"After years of research, a dream has at last come true: the world’s first major anthology of Rembetiko – the "Greek Blues". Presenting 31 ensembles from 13 countries, the album showcases the leading representatives of Rembetiko in its many forms throughout the world and traces its development over the years. Rembetiko emerged in the early 1920s in the port cities of Piraeus and Thessaloniki where hundreds of thousands of Greek refugees arrived from Asia Minor. They brought with them their own lifestyle and their oriental music. In the taverns, or tekes, they smoked hash, made music, and dressed in a distinctive way. It was a subculture that went against the grain. Banned under various dictatorships and later ideologically rejected, Rembetiko still survived in various forms, eventually becoming an integral part of Greek identity. From Greece, Rembetiko spread among the immigrant communities of North America, Australia and Western Europe. This musical journey through the world of Rembetiko presents the best groups, including Apodimi Compania from Australia, Prosechos, Salto Orientale and Zotos Kompania from Germany, Kudsi Ergüner and Melihat Gülses from Turkey, Diamanda Galas and the Projekt Café Aman Amerika from the USA, Taximi from Sweden, Palio-Paréa from Holland, The Rembetika Hipsters from Canada and such icons of recent Greek musical history as Mikis Theodorakis, Dionyssis Savopoulos, Nikos Xydakis, Niki Tramba and Ross Daly at the Café Aman and Stavros Xarchakos with music from the legendary film „Rembetiko".
CD 1.
01. Stavros Xarchakos - Prologos-Mana Mou Ellas
02. Cafe Aman America Orchestra - O Pinoklis
03. Taximi - Rosenbuskens Blad
04. Kudsi Erguner Ensemble - Yedikule
05. Kegome - Salto Orientale
06. Bayat - Irinaki(Traditional Arr.)- Bratsch
07. Talking To Charos - San Pethano Sto Karavi
08. Christos Pantelis - Bouzouki Mou Diplochordo
09. Miquel Gil - I Giren
10. Ross Daly & Labyrinth - Afou Chis Allon Stin Kardia
11. Ankala - Cafe Izmir
12. The Rembetika Hipsters - Mes Tis Polis To Hammam-
13. Evening Take-Abaji - For Rita
14. Pavlos Sidiropoulos - To Blues Tou Paliokaravou
15. Grigoris Bithikotsis - Mikis Theodorakis Sta Pervolia
CD 2.
01. Apodimi Compania - Doctor
02. Martha Frintzila - Thalassa Lipisou
03. Zotos Kompania - Ego Mangas Phenomouna
04. Diamanda Galas - Anoixe
05. Christos Pantelis - Pali Kiapopse Skeftikos
06. Salto Orientale - Diki Mou Ine I Ellas
07. Michalis Jenitsaris - I Ladades
08. Fotia - Psila Ta Parathyria Sou
09. Palio-Parea - Tou Votanikou O Mangas
10. Prosechos - Plimyra
11. Stelios Vamvakaris & Louisiana Red - I Fantasia Stin Exousia
12. Solon Lekkas - San Pothano Paragelno
13. Vosporos - Zeybekiko
14. Niki Tramba, Ross Daly & Labyrinth - Emai Orfanos Apo Paidhi
15. Melihat Gulses - Barba Yannakakis(Kurban)
16. Roberto Zanisi - Stin Ipoga
17. Nikos Xydakis, Manolis Rasoulis & Nikos Papazoglou - I Manges Den Iparchoun Pia
18. Dionyssis Savopoulos - Zeybekiko
CD 1.
Cd 2.