25
Oct
2009
Old School Sunday – A.S. Kang “Main Aashiq Tera”
This A.S. Kang track, has got to be one of my all time faves before he went all “King of Boliyan” on us.
“Main Aashiq Tera” was released after he broke into India with “Gidhian Di Rani.” The song was produced by Charanjit Ahuja.
Although Amazon.com says the album was released in 1991. It was indeed released in the 1980′s. I just cannot pinpoint exactly when.
If you’re digging it, then you can get your hands on the original here.
Oh yeah, for all the Scousers out there…YNWA!
3
May
2009
Old School Sunday – PJD Productions “Giddyan de Rani”
Reaching back to 1996, this track came about in the era that Tru-Skool was talking about when he released “In Tha House” recently. Straight up punjabi tunes mashed with a popular Hip-Hop/R&B beat.
I rinsed this tape for months, as it had some popular mixes of some real folk tunes (“Lambran di Noh,” “Umbh da Boota,” “Main Ki Pyare Vichon.”)
This track effectively used the Shabba Ranks sample “Mr. Loverman” with a small taste of Zhanés “Hey Mr. DJ” at the end.
As far as I know, it was the only release by DJ Stin Mattu and DJ Eezback. When I picked up this tape and looked at the inside cover, I saw that it was recorded at PMC Studios. To this day, I feel like PMC has had a hand in the production, since some of the tracks and samples Panjabi MC has used, are in this album.
July 19, 2009 Edit: I got an email from DJ Stin (yes this DJ Stin) that he is DJ Stin Mattu. Dude has made mad albums since then!
4
Jan
2009
Old School Sunday – A.S. Kang “Valeti Boliyan”
Dating back to the 1970′s, A.S. Kang is legendary in the UK Bhangra scene. He was the first UK based artist to breakthrough in India with the track “Gidhian Di Raniye” in 1978.
During the 90′s, the man never lost a step, releasing album after album. Each one containing at least one boliyan track. My favourite ones of his – and I think for those of you old enough to remember – were the ones off of “Jawani (Youth),” “Flash Back” and “Kang Fu.” Who doesn’t remember dancing to those at receptions?
With a career that spanned four decades, he is one of only a few artists that our parents could identify with, and say he is actually a good singer.
I remember seeing him perform at a wedding reception, and the man was just as emphatic on stage as he was on his albums.
The “Valeti Boliyan” is from the “Kang Fu” album, released circa 1996.
19
Oct
2008
Old School Sunday – Bally Sagoo
I’ve been sitting here for over an hour thinking of which of these three Bally Sagoo tunes I should put up. All three are from the same time period, but are from different Bally albums.
I narrowed the selection down from eight to these three; Kali Teri Gut, Hargunga and Lut Ke Lae Gaye.
Truth be told, I think I spent most of the hour reminiscing about my days in Burlington when these albums were released. Thanking God that my sister passed her driver’s test so we could drive to Malton to get the latest cassettes once a month.
Summer trips to Brampton to spend at my cousins, who for some reason always had a handful of weddings to host, and the resulting basement parties which had it’s fair share of drama because drunk Uncles would get vexed when we wanted to dance to “Mera Laung Gwacha.”
I digress.
Bally Sagoo is one of the most important figures in modern day Bhangra. He helped shape what it is today with his remixes, and during the early nineties, the market was dominated by him.
Checkout his releases during that time period, in what I think are the golden days of Bally;
Wham Bam (1990)
Star Crazy (1991)
Essential Ragga (1992)
Wham Bam 2 (1993)
Bollywood Flashback (1994)
I also got to thank him for introducing us to Cheshire Cat. Probably Cheshire’s best work is in these albums. He was a baaaad man.
I couldn’t decide which one track of his to play, so you get a double dose this week.
Both reggae infused and featuring Cheshire Cat. “Kali Teri Gut” was featured on “Essential Ragga.” The vocalist is Rama.
“Lut Ke Lae Gaye” is sung by one of the original Dons A.S. Kang, and was featured on “Wham Bam 2.” Notice how well the samples played in well with the song.
Kali Teri Gut
Lut Ke Lae Gaye
