Nagham Fi Hayati — Farid El Atrache

Released in 1974—the year of Farid El Atrache’s passing—Nagham Fi Hayati serves as both the soundtrack to one of his most beloved musical films and an enduring testament to his artistic genius. Standing alongside Oum Kalthoum and Abdel Halim Hafez as one of the titanic pillars of 20th-century Arabic music, Farid El Atrache was revered for his poignant, impassioned vocals (Tarab) and his unmatched virtuosity on the oud.

The album contains the monster groove "Hebina Hebina" ("Love Us, Love Us"), an infectious, organ-driven floor-filler featuring driving percussion loops and funky rhythm arrangements that famously made it one of ambient icon Brian Eno’s all-time favorite tracks. In stark contrast, romantic epics like "Alachan Malich Gheirak" and "Ya Habaybi Ya Ghaybin" showcase lush orchestral arrangements and dramatic dynamic shifts, while "Takassim Oud" delivers an intimate, spellbinding display of why Farid was crowned the undisputed King of Oud.

Pressing Details & Visuals

• First Vinyl Reissue Since the 1970s: Officially reissued on vinyl for the first time in nearly five decades in collaboration with Voice of Lebanon.

• Parisian Analog Remaster: Sourced and painstakingly remastered for vinyl by Colorsound Studio in Paris, giving the live percussion, warm basslines, and rich string sections incredible room presence.

• Uncut "Takassim Oud" Recording: Features the complete, unedited version of "Takassim Oud" on vinyl for the first time, restoring a crucial section that was trimmed on the 1974 original LP pressing.

• Deluxe Archival Jacket: Pressed on heavy-grade black wax and housed in a vintage-reproduced outer sleeve with an illustrated insert featuring rare archival notes.

Collector's Note: Beyond its massive popularity across the Arab world, Farid's work has had a surprising ripple effect on Western rock and electronic music. While The Beatles famously sampled Farid's song "Awel Hamsa" on "Revolution 9" from The White Album, it is "Hebina Hebina" on this record that continues to stun international crate-diggers with its timeless, modern dance groove.

Tracklist

• Side A: Alachan Malich Gheirak | Hebina Hebina

• Side B: Ya Habaybi Ya Ghaybin | Takassim Oud (Unedited Version)

Technical Specifications