Shankar Jaikishan: Chori Chori (1956/1975)

By the time Chori Chori was released the Raj Kapoor and Nargis couple was over. But that didn't affect the music, the Shankar Jaikishan team did very well. They basically defined the sound of the golden age of the Bollywood, the 50's. From Barsaat in 1949 to Jish Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai in 1960. The musical duo even won Chori Chori a filmfare award for best soundtrack.

The most popular Chori Chori songs are the romantic "Aaja Sanam" and "Jahan Main Jaati Ghar" (which is represented on the back of the Lp). They are both charming.

"Man Bhavan Ke Ghar" is for people who like the Mangheskar sisters duet in Azad, but this one in Chori Chori is even better. It was one of my favorites when I first got into Bollywood.

Weirdly enough I would always skip "Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi" because I didin't like the into. Then one day I let it play a little bit longer and it's now one of my favourites.

"Rasik Balma" is a beautifully sung song by Lata. I love the sitar, which is a rare instrument on the album.

"Us Paar Sajan" is good, it's sounds like some Indian folk.

A good cheerful first song,"Panchhi Banoon Udit Phiroon" makes me think a little bit of Madhumati.

Sorry if all I'm saying is how good the songs are, well that's really what I think and "Sawa Lakh Ki Lottery" is great. I love the duets on the Lp.

"All Line Clear" it good , but it's just weird after hearing an emotional song like Aaja Sanam, and then have this comical tune. It's the one I least like.

The last song, "Thillana" rocks. It's classical, but folk. It sticks out a lot from the rest of the album. I like what's different. I can't describe it, well you just have to hear it for yourselfs. Let me know what you think of it!

Tracks:

Side 1
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Panchhi Banoon Udit Phiroon
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Manna Dey: Aaja Sanam
3. Mohd. Rafi: All Line Clear
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Sawa Lakh Ki Lottery
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Rasik Balma

Side 2
6. Manna Dey & Lata Mangeshkar: Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi
7. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Us Paar Sajan
8. Lata Mangeshkar & Manna Dey: Jahan Main Jaati Ghar
9. Lata Mangeshkar & Asha Bhosle: Man Bhavan Ke Ghar
10. M. L. Vasanthakumari: Thillana

Lyrics: Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri

Stella_1's score: 4/5

Get the music now: Shankar Jaikishan Chori Chori

S. Dev Burman: Guide (1965/1966)

Guide is said to be one of the best bollywood soundtrack's of all time, but I don't feel that way about it. To me, it's not the greatest, it's in the "good soundtrack" category because it only has a few good songs. And honestly the movie makes you like the songs more not the opposite. The soundtrack should complement the movie, or I don't even mind when the soundtrack is better than the movie but in the case of Guide I was disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high.

Don't worry, I'm not that disappointed, this is still a good record. "Gaata Rahe Mera Dil" the first song and the hit tune of the movie, with it's mildly jazzy-rock'n'roll feel, is a romantic and classic duet by Kishore Kumar and Lata.

What I find special is the fact that they left the dialogue at the beginning of some tracks. Like for example the laugh in "Aaj Phir Jeene Ki". The song is my favorite, it's so carefree, because of it's simple and sweet melody.

"Sainya Be-I-Maan" and "Piya Tose Naina Laage Re" are great, but you really appreciate the music after watching the dancing and decor in the videos. The second of the two has some wacky noises in it.

After there is the charming, "Tere Mere Sapne" that has the same feel as the first song on the Lp.

The songs I don't like are "Din Dhal Jaye" and "Kya Se Kya Ho Gaye"

"Wahan Kaun Hai Tera" and "Megh De" are sung by S. Dev Burman and they are both better than I expected.

So, overall it's a good soundtrack but it's missing some extra something. It's said to be a classic , you listen and decide for yourselfs.


Tracks:

Side 1
1. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mageshkar: Gaata Rahe Mera Dil
2. S. D. Burman: Wahan Kaun Hai Tera
3. Lata Mageshkar: Piya Tose Naina Laage Re
4. Mohd. Rafi: Din Dhal Jaye

Side 2
5. Lata Mageshkar: Aaj Phir Jeene Ki
6. Mohd. Rafi: Tere Mere Sapne
7. Lata Mageshkar: Sainya Be-I-Maan
8. Mohd. Rafi: Kya Se Kya Ho Gaye
9. S. D. Burman: Megh de
10. Manna Dey & Chorus: He Ram (Bhajan Traditional)

Lyrics: Shailendra

Stella_1's score: 3/5

Get the music now: S. Dev Burman Guide

Naushad: Baiju Bawra (1952/1975)

Baiju Bawra is another soundtrack by Naushad. If you liked Mughal-E-Azam there is a very strong chance that you will like this album as well. The first song, "Tori Jai Jai Kartar" gave me a bad first impression of the record, but don't worry it's the worst song of the album. It's a raga sung by Ustad Amir Khan, and yes I still find his singing annoying. It's a good thing it's a short song. The second song is my favourite. I know I said that I prefered Shamshad Begum's voice to Lata's in the song "Teri Mehfil Men Qismet Azmakar" (Mughal-e-Azam) but at the end of "Doi Koi Gae" Lata's voice really over shadows Shamshad's.

"Mohe Bhool Gaye Sanwariya" is a little less classical but focuses on the melodies and emotion. Lata'a voice is great, in a weird haunting way.

I usually like upbeat tracks, but "Too Ganga Ki Mauj" is an example of a good slow song. My favourite parts are when there is some "snake charmer flute", and I especially like the end when Lata and the chorus sing, even if it's just for a little moment.

In "O Duniya Ke Rakhwale", the background vocals, in the beginning part, really give a kick to the song. Mohd. Rafi's voice is the essence of the tune. Naushad should have put a song like this for Dilip Kumar's caracter in Mughal-e-Azam.

"Insaan Bano" and "Bachpan Ki Mohabbat" don't reach out and get me, there is nothing that special about them."Man Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj" is good when the drums and party start, it's good.

"Jhoole Men Pawan Ke Aai Bahar" is a good song, very playful. If you watch the clip, at the end of the video they are standing together and you can see the sky. It makes me think of this song (at the end of the clip, as well, you can see the silhouettes and the sky) in Mother india (1957)

If you're like me, and you don't really like Ustad Amir Khan's singing, I find that both "Sargam" and "Aaj Gawat Man Mero" are acceptable. He's not that bad.

For the score I would have given it 4/5, but I gave it 3.5/5 because I am not attracted to listen to this record over and over again. I listen to a few songs from time to time. I know the music is very good, I guess it's just not as good as Mughal-e-Azam, for me anyway. But it's deffinitely worth a listen.

*Update (January 08) Ok, now that I have gotten used to more classical soundktracks, I absolutly love this album. It just took me some time. 4/5!

Tracks:

Side 1
1. Ustad Amir Khan: Tori Jai Jai Kartar
2. Lata Mangeshkar, Shamshad Begum, Mohd. Rafi & Chotus: Door Koi Gae
3. Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Too Ganga Ki Mauj
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Mohe Bhool Gaye Sanwariya
5. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Jhoole Men Pawan Ke Aai Bahar
6. Ustad Amir Khan: Sargam

Side 2
7. Mohd. Rafi: Man Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj
8. Lata Mangeshkar: Bachpan Ki Mohabbat
9. Mohd. Rafi: O Duniya Ke Rakhwale
10. Mohd. Rafi: Insaan Bano
11. Ustad Amir Khan & pt.d.v. Paluskar: Aaj Gawat Man Mero

Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Stella_1's score: 4/5

Get the music now: Naushad Baiju Bawra