Mohamed Abdel Wahab | Werefna El Hob (Soutelphan, 1965)

 

Given recent international interest in Arabic music and Mohamed Abdel Wahab's stature worldwide, it's a wonder that he hasn't yet received the US or Euro reissue attention afforded Oum Kalthoum, Fairuz, Farid El Atrache, Ziad Rahbani, Abdel Halim Hafez, Baligh Hamdi, and Warda. He was, after all, considered by many to be the single greatest Eygptian composer of all time. 

He did, along with Oum Kalthoum, have a series of Les Artistes Arabes Associés CD compilations devoted to his earliest recordings; there are 10 of them, covering releases from 1920-1939. Beyond that, Discogs lists more than 500 releases, not counting the too-many-to-count songs he wrote for others.

Why, then, did we choose this single, out of all of the possible incredible work we have on record by this legend, to share with you today? Simply put, it's never been up for sale on Discogs and it is, although minimalistic by Abdel Wahab's standards, nevertheless a phenomenal listen with a low-key but super-infectious groove.

Also, that incredibly groovy, incredibly haunted guitar that opens the track. 

(Listen to "Werefna El Hob")