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The Album of the Century – “The Greatest Album Never Sold”

During the course of the year, a lot of albums are released. While most end up being listened to for a week, or just have the best one or two songs ripped to your ipod, it is becoming rather rare to find an album that can be listened to from end to end without being disappointed.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to daydream that I have a mega budget to put together the album of the century.

The album of the century is like my ’92 Dream Team. If you girls don’t understand that, then compare it to having your favourite couture designers putting together outfits for you for an entire year.

You may be wondering why Lehmber or Kaka is not featured on the album. Well its obvious, those guys are everywhere right now to the point where it’s not that special hearing a song sung by them.

Now that I have your attention, the album of the century consists of eleven tracks sung and produced by what I consider to be the best in the business.

There will be no intros, no outros, no skits, no auto tuned vocals – because the fellas I’ve selected can sing – and there definitely will be no filler tracks. Every single track is there to move you in one way or another.

I’ll call it “The Greatest Album Never Sold”

Track Number 1 – Master Rakesh Produced by Rishi Rich

This song would be a wakeup and open your eyes because it’s great to feel alive song. It would feature a track similar to “Bhare Bazaar” that Rishi did with Master Rakesh on “The Project.” It would provide just enough heat to make you want to get out of bed and jump around while you’re getting ready for the day, as well as make you realise what else you’re in store for on this album.

Track Number 2 – Jassi Sidhu Produced by Sukshinder Shinda

The first dance floor anthem will be sung by one of the top vocalists of today coupled with one of the top producers of today that has a knack for making traditional songs with an emphasis on dhols and bass lines.

We all know what Jassi is capable of, and we all know what Shinda is capable of. We’d be looking at a song that vocally sounds like “Aag,” and musically sounds like “Chardi Kalaa.”

Track Number 3 – Shin Produced by Swami

Time to switch things up and go off on a little tangent with this one.

Swami are an eclectic bunch as well as bring the leading edge of creative beats.

I’m really feeling a Brazilian like Samba fused song here with big drums and percussions. Shin is probably my favourite UK Bhangra vocalist, and he has been around the industry for almost 30 years. His style and range of vocals as well as being able to sing in English would mesh well with the Carnivale theme.

Track Number 4 – Labh Janjua Produced by Kray Twinz

I can tell you’re feeling the album of the century, but we’re just getting started.

When the world first heard the strum of the tumbi followed by the Knight Rider beat kick in, it was like an out of body experience. What some of you may not know is that the Kray Twinz were partly responsible for the beat and experience.

Track 4 would attempt to right the ship, and give the Kray Twinz a chance at redemption and the full credit they deserve.

I’ll admit it, I’m a fan boy of these guys, and with this song I’d want them to just go out of this world with the beat. I want them to be on another planet, and when you hear the track, you’d think you have just heard the pimpest trippiest shit.

Track Number 5 – Sardara S. Gill Produced by Bhota Jagpal

One of my favourite songs from last year came out of nowhere. I hadn’t heard SS Gill sing anything in a long time. But his tunes from “Pure Magic” and his Apna Sangeet days stay fresh in mind from my days as a youth. So when I heard “Ek Sohniye,” it put me into a dancing mood straightaway.

Coincidentally enough, B21s Bhota Jagpal produced the song. To say I want more of that is an understatement.

Someone get a hold of Jandu Littran Wala to link Sardara up with some lyrics. I’m in the mood to dance again people!

Track Number 6 – Master Saleem and Malkit Singh Produced by Panjabi MC

I can tell the past 5 songs have had your heart racing, so I think now would be a good time to slow things down a little.

PMC always has a beat up his sleeve for when you’re in the mood to party, but he also has the ability to create wicked chilled out music.

Among all his hits, “Mirza Part 2” on “Legalised” is often a forgotten track. Couple that with the fact that PMC has history with Master Saleem on such songs like “Dholana,” and we’ve got a recipe for a laid back song.

I got Malkit working with Master Saleem on this track because;

1. He’s a legend, and;
2. Malkit has got a great voice that would sync well with Master Saleem.

Remember Malkit when Bally Sagoo mixed “Jind Mahi?”

Go ahead, layback and do some meditative contemplating with this tune on in the background.

Track Number 7 – A.S. Kang Produced by Dr. Zeus

There was a point in time in the UK when A.S. Kang was the go to guy for when you needed to listen to something while having a couple of drinks. During the mid 90’s he became the man that had the killer boliyan (remember Flashback?)

Zeus is taking a step back from his “Unda Da Influence” days and has moved toward a more traditional sound. I would love to hear all of Zeus’ creativity directed towards a dhol, tumbi and dholki laced beat on a “Giddian Di Rani” type of track. It’ll be something for the tipsy men to jive to.

Track Number 8 – Balwinder Safri Produced by RDB

I may catch a little flack on this one.

I haven’t quite enjoyed RDBs music since early 2000, and for them to get a spot on the album would mean they would have to go with something they excelled at: UK Garage beats.

“Sah Rukh Da” and “Aaja Mahi” were some of the biggest tracks at the time. RDB helped set the “Bhangarage” trend.

Safri was a dominant force in the 90’s. His vocals on the album “Death Jamm” was my all time favourite work of his. It’s something that still sounds fresh and brings back great memories. Back in 1993, I enjoyed Safri on “Death Jamm” because the lyrics he sang on the “Boliyan,” I had seen him perform on TV when I was a kid in the 80’s.

Nowhere else on this album could I tell you what the specific song on the album of the century would be except for this one.

Safri sings “Chotan Ishq Diyan” Produced by RDB

Oh yeah, no MC’s or rappers required on this song.

Track Number 9 – Jazzy B Produced by Tigerstyle

It’s a fact; Sukshinder Shinda has produced all Jazzy B’s albums. Wouldn’t it be nice to know what Jazzy would sound like if someone else was behind the boards?

I’m envisioning a remake of Tigerstyle’s classic “Gaddi Vich Beja.” I want to hear the full extent of Tigerstyles capabilities on this refix. Proper Punjabi drums and a hard-hitting hip-hop break in the middle of the song.

If Jazzy wants to be a thug, we’ll thug him out with this one for sure.

Track Number 10 – Mangal Singh Produced by Deepak Khazanchi

Mangal Singh sang all types of songs in the 80’s, ranging from sad to party. While you may recognize his name from “Rail Gaddi,” we’re not looking to make a stop at the Train Station. But we are looking for a classic 80’s style party tune nonetheless. Hopefully it involves the lyrics to “Yeh Dosti” somewhere in it.

The man responsible for the music is the man who pioneered the modern UK Bhangra band movement; Deepak Khazanchi.

Deepak was the first producer to introduce electronic instruments and synthesizers into his production. He helped the likes of Heera, Alaap and Holle Holle achieve fame with his sound.

Track 11 – Gurdas Maan Produced by Bally Sagoo

The final song in the album has to be reserved for royalty.

Gurdas Maan is not a fan of remixes, but I think when he finds out Bally Sagoo is working his skills for Gurdas, he will be easily convinced.

I don’t think we need anymore dance tracks, but what I think we do need is Gurdas to speak on Punjab, and not in an “Apna Punjab I’m making Saag kind of way.” Something deep and philosophical. I’m sure Bally Sagoo would approach the beat with his usual flair, and I’d prefer he draws his creativity from somewhere between “Wham Bam” and “Hanji.”

That concludes the album of the century. I’m not going to say that everybody is going to rush to the shop to pick it up, but I will say had the album been released today, everyone would’ve downloaded it yesterday. Thus the title “The Greatest Album Never Sold.”