For today, I wanted to share with you “المعمل” (“Al Ma3mal“, that can be translated by “The Workshop“), a beautiful deep bewitching Middle-Eastern Soul Jazz track with mesmerizing voices, taken from the album “هدوء نسبي” (“Houdou Nisbi“, that can be translated by “Relative Calm“) recorded in 1985 by the mythical Lebanese composer Ziad Rahbani (زياد الرحباني), and privately released on a now ultra hard to find tape the same year.

This album includes some of the finest musicians of that era, such :

Ziad Rahbani : Composition, Sound Engineer, Bouzouki, Electric Piano, Synth ;

Toufic Farroukh : Flute, Tenor Saxophone ;

Abboud Saadi : Bass, Acoustic Guitar ;

Michel Assaad : Trombone ;

Elie Menassa : Trumpet, Flugelhorn ;

Paul Dawani : Electric Guitar ;

Samir Rafraf : Congas, Drums ;

Walid Tawil : Drums ;

Samir Chabchab : Guitar ;

This tape was repressed again in K7 format again in 1991 and CD in 1995 (both with a different cover than this one), but without the track presented here, which is one my favorite of that legendary album, one of the Lebanese musical holy grails – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Ziad Rahbani – Al Ma3mal (Lebanon, 1985, By-Pass Production) // زياد الرحباني – المعمل 

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/dC33gobkYfo

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Stand Up“, an outstanding instant catchy Rock Soul Jazz track with mesmerizing synth & solo guitar parts, taken from the 1st album of the cult Lebanese band “Force“, self-released in 1984 by the band on K7 format only & distributed in very limited quantities.

Recorded & engineered at the legendary “By-Pass Studio” in Beyrouth by Bernard Karam & the mythical composer & musician Ziad Rahbani during the civil war, the band included :

Lead Guitar, Vocals : Walid Itayem ;

Bass, Vocals, Backing Vocals : Abboud Al Saadi ;

Drums, Vocals : Emile Boustani ;

Guitar : Kevork Missirian ;

Were also involved in the recording session :

– Keyboards : Ziad Rahbani ;

– Backing Vocals : Monica Assly ;

The lyrics of that track, composed 40 years ago during the Lebanese civil war, couldn’t sound more relevant than today :

« There’s a jungle living outside my door, and I’m part of it ».

Extremely hard to find nowadays, one of the Lebanese musical holy grails, hope you like it – Enjoy !

Force – Stand Up (Lebanon, 1984, Force Self-Released)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/IAYtNZzgjwM

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “I Notturni“, an incredible powerful psychedelic Rock Funk Soul instrumental with gorgeous flute & organ parts, taken from the one-and-only EP released by the Lebanese band “I Notturni” in the 70s (I think, any informations are welcomed…), leaded by the composer & musician Khaled Choughari, and that used to play in several night clubs of Lebanon (it was the resident band of “Casino Du Liban” for some times), Iran & Egypt.

The band was composed with :

Khaled Choughari : Music, Band leading ;

Ermanno Riccordi : Lyrics ;

Conductor : Tony Akkawi ;

Super obscure & hard to find record, one of the hardest to find Lebanese treasures, hope you’ll like it !

I Notturni – I Notturni (Lebanon, 1970s, I Notturni Self-Released)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/PWfEn-cJ_os

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau