Spero Spyros - More Golden Songs of Greece [Prestige World]

Spero Spyros & His Modern Grecian Ensemble Featuring Harula - More Golden Songs of Greece - Near East Records (Prestige)- NE 45002- Original Prestige Pressing, Light Blue Label, Mono

Recorded - [dates unknown?]

Produced and Directed by Chet Amsterdam
Cover Design - Don Schlitten
Cover Photo - Cristos Gianakos

Released - May 12, 1962

This posting concludes this blog's recent immersion in Middle Eastern/Greek/Turkish music, and also wraps up coverage of the Near East Records discography - Prestige's odd and rather short lived subsidiary that existed for 5 releases from May to December 1962.

As for this side, the addition of a female vocal counterpoint (the mysterious Harula referred to in the liner notes) to the proceedings spices things up momentarily. Interesting, but not essential.

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Spero Spyros - Golden Songs of Greece [Prestige World]

Spero Spyros & His Modern Grecian Ensemble - Golden Songs of Greece - Near East Records (Prestige) - NE-45001 - Blue Trident Label, Mono

Recorded - [dates unknown?, straight reissue of Prestige International INT 13001]

Produced and Directed by Chet Amsterdam
Cover Design - Don Schlitten
Cover Photo - Cristos Gianakos

Released - May 12, 1962

This is the first of Spero Spyros' two Greek sides. Once again, documentation for this side/session is not available. I have a hunch that Spero Spyros doesn't actually exist and these are simply field recordings from Greece/Turkey of traditional musicians assembled by the producer Chet Amsterdam.

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Spero Spyros - Anatolian Introduction [Prestige World]

Spero Spyros & His Modern Anatolian Ensemble - Anatolian Introduction - Near East Records (Prestige) NE-45003 - Original Prestige Pressing, Light Blue Label, Mono

Recorded - [dates unknown?]

Produced by Chet Amsterdam
Directed [?] by Luis J. Barreiro
Cover Design - Don Schlitten
Cover Photo - Charles Dexter Ward

Released - 1962?

This is the companion piece to Spero Spyros' earlier Anatolian side. Generally, I think it's a more consistent and better quality recording than Anatolian Feast. But on the whole, both sides are worth hearing, as there's a degree of authenticity, musicianship, and professionalism which makes them stand out from the typical exotica/lounge/'belly dancing' sides of the era. Strangely compelling!

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Spero Spyros - Anatolian Feast [Prestige World]

Spero Spyros & His Modern Anatolian Ensemble - Anatolian Feast - Near East Records (Prestige) NE-45004 - Original Prestige Pressing, Light Blue Label, Mono

Recorded - [dates unknown?]

Produced by Chet Amsterdam
Directed [?] by Luis J. Barreiro
Cover Design - Don Schlitten
Cover Photo - Christos Gianakos

Released - 1962?

I'm declaring Near East Records month on the blog - which translates into a lot of Spero Spyros! It's the collector's curse/lament to be ever the completist, so essentially I'm in the process of acquiring the entire Near East Records discography!! In the course of my extensive research, I could find absolutely no information on Spero Spyros, the ostensible leader of this side, or on any of the supporting players, the instrumentation, or any recording details.

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Oudi Hrant - Eastern Standard Time [Prestige World]

Oudi Hrant - Eastern Standard Time: The Genius of Oudi Hrant - Near East Records (Prestige) NE -45005 - Original Prestige Pressing, Light Blue Label, Mono

Oudi Hrant - Oud
[uncredited] - Other Players

Recorded - [not listed on sleeve, dates unknown?, However, this is the original issue of the record, subsequently reissued as "Turkish Delights" also credited to Hrant, in the Bluesville series, as PR 1089]

Supervision - [uncredited]
Recording - [uncredited]
Cover Photo/Design - Don Schlitten

Released - December 15, 1962

I think this is my greatest find yet - Oudi Hrant's Eastern Standard Time! Originally the final issue of Prestige's rather short lived Near East Records subsidiary in 1962, this side is a near perfect distillation of traditional Turkish-Greek music crossed with Jazz. This music is both sweepingly magisterial & intimate, and played with so much joy.