Ahmed Ali al-Hassan | Eyoun Khalani / Rifi (Kamiliphone)

 

Discogs lists more than 460 singles published by Aleppo-based label Kamiliphone, none of which are dated, but presumably were released in the 1960s and 70s. This stunning single was recorded by Ahmed Ali al-Hassan, about whom we know next to nothing. We assume -- and this is just an assumption -- that he is playing oud as well as singing. But this is a guess. We do not know whether this is his composition or someone else's, although we believe it to be his.

Although it appears that this single contains two separate songs, they not only do not sound at all different, the sudden break of the track on Side A is picked up seemingly exactly where it left off side B. We took the liberty of combining the two tracks; we doubt most listeners will notice. Our thought is that the entire record was recorded in one take and split up across the two sides. We would love anyone who knows anything about this recording to let us know the real story.

(Listen to "Eyoun Khalani / Rifi")