MUSIC #92: CHORI CHORI 1956 (HINDI OST)

Chori Chori (Secretly), released in 1956, was directed by Anant Thakur and stared the great combo of the era, Raj Kapoor and Nargis Dutt. The movie is said to be inspired by the Hollywood movie “It Happened One Night” and would later inspire another Bollywood movie,” Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin” which starred Aamir Khan and Pooja Bhatt.

The music was composed by Shankar-Jaikishan (SJ), who won the Filmfare Best Music Director for the soundtrack. The lyrics were a joint effort between lyricists Harat jaipuri and Shailendra, both achieving hits with their songs Aaja Sanam and Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi, respectively (which happens to be my favourite too). In my opinion, SJ’s decision to have Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar sing most of the mellow tracks in the movie was an excellent choice. Manna Dey just brought the music and the lyrics to life. The more upbeat tunes from the movie were sung by Mohammad Rafi.

I give this album 5 stars.

Chori Chori 1956: The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Panchhi Banoon Udti Phiroon - Lata Mangeshkar and Chorus

2. Aaja Sanam – Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar

3. All Line Clear – Mohd Rafi

4. Sawa Lakh Ki Lottery - Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd Rafi

5. Rasik Balma - Lata Mangeshkar

Side Two

1. Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi – Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar

2. Us Par Sajan – Lata Mangeshkar

3. Jahan Main Jati Hoon – Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar

4. Man Bhavan Ke Ghar - Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle

5. Thillana - M L Vasanthakumari

MUSIC #92: CHORI CHORI 1956 (HINDI OST)

MUSIC #53 – THE ANDREW SISTERS – FRESH AND FANCY-FREE 1957 (ENGLISH)

To be honest, I have been a bit under the weather and really can’t be bothered blogging or surfing the net….so apologies friends if I have not visited your blog/s recently.

So I am not going to give much write-up about this album, only a bit of background on the Sisters (plagarised from Wikipedia) and to say that if you like harmony singing, dance hall, swing and boogie-woogie music, you’ll like Fresh and Fancy-Free. The music in this ablum is conducted by Bill May and his orchestra.

I give this album 3.5 stars

The Andrews Sisters were a harmony singing group consisting of three actual sisters LaVerne, Maxene and Patty – Laverne Sophia, contralto and redhead (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967), Maxene Angelyn, soprano and brunette (January 3, 1916 – October 21, 1995), and Patricia Marie "Patty" Andrews mezzo-soprano lead singer and blond (born February 16, 1918). Their harmonies and songs are still in train today, covered by entertainers such as Bette Midler, the Puppini Sisters and Christine Aguilera. Throughout their long career, the sisters had sold over well over 75 million records (that being the last official count released by MCA Records in the mid-1970s). Their hit number Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, can be considered an early recording of rhythm and blues.

They are survived by Patty, the youngest at 92.

The Andrew Sisters – Fresh and Fancy-Free (1957)

Side One

1. The Song Is You

2. You Do Something To Me

3. Comes Love

4. Nevertheless

5. With Every Breath I Take

6. Of Thee I Sing

Side Two

1. Hooray For Love

2. My Romance

3. Tea For Two

4. I Could Write A Book

5. Let There Be Love

6. Younger Than Springtime

MUSIC #53 – THE ANDREW SISTERS – FRESH AND FANCY-FREE 1957 (ENGLISH)

MUSIC #52: NAVRANG 1959 (HINDI OST)

If you appreciate classical Indian music and dancing, this is a not to be missed album and movie. And to reinforce what a great masterpiece this is, both in cinematic and musical terms, here’s a simultaneous worldwide posting (from two corners of the world) of the movie review by my friend and fellow blogger, Bolly Deewana (Click HERE for the movie review) and the music by yours truly.

Like the movie, which is directed by the great Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram, the music is by another bollywood heavyweight of that era, C. Ramchandra (CR). CR is also credited for other masterpieces such as Patanga (1949), Sargam (1950),Yasmin (1955), Devta (1956), Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957) and Baarish (1957) to name a few.

As appropriately noted on the back cover of the LP, the highlights of the movie are its exquisite dance numbers and the rich variety of music numbers ranging from the popular to the classical, and sung by Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey and newcomer (and my favourite singer) Mahendra Kapoor (I am surprised he did not get a rap on the back cover though). Rumour has it that Lata Mangeshkar, who was usually the first choice of most music directors of that time, was not asked to sing any of the scores because CR and Lata, who had been having an affair, had a falling out because CR would not leave his wife for Lata! And it is interesting to note that sibling solidaritary and support is not evident in this instance, as Asha obviously had no qualms of taking over badi didi’s (elder sister’s) spot! Oh well, it could be the case of ‘papi pet ka sawaal’ (literally translated as “a matter of the sinful stomach” = survival).

I like and enjoy all of the songs in this album, and Side Two more so than Side One but if I have to choose, my favourite would be “Adha Hai Chandrama Raat Adhi” sung by my favourite singer Mahendra Kapoor. This song is also his debut as a playback singer and came to be a chartbuster hit. The lyrics of this song are just phenomenal; translated the first and second verses would be the following:

Mahendra Kapoor:

Aadha hai chandrama raat aadhi

The night of half moon is half gone

Reh na jaye teri meri baat aadhi, mulaqat aadhi

Hopefully what we have to say is not halved (left unsaid), this rendevous halved (cut short)

Aadha hai chandrama raat aadhi

The night of half moon is half gone

Reh na jaye teri meri baat aadhi, mulaqat aadhi

Hopefully what we have to say is not halved (left unsaid), this rendevous halved (cut short)

Aadha hai chandrama

Half is the moon

Asha Bhosle:

Piya aadhi hai pyaar ki bhaashhaa

My dearest, half (unfulfilled) is the language of love

Aadhi rehne do man ki abhilaasha

Therefore, let your desires be halved (partly relinquished)

Aadhe chalke nayan aadhe chhalke nayan

The eyes are half closed (downcast), the eyes are half closed (downcast)

Aadhi palkon mein bhi hai barsaat aadhi

The lashes too are half closed (downcast) and this rain halved (a drizzle)

Aadha hai chandrama raat aadhi

The night of half moon is half gone

Reh na jaye teri meri baat aadhi, mulaqat aadhi

Hopefully what we have to say is not halved (left unsaid), this rendevous halved (cut short)

Aadha hai chandrama

Half is the moon

Note: “Aadha/Aadhi” literally translates to half or halved in English. The words in brackets would be a better/most appropriate English subsitute in this instance.

Apologies if I got some of this wrong - my mother tongue is actually Punjabi and even that, I admit, I don’t speak too well, being educated in English and Malay

I give this album 4 stars.

Navrang 1959: The Original Soundtrack

Side 1

1. Kari Kari Andhiyari Thi Raat – Asha Bhosle and C. Ramchandra

2. Are Ja Re Hat Nat Khat – Asha Bhosle and Mahendra Kapoor

3. Aa Dil Se Milale – Asha Bhosle

Side 2

1. Tu Chhupi Hai Kahan – Asha Bhosle and Manna Dey

2. Shyamal Shyamal Baran Komal Komal Charan – Mahendra Kapoor

3. Tum Mere Mai Teri – Asha Bhosle

4. Adha Hai Chandrama Raat Adhi – Asha Bhosle and Mahendra Kapoor

Don’t forget to read the movie review HERE at Bollywood Dewana.

MUSIC #52: NAVRANG 1959 (HINDI OST)

MUSIC #10: JAILHOUSE ROCK 1957 (ENGLISH OST)

Jailhouse Rock was Elvis Presley’s third movie and the songs from the movie was released as an EP (seven inch 45 rpm), instead of an LP, in October 1957. The album peaked at number one on the newly established Billboard EP chart. The title song, Jailhouse Rock, which was released as a single in September 1957, also went to number one, on the singles chart.

The movie actually had six songs but only five songs were featured on the OST. The sixth song, “Treat Me Nice” was featured on Side Two of the Jailhouse Rock single. This song peaked at number 18 on the singles chart.

The writers for this album were Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Aaron Schroeder, Abner Silver and Ben Weisman.

Jailhouse Rock – The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley

Writers: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

2. Young And Beautiful – Elvis Presley

Writers: Aaron Schroeder and Abner Silver

Side Two

1. I Want To Be Free – Elvis Presley

Writers: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

2. Don't Leave Me Now – Elvis Presley

Writers: Aaron Schroeder and Ben Weisman

3. {You're So Square} Baby I Don't Care – Elvis Presley

Writers: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Veen’s rating: 3 stars

MUSIC #10: JAILHOUSE ROCK 1957 (ENGLISH OST)