Ganimian and His Oriental Music - Come With Me To The Casbah

The five members of Ganimian And His Orientals were all Armenian-Americans, led by Charles "Chick" Ganimian, who would later become perhaps the most successful American-born oud player. The band's repertoire included Turkish, Armenian, Arabic and some Greek dances and songs... and just like the Beatles, the ability to read music was superseded by playing by ear! Anyway,.it’s an amazing LP with superb Middle-Eastern belly-dance vibe, not dry or academic but as real as a hazy party night of spicy food and liquor at the local kebab parlour ! The guy also had some 45s under various names (Ganim’s Asia Minors, included on the same 1958 LP), and probably more album releases. One track pops up on the great John Berberian LP on Verve 10 years later, and « Come with me to the casbah » has been covered by a lot a surf instrumentals bands.


Track Listing
1. Oriental Jam
2. Over The Rainbow
3. The Whirling Dervish
4. Play Girl Play
5. Swinging The Blues
6. Daddy Lolo
7. My Funny Valentine
8. Come With Me To The Casbah
9. Hedy Lou
10. Hayastan Moods
11. Halvah
12. Nine Eight

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