A mad mix of sounds from the glory days of Indian cinema – served up in a package that offers up a much broader blend of styles than other Bollywood collections – as it features numbers from the late 50s all the way through the early 80s! Some of the tracks here have a rockish vibe that's great – romping rhythms, organ and guitars, and a sharp vibe that's contrasted by some of the fuller numbers from later years – including a few nuggets from the heyday of Bollywood funk! The whole thing is upbeat and grooving all the way through – with work by Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Kishor Kumar, Kamal Hasaan, Geeta Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar, and others – from films that include Ek Phool Char Kante, Sholay, Aazhi, Bhoot Bungla, Intinti Raamayanam, Blackmail, Junglee, and Howrah Bridge. LP, Vinyl record album

A classic soundtrack from Indian film composer Rahul Dev Burman – and one that reminds us just how important the voice was to the format over the years! Unlike some Bollywood soundtracks, which have long upbeat songs that are driving the dance numbers in the film – this score has a fair bit of mellower tracks, which really seem to bring out the best of the famous singers in the music – a lineup that includes Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi, and Kishore Kumar. Titles include "Dil Sajan Jalta Hai", "Pvar Hai Ik Nishan Qadmon Ka (part 1)", "Dance Music", "Lalla Lalla Lori Doodh Ki Katori", and "Suhani Chandni Raten". CD

One of the coolest records we've ever heard from this legendary Argentine pianist – a set that has Jorge Lopez Ruiz playing lots of Fender Rhodes, and mixing it in with both rootsy Latin percussion and a number of other keyboards too! The set's almost a South American version of some of Herbie Hancock's work with the Headhunters – with more traditional percussion passages in the mix, but blended with sounds that include Arp and mini-moog too – which gives the whole thing a criss-crossing vibe that alternates from the surface of the planet to the deeper ranges of the cosmos! Ruiz is wonderful throughout – often very spacious, in a thoughtful way that only makes each note have more power – and titles include "La Hora De La Sed Maldita", "Eterna Prescencia", "Mira Tu", "El Viaje De Dumpty", "Balewada", and "Para Nostros Solamente". (Jazz, Global Grooves) CD

The mighty RD Burman is at the height of his powers here – crafting a Bollywood soundtrack that has an even moodier, groovier feel than usual – with some currents that even link the music towards some European film score styles of the time! Tracks are shortish, and definitely have the lead vocal approach you'd know from Indian film scores – but there's also some creative elements in the instrumentation that pushes past the usual – even bits of funk or psych that make for some especially groovy tunes! The album features vocals from Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, and Kishor Kumar – and titles include the funky numbers "Dum Maro Dum" and "Dance Music 1" – plus "I Love You", "Kanchi Re Kanchi", "Ghunghroo Kya Bole", and "Phoolon Ka Taron Ka". CD