Raga Rock & Pop Sitar
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To anyone who grew up with 1970s FM radio, mentioning "Games People Play" or other pop-sitar tunes can bring shrieks of terror. The heyday of sitar was too much of a good thing even if you dug Ravi Shankar's endless raga concerts. The world of sitar is generally two-fold: classical Indian music played properly on a carefully tuned, traditional instrument; and a cheesy twang added gratuitously to 1970s rock, pop, and country, usually to signify the musicians' hipness to psychedelic drugs. ("Pop sitar" here means all tunes except classical, jazz, or soul/funk played on either the traditional sitar or the electric sitar.) The Beatles' adventures in India and the electric sitar gave pop sitar a campy life of its own. The electric sitar was invented not for amplification's sake but because the true sitar was considered too difficult to master. It soon became a popular effect despite sounding sometimes as convincing as a kazoo imitating a horn. Session guitarists added it to their repertoires, arrangers worked it in as they could, and producers twanged the precarious tightrope of taste. Some country artists even took to it as a previous generation had adopted Hawaii's steel guitar. Whether convenience or scourge, electric, pop sitar reflects the ugly, cheap side of psychedelia. Overall, however, sitar reminds us that the contemplative life is as alluring as ever in this world of harsh beats. See Vinyl Safari for other Indian and Indo-jazz LPs, some partly pop-sitar. Buying: Most pop-sitar LPs are very scarce, even the awful ones, yet LPs with an odd sitar track abound. |
Raga Rock/Pop Sitar LPs
| Rating | |
| 7 | Jayram Acharya: Sitar Goes Latin; EMI/Odeon SMOCE-2003; 1969 (Enoch Daniels, arranger) |
| 8 | Kali Bahlu Takes the Forest Children on a Journey of Cosmic Remembrance; Liberty/World Pacific WPS-21875 |
| 7 | [V.] Balsara & his Singing Sitars: Great International Hits; EMI/Odeon S-MOCE-2002; 1969 (India; 1st press has bird, jacket rear btm rt corner) |
| 6 | Vinnie Bell: Pop Goes the Electric Sitar; Decca DL-74938 |
| 3 | Prahba Devi: Sitar Goes International; Audio/Kaybee KBLS-110 (the worst) |
| 7 | The Folkswingers: Raga Rock; World Pacific WPS-1846 (Harihar Rao) |
| 5 | Nirvana Sitar & String Group: Sitar & Strings; Audio Fidelity/Mr. G 9001; 1968 |
| 7 | Rajput & the Sepoy Mutiny: Flower Power Sitar; Design SDLP-280 (supremely awful) |
| -» | Ananda Shankar |
| 6 | Lord Sitar; Capitol ST-2916 |
| 6 | Big Jim Sullivan: Sitar Beat; Mercury SR-61137 |
Partly Pop[/Rock] Sitar LPs
| Rating | |
| 5 | 101 Strings: Sounds of Today; Alshire S-5078 |
| 7 | The Amboy Dukes: Journey to the Center of the Mind; Mainstream S-6104/56105 (psyche; with sitar "Psalms of Aftermath") |
| 7 | The Banana Splits: We're the Banana Splits; Decca DL-75075; 1969 (TV show; "In New Orleans") |
| 6 | Les Baxter/Various: Wild in the Streets ST; Capitol/Tower SKAO-5099; 1968 |
| 7 | Archie Bell & the Drells: There's Gonna Be a Showdown; Atlantic SD-8226; 1969 (e-sitar in "Here I Go Again") |
| 5 | Vinnie Bell: Good Morning Starshine; Decca DL-75138 ("Aquarius") |
| 7 | Ambrose Brazelton/Edward Shanaphy: And the Beat Goes On & On; Kimbo Educational KIM-5010 (kid funk/sitar; 12 '60s mod-pop-rock hits) |
| 6 | Jerry Byrd: The Polynesian Suite; Monument SLP-18107; 1968 |
| 3 | Al Caiola: King Guitar; United Artists UAS-6586; 1967 ("Stag or Drag") |
| 6 | Al Caiola: Let the Sunshine In; United Artists UAS-6712 (partly electric sitar) |
| 7 | Al Caiola: Blockbuster Movie/TV Themes; United Artists/Two Worlds TW-9102 (Vinnie Bell on "Assignment Munich"; also as Theme from the "Magnificent 7 Ride" '73; United Artists/Avalanche AV-LA058-F; 1973) |
| 8 | Chocolate Watch Band: No Way Out; Capitol/Tower ST-5096; 1967 ("Gone and Passes By") |
| 8 | Chocolate Watch Band: The Inner Mystique; Capitol (with sitar; covers The Brogues' "I Ain't No Miracle Worker") |
| 6 | Bobby Christian: Vibe-brations; Ovation OV-14-06; 1970 ("Mooganga") |
| 8 | Continental Four: Dream World; Jay-Walking JWL-1020; 1972 |
| 7 | The Corporation: A "Sound" Contemporary Musical Investment; Command RS-929-SD (mod/sitar dir. Loren Becker & Robert Byrne; w/Vinnie Bell, Dick Hyman..) |
| 4 | The Bob Crewe Generation: Music to Watch Birds By; Dynavoice DY-31902; 1967 |
| 8 | The Jimmy Castor Bunch Featuring the Everything Man: Butt of Course...; Atlantic SD-18124; 1974 |
| 7 | The Jimmy Castor Bunch Featuring the Everything Man: Supersound; Atlantic SD-18150; 1975 ("What's Best?") |
| 7 | Martin Denny: A Taste of India; Liberty LST-7550; 1968 |
| 7 | Do'a: Light Upon Light; Philo PH-1056; 1977 (primordial New Age/occult/sitar/flute/guitar/mbira..) |
| 7 | Do'a: Ornament of Hope; Philo PH-9000; 1979 (primordial New Age/occult/sitar/flute/guitar/mbira..) |
| 8 | Donovan: Sunshine Superman; Columbia/Epic BN-26217 |
| 8 | Dave Dudley: The Pool Shark; Mercury SR-61276 (excellent tho only one trucker song: "In the General Direction of the World" with e-sitar) |
| 7 | The Bernard Ebbinghouse Orchestra: The Big Band Sound/Orchestral Sounds/Rhythmic Moods/In a Quiet Mood; Bosworth Backgrounds BLP-147; 1976 ("It's All Go"; production/mod) |
| 7 | The Fireballs featuring Jimmy Gilmer: Bottle of Wine; Atlantic/Atco SD-33-239; 1968 ('60s psyche/electric sitar "Groovy Motions") |
| 3 | Ron Frangipane: Rated X for Excitement; Mainstream MRL-300 (Vinnie Bell, electric) |
| 7 | Free Orbit; MPS 15.22517-8; 1975/1970 ("You Got It"--funky rock; Udo Lindenberg, Peter Herbolzheimer..) |
| 7 | Mort Garson: The Zodiac Cosmic Sounds; Elektra EKS-74009; 1967 |
| 6 | Danyel Gerard: Atmosphere ST; Gema/CBS S-64222; 1971 (in French) |
| 2 | Jackie Gleason: The Now Sound for Today's Lovers; Capitol (w/Emil Richards) |
| 6 | Robert Gordon: Rock Billy Boogie; RCA Victor AFL1-3294; 1979 (rockabilly/Christmas "Blue Christmas"/electric sitar "Walk On By") |
| 9 | Bruce Haack: The Way-Out Record for Children; Dimension 5 D-131; 1968 ("Mudra") |
| 7 | Bruce Haack: Listen Compute Rock Home--The Best of Dimension 5; Emperor Norton; 1999 (compilation; "Mudra") |
| 4 | Joe Harnell: Bossa Now!--A Total Sound Experience; Columbia CS-9499 |
| 7 | Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass: Waitaminute; MPS MB-21751; 1973 ("Wild Chick" w/Sabu Martinez, Herb Geller..) |
| 5 | Paul Horn Quintet: Monday, Monday; RCA Victor LSP-3613; 1966 ("Acapulco Gold") |
| [Incredible String Band, various records] | |
| 5 | Marianne Faithful: Go Away from My World; London PS-452 ("Wild Mountain Time" w/Big Jim Sullivan) |
| 7 | Wanda Jackson: Wanda Jackson Country!; Capitol ST-434 |
| 8 | Saeed Jaffrey: The Art of Love (Kama Sutra); Vanguard VSD-79228; 1966 (spoken w/sitar) |
| 7 | Jan & Dean: Filet of Soul; Liberty LST-7441 ("Norwegian Wood"; live) |
| 5 | Jerry Kennedy Plays with All Due Respect to Kris Kristofferson; Mercury SR-61339 (w/Pete Drake; "Casey's Last Ride") |
| 6 | Moe Koffman Goes Electric; Jubilee JGS-8009 ("Lord Have Mercy"--mod-funky) |
| 7 | Moe Koffman: Moe's Curried Soul; Buddah/Kama Sutra KSBS-2018 ("Curried Soul") |
| 6 | Chim Kothari: Sound of Sitar; London/Deram DES-18001; 1966 |
| 7 | Phil Kraus/Living Percussion: The Beat Goes On; RCA Camden CAS-2255; 1969 (w/Dick Hyman) |
| 8 | Dr. Timothy Leary: Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out ST; Mercury MG-21131 (sitar/veena, Moog, voice; Performance PERF-389; film never released) |
| 3 | Enoch Light & the Glittering Guitars; Project 3 PR-5038-SD; 1969 ("Games People Play"; Vinnie Bell) |
| 7 | Enoch Light & the Light Brigade: The Brass Menagerie 1973; Project 3 PRSD-5060; 1972 (mod, funky; w/Candido conga, Vinnie Bell electric sitar "Season of the Witch", Dick Hyman Moog) |
| 7 | Enoch Light & the Light Brigade: Future Sound Shock; Project 3 PR-5077-QD (percussion/sitar/Brasil/caribeat; "Caravan"; Vinnie Bell, sitar) |
| 8 | Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton; ABC/Impulse AS-9184; 1969 ("Blues for Hari": mod bossa w/Francisco Aguabella, Bill Plummer..) |
| 3 | Henry Mancini: The Party; RCA Victor LSP-3997; 1968 ("The Party"--instrumental) |
| 6 | Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66: Equinox; A&M SP-4122; 1966 ("Chove Chuva--Constant Rain") |
| 7 | Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing; Sidewalk/Camaret ST-5000 ("Green Tambourine") |
| 6 | Yvette Mimieux/Ustad Ali Akbar Khan/Pandit Mahapurush Misra: Flowers of Evil; Connoisseur Society CS-2007 |
| 4 | Tony Mottola's Guitar Factory; Project 3 PR-5044-SD; 1970 ("Tequila") |
| 6 | Stanley Myers: Kaleidoscope ST; Warner Bros. WS-1663; 1966? ("Shazam!"; w/John Mayer, Diwan Motihar, Keshave Sathe) |
| 8 | Chitra Neogy: The Perfumed Garden; Mercury/Pulsar AR-10600 (sex instruction) |
| 7 | Hap Palmer: Movin'; Educational Activities, Inc./Activity Records AR-546; 1973 (kid funk/Moog/sitar; "Far East Blues") |
| [Jeannie C. Riley] | |
| 8 | Don Robertson: Dawn; Mercury/Limelight LS-86067 (exotic/out/psyche/sitar) |
| 6 | Rotary Connection; Cadet Concept LPS-312 |
| 7 | Don Sebesky: The Distant Galaxy; Verve V6-5063 |
| 3 | Bobby Shad & the Bad Men; Mainstream/Red Lion MRL-306 ("Prelude/Instant Karma") |
| 3 | Jack Sheldon: The Warm World of; Dot DLP-25908 ("Nature Boy") |
| 7 | Lalo Schifrin: Music from Mission Impossible; Dot DLP-25831 ("The Sniper"--Bill Plummer) |
| 8 | The Shocking Blue; Polydor; 1968 (in U.S. as Colossus CS-1000) |
| 7 | The Shocking Blue at Home; Pink Elephant; 1969 |
| 7 | The Soulful Strings: Groovin' with the Soulful Strings; Cadet LPS-796; 1967 ("Within You Without You") |
| 7 | The Soulful Strings: Another Exposure; Cadet LPS-805 ("Inner Light" & "Soul Message") |
| 8 | The Soulful Strings: The Magic of Christmas; Cadet LPS-814; 1968 (Ron Steele on "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy") |
| 6 | Sound of Genesis/Victor Jay/Astronauts: Journey to the Moon; Buddah BDS-5045 (partly spoken; rock w/sitar & electronic effects) |
| 8 | The Standells: The Best of; Rhino RNLP-70176; 1986/1966-8 (compilation; "Animal Girl") |
| 6 | Big Jim Sullivan: Le Pays des Merveilles; Disques Vogues CLD-708.30; 1967 ("Haschish-Faction") |
| 6 | Ultimate Spinach; MGM SE-4518 (Alan Lorber) |
| 7 | The Unfolding: How to Blow Your Mind & Have a Freak-Out Party; Audio Fidelity AFSD-6184; 1967 ("Prana") |
| 6 | The Ventures: Super Psychedelics; Liberty LST-8052 |
| 7 | The Ventures: Hawaii Five-O; Liberty LST-8061 ("Games People Play") |
| 6 | Peter Walker: Rainy Day Raga; Vanguard VSD-79238; 1967 (sitar-esque) |
| 6 | Peter Walker: Second Poem to Karmela or Gypsies are Important; Vanguard VSD-79282; 1968 ("Mixture" combines Indian instruments & ondioline) |
| 5 | Various: Fusion; KPM 1121; 1973 (mainly funky rock) |
| 5 | Various: Performance ST; Warner Bros. BS-2554 ("The Hashishin") |
| 5 | Various: Quadraphonic Demonstration Album--Program 2; Vanguard VSQ-2X; 1972 (Joan Baez: "Love is Just a Four-Letter Word") |
[Partly] Pop-Sitar 45s
| Rating | |
| 6 | Alexys: Big Wayne/The Last of Me; Dot 16994 (country blues/novelty/folk prod. Bonnie Guitar; electric sitar) |
| 5 | Louis Armstrong: Willkommen/The Happy Time; Brunswick ("Willkommen" only) |
| 6 | Chim Kothari: Sitar 'n'Spice/Indian Bat; London/Deram 45-DEM-85002 |
| 7 | Dr. Timothy Leary: Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out Parts 1 & 2; Mercury 72713 (ST promo; Part 2 not on the LP) |
| 7 | The Lemon Pipers: Green Tambourine; Kama Sutra (reissue backed w/Ohio Express: Yummy Yummy Yummy) |
| 7 | Doc Severinsen: Knowing When to Leave/Barbarella; Command 45-4125 (w/Don Sebesky) |
| 7 | The Shocking Blue: Venus/Hot Sand; Colossus C-108 ("Hot Sand" only) |
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