About First Time on CD
First Time on CD is a studio album by Indian classical vocalist Mallikarjun Mansur, released on January 1, 2008. The album compiles three live recordings of Hindustani khayal performances, previously unavailable in digital format. The release label remains undocumented in available sources.
The album features three raga expositions, each accompanied by traditional tabla and harmonium support. The opening track presents Raga Bahaduri Todi, a rare and intricate morning raga associated with the Todi thaat. The second composition explores Raga Gaud Malhar, a monsoon-season raga known for its evocative depiction of rain. The final track renders Raga Yamani Bilawal, a variant of Bilawal thaat with distinctive komal re (flattened second) and komal dha (flattened sixth) swaras.
Mansur performs in the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana style, characterized by intricate taan patterns, bol-banao, and layered improvisation. The recordings capture his mature vocal technique, marked by controlled gamak (ornamentation) and extended aakar (vowel-based) phrasing. Accompanying artists are not credited in the available documentation for this release.
The album’s title reflects its status as the first official CD issuance of these performances. Prior circulation occurred through private cassette distributions or archival recordings. The transfer to digital format preserved the original analog warmth while addressing limitations of earlier media. No remastering engineer or production team is listed in accessible records.
Critical reception and commercial performance data for this release are not publicly documented. The album serves primarily as an archival presentation of Mansur’s late-career work, offering insight into his interpretation of less-frequently recorded ragas. The total runtime spans approximately 120 minutes across the three tracks.