Yesterday, The Lion’s track was misuploaded. Today, we offer a new track in that post called “Bing Crosby.”

Bade Ghulam Ali Khan– Raag Malkauns

For much of the first part of last century, Ghulam Ali Khan was the reigning doyen on the Indian art song. This recording is from ‘61. My knowledge of the technics of North Indian classical music is exceedingly poor, but in Khan’s voice I hear a real heft, a lifting of weight, of pushing air through his (substantial) frame. There’s a gravity to it that’s both immediately appealing and also slightly off-putting. Putting the record on commits you a certain focus for the next half hour, it’s never something I get lost in, but always something that I’m slightly at odds with. Sort of like being in the forest in the dark. Not a lot of records do this to me.

[read an article about Bade Ghulam Ali Khan here]

Kishore Kumar– Guni Jano Bhakt Jano, [Fun Songs]

Kishore Kumar was a renaissance man of the kind that the world cinema has rarely seen. He was a producer, director, leading man and he sung his own songs! When I was growing up, my dad had an LP called “Fun Songs – Kishore Kumar”. As a 6 year old, I rocked out hard and often to “Ina Mina Dika”, but when I found that record again about 15 years later, I was amazed at the depth of the other songs. This one in particular struck me; the breakdown at the end is actually in the form of the call and response of a simple Hindu prayer, but with the names of deities replaced by movie stars of the time period.

[visit Kishore Kumar’s website here, buy Kishore Kumar stuff here]

Mukesh– Chand Si Mehbooba Ho Meri, [Mukesh: Love Songs]

The pleasure of this song should be immediately apparent. I’ve often thought of learning the lyrics and singing it for my mom on her birthday. I’m not that good a son though.

[visit Mukesh’s website here, buy Mukesh stuff here]