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Single of the Day | Ziad Rahbani – Abu Ali | 30th March 2021

Our first ever record of the day of Lebanese origin! The mystical sounding Jazz-Funk-Disco grail from Ziad Rahbani – Abu Ali, recorded in Greece back in the seventies with a mixture of Greek and Arabic musicians. It was a time of turmoil back in Rahbani’s home country of Lebanon, which was in the throes of civil conflict and committed to a prolonged war with Israel.

A renowned cultural firebrand figure back in Lebanon, known as one of the leading exponents of the prevalent left-wing counterculture of the time and as one of the most biting Lebanese political satirists and playwrights of his day, Ziad Rahbani came from an illustrious artistic dynasty. His father is the famous composer and musician Assi Rahbani, member of group The Rahbani Brothers and his mother is the legendary Middle-Eastern diva Fairuz.

Ziad Rahbani started his music career during his late teens, composing music for his mother. Rahbani quickly spread his wings further and started producing his own music—co-founding the label Zida in 1978—at 22. Among his early releases was Abu Ali, recorded in Greece at the EMI Studios in Athens with a full orchestra. Initially it was released as a limited run EP for the Lebanese market and only achieved international recognition later on in life.

The record was initially limited to only 500 copies when it came out, owing to its rarity and grail status among collectors of world and arabic music thereafter—it is a favourite with the French DJ and record dealer Victor Kiswell and the French group Acid Arabe. The result is a fabulous New-York meets Beirut Disco exctasy, some of the funkiest music to ever come out of the Middle East and loud and proud enough to play out as a 12″ maxi single in a club setting, or at home. One of the most collectible EPs on the international dance and disco scene and a previous record store day release, remastered and reissued on yellow coloured vinyl exclusively from the original analogue tapes.

Have a look at some of our other 12 inch reissues, both standard issue releases and record store day titles, that we have in stock. Some great Disco, Brit-Funk, Jazz-Funk and Rare Groove titles available for click and collect, or mail order.

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Ziad Rahbani – Abu Ali