Call of the Valley

sivkumar sharma, en kuullukkaan äijästä. varmasti kuuluisampi kuin piitles varmaan kuitenkin.. luupää länsimaalainen täällä.. öö tuota paras hindustan industani indida rajsphaleet neepokumasapetilon hindi albumi mitä on ollut. niin tietenkin kuulin tämän ensin kun olin vain 20 vuotias. nyt olen 60 vuotias ja silti yhtä kaunis... laakson kutsu... ja älkää ihmiset kuunnelko spotify paskaa.. ette sitä sontaa laita lähimaillekkaan korvia prkl prkl PROTECT THE ORIGINAL!!!! PROTECT THE ORIGINAL!!! ja älkää VITTU unohtako brijbushan karba sekä hariprasad chaurasia... vähän priima donna tuo shivkumar sharma joo toki on myyttinen figuuri nuolisin palleja mutta ei saa koskaan unohtaa brijbushan karba sekä hariprasad chaurasia ja heidän kontribuutioitaan... never forget... piloo

Very pleasant album, one of the few records on the list that are actually relaxing. I've listened to whole 40 minutes of this lp and then just start it again, amazing background music. But to be fair, the talent of Shivkumar to make me like the sound of such a foreign instrument has to be enormous.

If you ever catch yourself boppin and grovin along to some instrumental music in your local apothecary or candle store, it’s probably this.

Not overly impressed but then I read that the original version is not the one on Spotify so I looked it out on YouTube, glad I did because it was such an awesome album

Catching up with my unrated albums. I was sure that I'd listened to this at the time (at least my YouTube history tells me so), but I forgot to review it. I've since found another version of the album on Spotify. Although the track listing is different, but it is the original recording/artists, (unlike the son's remake). https://open.spotify.com/album/0fDzIMDhfPA8lgELDXMiuh I enjoyed the soundscape of life in the valley.

Really solid, like, traditional Indian yoga music. Such a relaxing vibe to it. The Spotify link that the generator used is to an album of the same name by Rahul Sharma (Shivkumar's son apparently). Rahul had released his version of the album in 2012 as a nod to his dad's album from the late 60's. The original version, which is the version referenced in the 1001 book, I found on YouTube, and is astronomically better than Rahul's version, so the original is the one I listened to. The original is also the best selling "world music" record on the international market. Absolutely beautiful album. This one blew me away. It takes ya on a trip, that's for sure!! Favourite songs: Bhoop, Rag Pahadi, Ahir Bhairav/Nat Bhairav, Bageshwari, Dhun-Mishra Kirwani, Rag Piloo Least favourite songs: Rag Des 4/5

Loved it. Needed it.

Well that was a random album with a cool vibe.

I'm not a huge fan of instrumental music, there are some songs I really love but on the whole I would probably rate a fully instrumental album lower. That said, a fully instrumental classical Indian music album? As an Indian myself, I've grown up listening to this kind of music, and the ragas and sounds are familiar in the more modern Bollywood songs I listen to often. This one was a delight to listen to. Best song: Call Of The Valley

Very elevator music adjacent, but I ended up quite enjoying it. Would have been good study music

Listening to this lying on a shakti mat watching the aurora projector lights feeling like I’m George Harrison

Truly a peaceful, lovely, classic (and classical) Indian music experience. It's no surprise that so many Western world music greats are a fan of this album, and it's easy to further see where they likely were influenced by this album. This is one of those albums where I feel like it's a worthy inclusion on the basis of history AND on the basis of the music itself. It was a very early example introducing Eastern music to Western listeners, and frankly, I can hardly imagine a more beautiful example. I'll gladly revisit this album anytime!

This would not be in my algorithm and I'm stoked that this was the album recommended for me. Fantastic

Thank you everyone on the reviews page for this album for directing me to YouTube instead, as the purported release on Spotify is a re-recording by Shivkumar Sharma's son Rahul. With that established, Call of the Valley is a collaborative album between three prominent Indian musicians: music director and flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia, slide guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra, and santoor player Shivkumar Sharma. All three rose to prominence by introducing their particular instruments into the pantheon of Indian classical music, as exemplified by this album which is an instrumental suite following a day in the life of an Indian shepherd from Kashmir. The ambiance is impeccable as an introduction to Indian classical music for a Western audience. The big three musicians are excellent in their play, but I should also credit Manikrao Popatkar on the tablas, particularly on passages of "Ahir Bhairav/Nat Bhairav", "Rag Piloo" and "Rag Des" that bring up the intensity and complement the santoor and guitar interplay. My only complaint is that aside from certain melodic frameworks used to identify different parts of the day following the shepherd's day, there isn't much else distinct between tracks. It's effective in the atmosphere, but the album can't quite go beyond that notion. I enjoyed Call of the Valley for what it is as an introduction to world music, and in that regard, the album secured its place on this list. Give it a listen.

The random vocals always seemed to catch me off guard and take me by surprise. Overall not a bad thing to have on in the background and plenty of interesting musical bits sprinkled throughout. Seems to work as a good seed in Apple Music as well.

Really good, relaxing but there's enough stuff going on that it can also be an engaging listen if you pay attention.

Something outside the US and UK on this list that is not some commercial bullcrap!? Shut up and take my money!

700 albums in, and that's the first time I listen to a good selection outside of Europe or US. Unbelievable. It's worth a 4 stars.

Vibey

3.5 rounded up very beautiful and enjoyable overall, but i’m not sure if i’ll revisit this one often on account of the length. i definitely see why this was so impactful for so many other musicians though, and i’m glad i listened ! highlights: bhoop, des (feb 16 2026)

This was really very, very lovely.

Such a beautiful atmospheric album. I cranked away at some work while this was on. I’ll be coming back to this for sure, but mainly in those moments of needed focus.

Fav: Bhoop Least Fav: Rag Piloo Very calming, not much else to say

I don't do much drugs, but I can understand that this would pair well with quite a number of different narcotics.

Peaceful and spiritual

very pretty. crazy this is from the 60s, sounds like it could've come out this year

kedves Khaled, ÍGY kell ötvözni tradicinális zenét a nyugati könnyűzenével. olyan ízléses az a gitár omg.

Experimental, flute, influence indienne

Beautiful instrumental album. Particularly like the three way call and response between the flute, guitar, and santoor (dulcimer) in the opening track.

Thanks to the generator, this is definitely an album I probably wouldn’t have discovered on my own. It’s essentially light Indian classical music with some Western instrumentation mixed in. The album has a timeless quality, and you wouldn’t be able to tell what era it came from if you didn’t already know. It’s very meditative, peaceful, and soothing, with a calming atmosphere throughout. While I really enjoyed the listen, I don’t think I’ll come back to it, as I feel like I’ve taken everything I was going to get from it.

Very cool, love the tanpura drone. We're used to this genre in the West now but at the time must have been a revelation and can very much see the influence on Harrison.

This was cool and all, and I'd love to have it playing in the background when the grandparents are over for dinner. Maybe while doing homework. But it's not a genre I'm accustomed to and don't know the structure. So for all I know it could be genius level work or sophomoric or somewhere in-between. I can hear the musicianship is at times quite impressive. At the end of the day, it's a nice listen.

kind of a blessing in disguise that Spotify only has the shitty version, because for someone like me who doesn't have a ton of exposure to straight ahead Indian music (despite its relatively outsized influence on music in the anglophone world) it actually helps you appreciate the real thing more when you first accidentally get exposed to the same music only executed much more poorly

Call of the Valley is an introduction to Indian classical music for Western audiences. Shivkumar Sharma is a master of the santoor, an Indian instrument that is similar to a dulcimer. Call of the Valley is the best selling Indian music album across the world. Sharma and his fellow musicians became known after members of the Beatles showed an interest in their music. The album is an instrumental tale of a day in the life of an Indian shepherd. The recording includes a santoor, a slide guitar, a flute, a bansuri, and tablas. These are interesting songs of a traditional cultural lineage.

Had to relisten to this album on youtube as the spotify album was a rerecording. I think this is the first album we've had with non-western music where the music stands for it self. It was very different and it didn't need western covers unlike some other albums on this list. It felt foreign in a good way and a bit jazzy. Instrumental albums is a hard sell but even during the first listen I enjoyed it. Going to give it a weak 4, it's hard to judge on just one listen.

Just vibes the whole way through. I listened to the original album on YouTube as the top comment said because the one on Spotify kind of sucks. Would highly recommend the original!

Great ambiental music. It’s sad that it’s just so short.

An interesting and unexpected entry on the list. I’ve always had an urge to get into this type of Eastern music. Began I suppose when influenced by some of my music idols who are named in Wiki has fans of this album. Might be a bit crass to say but when eating out at Indian restaurants I have often been captivated by some of the background music but because of the circumstances unable to work out or identify the artist (Pre Shazam or it didn’t work!) Another problem is that I really think appreciating Indian music is a challenge. Unlike modern Western music which is characterised in the main by instant melodies and a hook line, Indian music is a lot more complicated. There seems to me that there is a lot going on which needs research and knowledge to fully understand. I’m at a stage in life where I really do not have the time to do this as there is still a lot of music in my own sphere I want to listen to. With that in mind I listened today to this album and really enjoyed it. But without the aforementioned knowledge concluded that this could be any one of the numerous similar albums I have listened to in my attempts to understand this genre. If it was readily available to purchase, which it is not and probably relates to the streaming platform problems described elsewhere, I would happily buy it. All in all a lovely experience and relaxing way to spend listening on a lazy Saturday morning. That is until Leeds lost 1-0 later. Now in need of a pint of Cobra, onion Bhaji , and chicken bhuna. 4/5 14/9/24

Absolutely loved this! Listen to it loud to truly appreciate it!

After listening to the wrong one on Spotify I listed to the superior version on YouTube. Its a lovely experience and will revisit

I appreciate the musicianship here but the ample notebending/vibrato and shrill flute sounds are just never aesthetically pleasing to me. The rhythm stuff here is awesome, but I won’t ever listen to this again.

Do as the top comment says: listen to the original on YouTube and not the rerecording on Spotify.

This album was really beautiful. I don't know a lot about Indian music, or what the Western cultural landscape was in relation to Indian music at that time so I don't know if I can fully appreciate this for its impact or craft, but I appreciated it nonetheless. It's wikipedia page explains "Conceived as a suite, the instrumental album follows a day in the life of an Indian shepherd from Kashmir, using ragas associated with various times of the day to advance the dramatic narrative". This reminded me a lot of how my piano teacher used to explain the storytelling in classical music I was learning, and now to understand an unfolding narrative in a purely instrumental body of work.

Another good background vibes album, but this one bringing the call of the valley with it in a beautiful way. Favourite track: The Prophet in the Mountain.

Original Album on YouTube - nice background music

ich war erst skeptisch, aber als hintergrundmusik beim arbeiten hat das sehr gut funktioniert - beruhigend, beim hinhören aber immer abwechslungsreich.

Damals sicher einzig, tönt das Album heute wie Musik in jedem Wellnessbereich. Zeitlos. Und irgendwie höre ich immer ein Hackbrett obwohl keines gespielt wird. So nah ist sich am Ende die Musik.

Super atmospheric and pretty. 4/5

Spa music! Wonderful guitar and a unique relaxing background sound.

I guess this is the music you need to cope with the traffic in dense urban Indian areas. Kitschy pastoral landscapes to muffle the world screaming at you.

Suprisingly beautiful, nice laidback Indian music

Geez, need help relaxing? This album will do it. It's a calming mix of classical, beautiful and peaceful music, making it great for winding down. It's a nice listen but may not be for everyone.

Today was my walking workout and this was a very pleasant album to listen to while walking. My favorite track was the proto-new age title track "Call of the Valley". I've always been a fan of Chris Spheeris' work and this music feels like it was probably an inspiration for him, particularly the track "Bombay" . If you dig the countless other World and New Age artists that came in the decades after this, you will likely dig this as well.

Quite enjoyed this

Short and sweet. Ultimately not something I’ll probably listen to again, but that seems to be the case for most of these

Pretty chilled and karma-pilled

Really beautiful

Thankfully i found out in time that the actual version is on youtube. I was not enjoying the Spotify version. This is great

I keep thinking of Civilization, but that's probably just because it's the main place I've been exposed to non-Western traditional music. It's difficult to rate, as it's from a completely different musical tradition that I'm used to. But I like it, and it's relaxing and different. I think I'd like to explore this kind of music further, and it seems a very good introduction to it, so I'll give it a 4.

Very calming and unique

what a curveball album i was so used to whoever made the 1001 list to meatriding artists from the UK very ambient very nice for a change

Had to go to YouTube to get the two version of this. Beautiful music, very intricate. Not exactly my thing but a nice change from the usual.

I'unno if this is any better or worse than the last album of Hindustani classical musical my group listened to, honestly. But if I enjoyed my experience with this album any more than I did with THE SOUNDS OF INDIA—and I don't mean this in a negative sense—it had nothing to do with the music itself. Simply, because the only version of this album on Spotify is an apparently terrible re-recording, I had to listen to a vinyl rip on YouTube. And there was just something about all the vinyl crackle and pop underscoring the music that... Y'know, really, really did it for me. It makes me glad, actually that I didn't listen to this via streaming. Without the crackle, it wouldn't be the same. And I'm probably rating this album more for that than the actual music, 'cuz by itself I think it's good but the not mind-blowing "one album of Indian music you must own if you own one" I kept reading it is. But what an enhanced experience it is, eh? Kinda makes me wanna play more records, even if all I have are two portables Crossleys. So I guess I actually hafta thank Rahul Sharma. For him and his dumb re-recording being the only version available. That's something, I suppose.

This list is making me realize I like Indian music.

Different names attached on the streaming app I use but it has the same title and cover art. Very good instrumentals. The audio version of the visual style. Especially the reflection. There is nothing happening in the valley. It is just a serene, peaceful day, spending time with the sheep.

I liked this - it was pretty! Listens: 1 Fave Track: The Shepherd Girl Rating: 4

What an introduction to traditional Hindustani music! I loved listening to this, it truly whisked me away to another land where I felt relaxed and in tune with things. I can see why this album influenced so many artists and I look forward to indulging further into this hither-to untouched world that I have neglected.

This was a very calming album. The music is slow and deliberate and allows itself to build. A lot of sounds here were adopted by western music especially during the psychedelic period so it's always a pleasure to hear them in their proper context. The use of western instruments was a nice touch as well.

A very pleasurable listen to a genre I don't often seek out. Has a lot of overlap with much of the ambient / guitar centric music I listen to, but featuring sitar instead. Dug it! 3.5/5

What great working music

The Western fascination with Indian music (particularly among psychedelic artists) began here. A deceptive simple instrumental recording about a day in the life of a shepherd from Kashmir. The musicians inject elements of Western music which are subtle but helped them break into the 60s rock scene. It's not hard to see why it was so popular, despite the odds. The music really transports you to another world and a different lifestyle. For those questioning the daily hustle of capitalism and the pursuits of seemingly endless wars, this must have felt like the perfect escape. It still does today as well. It's beautiful, relaxing and escapist. I'll also add my voice to the many other reviews cautioning that you should avoid the Spotify version which isn't the original.

Really beautiful Indian instrumental music. It conjures peaceful images of pastoral scenes without ever getting boring.

Very pretty. But not going to be a routine listen

This was cool, a nice vibe.

A very sweet album. I’m a sucker for concept albums and this was pleasant to listen to.

This is good, not exactly thing, but still very beautiful. The Spotify version is the wrong one, search it on YouTube.

good

Amazing world music album. I can see why George Harrison dug this, and I can definitely see how it influenced him.

I really enjoyed this. It was surprisingly contemporary.

This is what ive always wanted in an album it’s so calming, soft instruments, all instrumental. this might be the most beautiful album I’ve ever heard and what a collection of sounds for an album that’s only 20 minutes long Favorite: Whispering Winds Least favorite: none Horrifyingly under-rated album 4.1/5

Relaxing

This was a wonderfully calming experience. I enjoyed it twice during my work day & felt soothed. For those who couldn't find it streaming, someone has almost always uploaded the album on YouTube.

This was a wonderful listen. So calming and peaceful. It was a great way to ease into the work day. I'm going to remember this one and go back to it when I feel I need it.

A very meditative album. Something to listen to and maybe try to go do some meditation, actually. My biggest problem is that each of the songs just... end. It's as if the musicians didn't know how to finish the songs. In rock, a lot of times it's easy to just fade the song out. But here, it seems more like the songs were supposed to be so many minutes long, and at the "x" minute mark, stop playing. It's very abrupt and jarring. I'm not suggesting the songs should transition into each other, but a crossfade or two would have been a good idea for some of these, I think. Still, this was a really good calming album, and something I will definitely revisit.

It was surprisingly good, peaceful instrumental music that I could relax to. I give this 4 stars

Not sure what to say about this music, or what one can offer in the way of context or critical insight or comparison relative to structures, the quality of playing or artfulness of composition), but one digs it, both music itself and the feels (a little more contemplative and a little spiritually elevated). And if you dig (seems the right verb here, no?), then check out “Dogri Folk Tune” which one's listened to 100s of times in one's travels around the cosmically chaotic sub-continent. One can also recommend “The Valley Recalls,” a sequel apparently.

Glad I read the reviews upon starting, because I was not liking what I was hearing. Original version (on YT) is quite beautiful, soothing and detailed. I really liked it. (Although I found by mid of the mid track that it was at 2X speed and had to restart lol)

Pretty and a great vibe!

I really liked this, it’s so damn catchy. A little under an hour long but the harmonies of the instruments work wonderfully off each other. 3.7

Surprisingly!

Cool sounding house album. I wish it was longer!

Pretty enjoyable, better than the previous indian album that I was given

Even though the Spotify link doesn’t go to the original album, it was still a good listen. Fantastic ambient listening, very relaxing and meditative. Very cool

This album was a real pleasure to discover. I grew up listening to hammered dulcimer, but had never heard it used in Indian music. The journey the album takes the listener on is quite beautiful as well. It makes me think a bit of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, but Sharma's journey is throughout a day rather than the changing of the seasons.

Blind album and artist. Shocked at the beauty of this one for sure. Not a go to and not something I would seek out on my own, but a gem of what I was hoping to explore when starting this project.

Pretty cool slightly jangly in places. I can see listening to this again, except for having to go to YouTube to find it. Great inclusion on the list. 3.5

Wonderfully atmospheric, pleasantly calming, and a great first foray into world music for the first time in this project. Needs repeated listens to really be appreciated. “The Prophet in the Mountain” stands out as a favorite track.

Don’t have a point of comparison for this but I liked it a lot. Very relaxing on some songs and very cool movie journey soundtracky on others

Brought back 1960's memories

George Harrison inspire le monde

Something different, definitely sets a scene…I enjoyed it a lot

I really enjoyed this. Very relaxing. It’s a great fusion of eastern music and western instruments. It’s really timeless, still sounds relevant today.

cool as fuck

nice transportive tunes 3.5/5

Excellent music for a quiet time of day. I liked the first two tracks the most, but none of them were bad.

A beguiling portal into a world I’ll never truly know but one I very much enjoyed momentarily experiencing.

Listened to it twice through. A great find that mixes well with my yoga practice.

Quite lovely, it does serve as a perfect introduction to Hindustani classical music.

Not something that I will likely put on at my next disco party, but for some meditation or just for a change of pace, this is not a bad one to keep in mind.

Soothing and fine.

I’m always glad when there is some variety on this list and have been generally quite happy with the global music entries on this list. It wasn’t easy to find this actual album to listen to. I finally had to resort to YouTube and listen to a recording of a vinyl record as the linked album on Apple Music was different. I enjoyed this more than I expected and found it very soothing. I can see how this might inspire some meditation. I also love the album art. Beautiful!

Well, how does one rate such an album? I think it would be great with some weed and some bongos.

new age is always welcome but hopefully this isn't ... too much? Nah not bad!

A hauntingly beautiful snapshot of Indian pastoral and musical culture in the 1960s. The blend between Eastern and Western influences (I hear you, flutes and guitars!) is immaculate and truly a sound to behold. A variety of moods are captured throughout the album diverse, lush track listing. Really, the only thing holding this back from 5 stars is the fact that there's very little in the way of "hooks", meaning it's difficult to follow along or predict the music.

Well, I liked the version that’s on Spotify. I had a nice little meditate to it and everything. Then I discovered I’d been duped, and had to seek out the real album (which, in hindsight, does sound much more like something that would’ve been recorded in 1967). Both albums sound exactly like the album art looks: tranquil, rustic, yet somewhat exotic to Western ears. The ‘real’ album sounds a little more mysterious and a little less lush, but still largely to my taste. I’ll give it 3.5 stars, rounded up, but I won’t lie: part of my score is based on my enjoyment of the imposter album from 2012. I mean, they’re both part of the same lineage, right?

Indian hippy music? It's alright.

This is really pretty. I've always loved soundscape music ever since I was a young teenager and scrolling through music channels on Optimum TV and found the ever-looping genre stations. Man I loved "Soundscapes" and would put it on to go to bed and wake up with it. It felt like it guided my adventures in my dreams and allowed me to wake up with a calmness that would start my day off right. This album brings me back to those times, but I do think this one is a little more attention-grabbing. And it's welcome. I love the intro song with the call and response parts; it's pretty unique for this type of music as it's definitely not the norm to have solo instruments be highlighted and swapped around so quickly. I was really glad that this continued throughout the album. I really enjoyed this. I already mentioned it, but the some front-burner attention grabbing flavor of soundscape music is really awesome to me. I'm a big fan and will be listening more.

Som instrumental bucólico, muito agradável de ouvir

I found this record quite soothing and enjoyable. This was not expected but I can see listening to this again.

Really beautiful.

Got lost in this music. Really nice 4

Andre 3000 taking notes. If you need some relaxing music in your life. This is it.

I had no idea what to expect, but I enjoyed that much more than I ever thought I would. I see myself coming back to this one in the future. Mixture of relaxing and beautiful

Very enjoyable

Finally found my sheep herding soundtrack! 🐑🐑🐑🐑

Beautiful peaceful album

Great album to end the week on. Some calming sounds that could put me to sleep in the best way.

Wondering if the Beatles heard this before Sgt. Pepper ... ... This is the kind of music that would have scared the shit out of me had i listened as a kid (e.g. "Within You, Without You" was haunting me at 4yrs old), which I think is part of the attraction. It's definitely dramatic and almost gives a sense of foreboding or perhaps just mystery at times. (when it's not interrupted by an ad on YouTube which was the only place I could find this) This was - to me - unexpectedly serene; I didn't think I was going to like this one but it's quite relaxing. Not an "at any time" album by any measure (e.g. I'd probably crash on the freeway if this were on in the car) but sitting or lying at home, working, etc - it's really nice. Also: very glad it's instrumental. 7/10 4 stars.

Kind of a pain to find the right version, but a pleasure once I got to listen to it. The quartet of instrument work well, I’m especially a fan of the tablas and flute.

Krill out

Exceptional, might find masel using this

whaaaat this is so beautiful 😭

Now that was something new! This turned my mood around in the best way

pretty cool album. very chill, serene, and calming. not something i would ordinarily listen to but i am glad i did. this is the sort of thing i am participating in this project for, to be exposed to music i ordinarily am not. that being said, i don't necessarily think this one is going to be one i go back to often, but i can see myself listening to this in moments where i need a mental reset. as this was my real first exposure to hindustani classical music, i'm not sure how to properly rate it - I have listened to a lot of music that was inspired by this kind of music in western music, but not the real deal. so i'm not sure if this is considered an all-timer of the genre, but i think it was a great first listen to a genre i am woefully ill-exposed to.

4.0

Album #378 (1001 challenge): "Call of the Call of the Valley" is a Hindustani classic album by Shivkumar Sharma, Brij Bhushankabra and Hariprasad Chararaurasia. It is an instrumental album with Sharma on santoor, Brushankabra on slide guitar, Chaurasua on flute and bansari and Manikrao Popatkar on tabla and follows a day in the life of an Indian shepard. The album helped introduce Indian music to Westerners, became the best selling Indian album worldwide and is a milestone in world music. It also had fans in Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and others. The first song "Ahir Bhairav/Nat Bhairav" really showcases the music and album. It starts with the stretched strings of the slide guitar. The santoor comes in to add melody. Then a flute. Then tabla. Each instrument seems to be going their own way but the music sounds connected. The remaining songs seem to highlight an instrument. With "Rag Piloo," it's tabla, "Bhoop" and "Reg Pahadi," the flute, and "Rang Des," the slide guitar and santoor. This album was really chill for me. It was very similar to jazz in that each instrument came to the forefront at times with improvisation yet the music was connected between the instruments as a whole. It's mostly a joy to listen to a new style (to me) of music especially if it's good. And, this is very good.

The original album/recording wasnt on itunes or spotify, but youtube had a version of the original album. So, it took some more clicks than usual to get to the album but it was worth it! Really great classical Indian album, very relaxing and beautiful. 4/5

Excellent stuff

Un descobriment de nivell molt alt. Paisatgístic, oníric, evocador... si et deixes emportar per la música, inicies un viatge memorable. Un dels millors discos de world music que he tingut l'oportunitat d'escoltar

Very influential to so much other music and I really loved the instrumentation. Beautifully done! Very pleased that this album was on this list because I would have never stumbled upon it otherwise.

Beautiful

Super

Because you can't always Rock out. Pastoral, contemplative and tranquil are the adjectives that come to mind here. Timeless music that belies its 1967 release date and will sound just as fresh in 2067. Really wonderful compositions that seamlessly flow into each other and form a really cohesive whole. This is another one of these recordings that have split the votes here with a lot of 1s but also a lot of 5s. I pity the folks that can't (or won't) give it a chance because this is really beautiful music.

Kind of cool actually

Found a better recording on YouTube. The Spotify version is not it. Nice to do work to.

I thought this was a really cool album. It's not as intense as some classical Indian music that I've listened to, it's a very relaxing album. The music is great all the way through. Really beautiful introduction to Indian music for anyone who is unfamiliar 4/5

Would never have thought to listen to this. Really relaxing and great musicianship.

Not on Spotify, so I went to YouTube and listened to the original Indian-issue LP in mono ( I don’t believe it was released in Stereo at the time). Wow this was really good. I was only really familiar with Indian Classical through Ravi Shankar and various psych-rock tracks that feature similar instrumentation. This record is very spiritual and takes the listener away on a psychedelic experience. Super cool. The playing is amazing as well.

Oddly really enjoyed this, was not expecting to but this was a great listen! Surprisingly full and fun

very good

I’m a sucker for instrumentals <3 I really love this slightly instrumental touch but I liked the first songs more.

Maybe it was because I listened while walking, but this was very good!

Ambient and atmospheric, but still engaging

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

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.

Double checked the date this was released. It has a really modern sound and is extremely easy to listen to

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.

Cool album! Powerful, masterful, and great to listen

Sounds like healing music. Calm and good for meditation.

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.

Maybe it's cuz I was drawing, but this was great music.

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.

78 / 1069 Found it on YouTube as streaming versions are not the correct version. Beautiful album!

The sitar work on this album is absolutely incredible. I wish there wasn't as much flute. Best track: Rag Pahadi

this and a hit of the medical cart

Not available in spotify. I had to listen on you tube

Great background peace.

Chill mood music. No lyrics

Very tranquil and beautiful, I enjoyed this a lot

Beautiful.

Pleasant listen

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?

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

Hypnotizing.

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

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.

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.

Pretty wonderful, reminds me a bit of Peter and the Wolf.

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.

What an interesting, calming journey. Great focus music.

Very chill music

Well, isn't this wonderful? Peaceful. Blissed out. Smoke some hash and let it rip... My uneducated analysis of this is that it brings together familiar (by now) elements of Eastern music with contemporary instruments and production. I really like it but have no context for evaluating it further. I will definitely return to this for future listens. Saturday and Sunday morning coffee time.

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.

This album is incredibly captivating for an insturmental and it was surprisingly hard to concentrate on work while listening. Such a lovely sound. No particular fave, the whole album feels so lush.

Good stuff!

Very easy listening... One of the best albums of all time??

A beautiful album that I had never heard of previously. I will be listening to this again. 4 🌟

Glad I listened to it. 7/10

Delightful listen all the way through.

Lovely and soothing

Bonne musique de fond, un peu atmosphérique. Très bonne musique pour travailler

This is AMAZING music with which to get high. Like, better than anything.

Didn’t think I’d like it, pleasantly surprised. Listened to it twice

Muy linda musica para dormir.

Mjög falleg, þægileg í hlustun. Mun hlusta aftur

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 fuckin rules. This is the sort of album I wanted on this, not 100 Beatles albums. 4/5.

// Favs: – Score: Light to Decent 4

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!

i liked this a lot more than i thought i would

Loved it! Beautiful.

Great music for working or concentrating

Ambiente agradável com a melodia que envolve a espiritualidade

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.

Dr Koothrappali's culture

Tribal vibes, to me it feels like I’m traveling with a group of nomads exploring the world

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!

It is quite relaxing.

digg, 4,5

Nice and relaxing.

Pretty enjoyable intro into Indian music.

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.

Loved this. Peaceful, warm, not what I was expecting. I can see how it is influential. I will gladly play this again.

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.

The best background music, The Shepard Girl is everything

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.

Really really nice to listen to

Lovely instrumentals! Something different is always nice. Would be right at home on the DAK soundtrack.

hay que estar en el mood trililí pero no está mal

Chilled album, great background music or for guided meditation

A good album. It’s interesting to listen to and I appreciate it’s on the list. I think that it can start sounding similar after a bit but it’s still good.

Didn't convert me, and I'd have to listen a lot more to really tell the tracks apart, but a lot of it was effective in establishing a world and an atmosphere that was intriguing to live in.

Pleasant enough with some excellent melody and musicianship. More background music than something I can truly immerse in.

About what I expected the Ravi Shankar album to be like, which underscores how cool the Shankar album really was. I liked this though, it was a good listen. A more international version of this list would be a lot of fun.

Diverting sitar noodling to listen to passively during a run. Don’t regret it but probably won’t listen again

nice background music

My first thought when reading the Wikipedia article on this album was "I wonder if this is in the common cultural sphere of Indians, considering how influential it was outside the country." It so happens my neighbor is Indian, and when I asked him about it, he'd never heard of it or the musicians. So, that's kind of a bust there. I mean, it is a HUGE and very diverse country, so it's probably not all that surprising. As far as the album goes I'm actually VERY MUCH enjoying it. It's reminds me of the sound of ambient electronic music, but with traditional Indian instruments. It's going have to take a serious turn for the worse to keep me from adding this to my personal collection. I'll probably spin this a couple more times today Newinformationhascometolightman.gif Turns out I was listening to the wrong version like everyone else. Listening to the correct version, I definitely like this less. Newinformationhascometolightman.gif So there are multiple versions to this, apparently, and I'm listening to yet another one, that I *think* is the right one? This is getting confusing and shitty, and I feel frustrated that I (and the rest of us) may be listening to and rating various incorrect (or not the original) versions of this album. I think I need to tap out here. I've listened to three half-albums over the last two hours, and I just can't do anymore. I might have to come back to this. ⭐⭐⭐? Who knows? Were any of the albums I listened to the right one?

Gear: ZMF Auteur Classic LTD Shedua Artwork: 🐑🏞️🖼️ Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🌄🕊️🧘‍♀️ Rating: 🐑🐑🐏/5

This is ok I guess - it’s quite samey, and also sounds like a lot of the late 60s George Harrison Beatles stuff. I could murder a Lamb Pasanda right now, though.

This album has really jammed me up. Another one of those albums that draws no attention to itself and when you force yourself to listen to it it seems fine. Sorry George Harrison.

Thank you for albums like this. Never would've found this on my own. That said, it's okay if a bit the same sounding. 3/5

I listened to the YouTube version and I enjoyed it. I wish YT would let me do other things on my phone while I have a video playing, but I understand that capitalism requires my uncompromised attention. I don't have many notes here because I don't have much experience with Indian music. I could see myself owning this, but there are other "world music" records I would buy first.

op de youtoep gekeken want blijkbaar is die andere doodoo. het heeft wel iets, maar dit ga ik wss nooit meer luisteren. is wel mooi.

A nice, soothing listen. Evocative of imagery of valleys and sweeping countryside, an album for the great outdoors It does sound quite samey but I put that down more to my unfamiliarity with this style in the first place Hard for me to pick a standout because I listened to the album one a single YouTube video, although it isn't on Spotify to add my favourite to the playlist anyway 3.5

I would have loved to listen to this album. But as mentioned many times before, Spotify links to the wrong album. I can’t find the right one there. On YouTube, the listening experience is very limited because of the ads. That’s why I’ve only heard parts of the album. It’s a shame, because what I heard seemed quite interesting. So, unfortunately, I can’t say anything specific about the music. 3/5

Raga Bhoop is tuff, Nat Bhairav low key goes hard. Peaceful, not on Spotify, fell asleep woke up to more auto play Tikka Masala

In short, this is the best-selling album of classical Indian music, recorded by three local masters. Traditional Indian santoor and bansoori are mixed here with flute and slide guitar. In the mid-1960s, many Western rock musicians began experimenting with Eastern music, which eventually led to psychedelia. For the thus-warmed American and European public, this sound, on the one hand, was nothing new; on the other, only Indians could play their music so authentically. Word of mouth about the album was also helped by reviews from "advanced users": David Crosby, Bob Dylan, and, of course, George Harrison. Pleasant, contemplative melodies, equally suitable for work, for starting the day, or simply for gazing at the sunset. After listening to it once, I automatically turned it on again.

Interesting to hear the genesis of the Indian sound in western rock. It comes off as far more serious than other instrumental world music pieces from the era. There is a sense of weight, importance, intensity, and calm, all at once. I’d love to get this on vinyl, and I’m glad to have encountered it.

Auf dem Balkon in der Sonne gehört - dort passt es ganz gut. Hört sich an wie ein George Harrison album

This was nice, should spend more time with it.

Indian classic i think this sounds are common now its impressive for 1967 ..6/10

Very interesting and used while meditating. Some incredibly talented musicians.

5.5/10

Naja, wahrscheinlich kann ich nicht beurteilen, ob das nun wirklich bahnbrechend war. Als Musik in einem indischen Restaurant würde es jedenfalls für die richtige Atmosphäre sorgen!

Instrumental Indian tinged floating new age type peaceful pastoral.

Meditativ, lite väl psykos 06:30 en torsdag kanske

Some bits very meditative. Other places a bit annoying. No better than a 3 but no worse

very chill. very long

It's cool to mix in some music from other cultures.

The link went somewhere different. I found this on YouTube. It’s sounds like what I was expecting I think if I have to listen on YouTube I’m not going to like it. I wish this was on Apple Music so I could get more details. It’s not bad but it all sounds like the same thing.

fun

Great trance like ragas for mystical long walk or other flow like activities

A couple Indian albums on this list. Good for me to get an idea of the rhythm and instrumentation.

Favorite Track: Nat Bhairav

Interesting but not that special.

In a nutshell: a day in the life. Sometimes you don't need lyrics to tell a story. A melody is more than enough. In Indian classical or Hindustani classical music, it's Raga (in English, melodic structure). It's a contemplative and atmospheric concept album. Play the original release, it's a manageable 39:46. Overall: 6/10

Pleasant music, but doesn’t really grab me - could happily listen to in background like classical music

I can pretty much see and hear Sgt. Peppers in this. 3/5

5/10 Does any music really cross cultural boundaries? It is impossible for me to hear this without my western ear. It is exotic and interesting to an extent, but I can't feel it move me or connect with me in any way

Well recorded and pleasant classical Indian music that did big business with hippies in the early 70s. I can totally see how this would be a great soundtrack for getting stoned which I am sure was most of the appeal for Western audiences when first released, although that now seems disrespectful to the musicians and their tradition. I didn't realize that there was a guitar on this album until I read it on the wikipedia article. A really different approach to the instrument (especially the use of microtones), which is really interesting.

As a European, I find it difficult to judge traditional Indian music fairly, simply because I’m not familiar enough with comparable music. I can say, however, that I really enjoyed listening to Shivkumar Sharma’s “Call of the Valley”—especially since I was in the mood for peace and meditation this morning. That this album was well-received worldwide upon its release, I would nevertheless attribute more to the spirit of the times than to any extraordinary quality of the music. The instrumental pieces simply tell a little story that you can follow if you already know what it’s about (a shepherd’s day in Kashmir). Of course, something like this exists in all cultures—Europeans probably think first of either Camille Saint-Saëns’s "The Carnival of the Animals" or Sergei Prokofiev’s "Peter and the Wolf". Should one be familiar with these? For one’s own culture: certainly. Otherwise: I don’t know.

Estaba tan estresada, que realmente me desconecto, me relajo, me puso en mi eje. 🧘🏻‍♀️

Pleasant instrumentals

Well, this was interesting… I feel so relaxed.

It’s cool, glad I heard it. Not the kind of thing I’m going to put on for myself.

Not something I would ever think to listen to normally. It’s not bad.

I like the album cover. 3/5

To me this is just an extended version of Love You To by the Beatles. But it is good music. I rather listen to it live, it doesn't catch you on an album version.

This falls squarely in the realm of I kind of like it, I appreciate the musicianship and everything going on. But ultimately it’s not for me and I’ll probably never listen to it again. 3/5

Neat album but not something in my wheelhouse to become a regular listen.

This is the sort of thing I usually enjoy. But I read I've probably listened to the wrong thing. Who can keep up. What I heard was nice.

I am happy to have been introduced to a new style of music that I had never really delved into before. The musicians were all very talented and it was a unique sound. It was not really my cup of tea, and some of the songs went on for quite a long time (although they were not too repetitive). It's not bad, but not the best that I have heard.

What a beautiful record.

Fue buena experiencia, me gustó que fuera corto, aunque no estoy acostumbrado a este tipo de música

it was okay not my type of music though

Conflicting information online about the original recording, and different versions available. It was a nice listen, but ultimately I'm not 100% sure I listened to the original. Nice atmospheric and takes you on a journey

Short and sweet!

Call of the Valley is a hauntingly beautiful album, full of lush soundscapes that feel perfectly matched to its cover—an image of shepherds guiding their flock through the rolling green hills of northern India. As my first real introduction to Hindustani classical music, I found it surprisingly approachable, with a calm, meditative quality that’s far less intrusive than I expected. That said, it’s not something I could listen to all day. In smaller stretches—about 40 minutes at a time—it’s a rewarding and immersive experience. Sidenote: Track down the original album on YouTube—the versions on Apple Music and Spotify don’t appear to be correct.

This was just fine for what it is. It's never going to be something I will listen to on purpose, but it doesn't bother me when I do.

Finally something I actually want to listen to twice

This was a nice change of pace and I enjoyed the album. It did get a little samey after a while, but I really did enjoy the listen.

Very nice

Mmm I'll have to come back to this one because I can't find it! And I guess I don't wanna hit "did not listen" cuz I don't want it away from the queue forever, just have to come back to it. People are saying Youtube has it but I can only find the album by Sharma's son. I guess for now I'll have to put it at 3 to keep things neutral. Sucks, I was kinda looking forward to ragas and the wiki said that someone's using a slide guitar instead of a sitar, that sounded kinda neat. Oh well, maybe soon.

Non something I would seek out on my own but I am very glad I listened. This is probably the most enjoyment I have received from an Indian album so far. I loved the use of stereo separation while the instruments danced around each other and did call and response. Every instrument finds ways to shine here. My favorite moment was the final two minutes of Nat Bhairav where it accelerates. The title track is probably the best song overall though.

I can dig some world beats in the right setting. This was fine I guess.

I dig me some tabla!

A pleasant listen for my journey across the bardo today (my walk to work). Don’t really know how to score ones like this, honestly. But this was relaxing and not annoying.

Interesting I suppose. I have no frame of reference for how good, unique this is. I don’t know…I guess I’ll round up because it made me want to meditate and find my inner peace. 2.5

Took some effort to find what I think is the right album. I thought it was fine, but not amazing. Cool that it influenced many other artists of the time, but just an ok listen on its own. 2.75/5

Light classical music with just enough Indian elements to appeal to the squares who want to think they’re cool and enlightened and with it. Not bad though.

This was a difficult one to track down - I would recommend going to Youtube - there was a playlist that matched the tracklist (with bonus tracks) and most of the song runtimes from Wikipedia. Nothing on Apple Music really matched in terms of names. Overall interesting, especially considering this was apparently the album that broke through internationally in the late 60s and influenced several major pop/rock groups (The Bealtes among them).

Im a sucker for tablas 😂 I enjoyed this more compared to some of the other Indian music weve encountered so far because the songs are quite short in comparison. The ideas never dragged on (for my ears) After one listen, Im not hearing the whole “day in the life” concept, but there is some flow from start to finish. The end of twilight zone was probably my favorite part of the album. 2.5 stars

I'm not sure what to rate this as there really isn't anything in my library to compare it to. I will say that for what it is, it's quite pleasant to listen to. There is, however, a very twangy instrument that I don't particularly care for when it's the main sound. If I were a stoner, this would be an easy 5 stars. As it is, I'll give credit where credit is due and give a solid three.

84. calm

Although I don't really feel like I have nay frame of reference to judge whether this is good/authentic/traditional/inspired/derivative/etc. Raga music, I can definitely see/hear how adding a flute and acoustic guitar to the mix helped pave the way for this album to become a popular and influential Indian music album in the West. I also liked reading that the songs are supposed to form a suite that follows the patterns and life of a Kashmiri shepherd, apparently with each raga corresponding with a different time of day; a pretty active shepherd, it seems. And a more interesting musical experience than the other classical-Indian-music-focused album in this collection, Ravi Shankar's somewhat pedantic "The Sounds of India".

More accessible than a lot of classical Indian music, but not something I would choose to listen to often.

I happened to put this on early in the morning in winter with fresh snow falling on the ground. Here I am writing in a very different time and place from when this album was recorded and from the world of the story it tells. And yet I am instantly transported. Do you hear the call?

Kinda making me go insane trying to work and listen. It's nice but ya not for me I guess 3?

Pretty chill spa music. Great for weekend background music.

Uhmm okay haha