The Album ‘Chain of Light’ was recorded in 1990 and will finally be released on September 20
Over three decades after its original recording, a long-lost album by the renowned Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is scheduled for release.
Real World Records, under Peter Gabriel’s leadership, disclosed that the album had been forgotten in warehouse storage and was rediscovered during the label’s archive relocation in 2021. Titled “Chain of Light,” Khan recorded the album at Real World Studios in April 1990. It will finally see the light of day on September 20, 34 years after its creation.
The album comprises four qawwali songs, a genre of Sufi Islamic devotional music, including one previously unheard piece, according to Real World. Khan worked on “Chain of Light” while concurrently collaborating with guitarist and producer Michael Brook on the 1990 album “Mustt Mustt.”
Peter Gabriel praised Khan’s exceptional vocal abilities, remarking, “What he could do and make you feel with his voice was quite extraordinary.” Gabriel expressed pride in helping Khan reach a global audience and described discovering the album in their archives as a delightful surprise. He believes the album showcases Khan at the peak of his talent, describing it as a magnificent record.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passed away from a heart attack in 1997 at the age of 48. Gabriel had signed him to Real World in 1989, and Khan garnered a dedicated following among notable figures such as Eddy Vedder, Madonna, Jeff Buckley, and The Rolling Stones. Buckley famously referred to Khan as “my Elvis,” and Rolling Stone magazine honored Khan by ranking him 91st on their 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list in 2023.