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Rating: And here is the review of a famous album by a singer who, although well-known in much of the world, is not very famous in Italy. I am talking about Asha Bhosle, the singer who holds the Guinness World Record for singing the most songs in the world (around 12,000), and who is the undisputed queen of playback singing in Bollywood cinema. She has worked with great Indian music directors, but what made her the diva we know is R.D. Burman, who was also Asha’s husband. In this double album released in 1987 (under the EMI label), we find songs written by R.D. Burman with lyricist Gulzar, not intended for cinema, which find the perfect combination with Asha Bhosle's voice. This record is very rare today and is valued at around 900 euros, which makes it somewhat unusual because the songs are hugely popular, but the record is not.
The record opens with "Bheeni Bheeni Bhor," a ghazal that transports us directly to India and makes us notice the quality of the recording of the tracks and the accuracy of the sounds. Subsequently, the sentimental "Koi Diya Jale Kahin (Somewhere a candle burns)" wraps us in a gentle mantle and transports us to the vision of a romantic night with dim candles. Of lesser importance is the following "Manjhi Re Manjhi," which is too long and a bit boring to listen to. Much more interesting is the fourth track, "Juthe Tere Nain," which tells the story of a spouse's betrayal, preceded by a spoken introduction by Asha Bhosle. Pleasant and well-structured are the following tracks, "Jaane Do Mujhe" and "Sawan Sasura Sataye," as is the vibrant and cheerful "Aye Zindagi," rich in computer-generated effects. Very sentimental is the next "Umeed Hogi Koi," like the next (not separated from the previous track) "Sham Se Aankh Mein Naim." Skipping the less interesting "Haan Mere Gham," we move on to the two pieces (which alone would deserve five stars), the most beautiful of this record work, "Rishte Bante Hai (The Relationship) and "Raat Chup Chaap (Silent Night): the first narrates the evolution of a relationship that becomes important, while the second deals with the topic of nostalgia when one's love is no longer there. Tied to this last one is a similar song, but not up to the previous one, "Saaton Baar Bole Bansi." The album closes with a very beautiful Christmas track, "Raat Christmas Ki Thi," which takes some notes from the famous "Jingle Bells."
What to say about this album? Wonderful voice? Yes. Famous tracks? There are. Well-crafted arrangements? There are. 5 stars are all well-deserved for these three great artists, who have managed to create a masterpiece of a record.
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