This is my collection of Arab 78 rpm import records produced in the 1940’s. It is impossible for me to even begin describe the music itself, bizarre folktale songs (sung in Arabic) that have been jazzed up a bit, usually a male singer with a haram of female back-up singers. Listening to these records is a total hoot, but it is the sleeves themselves that are most interesting to look at. BTW, these records are very thick, but break easily. In fact, at one time I had more, but they broke when I put them onto the turntable too quickly, so they need to be handled and stored like fragile glass.
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Allee Willis
These are gorgeous. Label on the last photo with the two heads surrounding the microphone kills me.
I collected 78s at one point but stopped because they were so fragile, as you point out. I really really love the paper sleeves on them. Once the trend went to 33 1/3’s and 45’s so many of the sleeves were plain.
Do these sit in your record case: https://www.alleewillis.com/awmok/kitschenette/2011/03/26/vintage-suitcase-record-player/
Did you find these all at once or were you interested in Arab singles?
Michael Ely
I found a big stack of them all at once in a thift store while visiting El Paso about ten years ago.
BRBill
Had to press the jealous button. I’m stoopid for real records be they 78s, 45s or lps. Great collection Michael, i do imagine they sound pretty good too as most 78s do because of the wide grooves.