Vinyl Records for Sale | Classical Music LPs
Indian classical music was made for vinyl. The long uninterrupted side of an LP suits a raga's slow unfolding in a way no 78 or film song ever could, and from the late 1950s onward India's pressing plants put an extraordinary amount of Hindustani and Carnatic music onto record. This collection gathers those LPs: sitar, sarod, veena, flute, shehnai, nadaswaram, violin and vocal records, both Hindustani and Carnatic, alongside a few dance and folk-adjacent titles that sit naturally beside them.
Artists in this collection
The Hindustani side runs from Ustad Bismillah Khan's shehnai to Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia's flute — his Indira Kalyan LP turns up here in both used and still-sealed copies — plus sitarist Nishat Khan recorded with Zakir Hussain on tabla, and vocal records from Nirmala Devi and Lakshmi Shankar. Brij Bhushan Kabra, the man who made the guitar a serious Hindustani instrument, appears with Lure of the Desert. The Carnatic shelf is just as deep: veena maestro Chittibabu (his Musings of a Musician series is a perennial), violinists Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan, vocalist M. Balamuralikrishna, and nadaswaram records in the Karukurichi tradition. You will also find survey albums like Music of India Vols. I and II, useful entry points if you are just starting a classical shelf.
Why collect Indian classical on vinyl
Most of these performances were cut for HMV and EMI India (The Gramophone Company of India), with later titles on Polydor and Music India, and many were never properly reissued on CD or streaming — or were reissued from inferior tape sources. The original LPs are frequently the best-sounding versions that exist, and the gatefolds and liner notes, often with raga explanations written for Western and Indian listeners alike, are documents in their own right. Export pressings aimed at overseas audiences sit alongside domestic Indian pressings, and condition varies accordingly.
Buying from us
Every record is graded honestly, with scans of both sides of the sleeve so you can judge condition and read the track listing yourself. We clearly state whether a copy is new or used, and note missing sleeves. We ship from India worldwide in rigid record mailers, usually within five days — most of our classical LPs end up with collectors in the USA, Europe and East Asia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are original Indian classical pressings better than reissues?
Often, yes. Many HMV and EMI India classical recordings were never remastered from the original tapes, so later CDs and streams can sound thinner than a clean first pressing. Condition matters more than pressing generation, though — a worn original will not beat a well-kept later copy, which is why we scan and grade every record individually.
Do you stock both Hindustani and Carnatic music?
Yes. The collection deliberately covers both traditions — North Indian instrumentalists and vocalists alongside Carnatic veena, violin, nadaswaram and vocal records. South Indian classical LPs were pressed in large numbers for the domestic market and are sometimes easier to find in good condition than their Hindustani counterparts, making them a rewarding place to start.
How do I know what condition a record is in before buying?
Each listing states whether the record is new or used and includes scanned images of both sides of the sleeve. We grade conservatively and flag issues like missing sleeves in the product title itself, so what arrives should match or better what you expected. If you want more detail on a specific copy, just ask before ordering.
