release Musiqaa Li’aghanaa Earabia / موسيقى لأغانى عربية which translated in English is “Music for Arabic Songs”. There’s an amazing live version of “‘Ayuwh” / “أيوه” that you can find HERE.

Catalog number ٤٠۳۸٠ on Randaphone / راندافون  of Cairo, Egypt. No release date listed.

♬ Malik Alawrgh / ملك الاورغ

Next up is Magdy’s first album: Malik Alawrgh / ملك الاورغ – AKA “King of the Organ”. I posted two tracks from this album way back in post #36. You can find an insane clip of Magdy playing the first track “Ya Salat al Zein” / “يا صلاة الزين-z” live HERE. Even though I don’t know Arabic, I knew something was not right with this record. There are 9 songs listed, but only 7 tracks on the album. I asked other people who own this record – as well as other pressings of it – and they said the same thing. I recently got a cassette version of this album that I am pretty sure is from Saudi Arabia. According to Discogs, there are supposed to be 14 songs on the tape. There are only 11 – the 7 songs from the album plus 4 of those songs that are repeated twice. If you know where I could find the two missing tracks – “Ya Bur Dinaa” / “يا بور دنى” and “Ya Eayn Mulitayn” / “يا عين موليتين” – please let me know.

Catalog number 87-74083 on Moriphon Records of Egypt, recorded in 1974.

But wait! There’s more!

♬ Sahat Mae Magdy El Hosseini / سهرة مع مجدى الحسينى

Here is what’s left of a ‘well lived’ copy of Sahat Mae Magdy El Hosseini / سهرة مع مجدى الحسينى – AKA  “A Night with Magdy El Hosseini”. If you think that A side looks rough, you should check out the B side. The best photo of the cover for this tape that I have been able to find online is not the best, but a great photo nonetheless. The previous owner must have had part of the tape eaten and edited it back together. So, the first song on side A is completely missing, as is the intro for the second song and all but about a minute and twenty seconds of the last track on side B.

Many thanks Sebastien Ledys and Marthy Coumans.

Also released on Moriphon of Cairo, Egypt. No catalog number or release date listed.

Thanks 1001 times for this. Magdy actually pops into Southern California occasionally and plays with a friend’s band. Or should I say, rather: *they* back him up. But he’s sadly underrepresented in the reissues, tho…

Cheers!

Comment by isfahani August 16, 2023 @ 11:37 pm

Wow! I knew he was still active, but had no idea he came to the states.

Comment by Radiodiffusion August 17, 2023 @ 3:17 am

I thank you so much for these shares. Material relating to Magdy al Hussein is really difficult to find. Thanks again

Comment by Anonymous February 11, 2024 @ 11:25 am

I thank you so much for these shares. Material relating to Magdy al Hussein is really difficult to find. Regarding the two missing songs from the album “Malik Alawrgh”, I would like to point out that they are contained in the song “Ya Mal Al Shaam” which is actually a medley of three pieces.

Thanks again

Comment by Anonymous February 11, 2024 @ 12:36 pm

Regarding the two missing songs from the album “Malik Alawrgh”, I would like to point out that they are contained in the song “Ya Mal Al Shaam” which is actually a medley of three pieces.

Thanks for everything

Comment by Paolo February 11, 2024 @ 12:38 pm