The last generation of Iranian pop/psychedelic singers on 45 rpm vinyl records (EPs)
by: Amir Mansour
آخرین نسل صفحه های 45 دور ساخت ایران از خوانندگان پاپ
در این نوشتار کوتاه، به طور خلاصه به چهره های موثر در تحول موسیقی پاپ ایرانی پرداخته و به مهمترین آثار ایشان برروی صفحه های وینیل 45 دور اشاره می شود و سپس تاثیر آنها بر نسل جوانتری که مسیر تحول و نوگرایی در موسیقی روز را از موسیقی "مردم پسند" به موسیقی "مردم گرا" پی گرفته اند، پرداخته شده است. نسل جوانتری که آثاری بسیار محدود از آنها به صورت صفحه در دسترس است و اوج فعالیت آنها به سالهای پس از 1352 شمسی بازمی گردد که عملا تولید گسترده صفحه های 45 دور در ایران، دچار رکود شده و از سال 1354 نیز، با جایگزین شدن کامل نوار کاست، تولید صفحه های وینیل 45 دور، با تعطیل کامل مواجه می گردد. با این نوشتار که از فصلنامه صفحه سنگی شماره 29 نقل میشود و تکمله ای بر دو مقاله قبلی مندرج در فصلنامه مذکور، یعنی "تاریخچه فشرده ای از سیر تحول پاپ جهانی در ایران" و "گروه های بیت ایرانی در صفحه های 45 دور" است، نمونه ای بر استفاده از متدولوژی دیسکوگرافی و خود صفحه ها به عنوان اسنادی قابل اعتماد در پژوهشهای تاریخ معاصر موسیقی در ایران ارائه شده است و امید که مورد توجه و استفاده علاقمندان قرار گیرد. دوستان بسیاری به انحاء گوناگون، به تهیه این نوشتار کمک کرده اند که مجال مناسبتری برای سپاسگزاری درخور از یکایک ایشان مورد نیاز است و مثل همیشه رهین منت این عزیزانم. امیر منصور
Note:
This article is from "SAFHEH SANGI" (The Persian Discography Journal # 29) and has provided to complete my other papers "A brief history of the World Pop Music in Iran" and "Iranian Beat Bands on 45s" to introduce the last pop/psychedelic 45 rpm vinyl records, produced in Iran.
The main known pioneer singers of Iranian pop music on 45 rpm vinyl records were Viguen, Mohammad Nouri, Abbas Mehrpouya and Manouchehr Sakhayy. They have recorded their pop songs or covered some famous Western songs in late 1950's. Although there are a lot of data of their works but a complete discography of their vinyl records is not in reach. A part of their 45 rpm records on "Royal" label are available through Persian Royal 45 but their EPs on Persian rare vinyl labels like "Ahang", "Jamshid", "ABC", "MRC", "MRGC", "Philips", "Metro", "Largo", "TOP" and "Ahang e Rooz" have not been listed yet.
All 1960's and early 1970's are the golden age of vinyl records in Iran because of different factories for pressing the records, increasing the labels for all styles of Persian music, private recordings and limited reproduction orders for a local distribution, folk recordings of many cities and towns in all provinces, reproducing the world pop, soul, jazz and rock music for Iranian market beside Azeri, Arabic and Indian vinyl records considering the exportation. New faces like Artoush, Narmella, Aref, Ravanbakhsh, Ramin and Ramesh helped the pop music to spread and develop. By mid 60's Iranian Beat Bands made an important point in Persian pop and Psychedelic music and most of them are mentioned in Iranian Beat Bands on 45s article.
1- Viguen: After Royal RT188 (AJ189: Mahtab, AJ 190: Gomshodeh) of late 1950's, his other songs are released on the earliest Iranian records like "Ahang" (pressed in Germany), ABC (pressed in England) & Philips (pressed in Holland), MRC (Musical Record Company) in late 1950's up to 1963 and the on "Iran Gram", "Mono Gram", "Royal", "Ahang e Rooz", "Apollon Fine Music" and many other small, local and private labels up to 1973/4 beside "Royal" RL-9 vinyl LP and two other LPs released in USA after his immigration in 1975.
2- Mohammad Nouri: After two 78 rpm records on Royal label (AJ203/204 - RT195: Maryam1/2 & AJ205/206- RT196: Arezoo/ Sowgand) in late 1950's, 3 of his vinyl EPs are known on Royal label yet (RT195- RT196- RT320) all from early 1960's beside less than 5 EPs on Iran Gram label of those days and finally 2 vinyl 7" 45 rpm records ('arousi & bia bar e safar bandim)on "Pars Record" about 1970. Nouri also has less than 5 known EPs on Ahang label from the late 1950's up to 1961. He has created his own style in a folk-psychedelic music in Iran.
3- Abbas Mehrpouya: He Has no 78s but a number of songs on different early labels like Viguen's vinyl records. Mehrpouya's early works are covers of some famous songs like "Don't be cruel" by "Elvis Presley" but he had three trips which influenced on his views and works. The first was to Japan so Royal RT350 of early 1960's is a song on a Japanese melody and on label of its first issue is written "Presented to the the people of Japan". Some years later, He went to India and learned about Indian music and also, to play the sitar. After this trip, sitar appeared in his new songs. Last trip was to Africa and all of his experiences push him to participate in creating a new wave in Iranian fusion/psychedelic music in early 1970's. Songs like "Soul Raga", "Meharaja Dance", "Katanga", "Fanoos", "Ghabileh e Laili", "Aseman migeryad emshab" and some other songs are his last works and show his view to composing, using instruments and performance. "Ahang e Rooz" company had gathered some of his EPs in a 33 rpm LP (SARLP 501), named "Jambo Africa"
4- Manouchehr Sakhayy: He entered to music world through his employment in "Radio of Iran" in 1958, when the 78 rpm recordings were stopped and vinyl period started in Iran.. The first EP of "Ahang" belongs to him and he has several songs on different 45 rpm labels up to 1975 and finishing 45 rpm era in Iran. "Manouchehr" also has an "Ahang e Rooz" vinyl LP (ARLP1024).
5- Artoush who was an Armenian pop singer with 4 famous songs and singing in "Persians" beat/pop band and some duets with his wife on vinyl 45s in mid 1960's and before his immigrant to Armenia in Soviet Union.
6- Gholamali Ravanbakhsh, with a number of EPs, most of them from 60's and a few of them released in early 1970's.
7- Aref, who has sung many songs for movies beside a great number of pop songs from the mid 60's up to last days of vinyl 45 rpm producing in Iran in 1974/5 and there are 4 compilation of his best songs, two of them on "Royal" label (RL15 & RL??) and two others on LPs on "Ahang e Rooz" label (ARLP1028 & ARLP1049). He also has performed some songs for "Golden Ring" beat/pop band, released as EPS in 60'S.
8- Ramin, Rassaei, Yazdanparast, Zia, Enayat, Parviz, Farzin, Wilson & Fereidoun Farrokhzad are other main male Persian pop singers in the second half of 1960's on Iran produced vinyl records. Jamshid Sheibani and his unforgetable single, "Namehrabani" must added to this list as is released in mid 60's, although most of his records are made in USA with "Jamshid" label 78s and 45s. We have not mentioned Iranian Beat Bands here and EPs of their members because there is an special article about them in your reach.
9- Known female singers like Rouhbakhsh, Delkash, Pooran, Elaheh, Yasamin, Parvin . . . had some pop 78s in 1940s and 1950s in cooperation with composers like Abbas Shapouri, Majid Vafadar, Anoushirvan Rowhani, Bozorg & Javad Lashgari and Homayoun Khorram. Almost all of them have continued performing pop songs of mentioned composers on vinyl 45s and new faces like Narmella, Dalileh, Beheshteh, Parvin Ghaffari (just 2 mega rare Jazz EPs), Parto, Ramesh, Nahid, Ahdieh, Gougoush, Tila, Giti and Alice added to them and composers like Jahanbakhsh Pazouki, Ataollah Khorram and Parviz Maghsadi made more pop songs and new styles and generation of beat, pop and psychedelic records released by female singers in the second half of 1960's.
10- Gougoush was the main female pop singer on Iran produced vinyl records. There are rare EPs of her teenage days on different labels like Iran Gram, Monogram and Royal in 1960's. Her best seller songs are on Ahang e Rooz label from early 1970's by performing songs of composers like Babak, Suleiman Akbari, Shameizadeh, Esfandiar Monfaredzadeh, . . . and songwriters like Iraj Jannati Atayy, Ardalan Sarfaraz, Shahyar Ghanbari and Shirazi. Although more than 70 of her EPs on main labels are listed and she has a LP on Imperial label (R-516), two Royal LPs and seven Ahang e Rooz LPs beside two Barcley French label and one other Italian RCA, EPs, but a complete discography of her works, containing all of released records especially the private and limited pressings is not in reach. Her rarest records are 3 picture label EPs from her teenage days and are soundtracks of a film from 1967 named, "Ganj o Ranj".
11- Ramesh, Giti, Dinamik, Rashin, Simin Ghanem, Fereshteh and Neli are other female pop/psychedelic singers on Persian 45 rpm vinyl records before stopping its producing in 1974. Hayedeh also has some pop EPs, the most famous of them is a duet beside Aref on Ahang e Rooz label.
12- Farhad, is the central point in evolution of Iranian pop music after leaving "Black Cats" beat band in 1967 and releasing 7 EPs like "Jom'eh", "Hafteh e Khakestari", "Shabaneh", "Maskh (Ayyneha)", "Reza motori" O. S. T., "Asir e Shab" and "Khasteh". He also has a 4 track Monogram EP (EX-145), is not in Persian and there is a double EP of "My fair lady" translated soundtracks, seems some of tracks has been performed by Farhad.
13- Fereidoun Foroughi, who has also a great role in creating an Iranian style of psychedelic music and singing with his 10 EPs: "Zendoun e del", "Gham e tanhayy asiret mikoneh", "Namaz", "Adamak 1 & 2 (Divaneh e man)", "Fetneh chakmehpoush", "Ghouzak e pa", "Mahi e khasteh e man" (2 covers), "Tangna" and "Hamisheh ghayeb" (2 covers)
14- Kourosh Yaghmaei, with a new style in playing of electric guitar in Persian songs and releasing three Ahang e Rooz EPs, "Gol e yakh", "Sarab e to" and "Leila".
15- Dariush, who was a member of Maghsadi Group beside Keivan, Masis, Neli, Onik, Afshin and Alice and could find his own style in Iranian psychedelic music. His 21 known released EPs show the path of progress in his style by common works with composers like Varoujan. A non-complete list of his EPs are: 1-"Tang e ghoroobeh", 2-"Gham e eshghet man o daghoon mikoneh", 3-"Be man nagoo dooset daram", 4-"Gozashtehay e door", 5-"Zendegi ye bazieh", 6-"Mah lagha" (rare), 7-"Cheshm e man", 8-"Zendooni; soundtrack of Gozar e Akbar" (2 covers- rare), 9-"Dastay e to; soundtrack of Deshneh"10-"Hassoud", 11-"Man o del", 12-"Lalayy" (rare), 13-Chi misheh; soundtrack of Shir tou shir" (the rarest EP), 14-"Khaar" (rare), 15-"Booy e khoob e gandom", 16-"Khooneh", 17-"Bonbast", 18-"Panjereh; soundtrack of Ali konkouri" (very rare), 19-"Pesaram" (rare), 20-"Jangal; soundtrack of Khorshid dar mordab" & 21- "Zohreh/Rahayy" (very rare - its vinyl must not be pressed and just its cover has been seen)
16- Although singers like Giti and Ramesh have LPs and many EPs even in the last days of Iran pressed 45 rpm records, but some other singers who made the generation of new wave pop/psychedelic music in the last days of producing vinyl 45s in Iran are listed below and as much as possible, a list of their vinyl records have been prepared. Many of these records are very limited edition and more songs of most of the listed artists, may be released on cassette tapes in mid 1970's. Important musicians in psychedelic area (like "Habib" and "Amir Aram") or famous singers in pop area (like "Leila Forouhar", "Noushafarin" and "Shohreh) have no Iran produced vinyl EPs:
- Hootan; with 2 EPs: "Seday e geryeh miad" (2 covers) & "Asir e payyz"
- Touraj, with 1 EP: "Gowhar e yekdaneh" (rare)
- Kamran, with 1 EP: "Booy e tan e to" (rare)
- Kambiz: with 1 EP: "Elm e eshgh" (very rare)
- Mohammad Roudgar; with 2 EPs: "Bahar oomad" & "Shaparakha"
- Mahmoud Vasfi; with 3 EPs: "Khoda chera ashegh shodam", "Mard e Gharib" & "Monkar"
- Neli; with 4 EPs: "Parandeh e zarrinpar, RT2376" (rare), "Gham e eshghet man o daghoon mikoneh", "Aroosak e shekasteh" & "Sayeha"
- Ebi; with 4 EPs: "Shab", "Chera", "Pir" & "'atash" (rare)
- Soli; with 3 EPs: "Hamadi fil", "Negar" & "Esharathay e del" (merging Afghani music and accent in Iranian pop)
- Simin Ghanem; with 4 EPs: "Ghollak e cheshat", "Laneh e mour", "Hamnafas" & "Parandeh"
- Farrokh; with 1 EP: "Dokhtar e ghamgin" (rare)
- Nasser; with 3 EPs: "Dokhtar e hamsayeh", "Cheshat kar e kojast" & "to dorooghatam ghashangeh"
- Shamaeizadeh; with 8 EPs: "Mordab", "GHarib e ashena", "Safar", "Benevis namehnevis", "Hobab", "Hamoomi", "Deh" (very rare) & "Sojdehgah" (very rare)
- Sattar; with 2 EPs: "Hamsafar" & "Shahr e gham"
- Onik; with 8 EPs: "Gham e eshghet man o daghoon mikoneh", "Gahi khandeh, gahi geryeh", "Mituni mosht e mano va bekoni", "To bekhand", "Cheshm asali", "Reng Ghazian", "Raghs e Ordak"
- Behrooz; with 1 EP; "Asir" (very rare)
- Shahrooz: with 1 EP; "Khoshgel e man"
- Afshin Moghaddam; with 2 EPs: "Agge to yaram beshi" & "Vaghti migam dooset daram"
- Ala; with 1 EP; "Mosht e to va shod"
- Fereshteh; with EPs in different styles but with "Shahr e khali" as an interesting psychedelic song
- Shahram; with 2 EPs: "Yek parcheh namak" & "Divar e sangi"
- Azadan; with 1 EP: "be yad e pedar" (very rare)
- Farshid; with 1 EP: "Biganeh" (very rare)
- Feri Baidoon; with 1 EP: "Beshkan beshkan" (very rare)
- Hooman; with 2 EPs: "Ehtezar" & "Asb e sefid" (both very rare)
- Khosrow; with 1 EP: "Mitarsam to ra nabinam" (very rare)
- Khosow Delsooz (may be Khosrow in the previous row); with 1 EP: "Harchi ba man mikoneh del mikoneh" (very rare)
- Saeed Panahi; with 1 EP: "Yekja sahar yekja ghoroobeh"
-Vafa; with 4 EPs: "Donya", Zendeha", "Khoonsard",
- Keivan; with 6 EPs: "Emshab ashki mirizad (very rare), "Tang e ghoroobeh", "Miram az shahr e to ey namehraboon", "Gham e eshghet man o daghoon mikoneh", "Baran e gham" & "cheshm e siah"
- Afshin; with 1 EP: "Bezar Ghesseh begam"
- Tatar; with 3 EPs: "Ghanariha", "Do kowli" with Pass maker band and "Abr e ghamgin"
- Farhad Seraj, with 1 EP: "Be delam chang Nazan" (very rare)
- Bahman; with 1 EP: "Agge bargardi pisham" (rare)
- Morteza; with more than 6 EPs some of them belong to the last EPs produced in Iran like "Gol e niloufar e post e panjereh", "Ma'shoogheh" & "Shallagh"
- Shahdad; with 1 EP: "Tileh e ghermez"
