Middle Eastern
Arabic, Turkish, Persian classics and the psych-funk crate-diggers chase. Middle Eastern vinyl at Wax Trax.
Middle Eastern Vinyl Records
The Middle East and its neighbors made records of staggering beauty and, in spots, mind-bending strangeness. The classical Arabic tradition (Umm Kulthum, whose recordings stopped entire countries); Turkish and Persian pop and psych that diggers and reissue labels have turned into cult treasures; and a whole world of regional folk and film music underneath. A lot of it only ever pressed locally, which makes the import and reissue finds here especially sweet.
What You'll Find Here
Arabic classical and pop, Turkish and Anatolian rock and psych, Persian pop, and regional folk — imports and reissues on LP. The Turkish psych and Anatolian rock reissues in particular have a devoted following. A specialist section that rewards curiosity and the occasional leap of faith on a sleeve you can't read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start with Middle Eastern vinyl?
Two directions: the classical end (Umm Kulthum is the towering figure) for deep listening, or the Turkish/Anatolian psych and funk reissues for something that'll surprise a rock or funk fan immediately.
What is Anatolian rock?
The late-'60s/'70s Turkish fusion of Western psych and rock with local folk melodies and instruments — heavily reissued and beloved by crate-diggers worldwide.
Are these mostly imports?
Largely imports and reissues — much of this only pressed regionally. Pressing details are on each listing.