Mid-20’s recordings, restored from the original 78rpm discs, present a compelling multicultural portrait of Iraq that is all but forgotten today. Rural Arab folk singers, Kurdish violinists, professional Jewish musicians, and prostitutes share equal billing. Various ethnicities, faiths, and dialects intermingle in a delicate balance that seems impossible by today’s standards. Gatefold sleeve & square folded insert including liner notes, rare photographs and an extensive interview with a citizen of Baghdad throughout this period, who knew many of the musicians here personally.