Filed under: Pakistan
♬ Bhavayia
The Silhouettes were from Pakistan.
The name “Pakistan” means “Land of the Pure” in Urdu, as well as in Persian. It was coined in 1934 as “Pakstan” by Choudhary Rahmat Ali, who published it in the pamphlet Now or Never. The name represented, according to Ali, the “thirty million Muslims of PAKSTAN, who live in the five Northern Units of (British) India – Punjab, North-West Frontier Province. (a.k.a. Afghania), Kashmir, Sindh, and Balochistan.” The nation was founded officially as the Dominion of Pakistan in 1947 after the Partition of India, and was renamed the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1956.
Apparently, there was a market for traditional music played on Western instruments. Not sure who this was being marketed to, either the indigenous population or foreign tourists. But there were a number of bands that released similar records, most notable being The Fore Thoughts, The Mods and The Panthers.
Here are the liner notes:
In your hands, is the first ever stereo long playing album recorded and manufactured in Pakistan.
We present to you a top, pop local group, ‘THE SILHOUETTES’. These brilliant young contemporary musicians play tunes, some of which are folk, and were written before they were born, in such an original way as to give these melodies a new concept.
We have called the L.P. ‘THE SOUND OF THE SILHOUETTES’, mainly because we could not think of a more apt title. You will enjoy listening to the scintillating rhythms, the unique combinations of Guitar and Electric Sitar in SOFT SILHOUETTES and BHAWAIYA, the ingenious blending of vibraphone and Electric Sitar. In SOUND OF THE SILHOUETTES, you will also listen to classical numbers like RAGA AMEN and PEELO which they have played with gusto and perfection.
Versatility is a strong point of THE SILHOUETTES. In addition to featuring exciting folk tunes, they also make a point of featuring some of their own compositions in meticulous execution.
With “MAIN DIVANA” and their great performance of “SOUND OF THE SILHOUETTES” the Silhouettes are sure to become the most popular entertaining group for a long time to come.
The Silhouettes did release one other single, as the backing band for Runa and Dina Laila. But as far as I know, that was it. As for their record label, which is the only record I have seen from the region that was not on some version of EMI / HMV / RCA, Arokey Chemical Industries was taken over by the Pakistani government in 1972.
Catalog number ACI.S-I on Arokey-Records, “A product of Arokey Chemical Industries, Ltd. 3rd Floor, N.G.B. McLeod Road, Karachi”. No release date listed.
Filed under: Pakistan
♬ Bondure
The Mods were from Pakistan.
Apparently, there was a market for traditional music played on Western instruments. Not sure who this was being marketed to, either the indigenous population or foreign tourists. But there were a number of bands that released similar records, most notable being The Fore Thoughts, The Panthers and The Slihouettes. But who that market was remains a bit of a mystery.
Here’s the liner notes from the back cover:
This album “FOUR FOLK INSTRUMENTALS FROM PAKISTAN” is a beautiful collection of traditional oriental tunes, played on modern western instruments, by “THE MODS”. This is their first disc and judging from the masterly performance quite a lot of creative work is expected of this upcoming group of young and talented quintet.
I have not been able to find out any information about the band, or their composer / songwriter Mohammed Yousuf. As far as I know, this was their only recording. If you have any information, please contact me.
Since the initial posting, Garage Hangover has posted the entire single, and a scan of the back cover here.
Catalog number EKCE-20012 on The Gramophone Company of Pakistan Limited, a member of the EMI group of companies. No release date given.
Filed under: Pakistan
Nisar Bazmi was born Syed Nisar Ahmed in 1924 in Bombay, India.
He did not belonged to an artistic family and nor did he have any prior musical training. Noted Indian musician, Khan Saheb Aman Ali Khan, convinced of Nisar’s musical talent, decided to teach him. Equipped only with artistic know-how, young Nisar, quickly mastered the various ragas, the musical instruments and took all music lessons to heart.
At the age of fifteen, All India Radio hired him as an artist in 1939. Five years later, he composed some songs for the drama, “Nadir Shah Durrani”, which was broadcast from the Bombay Radio Station. All of the songs that he composed for the show became hits.
Soon after, he was asked to compose music for the film “Jamana Paar”, which was released in 1946. Nisar accepted the offer and changed his name to Nisar Bazmi. He composed the music for twenty eight films before he decided to move to Pakistan in 1962.
Once permanently settled in Pakistan, he resumed his music career by simultaneously composing songs for two movies: Director Nazeer Sufi’s film “Head Constable” (released on September 25, 1964) and director Fazal Ahmed Karim Fazli’s movie “Aisa Bhi Hota Hai” (released on February 5, 1965).
He responsible for introducing Alamgir to film music in Pakistan. During his musical career he composed many hit songs for Runa Laila , Ahmed Rushdi , Noor Jehan and Mehdi Hassan. Also, the well known songwriting duo of Laxmikant-Pyarelal were musicians of Nisar Bazmi in India before he left for Pakistan, and later they became famous music composers.
Furthermore, Nisar is also an accomplished poet. His poetic collection were to be brought to the limelight by his admirer, Shamim Bazil (against his wishes).
Catalog number EMPP 5006 on EMI of Pakistan, released in 1976.
Filed under: Pakistan
♬ Jungee
The Fore Thoughts were from Pakistan.
Apparently, there was a market for traditional music played on Western instruments. Not sure who this was being marketed to, either the indigenous population or foreign tourists. But there were a number of bands that released similar records, most notable being The Mods, The Panthers and The Slihouettes. The Four Thoughts actually released two records, both with the exact same front cover.
Here are the liner notes from the e.p.:
Let me present to you the first record released by the up coming group, ‘Fore Thoughts’. In this album they are playing four of the very popular Pakistani Folk tunes composed and arranged by the brilliant young maestro Sohail Rana.
Together they present a sound which you have not heard before, it is a successful and happy marriage of Eastern melodies to Western instruments. The instruments you will hear in this album are: Electric Guitar (lead, played by Anif Luqmani [printed as ‘Anis Luqmani’]), Electric Organ (played by Anis Ahmed), Bass Guitar (played by Bashir Belouch) and the drums (played by young Umeed Ansari).
The tunes presented here are from different regions of Pakistan, namely former provinces of Sindh, Punjab, and East Pakistan. You will agree with me when I say that they have done full justice to melodies by retaining their Eastern Flavour in the interpretation.
Wishing you all a very happy listening time,
Fazili Shakil, Manager
If you have any information, please contact me.
Catalog number EKCE 20003. on The Gramophone Company of Pakistan Limited and was manufactured by Columbia in Pakistan.
Radiodiffusion Internasionaal Annexe 