Various Artists - The Bombay Connection, Vol. 1 (2006)

The Bombay Connection Volume 1: Funk from Bollywood Action Thrillers 1977 - 1984 (2006)

I had a feeling that this album was going to be great before I even heard it. Why? Mainly because of the word "Bollywood". I'm convinced that you can take pretty much anything, make a Bollywood version of it, and it will automatically make that thing more ridiculously awesome than it previously had been, or that it ever could have been:

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video? Pretty great. Bollywood "Thriller"? Epic!

Superman? America's most recognized superhero. Bollywood Superman? American Superman + dance moves (+ Spiderwoman??) = no comparison.

Funk music? I'm down. Bollywood funk music? Amazing.

James Brown and Sly Stone might have created and innovated the funk music scene, but even they probably couldn't have imagined how India would've interpreted it. The Bombay Connection is a compilation of songs from Bollywood action movies that gives us the answer. Composed by some of Bollywood's most famous musicians, including R.D. Burman and sibling duo Kalyanji & Anandji, these songs combine elements of funk, exotica, jazz, and traditional Indian performance to create some of the strangest music in my collection.

Just try to get through this album without laughing. It can't happen, unless you just have no sense of humor whatsoever. R.D. Burman's "Music" is the worst (best?) offender, starting off modestly enough with hypnotically rapid, fluctuating guitar picks and establishing a frame drum-driven funk rhythm before introducing a hilarious exchange between a mother and her whiny son, who doesn't want to be bothered. It gets even better when the chorus ("JOHN IS A BIG BOY. LONG LIVE JOHN!") starts. It's absolutely bizarre and incredibly funny, even after repeated listens.

Even though my interest in The Bombay Connection had more to do with it's novelty value, there really is great music to be found on here. And it's the quality of the music that will keep bringing you back. Can't wait to get my hands on volume two.

Score: 8/10


"Music" (RD Burman)


"Yeh Dhuaan" (Laxmikant Pyarelal and Asha Bholse)