I'm Gonna Give You Everything: 1940s-50s Independent Label 78rpm Recordings of Near Eastern Immigrants

Attached photo credit:

Marjorie Collins (b.1912; d. 1985). Taken December 1942 as part of a WPA project at the Oriental Restaurant at 160 Allen St., Manhattan owned by Joe Levy.

Pictured at left is Louis Matalon (b. March 14, 1896 in Salonica, Turkey, present-day Thessaloniki, Greece; d. Oct. 1966 in the Bronx.) At right is probably Evelyn Maroon (b. ca. 1908 to parents from Beirut in Hampden, MA). Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Track list: Title - Artist (likely location of recording)

1. Mijwiz Dabka - Sam (Semi) Sheheen (Utica NY)

2. Raks Arabi - Naim Karacand (Brooklyn NY)

3. New Armenian Dance Mani - Moorad M. Elanjian and Verjini (Miami Beach FL)

4. Halay-Kotchari - Arziv Orchestra (Philadelphia PA)

5. Hoy Nazamin (Hey Sweetheart) - Edward Bogosian (New York City)

6. Hale Oyun Havasi - Mesrob Takakjian (Fresno CA)

7. Alaniarikis Zoh (Street Life) - Angeliki Karayanni with Costas Gadinis (New York City)

8. Konyali Hani Benim Elli Dirhem Pastirmam (Where Are My 50 Drachma-worth of Pastrami, Fella-from-Konya?) - Louis Matalon (New York City)

9. Cefti Telli - Nor Ikes* (New York City)

10. O Soultanos - Nick Poupourakis (New York City)

11. Git Be Salami (I Arrived Home Safely) - Kahraman [Olga Agby] (Brooklyn NY)

12. Huzam Taxim - Marko Melkon (New York City)

13. Ayrıldım Gülüm Senden (I Left My Rose Broken) - Shemon Aslan (Worcester MA)

14. Valle E Shtruar - Adjin Asllan (New York City)

15. Sousta - Andreas Poggis (New York City)

16. Shalakho - A. Kevorkian (Fresno CA)

17. Arabkir Bar - Vosbikian Band (Philadelphia PA)

18. Anatolitikos Syrto - Costas Gadinis (New York City)

19. Chifte Telli - Harry Minassian and the Orientales (Lawrence MA)

20. Cakici - T. Agabey (New York CIty)

21. Adishe Hiloo Lebanon - Waheed Karam (Brooklyn NY)

22. Bulbuleh (Nightingale) - Yenovk Der Hagopian (Watertown MA)

23. untraced acetate home recording (likely southern California)

Transfers, restoration, and compilation by Ian Nagoski.

Thanks: Harout Arakelian, Richard M. Breaux, Chris Gratien, Harry Kezelian.

*All performers were immigrants except Nor Ikes who were second generation.