Souls (band)

Souls is a pop-music band from Bangladesh. It was established in Chittagong in 1972, and later moved to the capital city Dhaka. Former members include Tapan Chowdhury, Ayub Bachchu, Nakib khan,Naseem Ali and Partho Barua. It is one of the oldest pop bands in Bangladesh and has performed more than 4000 concerts all over Bangladesh and also abroad. As of 2005, Souls has released 7 albums. The first album was released in 1982 and the last one was released in 2006.

History

Their first line up was – Sajed and Lulu on guitars, Newaz on percussion, Roni on drums and Tajul on vocal.

Towards the end of 1972 founder member Lulu left the band, to fill the void Nakib Khan Joined the band followed by Pilu Khan and Tapan Choudhury.

In 1977 – 78 Nasim Ali Khan and Ayub Bachchu also joined the band, to give Souls its legendary line up. Soon they started writing and composing their own songs while performing the cover songs of famous western bands in hotels.

After the release of their second album, Nakib Khan and Pilu khan left the band, going on to form the band Renaissance later on.

In 1989 after releasing their 5th album “E Emon Porichoy” Tapan left the band to pursue solo career. To fill the void lest by Tapan, Partho Borua joined the band as the lead singer. Soon after Ayub Bachchu left the band to form his own band Little River Band (later renamed Love Runs Blind) or LRB as we know it.

Discography

In 1980 they released their debut album Super Souls,which was the first album to be released by a music group in Bangladesh [some claims the band “Shocking Blue” released their albums first] , it was an instant and huge hit. The song ‘Mon Shudhu Mon Chuyeche’is to this day, one of the biggest hits of Bangladeshi music.

Many of you may not know this but, the Kumar Bishwajit hit Torey Putuler Moto Kore Shajiye is a Souls’ track from their debut album. Abdullah-Al-Mamoon wrote the lyrics of both this song, and of "Mukhorito Jibon".

In 1982 they released their second album Colleger Er Corridorey, again to wide popularity. The songs “College Er Corridorey”, “Forrest Hill Er", “Football Football”, “Khujish Jaharey” and “Paharer AkaBaka” were on everyone's lips at that time. And Tapan Choudhury became a heart throb to many young girls.

In 1987 a reconfigured Souls, released their third album, Manush Matir Kacha Kachi which was the first of their albums to garner a decidedly mixed reaction from fans. Still the songs “Eitoh Ekhane Brishti Bheja”, “Ek Jhaak Paakhi” and “Muthor Bhetor Poddo” were quite a hit with the public.

In 1988 they released their 4th album East And West which had six English and six Bangla songs. Even though they started their career singing English songs, this is the first time they released them. The songs were all written and composed by the band.

In 1989 they release their 5th album E Emon Porichoy, which was Tapan's last appearance in Souls.

In 1992 they released their 6th album Aj Din Katuk Gaane, which saw an upturn in their fortune with their fans, with the super hit song “Keno Ei Nisshongota” sung by Partho. Also Nasim’s song “Bestota’ was a huge hit.

After a long hiatus in 1997 souls released their next album Oshomoyer Gaan which failed to create an immediate impact, but went on to eventually gain some recognition - Oshomoyer Gaan, Ami Ar Bhabbo Na, Oi Dure Neel, to name a few of the more popular hits.

In 2000 they released their first unplugged album Mukhorito Jibon – compiled of some old hit songs, some remakes of old Indian Bangla songs along with some of their new songs. “Sharadin Tomay Behbe”, “Bashi Shune Ar”, “Mukhorito Jibon” – were some of the more widely played tracks from the album.

Later on they released their 9th and 10th album Tarar Uthan and To-Let. To-Let was the last album that sound engineer Mobin worked on before his untimely death.

Their most recent album to date is Jhut-Jhamela was released in 2006. The title song Jhut Jhamela which is about the chaos in every day life and the society, was a hit which re-introduced souls to the new generation of Bangladeshi music listeners.

Current lineup

*Naseem Ali Khan (Lead Vocals)
*Partha Barua (Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals)
*Rana vai (Boss)
*Masum (Keyboards)
*Ashik (Drums)

Music albums

*Super Souls, 1982
*College er Corridore
*Manush O Matir kacha kachi
*East and West
*A Amon Porichay
*Aj Din Katuk Gaane
*Aushomoyer Gaan
*Mukhorito Jibon, 2001
*To-let
*Juth Jamela, 2006