{"title":"Asha Puthli","description":"\u003cp\u003eSinger, producer and actress born and raised in Bombay, India.\r\nClassically trained in jazz improvisation and world music.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-devil-is-loose","title":"The Devil Is Loose","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe can't think of many artists that have had as diverse a career and who have been involved in as many different genres of music as \u003cstrong\u003eAsha Puthli\u003c\/strong\u003e. A musical pioneer who forged a path through 60's psych, free-jazz, pop, rock, disco, and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAsha's 1976 album \u003cem\u003eThe Devil Is Loose\u003c\/em\u003e is maybe her most well-known record. Featuring the beautiful disco-funk-classic \"\u003cem\u003eSpace Talk\u003c\/em\u003e,\" Asha's ethereal soaring vocals take us on a journey that almost mirrors Asha's eclectic career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe track was championed by a wide-range of musical scenes and movements, and over space and time it has been commandeered as their own. You would hear it played by David Mancuso at the now mythical underground New York party The Loft, in the most discerning disco nightclubs across the globe, in the Rare Groove scene, and also being sampled by hip-hop heavyweights such as The Notorious B.I.G \/ P Diddy, and The Pharcyde.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe appeal and lifespan of \u003cem\u003eSpace Talk\u003c\/em\u003e keeps on extending and morphing as new audiences gleefully discover it for the first time - it still sounds as relevant and fresh on the dancefloor today - a sign of a true classic.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mr Bongo","offers":[{"title":"LP - Pink","offer_id":50380117049675,"sku":"1114011","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":50380117180747,"sku":"1114010","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP - Gold","offer_id":50380117311819,"sku":"2211959","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50380116885835,"sku":"1114009","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2000x2000bb_b04a4907-4dc4-47e0-b453-c7d60077f410.jpg?v=1777028392"},{"product_id":"the-essential-1","title":"The Essential","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe can't think of many other performers like the singer\/songwriter\/dancer\/actress \u003cstrong\u003eAsha Puthli\u003c\/strong\u003e who have excelled in such a broad range of genres. From 60s psych, Classical Indian music, Free Jazz, Pop, Soul, Disco, to Rock, the list goes on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA best-of or an essential collection is always going to be a subjective thing, but for what is unbelievably the first official compilation covering the full breadth of Asha's illustrious career, we aimed to provide a snapshot into her ever-evolving musical journey and a tribute to the vast richness of her catalogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSome singers want to be famous, others are pop star icons, and some are artists; Asha is the latter. Asha is a true force of nature, regardless of the genre she explores, she fully commits, moves on, and reinvents herself, always progressing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLooking back on Asha's career, it is evident what a trail-blazer she was, opening doors for her contemporaries and those who came later to step through. Whether it was conscious or not, you can recognize Asha’s influence in aspects of \u003cem\u003eKate Bush\u003c\/em\u003e's ethereal image and performance, in \u003cem\u003eDonna Summer\u003c\/em\u003e’s high-smooth vocal sound and disco stylings, and in the gumption and power of \u003cem\u003eGrace Jones\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKick-starting the compilation is ‘\u003cem\u003ePain\u003c\/em\u003e’, the Indian psychedelic garage rock sounds of The Savages featuring Asha. We have to admit, we had to strong-arm Asha into letting us include this track at first; also due to its rare nature (and lack of any master tapes) the recording we present here is raw and low-fi. However, we felt its inclusion was important to fully represent the journey of Asha's career, the same consideration was also applied to two of the Asha and The Surfers’ songs that we have included in this collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAsha saw a link between jazz and classical Indian music \"the improvisation, the minor chords, the free form, the liberalness of the art\" we showcase her love of jazz here with seminal works with the legendary \u003cem\u003eOrnette Coleman\u003c\/em\u003e, taken from the revered \u003cem\u003eScience Fiction\u003c\/em\u003e album.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAsha's 'CBS years' are represented here, how could we not include 'Space Talk' on this collection, and how these years progressed into her amazing disco offerings such as 'I'm Gonna Dance' and 'Music Machine'. The bizarre 'We're Gonna Bury The Rock With The Roll Tonight' from 1980 has also won us over. A pseudo-50s throw-back song that sounds not unsimilar to the post-modern, leftfield, pop of an MIA production to come years later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRounding off the compilation we have Asha's interpretation of a \u003cem\u003eMichael Jackson\u003c\/em\u003e classic that sat lost on a cassette-only released in India.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mr Bongo","offers":[{"title":"Orange | LP | x2","offer_id":50383236628811,"sku":"1153245","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50383236497739,"sku":"1153244","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50383237284171,"sku":"1153241","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/5297e92b-12b4-4055-b4a6-451b7783d5c5_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726265641"},{"product_id":"asha-puthli-2","title":"Asha Puthli","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhilst flicking through the racks at Mr Bongo's record store we curiously pulled out a copy Asha Puthli's self-titled album from 1973. Initially attracted to the striking sleeve (a classic Mick Rock portrait of Asha), we became instantly hooked upon hearing the album's opening track, 'Right Down Here'. This spark of interest in Asha and her music led to an interview and feature on our website, followed by a personal meet-up with the great lady herself. Plans for this reissue were hatched, and we are very proud to present it to you now.  There are not many artists whose discography includes working with Ornette Coleman and Goblin, crafting celebrated New York underground disco classics, and being sampled by Jay Z, 50 Cent and The Notorious B.I.G. Furthermore, there are not many artists as inspiring and creative as Asha. She played by her own rules whilst surfing genres like a musical space-cadet, fashioning a career in her own unique mold.  Asha's debut self-titled album is a wonderful fusion of jazz, soul, blues, and disco. It includes an outstanding cover version of J.J. Cale's 'Right Down Here a track which Asha has made very much her own by flipping it into a deep-funk groove with sultry ethereal vocals and a drumbeat almost ready-made for samplers of the future. The record was produced in the UK by Del Newman, who had worked with Carly Simon, Cat Stevens, and Elton John to name a few. It was released on London CBS Records in 1973. Shortly after the release of the record, Asha (who was born in Mumbai), was banned by the Home Office from working in the UK for a period of time due to visa issues. These obstacles along with problems with her recording contract did not hold her back. Asha moved on and continued her musical journey elsewhere. This resulted in further astounding creative works that Mr Bongo will also be presenting soon.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mr Bongo","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50478261731659,"sku":"2017315","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_cc3bb853_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727482024"},{"product_id":"asha-puthli","title":"Asha Puthli","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom her early days raised as a youth in Bombay, \u003cstrong\u003eAsha Puthli\u003c\/strong\u003e initially trained in Indian classical music and opera, but over time gravitated towards contemporary western pop, upon discovering talents like \u003cstrong\u003eNat King Cole\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eElla Fitzgerald\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eDusty Springfield\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter making a name for herself in her native country, she found her way to New York, where she happened upon \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Hammond\u003c\/strong\u003e of CBS Records. Hammond would introduce Puthli to the avant-garde legend \u003cstrong\u003eOrnette Coleman\u003c\/strong\u003e, who utilized her unique vocal stylings on his 1971 record \"\u003cem\u003eScience Fiction\u003c\/em\u003e\". Her work on the album earned widespread praise, and though it didn't lead to further work in the United States, it did bring her a record contract in Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1973, Puthli released her self-titled debut through CBS, which would not see release in the US, but was subject to widespread critical acclaim and fascination throughout Europe. \u003cem\u003eAsha Puthli\u003c\/em\u003e was produced by \u003cstrong\u003eDel Newman\u003c\/strong\u003e, who had done arrangements and production for \u003cstrong\u003eElton John's\u003c\/strong\u003e famed album \u003cem\u003eGoodbye Yellow Brick Road\u003c\/em\u003e, of which Puthli was a professed fan, and featured a cover image heavily inspired by the glam aesthetics of groups like T. Rex, \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Bowie\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eQueen\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese aesthetics would also blend into the music itself, an 8-song collection featuring renditions of songs by \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge Harrison\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eJ.J. Cale\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eBill Withers\u003c\/strong\u003e, and others, plus one original by Puthli herself. \u003cem\u003eAsha Puthli\u003c\/em\u003e is a remarkable work of its time, for its daring amalgamation of pop sensibilities, jazz sultriness, and experimental weirdness. A sensuous work of jazz \/ disco fusion that pre-dated \u003cstrong\u003eDonna Summer's\u003c\/strong\u003e slick and eccentric works.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mr Bongo","offers":[{"title":"LP - Blue","offer_id":50870102327627,"sku":"1089715","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/9fb01bf1-e03c-4c6d-bb1f-008e93141f08_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1732160178"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_e535a5d2_thumbnail_4096_3fca56b9-ca11-4f72-8eb3-b149819c8102.jpg?v=1726265582","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/asha-puthli.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}