An Evening in Cairo - Various Artists (1966)

"It all started with a telephone call and a number of new records. The film star, Ahmed Mazar, rang up his friend, Nadia Loutfi, to say 'hello', and it happened that she was listening to some new songs which had just arrived for her from Beirut. He becomes interested and they listen together over the telephone. They like the songs and express their pleasure over them - so why not have a party? This is exactly what happened and they invited all their friends for a big party where the songs formed the major part of the entertainment, and they spent a wonderful evening.
We, on our part, wanted you to share this evening with them abd this is where the idea of this L.P. can=me into being. As you listen to the conversation on the telephone and to the songs you will also spend one of the most memorable evenings in Cairo."

I'm dubious about all that party talk. Most of the music on the album, beautiful though it is, does not sound like it would go down too well at any party I've ever been to. Maybe its because I don't understand the language, but these songs sound quite sad to my ears. The sound is full of yearning...longing. The music positively aches out of the speakers, whispering of unrequited love and passions unfulfilled, wailing out nameless sorrows and sighing in resignation.

Tracklist:

01 Sabah – Dahlak Tell Ou Hakina
02 Najat Essaghira – Fakkar Ya Habibi
03 Fahd Bellane* – 12 Youm
04 Randa – Vive L'Amour
05 Sharifa Fadel – Yaeish Al Mouallem
06 Fayza Ahmad – Eteraf
07 Samira Tewfik – Allayina Rayatna
08 Abdel Halim Hafez* – Layali And Maoual

Get it HERE.