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Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan HMV EASD1319 — Rare Qawwali MP3

HMV EASD1319 is one of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's early recordings in the HMV India catalogue — the kind of release that exists in serious collectors' consciousness but has rarely been discussed in the English-language coverage of his career. The catalog number tells you something about the era: this is pre-international exposure Nusrat, before Peter Gabriel heard him perform and before Real World Records changed the trajectory of his career entirely.

Early Nusrat Versus Later Nusrat

There is a meaningful difference between early and late Nusrat, and it is not simply about production quality. In the early recordings, the ensemble is more prominent relative to the lead vocal. The supporting qawwals and the harmonium player have more space. In the later international productions, the mix tends to feature Nusrat's voice more prominently — an adjustment that made his recordings more accessible to Western ears but also shifted the balance of the music.

He is a high-profiled name regarding qawwali art globally, and appropriately so. But the HMV-era recordings give you the qawwal before he became a global phenomenon, which is a different kind of listening experience. Abid Mehar Ali Qawal, whose career trajectory was more confined to the Pakistani circuit, offers a useful comparison: a qawwal of comparable depth whose recordings were never adjusted for international consumption. Sher Miandad Khan's family recordings from the same era share this quality.

Stream or Download MP3

The HMV EASD1319 material is available on iRulz for free online listening and download. The Night Song collaboration with Michael Brook and other crossover recordings are also in the catalogue for comparison.

FAQ

What is HMV EASD1319? An early Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan recording in the HMV India catalogue from before his international career took off. The catalog number is a collector's reference point for dating the recording.

Is this harder to find than his more famous albums? Yes — early catalog recordings like this circulate primarily through specialist collectors and archival sources rather than mainstream streaming platforms.

How does the sound quality compare to his later work? By contemporary standards, the audio fidelity is limited, but the performance quality is consistent with his work throughout his career.

You may also enjoy the qawwali of Abid Mehar Ali Qawal, Night Song, and Sher Miandad Khan. Listen to more qawwali of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.