These are old recordings I have on vinyl that are either hard to find, or are out of print.  I’m very lucky that my mother gave me these, a few I believe belonged to my grandfather.  Most of these are the albums I heard around the house growing up.

Some of these record labels are long gone as well as the material being out of print.  So, I’m listing them here in case you may find one of these at a yard-sale, or used record store.  If you find any, buy them, this is prime stuff!

I love the old recordings, I love the musicianship, the atmosphere of the studio and simple, unadorned (save reverb!) recording techniques that make albums of this era such satisfying listening.  These songs were most likely done live in the studio, which adds so much to the immediacy of the recorded moment (as opposed to over-dubs).

The musicians who made these recordings were of immigrant parents and they kept this stuff alive and well in clubs and venues because it’s what they heard in their homes.  This music their families played on the phonographs at home, and picnics and Haflas, the music from the old country.

This is the history of any musician involved in making Middle Eastern music today, here in America.  There would be no scene anywhere today if it wasn’t for these individuals and many others not listed here, who’ve paved the way.

Many performers from these generations made this music accessible for American audiences on the East and West Coast, in restaurants, clubs and parties, as well as providing the old songs for many folks from the Middle East and Mediterranean who were living in the United States, wanting to hear songs from home.

I’ve browsed many web-sites and so few dancers and musicians have experienced a time when “Live” music was all you ever heard in a venue that featured belly dancing, and no one danced to a recording in front of an audience.

Many of these albums were among the first available for belly dancers to learn and practice from, so the dancer would learn how to move “with” a band.  This was the music many belly dance instructors taught their students with.

Many of these recordings, and others from this era, were also among the first available for musicians to have recorded songs available to learn from.  These albums were splendid text-books for so many, certainly myself included.  This was an education for the price of a record!

This was a great time when bands actually played songs instead of endless improvising.

This was great music, rich with many cultures. As I say, these recordings are history preserved.
 

Vinyl Recordings:

Armenia, Armenia:  Hachig Kazarian and his Ensemble (Monitor label)
I have seen this on Cd, among some other Monitor releases.  I do know that recently Smithsonian Folkways has purchased the Monitor catalog.  The back covers of these albums show many titles of other albums and artists who’ve been on this label.  I hope that Smithsonian re-releases them.

An Evening at the Café Feenjon:  The Feenjon Group (Monitor Label)
I’ve seen this only on vinyl, my guess is that it’s out of print.  Back cover lists two other Feenjon Group albums: The Feenjon Group Goes Greek and Jerusalem of Gold.

The Joy Of Belly-Dancing:  George Abdo (Monitor Label)
Other Abdo releases: Belly-Dancing with George Abdo, The Art of Belly-Dancing, and The Magic of Belly-Dancing.Belly-Dance: The Best Of George Abdo was recently released on Cd on Smithsonian Folkways.  I’ve seen no other Abdo listings on their web-site, nor other Monitor re-releases.

Harpoot To Istanbul:  Edward Mekjian Ensemble (Nile Records)
Nile Records doesn’t give any location where it was based.  The label says Mekjian Enterprises, so I guess that it was his own label.  Recording info claims recording and production done in Avon and Maynard, Massachusetts.

Greece after Sunset:  George Righellis (Nile Records)
This has most of the same line-up of musicians as the Harpoot album.

Belly-Dance Music from the Middle East:  Eddie Mekjian Ensemble (Fiesta Record Company)
This company was from New York and lists other albums and artists on the back cover.

The Seventh Veil:  Artie Barsamian and his Orchestra (Kapp Label)
My copy has a publishing date of 1959, from New York.  Another album on Kapp is Shadows in the Casbah.
Two other Artie Barsamian albums I have are Caravan East (Blue Jay Records, Watertown, Ma.), Gems of Sesame, and More Belly-Dance: Music of the Middle East (Fiesta Label)

Port Said: Mohammed Ek-Bakkar and his Ensemble  (Audio Fidelity Label)
Copyright lists this as released in 1957, New York.

Rendezvous in Istanbul:  The Gomidas Band (Roulette Label)
Others in this series include the Rendezvous title in Armenia and Greece, all by The Gomidas Band.

A Mid-Eastern Odyssey:  John Berberian Ensemble (Olympia Records)
New Jersey for this one, list other Berberian recordings on back.

Strictly Belly-Dancing, The Second Volume:  Eddie “The Sheik” Kochak (Amerba label)
1977, New York

Karoon Hayastan: Varoujan Assadourian, with Richard Hagopian and his Ensemble:
No Label, mentions recorded at Victory Recording Studio, Fresno, California.

Armenian Songs:  Jack Baghsarian (Heeshadag)
Olympia Recording Studio, New Jersey.

A Unique Rendition of Armenian Songs:  Onnik Dinkjian (Ani Records)

An Evening In Damascus: Fairuz, Sabah and others (Capitol)

Arabesque, Vol. 2: Authentic Oriental Dance Tempos (Orient)
Rashid sales Company, Brooklyn, New York
 

Cd Recordings:
These are still in print, but are old recordings from sixties and seventies.

1924 Mass Ave, Volume One  (Argo Records Label)
Live recording from the Averof in Cambridge, Massachusetts. www.argoint.com

Armenian Festival:  Armenian Song and Dance Ensemble (Monitor Label)

Armenian Folk Songs and Dances:  Armenian Song and Dance Ensemble (Monitor Label)

Belly-Dance: The Best Of George Abdo (Smithsonian Label)
 

Cassette Tapes:

One Man’s Passion: George Mgrichian Ensemble (Shanachie Label)
Publishing date lists this as 1990