Sabah – Ash-Shallal (The Cascade) | Baalbeck International Festival 1963 RARE UK

$

150

Sabah – Ash-Shallal (The Cascade) | Baalbeck International Festival 1963 | Rare UK-Pressed Mono

Experience a crowning achievement of the "Golden Age" of Lebanese culture in superior British fidelity. This is the official cast recording of the musical play Ash-Shallal (The Cascade), performed at the world-renowned Baalbeck International Festival. Starring the legendary "Diva of Music," Sabah, this album is an essential document of 20th-century Middle Eastern theatrical history, presented here in a rare, high-quality UK export edition.

Technical Specifications & Provenance

• Label: Parlophone / Voix De L’Orient Series (Black label with silver text)

• Catalog Number: LPVDX 129 (High Fidelity Mono)

• Matrix / Runout:

(Side 1): XCVOX 71-1 N

(Side 2): XCVOX 72-1 N

• Manufacturing & Mastering: This is a "Made in Great Britain" pressing. Manufactured by E.M.I. Records Limited (Hayes, Middlesex, England), this copy was produced using the same world-class equipment and standards as the major UK releases of the 1960s. The "N" suffix confirms it was mastered at a premier facility before being pressed on high-quality British vinyl.

• Sleeve Detail: Printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. This identifies the jacket as a top-tier production, featuring the same "Patents Pending" construction found on the most collectible UK LPs of the era.

• Release Date: Recording first published 1964 (from the 1963 Festival).

Condition Report

• Vinyl Grade: VG. The vinyl shows signs of play with some light surface marks but retains its original high gloss. Thanks to the superior British pressing, it delivers a rich, warm mono soundstage.

• Label Grade: VG. The black and silver Parlophone labels are well-preserved with clear, legible text and moderate spindle wear around the center hole.

• Sleeve/Cover: VG. An iconic Bilingual "Flipback" Sleeve. The front features a stunning color photograph of Sabah against the ruins of Baalbeck. The jacket shows typical shelf wear and aging for its 60+ year history, but remains structurally sound and visually striking.

Why This Copy?

For the serious collector of World Music, Arabic Pop, or Levantine history, this is a "Top Tier" copy. Most versions of this record found today were pressed in the Middle East on lighter, noisier vinyl. This UK-manufactured E.M.I. edition is the audiophile’s choice, offering the cleanest and most dynamic audio transfer of Sabah’s legendary performance. Combined with the prestigious Baalbeck Festival branding and the English/Arabic bilingual sleeve, this is a cornerstone piece of any comprehensive international collection.