The Word: Mohammed El-Bakkar & his Oriental Ensemble's historic recordings, released on the Audio Fidelity label as a single set, Music of the Middle East Vols. 1-6, are quintessential Arabic house-party LPs: must-haves for belly dancers, serious fans of Mid-East music, and jacket collectors alike; gorgeous, hall-of-fame jackets and Audio Fidelity's hi-fi/audiophile production; all recorded in one historic 1957 recording session, released in 1958 (final two volumes in 1962) in several pressings. Vol. 1, Port Said, is the classic best-seller but all are equally great.
Note that "AFSD" is stereo (silver, blue, yellow, or black label); "AFLP" is mono (always gold label). Released in 1958, volumes 1-4 in silver-label stereo with gatefold jackets are collectors items, very hard to find. Volumes 5 and 6 were released in 1962, which was after the company stopped producing gatefold versions (so don't expect any). Specify copy where multiples are listed. Discounts for full sets or multiples.
Links: are to artists bio/discog pages in the Hyp Records guide:
Images: accurately represent items but are not always the exact copy listed/purchased
Discount: ALWAYS try to buy more than one item at a time
Vol. 1: Port Said (Nejla Ates on jacket)
Vol. 2: Sultan of Bagdad
Vol. 3: Music of the African Arab
Vol. 4: The Magic Carpet
Vol. 5: Dances of Port Said
Vol. 6: Exotic Music of the Belly Dancer
What's this? A super-rare "seventh" volume released in 1979. We've had it to sell once, and if we can get it again, we will!
© Hip Wax
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