{"id":213858,"date":"2026-02-12T16:19:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T15:19:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/recordcollectormag.com\/?p=213858"},"modified":"2026-06-11T15:38:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T14:38:32","slug":"10-of-the-best-records-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/recordcollectormag.com\/essential-records\/10-of-the-best-records-middle-east","title":{"rendered":"10 of the Best Funk and Disco Records from the Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"213858\" class=\"elementor elementor-213858\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96edb34 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"96edb34\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73b59e4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"73b59e4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a849923 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a849923\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"109\" data-end=\"714\">Exploring the golden era of <strong>funk<\/strong> and <strong>disco<\/strong> records from the <strong>Middle East<\/strong>, this list traces dancefloor-driven releases from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. Spanning <strong>Lebanon<\/strong>, <strong>Egypt<\/strong>, <strong>Turkey<\/strong>, <strong>Libya<\/strong> and the wider diaspora, the selection highlights artists fusing traditional <strong>Arabic<\/strong>, <strong>Anatolian<\/strong> and <strong>North African sounds<\/strong> with <strong>funk<\/strong>, <strong>disco<\/strong>, <strong>jazz<\/strong> and <strong>early electronic<\/strong> textures. From rare 7\u201d singles to sought-after LPs, these records showcase pioneering uses of Moog synthesis, drum machines, wah-wah guitars and regional instruments such as darbuka, n\u00e4i and saz, capturing a moment of bold cultural exchange and experimentation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"721\" data-end=\"901\">Written by<strong> Paul Bowler<\/strong> for <a href=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/shop.recordcollectormag.com\/issue\/rc-512\"><strong><em data-start=\"748\" data-end=\"766\">Record Collector<\/em> No. 512<\/strong><\/a>, the article forms part of the magazine\u2019s monthly deep dive into significant records, albums and scenes from around the world.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d38d433 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"d38d433\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da0826d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"da0826d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47a313d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"47a313d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5342fb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5342fb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"894\" height=\"885\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/71wiPVwI9-L._UF8941000_QL80_.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-213860\" alt=\"Album cover of Elias Rahbani\u2019s Mosaic Of The Orient (N\u00e4i, Buzuk &amp; Guitar), a classic Funk and Disco Record from the Middle East\" srcset=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/71wiPVwI9-L._UF8941000_QL80_.webp 894w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/71wiPVwI9-L._UF8941000_QL80_-300x297.webp 300w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/71wiPVwI9-L._UF8941000_QL80_-768x760.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 894px) 100vw, 894px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc318bd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fc318bd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c63cda elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7c63cda\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"line-height: 1.1;\"><h4 style=\"color: #a9181d; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px;\">1. <strong>Elias Rahbani <\/strong><\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; margin: 0;\">Mosaic Of The Orient (N\u00e4i, Buzuk &amp; Guitar)\u00a0<\/h4><p style=\"margin-top: 4px; font-size: 14px;\">(Voix De L\u2019Orient GVDL 35, LP, Lebanon, 1972)<\/p><\/div><p>The least-known of the Rahbani brothers (older siblings Assi and Mansour found fame composing for legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz), Elias was perhaps the most forward-thinking of the trio. This instrumental album, his debut, found him melding the traditional sounds of eastern instruments such as the n\u00e4i (Arabic flute), bouzouki (guitar), and tabla (hand drums) with funk-laced western rhythms. Breaks-heavy classics such as <em data-start=\"539\" data-end=\"555\">Dance Of Maria<\/em> have been mined for samples by hip-hop artists, beefing up the original release\u2019s hefty price tag.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85f6ec0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"85f6ec0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e10114 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5e10114\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af03dce e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"af03dce\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06d68fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"06d68fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/35V308120K0txY7JUMoN6M?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e4b1be e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5e4b1be\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-810babb elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"810babb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f980d24 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f980d24\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e89a0e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0e89a0e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2969c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c2969c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"299\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/R-1812423-1245691290.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-213862\" alt=\"Album cover of Omar Khorshid\u2019s Rhythms From The Orient, a standout Funk and Disco Record from the Middle East\" srcset=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/R-1812423-1245691290.webp 300w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/R-1812423-1245691290-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/R-1812423-1245691290-200x200.webp 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-428d571 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"428d571\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f8823b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f8823b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"line-height: 1.1;\"><h4 style=\"color: #a9181d; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px;\">2. <strong>Ahmed Fakroun <\/strong><\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; margin: 0;\"><strong><em>Nisyan <\/em><\/strong><\/h4><p style=\"margin-top: 4px; font-size: 14px;\">(Polydor 2060 154, 7\u201d, Italy, 1977)<\/p><\/div><p>Benghazi-born singer Ahmed Makroun was a driving force behind the modernisation of Libyan music in the 70s and 80s. A noted player of the saz (a bouzouki-like stringed instrument), he was renowned for cross-pollinating indigenous ra\u00ef music with European pop. Second single <em data-start=\"339\" data-end=\"347\">Nisyan<\/em> finds him channelling laid-back West Coast AOR grooves over drum-machine beats, sounding somewhat like a North African Boz Scaggs. Flipside <em data-start=\"488\" data-end=\"499\">La Ya Hob<\/em> sees darbouka drums and Arabic keyboard textures blending seamlessly into a disco stomp.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e7456e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6e7456e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e8f0c7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0e8f0c7\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9fc27ff e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9fc27ff\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc1c005 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"bc1c005\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/67OOgbV2tnbkMjWSgIrWMx?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b42861c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b42861c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-114d124 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"114d124\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a1035d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4a1035d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9bd6e18 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9bd6e18\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e42797 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6e42797\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"579\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/R-24403931-1692027962-1004-e1770737546352.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-213861\" alt=\"Album cover of Ahmed Fakroun\u2019s Nisyan, one of the best Funk and Disco Records from the Middle East\" srcset=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/R-24403931-1692027962-1004-e1770737546352.webp 579w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/R-24403931-1692027962-1004-e1770737546352-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/R-24403931-1692027962-1004-e1770737546352-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/R-24403931-1692027962-1004-e1770737546352-200x200.webp 200w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/R-24403931-1692027962-1004-e1770737546352-400x400.webp 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae4248b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ae4248b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67e5cf4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67e5cf4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"line-height: 1.1;\"><h4 style=\"color: #a9181d; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px;\">3. Omar Khorshid<\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; margin: 0;\">Rhythms From The Orient<\/h4><p style=\"margin-top: 4px; font-size: 14px;\">(Voice Of Lebanon VLMX 39, LP, Lebanon, 1974)<\/p><\/div><p>Forced into political exile in 1973 from his native Egypt, this guitarist forged a musical career in Lebanon before finding fame as a cinema actor. The exotica-tinged updates of Middle Eastern folk songs he created as a Beirut-based \u00e9migr\u00e9 would prove a formative influence on a generation of future Arabic music shapeshifters. This mid-70s effort found the instrumentalist in peak form, with tracks like <em data-start=\"498\" data-end=\"515\">Raqset El Fadaa<\/em> and <em data-start=\"520\" data-end=\"531\">Ah Ya Zen<\/em> full of weird Moog freak-outs and scything guitar runs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3fee27 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f3fee27\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85ef262 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"85ef262\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-471e446 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"471e446\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c383bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"1c383bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kyswvrOsC_w?si=F2_5AKB-g2quSyNP\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fda568 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2fda568\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10dde09 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"10dde09\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ac330c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5ac330c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-177b84b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"177b84b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1dffa0a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1dffa0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"599\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83052-abu-ali.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-213864\" alt=\"Album cover of Ziad Rahbani\u2019s Abu Ali, a notable Funk and Disco Record from the Middle East\" srcset=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83052-abu-ali.webp 599w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83052-abu-ali-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83052-abu-ali-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83052-abu-ali-200x200.webp 200w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83052-abu-ali-400x400.webp 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b191817 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b191817\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f208a6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f208a6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"line-height: 1.1;\"><h4 style=\"color: #a9181d; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px;\">4. Ziad Rahbani<\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; margin: 0;\">Abu Ali<\/h4><p style=\"margin-top: 4px; font-size: 14px;\">(Zida LP-ZIDA 601, 12\u201d, Lebanon, 1978)<\/p><\/div><p>Pressed in a limited run of 500 copies, Ziad Rahbani\u2019s dancefloor masterwork was long considered the holy grail of rare Lebanese disco until We Want Sound\u2019s 2019 reissue. Recorded in Greece alongside local musicians, the two instrumentals seamlessly meld divergent styles. Driven by a taut bassline, the title track moves through various shades of funk, accompanied by sweeping Arabic strings and the swift tap of darbuka drums. On the flip, <em data-start=\"511\" data-end=\"545\">Prelude (Theme From Mais El Rim)<\/em> is barely less compelling: a flute- and horn-led slice of jazz-funk mixing traditional harmonics and elegant strings with piano breaks and meaty synth lines.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5c72d0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c5c72d0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ed7963 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2ed7963\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc117e4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cc117e4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cbd0b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"4cbd0b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/05nFTwXHCVQuvy8dC4KJQr?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8efca4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f8efca4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a29e98 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0a29e98\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0abba3f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0abba3f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab13335 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ab13335\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8882705 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8882705\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"592\" height=\"594\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-10-154552.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-213866\" alt=\"Album cover of Liza\u2026 Liza by Elias Rahbani And His Orchestra, part of Funk and Disco Records from the Middle East\" srcset=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-10-154552.webp 592w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-10-154552-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-10-154552-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-10-154552-200x200.webp 200w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-10-154552-400x400.webp 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 592px) 100vw, 592px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d4fee7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1d4fee7\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93bb960 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"93bb960\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"line-height: 1.1;\"><h4 style=\"color: #a9181d; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px;\">5. Elias Rahbani And His Orchestra<\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; margin: 0;\">Liza\u2026 Liza<\/h4><p style=\"margin-top: 4px; font-size: 14px;\">(Voix De L\u2019Orient GVDL 304501, 12\u201d, Lebanon, 1978)<\/p><\/div><p>This disco stomper fuses fuzz-laced guitars with taut Arabic-style disco strings, echoed chants and shimmering melodies to create one of the Levant\u2019s most potent floor-fillers. B-side <em data-start=\"184\" data-end=\"199\">From The Moon<\/em> moves from the dancefloor to the outer cosmos with a brilliantly unhinged slice of futuristic funk. The racy cover image evokes Beirut\u2019s pre-civil-war reputation as a Western-aligned outpost of liberal thinking.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a594785 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a594785\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a8066f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4a8066f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88273cc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"88273cc\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4aeb0b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"4aeb0b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/4YmNfxo3gehMgoBN0wbJ0b?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c677abb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c677abb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e484f4 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2e484f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd2e166 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dd2e166\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f69a760 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f69a760\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54538af elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"54538af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zohra7.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-213867\" alt=\"Zohra Badala \u2013 Zamana Album Cover | Funk and Disco Records Middle East\" srcset=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zohra7.webp 1000w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zohra7-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zohra7-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zohra7-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zohra7-200x200.webp 200w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zohra7-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zohra7-800x800.webp 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9cc9547 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9cc9547\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f91ec8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f91ec8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"line-height: 1.1;\"><h4 style=\"color: #a9181d; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px;\">6. Zohra Badala<\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; margin: 0;\"><em data-start=\"13\" data-end=\"21\">Zamana<\/em><\/h4><p style=\"margin-top: 4px; font-size: 14px;\">(J.M.B. Records 2097-718, 7\u201d, France, 1977)<\/p><\/div><p>Raised in a musical family, Algerian singer Zohra Badala grew up listening to traditional Arabic fare. Taking up singing and having learned the guitar, she continued performing at a variety of gala events after her family moved to France. It was at one of these that she met composer and arranger Jo\u00ebl Hannier, who collaborated with her on her sole single release. Sung in Berber dialect, it\u2019s a vivid refraction of disco through a Maghrebi lens, with funky basslines and sweeping strings topped with tabi drum blasts and whooped hollers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f3efc1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1f3efc1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-642a6de e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"642a6de\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2e8013 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e2e8013\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00e4970 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"00e4970\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/0kHxIvP7lMZC7LB78qgnTu?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aaed831 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"aaed831\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bbc56f elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6bbc56f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc14187 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fc14187\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7719c1c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7719c1c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59f4c5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"59f4c5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/617QY625FHL._UXNaN_FMjpg_QL85_.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-213869\" alt=\"Album cover of Ne\u015fe Karab\u00f6cek\u2019s Seni Buldumya \/ Yali Yali, a Funk and Disco Record from the Middle East\" srcset=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/617QY625FHL._UXNaN_FMjpg_QL85_.webp 500w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/617QY625FHL._UXNaN_FMjpg_QL85_-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/617QY625FHL._UXNaN_FMjpg_QL85_-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/617QY625FHL._UXNaN_FMjpg_QL85_-200x200.webp 200w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/617QY625FHL._UXNaN_FMjpg_QL85_-400x400.webp 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8f4d78 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e8f4d78\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7da5299 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7da5299\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"line-height: 1.1;\"><h4 style=\"color: #a9181d; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px;\">7. Ne\u015fe Karab\u00f6cek<\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; margin: 0;\">Seni Buldumya \/ Yali Yali<\/h4><p style=\"margin-top: 4px; font-size: 14px;\">(Kervan Plak\u00e7\u0131l\u0131k 143, 7\u201d, Turkey, 1977)<\/p><\/div><p>Turkey has enjoyed a long and fruitful dalliance with Western music, with musicians from the Anatolian pop scene lacing traditional folk into rock frameworks. Among the myriad disco diversions of the 70s, <em data-start=\"296\" data-end=\"307\">Yali Yali<\/em> presents a glorious mish-mash of styles: haunting Turkish vocals and violins pair with hypnotic rolling basslines, dancefloor-ready beats and a riff lifted from Andrew Lloyd Webber\u2019s <em data-start=\"491\" data-end=\"515\">Jesus Christ Superstar<\/em>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5885ea e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c5885ea\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8952e0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b8952e0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b9b84c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1b9b84c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c6f177 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"1c6f177\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/0lWg5ASRgjOE0ewqdxetNv?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-188544b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"188544b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7341035 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7341035\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41dfc45 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"41dfc45\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68f27ab e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"68f27ab\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66606c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"66606c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"894\" height=\"894\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/81wBmOXSGL._UF8941000_QL80_.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-213871\" alt=\"Album cover of Al-Munzer\u2019s Belly Dance Disco, one of the Funk and Disco Records from the Middle East\" srcset=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/81wBmOXSGL._UF8941000_QL80_.webp 894w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/81wBmOXSGL._UF8941000_QL80_-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/81wBmOXSGL._UF8941000_QL80_-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/81wBmOXSGL._UF8941000_QL80_-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/81wBmOXSGL._UF8941000_QL80_-200x200.webp 200w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/81wBmOXSGL._UF8941000_QL80_-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/81wBmOXSGL._UF8941000_QL80_-800x800.webp 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 894px) 100vw, 894px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e69604 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2e69604\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc90470 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cc90470\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"line-height: 1.1;\"><h4 style=\"color: #a9181d; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px;\">8. Al-Munzer<\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; margin: 0;\">Belly Dance Disco<\/h4><p style=\"margin-top: 4px; font-size: 14px;\">(Voix De L\u2019Orient GVDL 306, LP, Lebanon, 1979)<\/p><\/div><p>Lebanese organist, composer and arranger Ihsan Al-Munzer\u2019s debut solo release found him armed with the pioneering Kawai organ and Solina string synthesiser. The results err on the right side of kitsch: energetic synths follow Arabic harmonic lines astride a Euro-disco stomp with funky wah-wah guitars. Sampled by Mos Def, <em data-start=\"406\" data-end=\"423\">The Joy Of Lina<\/em>\u2019s clattering Middle Eastern percussion, mournful violins and wild synth interjections offer a fine showcase of his melding of divergent dance musics.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-099081d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"099081d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-480d5b1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"480d5b1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b5ccbde e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b5ccbde\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83acb8f elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"83acb8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/0Do7K9YnjkUIRLIVqXMmYA?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5779185 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5779185\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ec74ac elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6ec74ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e4844b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6e4844b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31189fb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"31189fb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e550677 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e550677\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83d61eb0-a056-4a50-a712-47294c8a4103_thumbnail_4096-1024x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-213872\" alt=\"Album cover of Fairuz\u2019s Wahdon, a classic Funk and Disco Record from the Middle East\" srcset=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83d61eb0-a056-4a50-a712-47294c8a4103_thumbnail_4096-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83d61eb0-a056-4a50-a712-47294c8a4103_thumbnail_4096-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83d61eb0-a056-4a50-a712-47294c8a4103_thumbnail_4096-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83d61eb0-a056-4a50-a712-47294c8a4103_thumbnail_4096-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83d61eb0-a056-4a50-a712-47294c8a4103_thumbnail_4096-1536x1536.webp 1536w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83d61eb0-a056-4a50-a712-47294c8a4103_thumbnail_4096-200x200.webp 200w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83d61eb0-a056-4a50-a712-47294c8a4103_thumbnail_4096-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83d61eb0-a056-4a50-a712-47294c8a4103_thumbnail_4096-800x800.webp 800w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83d61eb0-a056-4a50-a712-47294c8a4103_thumbnail_4096.webp 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5f3e6e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a5f3e6e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1a9812 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d1a9812\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"line-height: 1.1;\"><h4 style=\"color: #a9181d; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px;\">9. Fairuz<\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; margin: 0;\"><em data-start=\"7\" data-end=\"15\">Wahdon<\/em><\/h4><p style=\"margin-top: 4px; font-size: 14px;\">(Zida ZIDA 509, LP, Lebanon, 1979)<\/p><\/div><p>This impassioned take on traditional music made Fairuz a huge star throughout the Arab-speaking world. While the first side provides a stellar exercise in traditional fare, on the flip, muscular basslines, funky guitars, punchy horns and Latin piano combine with sublime strings and Fairuz\u2019s inimitable vocals on <em data-start=\"371\" data-end=\"382\">Al Bostah<\/em> to create a Lebanese strain of disco, while the title track blends Fairuz\u2019s eastern melodies with jazz saxophones and lush Western-style string arrangements to emotive effect.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f4878f0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f4878f0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abd4fd1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"abd4fd1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-054016b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"054016b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0bf2c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"b0bf2c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/0D9yc110AaVMweJLTKVFjJ?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23105da e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"23105da\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b2a5cc elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2b2a5cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-652eb0d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"652eb0d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13c11ab e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"13c11ab\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a1ad2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0a1ad2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/181203-fairuz-maarifti-feek-1024x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-213873\" alt=\"Album cover of Fairuz\u2019s Maarifti Feek, a notable Funk and Disco Record from the Middle East\" srcset=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/181203-fairuz-maarifti-feek-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/181203-fairuz-maarifti-feek-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/181203-fairuz-maarifti-feek-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/181203-fairuz-maarifti-feek-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/181203-fairuz-maarifti-feek-200x200.webp 200w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/181203-fairuz-maarifti-feek-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/181203-fairuz-maarifti-feek-800x800.webp 800w, https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/cdn.recordcollectormag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/181203-fairuz-maarifti-feek.webp 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-edcfe7e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"edcfe7e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac3b6a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ac3b6a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"line-height: 1.1;\"><h4 style=\"color: #a9181d; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px;\">10. Fairuz<\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; margin: 0;\">Maarifti Feek<\/h4><p style=\"margin-top: 4px; font-size: 14px;\">(Relax-In LP-REL 14, LP, Lebanon, 1987)<\/p><\/div><p>This 1987 album saw Fairuz delving further into global sounds alongside her son Ziad Rahbani. The singer\u2019s versatility is stretched to the limit over a range of genres. She deftly adds a traditional Arabic stamp to lush orchestral chamber chanson (<em data-start=\"318\" data-end=\"336\">Khaleek Bil Beit<\/em>), Brazilian fusion jazz (<em data-start=\"362\" data-end=\"373\">Version 1<\/em>), disco (<em data-start=\"383\" data-end=\"399\">Rah Nibka Sawa<\/em> and <em data-start=\"404\" data-end=\"418\">Oudak Rannan<\/em>), and modernised Arabic pop (<em data-start=\"448\" data-end=\"463\">Ma Dirt Nseet<\/em>).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-632ce44 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"632ce44\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dfe6402 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dfe6402\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a805f0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3a805f0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ecbe8e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"ecbe8e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/3MgbAO1v05g0eanxlyz922?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15f5d16 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"15f5d16\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3187fa elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"b3187fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f328b1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2f328b1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e2c8ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e2c8ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This article appears in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/shop.recordcollectormag.com\/issue\/rc-512\"><strong><em>Record Collector<\/em> Issue No 512<\/strong><\/a>.<br \/>Each month,\u00a0<em>Record Collector<\/em>\u00a0highlights the very best albums, rare collectables and essential releases \u2014\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/shop.recordcollectormag.com\/subscribe\"><strong data-start=\"235\" data-end=\"253\">subscribe here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to never miss an issue.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"post-excerpt\">Exploring the golden era of funk and disco records from the Middle East, this list traces dancefloor-driven releases from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. Spanning Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Libya and the wider diaspora, the selection highlights artists fusing traditional Arabic, Anatolian and North African sounds with funk, disco, jazz and early el\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27567,"featured_media":213876,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"apple_news_api_created_at":"2026-06-11T14:37:35Z","apple_news_api_id":"2e15724c-dfee-4619-89b4-78deac86ce56","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-06-11T14:38:32Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/siteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev:443\/https\/apple.news\/ALhVyTN_uRhmJtHjerIbOVg","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13728],"tags":[],"issue":[],"class_list":["post-213858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-essential-records"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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