An old LP cover dug out from the Concertzender archives.
LP Oriental Hit Parade, Collection, (1973) Voice of Lebanon VLMX 25. In 1973 this beauty appeared under the Voice of Lebanon record label, a collection LP with Samira Tewfic (also written as Tawfic, Tawfek of Taoufik) from Jordan, Issam Raggi from Lebanon and a singer that is known under the name of Safouan. I couldn’t find anything about Safouan. Searching for Samira Tewfic you’ll come across a lot of fun old clips but any background information? No way. The same applies for Issam Raggi, an hilarious clip in which he sings the English song “Do You? Do You?” and that’s about it.
Then there is the cover. Here we see two nightingales beautifully captured by the camera. Samira Tewfic shines at you with her head of full black hair and richly decorated dress with sparkles. A lovely smile and a beauty spot on the left cheek completes the image. Issam Raggi en Safouan have taken on a more serious pose.
The music on the LP is very fine. With melancholic drama Issam and Samira find a way through the dazing songs. Safouan sings two beautiful long compelling ballads on this LP. A sample of beautiful Arabic pop from the seventies.
The additional material in this broadcast comes from Sima Bina. This Iranian lady is mostly a voice of Iranian folk music. The song (or is it a medley?) “La Jeune Mariée/Quatrains/La Basanée” is from the CD “Iran: Musique Du Sud Du Khorassan” released under “Musique Du Monde/Buda Musique”. Buda Musique is the label that also produced the beautiful Ethiopiques series. Have fun listening….
