Deben Bhattacharya – vinyl discography

Here’s a first draft of a vinyl discography of the late great Deben Bhattacharya, who wandered Europe and Asia with a microphone and a tape recorder in the second half of the 20th century. It’s often said that he produced some 130 albums, so this collection (around 80) has more holes in it than my winter socks.

Not just holes. Putting a date to the records’ issue has been tricky, sometimes impossible. Knowing what’s on some of the records and whether tracks are repeated elsewhere on another label is currently beyond me. For the time (correct me if I’m wrong) he seems to have had an almost unique independence, issuing the fruits of one field trip on up to half a dozen different labels.

And it’s not that it was just smart marketing of the same tracks in different countries. The more I look, the more it seems that each label usually got its own original tracks for their compilations.

A lot of them, of course, were on Argo. He clearly had a special relationship with the label’s founder Harley Usill and with producer Kevin Daly. But then, what’s struck me in starting to put this together is the number of labels across Europe and the USA who were into issuing his (and other people’s) field recordings a long, long time before someone dreamt up the idea of ‘world music’.

The Argo ‘Living Tradition’ albums are the most traceable, but there were (so I understand) over 25 for the Dutch label Philips, about the same number for the French labels Boite à Musique and Le Club Français du Disque, up to a dozen for the Swedish label Caprice…

Which brings me back to the holes. That’s where you come in. You’re probably sitting there with dozens of his albums on your shelves…

If you are, help me out, so I can make the necessary additions and corrections.

I haven’t barely touched the audio cassettes, a fair few of which are listed here. Happily, and rarely for an Argo artist/producer, loads of his stuff has been reissued on CD by labels like ARC and Fremaux. Check them out.

Some of the album titles are in a larger face. Click on them and they’ll take you to more information.

I’m slowly putting together a companion list of his field trips, which may, or may not, clarify what’s in the discography. It’s been done for Alan Lomax, so why not?

There are some brief biographical details of Deben Bhattacharya here, which lead to more detail if you’re interested.

Thanks to collaborators: lars/bolingo, gadaya…

1956
Music from India – Songs from Bombay Argo RG 61-62
Musique Populaire de l’Inde du Nord – Chants et danses Contrepoint, Paris, MC 20.110 Issued in cooperation with the Paris Musee de l’Homme’s Ethnic Music Dept. Edited by the Department’s G. Rouget.
Folk Songs and Dances of North India Period SPL 1614 One of several albums issued by the US Period label in cooperation with the Paris Musee de l’Homme’s Ethnic Music Department. It’s an American re-issue of the Contrepoint album above.
1957
1958
Music on the Desert Road Angel 33513 Music from Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan recorded in 1955-6 on an overland trip from the UK to India.
Songs and Rhythms of Bengal The Record Society Ltd (UK), RSX 7
I’m pretty sure the three BAM LPs listed below were released in 1958 (or even before), as I’ve seen them reviewed in magazines in January 1959. If you can confirm or otherwise, please let me know.
Musique Religieuse de l’Inde  Boite a Musique BAM LD 015
Musique Traditionelle de l’Inde Boite a Musique BAM LD 014
Chants de Bengale Boite a Musique BAM 310
1959
In Israel Today Vol 1 Westminster Collectors Series WF 12026
In Israel Today Vol 2 Westminster Collectors Series WF 12027  The orange and red cover is from the original release. Don’t know how much later the other re-issue is. Or was it just a deluxe version?
In Israel Today Vol 3 Westminster Collectors Series WF 12028
In Israel Today Vol 4 Westminster Collectors Series WF 12029
A Gypsy Festival Westminster WF 12030 and WWM 79102 Items of ensemble music performed at Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, France: secular and religious songs, the chanting during a procession to the sea, vocal and guitar music from camp and cafe performances.
Music of Western Asia USA, Westminster WF 12033 Recordings from Macedonia, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India.
1960
Music of the Oriental Jews – Visages d’Israel France, Boite a Musique BAM V1 901
Classical Ragas of India Mercury SR 90481
Pelerinage Gitan aux Saintes Maries de la Mer – Manitas de Plata France, Disques Vogue LVLX 261 (1960?)
1961
1962
Rythmes et Melodies d’Iran Club Francais du Disque CFD 284
Rythmes et Melodies du Bengale Club Francais du Disque (1962?)
Rythmes et Melodies du Monde Gitan Club National du Disque, CND 2451 (1962?) Side A (Roumanie et Hongrie) Danse Rapide Romance Gitane, aux cimbales Je vais traivailler aux champs Czardas Gitanes ”Dieu, ouvre les frontieres” Musique de cafe Hongroise (Yougoslavie) Postupana Side B (Les Saintes Maries de la Mer) Descente de la Chasse (Andalousie) Improvisation a la guitarre Soleares Gitana (Inde) Flutes de charmeurs de serpents Chant d’amour des Gdolia Lohars (Bulgarie) Dzenisinata
1964
The Vee Jay albums listed below were part of a series of up to a dozen LPs issued in conjunction with the 1964 World’s Fair in New York as the ‘Horizon World Series’. They were all dubbed “Official New York World’s Fair” recording
The Popular Folk Music of India Vee Jay, VJ 6402, mono
The Popular Folk Music of Israel Vee Jay, VJ 6405, mono
The Popular Folk Music of Greece Vee Jay, VJ 6409, mono
Musique de l’Inde: Chants et danses populaires du Bengale Boite a Musique, BAM LD 076
1965
Music from the Middle East Supraphon Artia SUA 12699 Recordings from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Turkey
Zigeuner – Pilgerfahrt Nach Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Vogue Schallplatten LDK 18008
Musique Indienne du Rajasthan – Painted Ballads Ocora World of Music Series, Sweden, OCR 26 Sponsored by the National Centre for Folk Concerts in Sweden (Rikskonserter) under the auspices of the Museum for the History of Music, Stockholm. Side One contains ‘a variety of Bhil folk and religious music’, including two religious songs from Hindu festivals (one Diwali), a circular dance song, a wedding song, wedding dance, lullaby and a grievance song. Side Two contains extracts from two ballads (Pabuji and Bagh-Rawat)
1966
Musique du Moyen-Orient (7” mono LP) Boite a Musique, BAM LD 385 (1966? may be earlier) Recordings made in Syria and Jordan
In the mid-sixties (1966 in the UK) the Dutch label Philips issued a series of folk recordings entitled ‘Song and Sound the World Around’. Apart from the albums listed below, I’ve seen reference to the series containing music recorded by Deben Bhattacharya from Bulgaria and Hungary (both of which he visited in 1964-5). See also the tentative Philips entries for 1967.
Songs and Dances from Turkey Philips BL 7713 (UK issue)
Classical Ragas from India Philips 831 215 PY, BL 7716
Chants Religieux du Bengale – Religious Songs from Bengal Boite a Musique BAM LD 099 Songs of the Bauls and poems of Chandidas
1967
Gypsy Music from Romania Philips BL 7778, part of the ‘Song and Sound around the World’ series Am guessing this is a Deben Bhattacharya recording. Needs substantiating.
Gypsy Music from Hungary Philips BL 7779, part of the ‘Song and Sound around the World’ series Am guessing this is a Deben Bhattacharya recording. Needs substantiating.
Indisk Musik fran Rajasthan: Malade ballader   Rikskonserter World of Music series, Sweden,  Caprice Riks LPX 1 Recorded in Rajasthan 1962
Musik fran Ungern: Csangosanger Rikskonserter World of Music series, Sweden, Caprice RIKS LPX 2 Recorded in Hungary 1964-5
Music from the Himalayas Argo (Z)RG 530, re-released in 1971 as ZFB 40
Music from Rumania Argo (Z)RG 531, re-released in 1969 as (Z)DA 125 and in 1971 as ZFB 41
Music from the Middle East Argo (Z)RG 532, re-released in 1971 as ZFB 42
Music from the Far North Argo (Z)RG 533, re-released in 1971 as ZFB 43
1968
Music from Rumania London International (1968?)   Tracks (need them by order and side, please) Ardelean Aseara am fost pe coasta Batrineasca Briul din Muscel Ce are nieca cu mine Ciobanasul Dance Cimpulung Doina and wedding dance Doina Trisca Feciorasca Baia Mare Prelude Hora Sirba Sirba Sirba fluier Two dances Two dances Brasov
Songs and dances from Turkey London International TW 91453, SW 99453 (stereo) (1968?)
Gypsy Music from Hungary London International SW 99451
Ragas from Benares Argo (Z)RG 559, re-released in 1971 as ZFB 44
Portrait of Andalusia Argo RG 560, re-released in 1971 as ZFB 45 (coming soon in Argo blog)
Music from Turkey Argo (Z)RG 561, re-released in 1971 as ZFB 46 (coming soon in Argo blog)
Songs and dances from Bulgaria Argo (Z)RG 562, re-released in 1971 as ZFB 47
Music and Drum Rhythms from Iran Limelight LS 86057
Classical Ragas of India USA, Mercury SR 90481, Limelight (re-release of Mercury) LS 86053   USA, Mercury SR 90481, Limelight (re-release of Mercury) LS 86053 Recording dates/locations not listed. Same with most performers Click on a highlighted track to play Side One 1 Sindh-Bhairavi (5:07) – sarod, tabla 2 Paraj (4:06) – on two sarangis 3 Raga Sari (2:47) – song from Kathakali dance-drama, acc. chenda, shuddha madalam, gong, cymbals  4 Sindh-Bhairavi (4:02) – on satara Side Two 1 Raga Madhuvanti (6:08) – sarangi and tabla 2 Religious song (4:20) – in Mand style with pair of sangas 3 Pilu (7:28) – sarod, tabla, tambura drone
1969
2 Ragas Sveriges Radios Forlag RELP 1066 (1969?)
1970?
Some time in the early to mid-1970s the French label Musidisc issued a series of folk and field recordings under the header ‘Musique Folklorique du Monde’. No info about year of issue on the covers/labels, and little info either about the performers or the date of recording. Listed below are the LPs in the series which were recorded by Deben Bhattacharya. I haven’t been able to date most of them, but have seen the first – Les Gitans – dated as 1970. Earliest reviews I’ve seen for many, though, were in 1975, suggesting a 1974 (ish) issue date. Further details much appreciated.
Les Gitans Musidisc 30 CV 1102 (1970) Recordings made in Romania, Hungary,Yugoslavia, France, Spain, India, Bulgaria
Grece Musidisc 30 CV 1106
Israel Musidisc 30 CV 1107
Bengale Musidisc 30 CV 1109
Bali Java Musidisc 30 CV 1110
Roumanie Musidisc 30 CV 1111
Yougoslavie Musidisc 30 CV 1112 (1974?)
Boheme Musidisc 30 CV 1113 Side A 1 Na janovej hore 2 Zelene malinaci 3 Joj, joj, joj, joj, sem chaso 4 Chanson d’amour du sud de la Moravie 5 Slobodenka, sloboda 6 Zbojnicka, danse de Moravie- Slovaquie Side B 1 Odzemek, danse de valachie 2 Fujara et chants de bandits 3 Voklepaky, danse solo 4 Starodavny, vieille ronde 5 Prichod jara, jeu d’enfants 6 Ej vojna, chant de conscrit
Iran Musidisc 30 CV 1115 Side A 1 Mahour 2 Chant d’amour 3 Improvisation (Oud) 4 Improvisation (Zarb) 5 Segah Side B 1 Ballade 2 Beyat 3 Isfahan
Hongrie Musidisc 30 CV 1116 Side A 1 Ugros et Csardas 2 Ballade de Podoripuszta 3 Violinistes gitans 4 Ballade Moldave 5 Chant d’ amour gitan , en romani Side B 1 Furulya 2 Szeretnem, Szeruetnem 3 Kad bi suze moje na kamen padala 4 Improvisation gitane au cymbalum 5 Nem zorog a falevele 6 Tambura et choeur
Grand Nord Musidisc 30 CV 1117
1970
Folk Songs and Dances from India Qualiton 12637
Folklore from the Middle East Qualiton 12699 Music from Iran, Jordan, Syria and “adjacent countries”
Voyages Autour du Monde – Iran Philips 831 216 BY (1970?) Tracks (from front cover) Bayate Tork Pahalwani Mahour Bayate Esfahan Zorkhane Tchahargah Shur
Musique du Moyen-Orient Boite a Musique, BAM LD 5716, issued as part of ‘Folklore et musiques de l’univers’ series
1971
The Sitar of India Argo ZFB 48 (coming up soon in a later post in Argo folk blog)
Music from Hungary Argo ZFB 49
Music from Israel Argo ZFB 50 (coming up in a later post in Argo folk blog)
Music from Iran Argo ZFB 51 Recorded in Meshehr and Tahran, 1955
Songs of Krishna Argo ZFB 52 (coming up in a later post in Argo folk blog)
Music from Yugoslavia Argo ZFB 53
Religions of the Middle East Argo ZFB 54 (coming up in a later post in Argo folk blog)
Religions of India Argo ZFB 55 (coming up in a later post in Argo folk blog)
Music from Bangladesh Argo ZFB 74 (coming up in a later post in Argo folk blog)
Musique Populaire Hongroise France, Ocora OCR 54 For track listing click on gatefold scans
Musik fran Bulgarien Caprice, Sweden, CAP 1085 The scans to the right are from a reissue published in 1978 with issue number CAP 1085 on the back cover, but RIKS LPX 4 on the disc labels. The RIKS LPX World of Music series started in 1967. The CAP 1000 series started in 1971. I’ve seen a reference to ‘Musik fran Bulgarien’ having been issued in 1969. So the scans to the right could well be a reissue of a reissue of RIKS LPX 4.
1972
Folkmusik fran Rumanien Caprice, Sweden, CAP 1086 Also issued as Musik fran Rumanien, Expo-Norr, Riks LPX 5 (when?). I’m guessing they’re the same recordings.
Musique Classique d’Iran Boite a Musique, BAM LD 5781 Not certain if this is a Deben Bhattacharya recording
Musique religieuse de la Terre Sainte Boite a Musique, BAM LD 5782
Songs and Dances from Macedonia Argo ZFB 56 (coming up in a later post in Argo folk blog)
Music from Afghanistan Argo ZFB 57
The Syrian Maqams Argo ZFB 58
Songs and Dances from Czechoslovakia Argo ZFB 59
Music from Bangladesh Argo ZFB 74
Two centuries of Bengali Songs Argo ZFB 75 (coming up in a later post in Argo folk blog)
1973
Musique Populaire du Rajastan – Music from the Indian desert France, Ocora OCR 47 (1973?)
Turkisk Musik Caprice Riks LPX 6, also issued as CAP 1087
1974
Dervish Ceremonial Music Argo ZFB 91
Songs and Dances from Nepal Argo ZFB 92 (coming up in a later post in Argo folk blog – if i get to hear it)
Songs of the Santal Aborigines Argo ZFB 93   (coming up in a later post in Argo folk blog – if i get to hear it)
Musik Fran Bengalen Caprice Riks LPX 7
1975
L’Inde Mystique Vol  (?) – Ragas du Matin et du Soir Boite a Musique BAM LD 5014 (1975 or 76?) The BAM LD 5000 to 5111 series were used for stereo re-issues of earlier albums from the label
L’Inde Mystique Vol 1 – Ragas de Benares Boite a Musique BAM LD 5015 (1975 or 76?) The BAM LD 5000 to 5111 series were apparently used for stereo re-issues of earlier material from the label
L’Inde Mystique Vol 2 – Chants, musiques et prieres Boite a Musique BAM LD 5076 The BAM LD 5000 to 5111 series were apparently used for stereo re-issues of earlier material from the label
1978
Religious music from the Holy Land Expo-Norr RIKSLPX 3
1981
Evening Ragas from Benares ASV ALM 4002
Inside Afghanistan ASV (???)
Folk Music from India (audio cassette) Sussex Video, UK, Music & Society HB8
1983
Reflections of Romania – Village and Urban Folk Traditions Nonesuch Explorer, H 72092, re-issue of CAP 1086 (see above), licensed from Caprice Records. Recordings made in 1965.

~ by folkcatalogue on March 10, 2011.