Bombay and Music

There are many things about Bombay which makes you love her. I believe the most impressive thing is that people here in Bombay know their music extremely well. Consequently, the music stores here are stacked with music I have never found anywhere (legal stuff, of course). [Not even in Delhi (pirated music, yes), where I have, over the span of my eight year stay, visited each and every music store (both legit and pirated)]. Rhythm House (an institution in itself) near Colaba has great Box-Sets. Even Planet-M here offers some amazing international music ( I picked up two Jesus and Mary Chain albums!).

Finally, one event that cemented my belief beyond doubt took place this past weekend. Mumbai Mirror along with Sony Music had a three day CD exhibition and sale (flat Rs.99 for any CD) in Bandra. Initially I was apprehensive about this whole event. I thought it was going to be one of those events where CD's by worthless artists would be up for sale. Somehow I convinced myself to give it a shot, thinking I might find something even moderately interesting. But I was in for a huge surprise.

The moment I entered the venue, I was completely taken aback. The hall (a huge one) had tables stacked with countless CD's. There were countless heads too.

As I started sifting through the CD's, I was amazed at finding stuff I had never seen in any store ever, not even here in Bombay. After four hours of toil I ended up with CD's (32 including 2 &3 CD box-sets) that would make any music lover mighty envious.

1. Bob Dylan: 3 CD bootleg series vol 1-3 (Rs.297 for a box-set worth Rs.1600)
2. Led Zepp: 2, 3 & House of the Holy ( I guess they had the whole collection but was sold out before I got there)
3. Primal Scream 4 albums including Vanishing Point
4. Oasis: Morning Glory and Don't Believe The Truth
5. Suede: Coming Up
6. Supergrass: Greatest Hits
7. Stereophonics
8. Ac/Dc: Back in Black (there were 5 albums)
9. David Gray: White Ladder
10. The Clash: 2 CD box-set
11. Radiohead: Bends

These are the stand-outs (there were albums by Floyd, etc which were sold out already). I also picked up albums by RATM, Leonard Cohen, Toad The Wet Sprocket, RHCP, Alanis and Green Day. There was so much to buy. And I really mean so much. All these for just Rs 99 per CD. It has still not sunk in. Bombay.