Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
1967
Album Summary
Call of the Valley is a 1967 light-classical album by Hariprasad Chaurasia, Brij Bhushan Kabra, and Shivkumar Sharma. It was recorded for the label EMI. The instrumental album follows a day in the life of an Indian shepherd from Kashmir. It is one of the most successful Indian albums and one that became popular with an international audience. It was very important in introducing Indian music to Western ears and internationally the best selling Indian music record. George Harrison, David Crosby, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and Roger McGuinn are fans of the album.The atmospheric music is traditional, but the innovative use of guitar and flute make the sound more acceptable for Western audiences. Kabra plays slide guitar, Sharma santoor, Chaurasia bansuri and Tabla was played by Manikrao Popatkar. The artists became well known musicians as a result of this album. Today Call of the Valley is considered a classic and a milestone in world music. Shivkumar Sharma, the guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra, and flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia were all aged about 30 when they made Call of the Valley. Conceived as a suite, they used their instruments to tell the story of a day in the life of a shepherd in Kashmir using ragas associated with various times of the day to advance the dramatic narrative. Allmusic advises: "If the newcomer buys only one Indian classical recording, it should be "Call of the Valley"."The remastered edition on hEMIsphere has three bonus tracks. It is listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery and Michael Lydon.
WikipediaI’m into this WAY more than I thought I’d be. It’s so calming and the music is so complex and intricate.
This album of stunning Indian instrumental music was absolutely gorgeous. Lush soundscapes often evoke mountain valleys, small villages, serenity. Sonically quite unique compared to what I've heard from this list so far made this more than just beautiful relaxing music; it was as refreshing as it was peaceful.
Apparently, you can't actually listen to the original album on Spotify. What the site links to is a some sort of re-recorded version by Shivkumar Sharma's son? I was able to find a version on Youtube, though. Which is great because the version on Spotify (apparently a remake by his son) was trash. The ACTUAL album is hauntingly beautiful. I can see how this inspired a generation of musicians.
Really beautiful music, pastoral, relaxing. Note that the version on Spotify is a re-recording and not worth your time. You need to go to YouTube to hear the original. I wasted half an hour listening to the wrong thing on Spotify before figuring that out. Fave Songs: Bhoop, Ahir Bhairav/Nat Bhairav, Rag Piloo
Beautiful piece of work. I think the blend of western classical music and North Indian classical music lends itself well to being more accessible while preserving the integrity of both genres. Full of peace and serenity, this body of work is best for relaxation. I appreciate being introduced to this album, as it also lays groundwork for later psychedelic influence from the likes of The Beatles, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and many others I'm sure. Love this album.
I really enjoyed this peaceful, pastoral record. The narrative of a day in the life of a farmer is so gentle, but compelling. It's also pretty much perfectly produced, each instrument has incredible clarity while still fitting into the whole. Hard to believe it was recorded in 1967! Favourite tracks: The Shepherd Girl, Stars Twinkling Within, and Glacier Waters
The guitar work on Call of the Valley, whether it's slide, dulcimer, sitar, etc. is so wonderful and innovative. Everything felt very organic, as the songs flowed into one another with this kind of ambient droning that has influenced so many other genres (psychedelic, shoegaze, experimental). The flute and percussion also add layers to this sonically simplistic but intoxicating instrumental album. Fav Tracks: Piloo-Teen Tala and Des-Dadra Tala
I really enjoyed this album and can see why it is worthy of this list. Considering it was recorded in 1967 it would be considered an early introduction to the successfully marriage of Eastern and Western music and an introduction to the popularity of World Music. Interweaving the guitar and flute with traditional Indian music makes an easy transition for most Western listeners to this great traditional music. The atmospheric music that results is wonderful to listen to. I have no specific favorite as I prefer to consider this a single suite of music and enjoy it in its entirety. 4 stars
Genre: Hindustani Classical Music 5/5 In 1968, 4 Indian musicians got together and recorded some of the most influential Eastern music in modern history. While Eastern influences had already been felt throughout rock and pop music, it was this album in particular that truly transcended the standard market for this style of music. It hit with everybody, including the artists who were making their own sounds around that time, injecting lifelong gems with twists of Indian/Asian flair. The playing, the mood, and the production on this thing is top notch. The stereo dulcimer and slide guitar dueling (NOT sitar, which is CRAZY) is tremendous, but it's when the tabla kicks in when the fun truly begins. Add in some wood flute and you've got yourself a recipe for success, driven by the same classic melodies these cultures have been playing for ages. If you don't take the time to enjoy this one, or if you find it uninteresting and boring, then your opinion is invalid and you're probably racist.
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Very peaceful and melodic without being overwhelming. "Stars Twinkling Within" is ethereal and I would like to live in that track if possible.
This really isn't my kind of thing, I was dreading listening to it. However, this album is beautiful from start to finish. Like work of art type beautiful. It's so relaxing, it makes me feel a little stoned. It's unassuming, uplifting, and probably good for the soul. I feel as though it's cleansed me, flushing away the bad music that came before. I'm a fan.
Them Eastern sounds. Them West Coast vibes. These jams will sure straighten out your chakras. Fantastic use of the Santoor. As the great MC would say, hammer time! Once you are all loosey goosey, float away on the bamboo flute sounds. It's pretty far out man.
A wonderful piece of art that shows how music is the best way to explore the world.
I'm guessing there probably wasn't much like this when it came out, and it still sounds fresh and vibrant. Occasionally gets a bit Muzaky, but I don't think this detracts from the album overall.
9/10. Really quite good, and very palatable to my Western tastes. Just like it says on the box.
really had me feeling like a shepherd in a himalayan valley. 9/10. i especially liked Ode to the Sun God and The Shepherd Girl
One of very few albums that I can call lush without also calling it dense. The instrumentals feel very full and complete, but there aren't an excessive amount of layers. I think the front half is more captivating than the back due to its construction and its more serene ambiance and inclusion of nature sounds. This is one of the more niche albums on this list, but I thoroughly enjoy its inclusion. I am not sure that it is a must listen for everyone, but for anyone that likes instrumental songs or ambient music in general, I think this is a must listen. I am also not usually partial to the flute, but I really do like it in this. I wrote some of this review while listening, but now that I am nearing its end, I think I will give it a five. The back half, while less good, is still pretty great. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, and 5.
No one told me teleportation existed, and then I just happened to be transported to a beautiful river valley in a fantasy setting.
Very captivating record, and (speaking for myself) a great introduction into a genre of cultural music that may have gone unappreciated otherwise. This may be my ignorance speaking since, as stated above, I've never attentively listened to Indian classical, but I caught hints of international influence throughout the album that made the listening experience engaging.
Awesome album, regarded by many as the best classical Indian album made. A little confusing as it's not the same Call of the Valley as is on Spotify (although the cover is the same) but I found it on YouTube easily enough.
i didnt know i needed to hear this but i did, i really really really did...thanks🫣😭😭😭😭😅
Really enjoyed this one. Beautiful soundscapes with unique instruments blended together perfectly. Reminds me of a video game soundtrack
Lovely instrumentals! Something different is always nice. Would be right at home on the DAK soundtrack.
Love the sound of that santoor. Hard to know what to think about this in the context of the other albums, it is so different. I enjoyed it, and may come back to it.
Gorgeous Indian classical music. This was apparently one of the key factors in sitar appearing in everything around this time? Understandable! Fave track - "Ahir Bhairav/Nat Bhairav" for the lovely gradual build up.
Loved this. Peaceful, warm, not what I was expecting. I can see how it is influential. I will gladly play this again.
I really enjoyed it, was the kind of album I was looking to hear more of with this generator thing. Sometime outside of my normal stuff.
Right up my street! Ambient, chilled, relaxing! The musicality is second to none! Will be purchased following this listen! Pro tip - The LOUDER, the BETTER! Tremendous!
Tribal vibes, to me it feels like I’m traveling with a group of nomads exploring the world
I really don't know how I would have ever found this album naturally lol. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but it was really great honestly. A really solid atmospheric ambient album with some very impressive instrumentation. I hope more people find this album for sure. And I am going to have to explore this side of sound more often was really neat. Felt like I was living in a small village herding sheep and chilling out. It's a simple yet unbelievably complex album. So fucking cool yo.
No lyrics for me to alter in my review for this one. Love a bit of Indian classical music - very peaceful, pensive, and emotional. And nice to have something that isn't a western rock band!
This fuckin rules. This is the sort of album I wanted on this, not 100 Beatles albums. 4/5.
New to me. I would never have heard this outside of this project I’m sure, but glad I did. Lovely, peaceful album. Will continue to listen.
This is AMAZING music with which to get high. Like, better than anything.
Bonne musique de fond, un peu atmosphérique. Très bonne musique pour travailler
A beautiful album that I had never heard of previously. I will be listening to this again. 4 🌟
More of the sort of alternative music that I was hoping to hear more of. This is lovely relaxing music and the sort of thing my wife likes. As expected, when listening to this she asked me who it was.
First off, go to YouTube. Ignore the Spotify version which is not good. This is pretty magical, all told. The last track is gorgeous. It's a shame you have to faff with YouTube and VLC and whatnot as otherwise I can see me sticking this on more often.
I disagree with people bragging about how this was so influential to psychedelic music, as this was (probably) released in the west in 1968, and the only one still taking notes from ICM (Indian Classical Music) was George Harrison, regardless of who was a fan. Nevertheless, this was a commercial hit in the west and you can hear why. It's a concept album of fast-paced lush and exotic instrumentation unlike much else at the time. Other ICM albums of the 50s and 60s were by geniuses like Ravi Shankar, but they always seemed more of an academic study of a genius, or perhaps a gimmick as in the case of Ananda Shankar. But here, we have an example of what ICM is capable of. It paints a beautiful, serene image of a pastoral lifestyle, with only brief moments of spiritual intensity interluded. The instruments have their own personality and compliment each other nicely, from the playful flute to the inviting slide guitar. They even seem to be communicating with each other at times. The production is really well done, by creating these effects that come in and out of the music that add to the overall atmosphere without distracting the other instruments or overwhelming us. The lengths of the songs give us plenty of time to explore the setting, but not long enough to tire us of a given concept. Enjoyed the whole album.
A very pleasant listen, fades easily into the background but also impresses with nice riffs. Surprised to see the roots of this kind of "world new age" on a record from the late '60s.
p126. 1967. 4 stars. Ethereal mood music with an Indian vibe. Had low expectations of this and was pleasantly surprised - excellent production and musicianship. Not sure I will listen to it again, but glad I did.
I know nothing about this genre so it's hard to make comparisons and have a reasoned point of view, but it surely was beautiful
Chyba nie zdarzylo mi sie wczesniej zeby napisac podsumowanie albumu podczas snu, czy raczej wysnic spisywanie podsumowania, co jak dla mnie i tak jest rzadkoscia pamietac cokolwiek z nocy, a tak wlasnie bylo z call of the valley, ktory jest prawdziwym rodzynkiem na liscie, bo jest to muzyka klasyczna zagrana dla wspolczesnego czleka, ale klasyka prosto z kaszmiru, wiec dochodzi tutaj jeszcze nutka egzotyki, plyta z 67 bedaca dzielem trio w skladzie Shivkumar Sharma, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Brij Bhushan Kabra, pomimo tego, ze wiekszosc instrumentali to tradycyjne instrumenty indyjskie, to jednak jest to przystepne dla ucha bialego czleka, co tez zreszta widac po tym, ze album znalazl sie na takiej liscie i dostawal on rekomendacje od pro wschodnich muzyczych glow owczesnych czasow, jak chocby od pana Harrisona, wiec influencyjny material, ktory moze byc jednym z powodow takiego czerpania z wschodnich materialow w psychodelii i folku, 70 minutowy krazek opowiada historie dnia pasterza w kaszmirskich gorach, wiec od rana do nocy mozna byc towarzyszem stada i chlonac z lodowcowych zrodel, dobry material na powrot do listowania, bo ciezko o tak relaksujace albumy podczas przemierzania generatora, zapamietam go jako swietne wprowadzenie do indyjskiej muzyki i brzmien tamtniejszych instrumentow, w tej edycji listowania za cel obieram dobic do 600 pozycji do konca roku i nie rozpisywac sie nad kazdym tytulem, a jedynie punktowac mocne i slabe strony sluchanych albumow i tworzenie jak najmocniejszych skojarzen z nimi, bo to jest glownym celem pisania czegokolwiek
Well, at least they can't accuse the 1001 exec of being closed-minded. Indian raag music? This is basically Classical? Or is it 'World music'? Still, it's pretty chill and well played and produced. Considering this is 1967 it's pretty contemporary so who am I to judge?
The sitar work on this album is absolutely incredible. I wish there wasn't as much flute. Best track: Rag Pahadi
78 / 1069 Found it on YouTube as streaming versions are not the correct version. Beautiful album!
4/5. Honestly a very relaxing and peaceful album. I don’t have any complaints really besides you may need to be in the mood for it and if you’re not it can be hard to get into.
Well not my general cup of tea, but quite an intensely relaxing and focus album. With it being played in the background, rest assured you'll be accomplishing the task at hand, and yet it is also stylish and interesting - marrying some Indian and non-western melodies and rhythms with electronic music and somehow still not going on the naff side. Not going to be my favourite record, but objectively it's a good one.
I don’t know enough about this music to know if this is a good example, but I had a good time listening to it.
Double checked the date this was released. It has a really modern sound and is extremely easy to listen to
This is one of those cool albums I would probably never have heard of let alone heard, were it not for this project. Brilliant, ambient, intricate... couldn't really care less if it is authentic, I enjoyed it.
Wow, what great album. Wonderful rhythms, especially on the opening track. Beautiful guitar playing and other instrumentation, I imagine there is some sitar in the arrangements among other Indian instruments. Deep deep percussion, lovely flute. Just some gorgeous gorgeous music playing. Loved it. 4.5
Maybe it was because I listened while walking, but this was very good!