Mawood — Abdel Halim Hafez

Recorded live in Cairo in 1971 with a massive orchestra, Mawood stands alongside Qari'at al-Fingan as one of the ultimate achievements in modern Egyptian music history. Composed by the legendary Baligh Hamdi with lyrics by poet Mohamed Hamza, the composition follows a bittersweet journey through romantic heartbreak, destiny, and longing.

What elevates Mawood into a timeless classic is its boundary-pushing arrangement. While maintaining the grand dynamic tension and emotional weight of traditional classical Arabic Tarab, Baligh Hamdi injected electrifying modern rhythms into the performance. Backed by undulating quarter-tone violins, cascading accordion lines, and the pioneering fuzz-drenched electric guitar of guitar hero Omar Khorshid, Abdel Halim delivers a spellbinding vocal performance that holds thousands of listeners breathless through every crescendo.

Pressing Details & Visuals

• First Vinyl Reissue in Decades: Officially reissued on vinyl by Wewantsounds in direct collaboration with the historic Soutelphan catalog.

• Parisian Analog Remastering: Sourced and specially remastered for vinyl at Colorsound Studio in Paris, bringing out extraordinary clarity in the live audience atmosphere, crisp darbuka percussion, and intricate guitar work.

• Deluxe Archival Presentation: Housed in a heavy-cardstock sleeve faithfully restoring the original 1971 cover photography and classic typography.

• Illustrated Insert Included: Features a dedicated 2-page insert containing archival imagery and insightful bilingual (English/French) liner notes by Mario Choueiry of the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.

Collector's Note: Abdel Halim Hafez's recordings were famous for their raw, electric live energy, where songs developed over extended 30-to-40-minute performances. This vinyl edition cleanly splits the continuous suite across two sides of wax while preserving the seamless, hypnotic momentum of Omar Khorshid's legendary guitar interludes and Baligh Hamdi's organ solos.

Tracklist

• Side A: Mawood (Part 1)

• Side B: Mawood (Part 2)

Technical Specifications