Souls (band)

In 1972, singer Tajul Imam, guitarists Sajedul Alam and Momtazul Hoque Lulu, bassist Subrata Barua Ronny, and drummer/keyboardist Ahmed Newaz formed Souls.

In 1982, Naseem Ali Khan and Ayub Bachchu joined.[2][3] The band started writing and composing their own songs while performing cover songs of western bands in hotels.

In 1982, they released their debut album, Super Souls, which was one of the first albums released by a music group in Bangladesh, along with the debut album of the band Shocking Blue. The album features the song "Mon Shudhu Mon Chuyeche", written and composed by Naquib Khan and Tapan Chowdhury on the vocals of the song. Abdullah Al Mamun wrote the lyrics to the song, "Mukhorito Jibon" and "Voole Gecho Tumi" from the same album.[4]

In 1986, a reconfigured Souls released their third album, Manush Matir Kacha Kachi, which contains the songs "Eitoh Ekhane Brishti Bheja", "Ek Jhaak Paakhi", and "Muthor Bhetor Poddo".[5][6]

In 1988, they released their fourth album, East and West, which had six English and six Bengali songs. Even though they had started their career singing English songs, this was the first time they released them. The songs were all written and composed by the band.[7] Afterwards, Ayub Bachchu left Souls to form Little River Band, which was later renamed Love Runs Blind and is widely known by its acronym, LRB.

In 1993, Souls released their fifth album, E Emon Porichoy, which was Tapan Chowdhury's last appearance in Souls. Afterwards, he left the band to pursue a solo career. In 1995, Souls released their sixth album, Aj Din Katuk Gaane, which features popular songs "Keno Ei Nisshongota", sung by Partha, and "Bestota" and "Chaa-er Cup-e", the song was written by renowned lyricist Shahid Mahmud Jangi, sung by Naseem Ali. In 1997, Souls released their seventh album, Oshomoyer Gaan which features the songs "Oshomoyer Gaan", "Ami Ar Bhabbo Na", and "Oi Dure Neel".

In 2000, they released their first acoustic album, Mukhorito Jibon; it compiled some previously released songs, some remakes of old Indian Bengali songs, and some newly released songs. "Sharadin Tomay Behbe", "Bashi Shune Ar", and "Mukhorito Jibon" were some of the more widely played tracks from the album. In 2003 and 2004 respectively, they released their ninth and tenth albums, Tarar Uthan and To-Let. To-Let was the last album that sound engineer Mobin worked on before his death in a highway accident in Bangladesh.

Jhut-Jhamela was released in 2006. Kingbodonti, a musical tribute to Sanjeeb Choudhury, by Dalchhut and Souls. It was released on 25 December. It features three songs by Souls, three songs by Dalchhut and one song by Sanjeeb Choudhury, which is the title track.[8] Their most recent album is Jam, which was released in 2011.[9][10][11]

In 2017, Souls released their album Bondhu.[12]

• Super Souls (1980)
• কলেজের করিডোরে (In the Corridors of College) (1982)
• মানুষ মাটির কাছাকাছি (People Are Close to the Ground) (1987)
• East & West (1988)
• এ এমন পরিচয় (It's Such an Identity) (1993)
• আজ দিন কাটুক গানে (Let the Days Pass in Songs) (1995)
• অসময়ের গান (Untimely Songs) (1997)
• মুখরিত জীবন – Unplugged (Happy Life – Unplugged) (2000)
• তারার উঠোনে (In the Backyard of Stars) (2003)
• To-Let (2004)
• ঝুট ঝামেলা (Junk Trouble) (2006)
• কিংবদন্তি (A Tribute to Sanjeeb Choudhury) (2008)
• Jam (2011)
• বন্ধু (Friend) (2017)

Current members

• Naseem Ali Khan – lead vocals (1980–present)
• Partha Barua – lead guitar, vocals (1989–present)
• Ahasanur Rahman Ashiq – drums, percussion (2000–present)
• Meer Shahriar Hossain Masum – keyboards (2003–present)
• Maruf Hasan Talukder Real – bass guitar (2012–present)

Past members

• Tapan Chowdhury – lead vocals (1973–1993)
• Naquib Khan – keyboards, vocals (1973–1982)
• Ayub Bachchu – guitars, vocals (1980–1990)
• Shahbaz Khan Pilu – bass (1973–1980)
• Tajul Imam – lead vocals (1973–1975)
• Sazedul Alam – guitars (1972–1980)
• Momtazul Haque Lulu – guitars (1972–1974)
• Ahmed Newaz – keyboards (1972–1995)
• Subrata Barua Ronny – drums (1972–1995)
• Gerald Gonsalves – keyboards (1982–1985)
• Mohammad Ali – bass (1985–1993)
• Suhas Hasnain – keyboards (1984–1989)
• Shahedul Alam – bass (1975–1984)
• Lutfur Kabir Azad – keyboards (1991–2004)
• Pantha Kanai – drums (1995–2000)
• Iftikher Uddin Sohel – lead guitar (1995–2006)
• Naimul Hasan Tanim – bass guitar (1993–2006)
• Zakir Hasan Rana – bass guitar (2006–2012)

• Official website
• Souls's channel on YouTube