Classic Real World albums now available on vinyl

We are delighted to announce the release on vinyl of a selection of classic albums from Real World Records. Some have been out of print on LP for many years and others are making their vinyl debut; each one is a cornerstone of the Real World catalogue.

When Peter Gabriel launched Real World Records back in 1989, access to music from around the world was limited, relying on ethnomusicologists or traditional labels to find these sounds. Of course, the world is now totally transformed and finding new music has never been easier. We are, however, very happy be going back to glorious vinyl with these albums, which have endured over many years.

"It has been heart warming to see the return of vinyl. Even though I loved being free of its limitations in the digital world, there is still a warmth and presence to vinyl that somehow makes it a more natural human companion."

Real World has always encouraged cross cultural collaboration, so it’ll be no surprise that included in the LP reissues we have creative magic between Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook (Mustt Mustt); Papa Wemba and Stephen Hague (Emotion); Geoffrey Oryema and Brian Eno (Exile).

Ayub Ogada‘s En Mana Kuoyo is another of those unforgettable albums. Simply backing himself (albeit with virtuosic ease) on an East African lyre called a nyatiti, Ayub’s warm vocals never leave centre stage. At the other end of the scale, but equally indelible, is Martyn Bennett‘s Grit which is still arguably one of the most significant pieces of work to come out of Scotland in recent years.

Passion Sources is the companion album to Peter Gabriel’s revered soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ, and represents a selection of some of the traditional music, sources of inspiration and location recordings gathered at that time.

Finally, the already released 15th anniversary edition of Joseph Arthur‘s Redemption’s Son not only revisits a milestone record in Joseph’s career but comes with nine previously unreleased songs, which now form a ‘lost album’ which Arthur has named Morning Star.

Passion Sources

Various Artists

Released 05 June 1989

Whilst recording for his 1989 album Passion, Peter Gabriel worked with many international musicians. Some recorded at Real World Studios, some on the film’s location in North Africa, and others were sought out from past archives. Passion Sources gives us scope to hear more from these musicians in their own right.
Mustt Mustt

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brook

Released 12 November 1990

The late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is today acknowledged as the great master of Qawwali who popularised this beautiful and inspirational music beyond Muslim peoples to a worldwide audience. Mustt Mustt is the first of two albums on which the singer collaborates with Canadian producer Michael Brook to place the music in a contemporary setting.
Emotion

Papa Wemba

Released 13 March 1995

Fresh and daring as ever, this world-class singer continues his ascendancy to global notoriety with total emotional impact. A brilliant blast of pop and dance rhythms make up the brightest, most accessible album of Papa Wemba’s career.
Exile

Geoffrey Oryema

Released 09 September 1990

Produced by Brian Eno, this album introduced the world to the struggles of singer-songwriter Geoffrey Oryema, who fled Uganda at a young age following the secret assassination of his father, a government minister. A wistful reflection on the Uganda of Oryema’s youth and the sadness of his exile.
En Mana Kuoyo

Ayub Ogada

Released 16 May 1993

Kenyan singer-songwriter Ayub Ogada was a busker on London’s Northern Line when he came to Real World’s attention in the late 80s. And this 1993 set – his only record for the label – proved that it was a meeting of minds, with his disarmingly simple arrangements allowed to hang there unadorned, making a lasting impression.
Grit

Martyn Bennett

Released 12 October 2003

Grit —the late Martyn Bennett’s most extraordinary work and his final project— is a deeply emotional collection of traditional singers showcased via an avalanche of sounds and beats, rooted in the past but glorying in modern dance culture.
Redemption’s Son

Joseph Arthur

Released 09 June 2002

Joseph Arthur’s third album is a consistently inspired, occasionally frazzled, and often startlingly beautiful album. It's the kind of record with which you can build a slow, sustainable love affair. Its rich textures, vulnerability, and acute, poetic lyrics are guaranteed to slacken jaws and raise goose bumps.