Which Om Kolthoum Vinyl Should You Buy First? 10 Essential Records

We stock more than fifty records by Om Kolthoum (أم كلثوم) – also spelled Umm Kulthum or Oum Kalthoum – and the question we hear most is simple: which one should I buy first? If you would like to know more about her life first, read our introduction, Umm Kulthum: The Timeless Voice of Arabic Music. If you are ready to listen, start here.

If you buy only one: Enta Omri

Enta Omri (You Are My Life) is her most famous song and perhaps the best-known recording in Arabic music. Premiered in 1964, it was her first collaboration with composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab. Its long instrumental introduction alone explains why people fall for her music.

The next nine

1. El Atlal – widely considered her greatest performance: Ibrahim Nagi's poem set to music by Riad Al Sunbati.
2. Alf Leila Wa Leila – joyful and instantly recognisable, composed by Baligh Hamdi. A perfect first record for newcomers.
3. Amal Hayati – lush and romantic, another highlight of her work with Abdel Wahab.
4. Fakarouni – gently swinging and nostalgic, one of her most accessible recordings.
5. Hob Eih – the start of her collaboration with the young Baligh Hamdi, who brought new rhythms to her sound.
6. Sirit El Hob – energetic and modern-sounding, another Baligh Hamdi favourite.
7. Robaeyat El Khayam – Omar Khayyam's quatrains in Arabic, set to music by Riad Al Sunbati. Meditative and profound.
8. Daret El Ayam – a reflective late masterpiece with Abdel Wahab.
9. Hakam Aalina El Hawa – the last song she recorded, a moving end to an extraordinary career.

Prefer one record with many songs?

Her full-length performances often fill a whole side, so most records focus on one or two songs. If you would rather sample her range, the Golden Collection brings several classics together and is one of our bestsellers.

How to listen

Om Kolthoum's songs were performed live and could stretch for close to an hour, with the audience calling out between phrases. Give yourself time: put on a side, sit back and let it unfold. That is what vinyl is for.

Browse the complete Om Kolthoum vinyl collection. We ship worldwide from the UAE.