chaliphon buengthai: khorat sing prayuk, vol. 1

artist: ชลีพร บึงไทย (chaliphon buengthai)
album: โคราชซิ่งประยุกต์ ชุดที่ 1 (khorat sing prayuk, vol. 1)
tracklist:
01. ชมบึง (chom bueng)
02. ชมนก (chom nok)
03. ชมไม้ (chom mai)
04. แหล่ลา (lae la)
05. บรรเลง (banleng)
06. สาวหมอเพลงรักหนุ่มหมอลำ (sao mo phleng rak num molam)
07. หมอเพลงกล่อมลูก (mo phleng klom luk)
08. กลอนเล่นอักษร (klon len akson)
09. ชีวิตหมอเพลง (chiwit mo phleng)
10. บรรเลง (banleng)

this week, our first tape of phleng khorat! our mo phleng today is chaliphon buengthai, someone who i had never heard of, and who returns 0 results on the web. her genre, phleng khorat, is local to nakhon ratchasima province and as its geographic origin may suggest, sounds somewhere between the northeastern/lao molam and central thai lam tat, choi, or other traditional repartee styles. while often performed without instrumental accompaniment in its boran form, this tape features the sing prayuk style, and so is replete with 1997-era country-style production hallmarks, handled by chaloemchai phet-udon and khrongsak suanpom. the songs selections are actually a mix of phleng khorat (of course), along with a couple lae and luk thung numbers, all penned by chaliphon, plus a few isan-style instrumentals for good measure. enjoy!

namphueng boribun: tham khwan nak

artist: น้ำผึ้ง บริบูรณ์ (namphueng boribun)
album: ทำขวัญนาค (tham khwan nak)
tracklist:
01. พ่อนาคแก้ว ตอน 1 (pho nak kaeo, pt. 1)
02. พ่อนาคแก้ว ตอน 2 (pho nak kaeo, pt. 2)
03. พ่อนาคแก้ว ตอน 3 (pho nak kaeo, pt. 3)
04. บวชก่อนเบียด (buat kon biat)
05. บวชแทนพระคุณพ่อแม่ (buat thaen phra khun pho mae)
06. นาคกำพร้า (nak kamphra)
07. สอนพ่อนาค ตอน 1 (son pho nak, pt. 1)
08. สอนพ่อนาค ตอน 2 (son pho nak, pt. 2)
09. สอนพ่อนาค ตอน 3 (son pho nak, pt. 3)
10. ทำขวัญนาค ตอน 1 (tham khwan nak, pt. 1)
11. ทำขวัญนาค ตอน 2 (tham khwan nak, pt. 2)
12. ทำขวัญนาค ตอน 3 (tham khwan nak, pt. 3)

this week, fantastic lae pop from namphueng boribun! namphueng was initially a luk thung singer in the famed boribun band, and partner to suang santi (a big rock-star of the scene). my understanding is that after his tragic death in a car accident, she turned to more traditional singing. she was famous as a mo tham khwan and would perform ceremonies to fix the soul to the body during major life events. one such event would of be buddhist ordinations, which brings us to this cassette! the recordings feature namphueng's speak-sing lae vocals atop an juncture of traditional piphat-style instrumentation and funk rhythm section. i recently stumbled across a similar collection shared over at the lola vandaag blog, be sure to check that one out as well.. enjoy!

khana samakkhi siang tham: thet lae prayuk rueang "phu hak kin nang, phu sang kin kraduk"

artist(s): คณะ สามัคคีเสียงธรรม (khana samakkhi siang tham)
album: เทศน์แหล่ประยุกต์ เรื่อง ผู้ฮักกินหนัง ผู้ซังกินกระดูก (thet lae prayuk rueang "phu hak kin nang, phu sang kin kraduk")
tracklist:
01. ผู้ฮักกินหนัง ผู้ซังกินกระดูก ม้วน 1 ตอน 1 (phu hak kin nang, phu sang kin kraduk, vol. 1, pt. 1)
02. ผู้ฮักกินหนัง ผู้ซังกินกระดูก ม้วน 1 ตอน 2 (phu hak kin nang, phu sang kin kraduk, vol. 1, pt. 2)
03. ผู้ฮักกินหนัง ผู้ซังกินกระดูก ม้วน 2 ตอน 1 (phu hak kin nang, phu sang kin kraduk, vol. 2, pt. 1)
04. ผู้ฮักกินหนัง ผู้ซังกินกระดูก ม้วน 2 ตอน 2 (phu hak kin nang, phu sang kin kraduk, vol. 2, pt. 2)

last month i was lucky enough to attend the annual candle festival in ubon ratchathani, a spectacular event based around the parading of huge, elaborately decorated candles which takes place at the beginning of buddhist lent (and is depicted on this cassette's cover art). while i got a handful of excellent tapes while i was there, this one was actually a gift of a year or two back from my friend alexandra, who picked it up at the amazing ratchabut stereo in ubon (a site i was also lucky enough to revisit!). the recording (spanning a 2-tape set) is of thet lae isan, a melodic and expressive form of sermonizing that is composed in klon (the same poetic form used by molam). the group samakkhi siang tham is made up of phra khru thongsuk satchawaro, ketkaeo sangwuttho and bunma warathammo, and the content is based on a famous local folktale. i'm not sure whether or not it bears any specific connection to the candle festival, so if you know please comment.. in the meantime, enjoy!

preview:

prathuam sukhothai: lae rueang phra chao achattasattru

artist: ประทวน สุโขทัย (prathuam sukhothai)
album: แหล่ เรื่อง พระเจ้าอชาตศัตรู (lae rueang phra chao achattasattru)
tracklist:
01. แหล่ เรื่อง พระเจ้าอชาตศัตรู ตอน 1 (lae rueang phra chao achattasattru, vol. 1)
02. แหล่ เรื่อง พระเจ้าอชาตศัตรู ตอน 2 (lae rueang phra chao achattasattru, vol. 2)

in the hopes that everyone will pardon a long holiday break, we're back today with a personal favorite of mine: fantastic lae from prathuam sukhothai! this one is a bit unique in my collection: i've heard plenty of completely unadorned lae, and plenty of pop-lae (à la waiphot phetsuphan), but i haven't heard much of this particular style; with a half-sung/half-chanted vocal line and piphat backing. the text, written by achan khaemthong, concerns the story from the samaññaphala sutta of king achattasattru (ajatashatru), an early buddhist convert. no biographical info about mr. prathuam was forthcoming, so if you have any please share! in the meantime.. enjoy!

preview:

namphueng phet-uthai & her group: tham khwan nak, pt. 2

artist: น้ำผึ้ง เพชรอุทัย - ละเอียด ลูกอุทัย - สุวรรณ แก้วน้ำ (namphueng phet-uthai, la-iat luk-uthai & suwan kaeonam)
album: ทำขวัญนาค 2 (tham khwan nak 2)
tracklist:
01. สอนนาค (son nak)
02. พระสุริยง (phra suriyong)
03. อวยพรนาค (uai phon nak)
04. บายศรี (bai si)
05. เชิญขวัญนาค (choen khwan nak)
06. บายศรีเวียนเทียน (bai si wian thian)
07. ชูชกสองกุมาร (chuchok song kuman)
08. ฉ่อยเรื่องชูชก (choi rueang chu chok)
09. มัทรีกลับจากป่า (matri klap chak pa)
10. มัทรีตัดพ้อ (matri tat pho)
11. พาชูชกชมนก (pha chuchok chom nok)
12. อวยพรลา (uai phon la)

this week's cassette is part of a generous bequest gifted to us by educator cliff sloane, a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

this week, we have part 2 of namphueng phet-uthai and her group's excellent ceremonial sounds! as namphueng's stage-surname suggests, our artists are based out of uthai thani province in thailand's central plain and specialize in music for any number of events where sacred sounds are required (at the time of writing, you can still book them to perform at your own event!). we've heard from these folks once before here, way back in 2010, when they provided a soundtrack to the thot kathin & thot phapa merit-making festivals. today, we join them at a tham khwan nak, or ordination ceremony for a novice monk. the group includes fellow singers la-iat luk-uthai and suwan kaeonam, performing poetry by sangwian miluenam. while the first side finds them backed by the "78 sound" piphat ensemble as in part 1, the second side finds accompaniment paired down to a more drum-and-fiddle-based group. enjoy!

preview:

namphueng phet-uthai & her group: tham khwan nak, pt. 1

artist(s): น้ำผึ้ง เพชรอุทัย - ละเอียด ลูกอุทัย - สุวรรณ แก้วน้ำ (namphueng phet-uthai, la-iat luk-uthai & suwan kaeonam)
album: ทำขวัญนาค 1 (tham khwan nak 1)
tracklist:
01. ปาริตะวา (paritawa)
02. เชิญเทพยุดา (choen thepphayuda)
03. เคารพพระคุณ (khaorop phra khun)
04. กำเนิดนาค (kamnoet nak)
05. โศรกสะเดาโยง (เจ็บท้องคลอด) (sok sadao yong (chep thong khlot))
06. หมอตำแยทำคลอด (mo tamyae tham khlot)
07. กล่อมนาค (klom nak)
08. พระคุณ พ่อ แม่ (phra khun pho mae)

this week's cassette is part of a generous bequest gifted to us by educator cliff sloane, a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

this week, we have some excellent ceremonial sounds from namphueng phet-uthai and her group! as namphueng's stage-surname suggests, our artists are based out of uthai thani province in thailand's central plain and specialize in music for any number of events where sacred sounds are required (at the time of writing, you can still book them to perform at your own event!). we've heard from these folks once before here, way back in 2010, when they provided a soundtrack to the thot kathin and thot phapa merit-making festivals. today, we join them at a tham khwan nak, or ordination ceremony for a novice monk. her prayuk group includes fellow singers la-iat luk-uthai and suwan kaeonam, backed by the piphat ensemble "78 sound", performing poetry by sangwian miluenam. unlike many tapes, where i've stumbled across a random numbered volume on its lonesome, cliff managed to secure both parts of this set, so next week we'll hear the second half.. enjoy, and stay tuned!

preview:

nutchari siracha: khuen pai hua chai cham

artist: นุชจรี ศรีราชา (nutchari siracha)
album: ขึ้นป้ายหัวใจช้ำ (khuen pai hua chai cham)
tracklist:
01. ทองปลอม (thong plom)
02. หลอกหนูหรือเปล่า (lok nu rue plao)
03. มือถือไมค์หัวใจร้องไห้ (mue thue mike hua chai rong hai)
04. อีแหววสิ้นหวัง (iwaeo sin wang)
05. ไม่รักหรอก (mai rak rok)
06. เสียงจากนุชจรี (siang chak nutchari)
07. มันน่าไหมเนี๊ยะ (man na mai nia)
08. อุ๊ยตายแฟนใคร (ui tai faen khrai)
09. ชอบคนมีสี (chop khon mi si)
10. คิดฮอดอีสาน (khit hot isan)

nutchari was born to a poor family in chonburi on thailand's eastern seaboard and got her start singing early. by age 5 she was performing at village festivities, and at age 9 she appeared onstage at a local concert of phumphuang duangchan. eventually she was asked to join anothai promotions, home of yingyong yotbuangam, and made her first recorded appearance with an answer song to the star singer. after that company folded, she joined with m-star to record the cassette we're hearing today. during this period she had become a close disciple of thotsaphon himaphan, and the influence of his lae-luk thung style can be heard on several tracks, especially the single (track 4). after this album, she left m-star for thotsaphon's four 's, at which point she really started gaining momentum: she was famous for her hectic schedule, often playing 4 concerts in a day. sadly, her career was brought to a tragic end after a traffic accident on tour left her incapacitated, with her face and voice forever altered. today, however, she's fully recovered and has even begun performing again. enjoy!

thotsaphon himaphan: alai meri

artist: ทศพล หิมพานต์ (thotsaphon himaphan)
album: อาลัยเมรี (alai meri)
tracklist:
01. แหล่อาลัยเมรี (lae alai meri)
02. แหล่เตือนหญิงหม้าย (lae tuean ying mai)
03. แหล่มัทรีรำพัน (lae mathri ramphan)
04. แหล่มัทรีโศก (lae mathri sok)
05. แหล่สี่กษัตริย์เดินดง (lae si kasat doen dong)
06. แหล่นาคสั่งสีกา (lae nak sang si ka)
07. แหล่ชมนก (lae chom nok)
08. แหล่สอนหญิง (lae son ying)
09. แหล่หอยโข่ง ตอน 1 (lae hoi khong, pt. 1)
10. แหล่หอยโข่ง ตอน 2 (lae hoi khong, pt. 2)

this week, a classic cassette from lae star thotsaphon himaphan! hailing from the northerly kamphaengphet province, thotsaphon had an agricultural upbringing before joining the monkhood as a young man. while a monk, his expertise in chant and sermonizing had already earned him wide recognition in his home region. in between his times at temple, thotsaphon earned a living by singing in clubs and at buddhist ordination ceremonies. eventually he was invited to perform with star singer wanchana koetdi, a connection that led to him being signed to four 's^[1]. in 1995 he released this cassette, his first and biggest-seller, featuring songs from daeng phalanchai in a lae-luk thung style like that made famous by waiphot phetsuphan, with whom thotsaphon would later collaborate. a spiritually-oriented pop sound, with an extremely ornamented vocal line recalling the sermon style of north/northeastern monks.. enjoy!

a. prasit nakhonphanom: lae... anisong

artist: อ. ประสิทธิ์ นครพนม (a. prasit nakhonphanom)
album: แหล่... อานิสงส์ (lae... anisong)
tracklist:
01. อานิสงส์ตักบาตร (anisong tak bat)
02. อานิสงส์สังฆทาน (anisong sangkha than)
03. อานิสงส์การบวช (anisong kan buat)
04. อานิสงส์ผ้าป่า (anisong pha pa)
05. อานิสงส์สร้างพระอุโบสถ (anisong sang phra ubosot)
06. อานิสงส์ทอดกฐิน (anisong thot kathin)
07. อานิสงส์ศีล (anisong sin)
08. อานิสงส์สร้างกุฏิ (anisong sang kutti)
09. อานิสงส์ทานทั่วไป (anisong than thua pai)
10. อานิสงส์ชวนคนทำบุญ (anisong chuan khon tham bun)

this week, we have a taste of spiritual lae music from achan prasit nakhonphanom. "do you know what results you receive from your various merit-makings?" asks the cover of this cassette from soemwit music, and in a series of lay sermons, achan prasit breaks it down for you. the karmic benefits of donating food & clothing to monks, ordaining as a monk yourself, helping to build a monastery, etc. are demystified for the inquiring listener, over a typical lae musical accompaniment rendered by a keyboard workstation.. enjoy!

preview:

waiphot phetsuphan: plong tok

artist: ไวพจน์ เพชรสุพรรณ (waiphot phetsuphan)

album: ปลงตก (plong tok)

tracklist: 

01. ปลงตก (plong tok)

02. แก้มตุ่ย (kaem tui)

03. บอกให้เอาบุญ (bok hai ao bun)

04. ข้อยซิฮักเจ้าหลาย (khoi si hak chao lai)

05. กฐินลูกทุ่ง (kathin luk thung)

06. ปลงตก (ดนตรี) (plong tok (instrumental))

07. สำเนียงอยู่ไหน (samniang yu nai)

08. ระบำชาวไร้ (rabam chao rai)

09. เมียรอคิว (mia ro queue)

10. แม่แก้วลืมดง (mae kaeo luem dong)

11. ลิเกมาแล้ว (like ma laeo)

12. แก้มตุ่ย (ดนตรี) (kaem tui (instrumental))

this week, a fantastic offering from the mighty waiphot phetsuphan! a national artist and luk thung boss nonpareil, waiphot has been a staple of the thai country music scene for half a century. born into a musical family from central thailand's suphanburi province, waiphot was trained from a toddler's age in a range of local styles. at 14 he joined a local liké theatre troupe, and at 16 won his first song contest. he was discovered shortly after by singer chaichana bunnachot, who introduced him to samniang muangthong, leader of the ruam daokrachai band. waiphot's powerful voice and spiritual focus have made him one of the most enduring and omnipresent characters of thai popular music. this tape alone should put to rest any doubts of his deserving such a post. enjoy!!

preview:

khwanchit siprachan: ruam phleng lae sin ha, tham bun

artist: ขวัญจิต ศรีประจันต์ (khwanchit siprachan)

album: รวมเพลงแหล่ศีลห้า-ทำบุญ (ruam phleng lae sin ha, tham bun)

tracklist:

01. ปาณาติบาต ศีลข้อ 1 ตอนที่ 1 (panatibat, sin kho 1, pt. 1)

02. ปาณาติบาต ศีลข้อ 1 ตอนที่ 2 (panatibat, sin kho 1, pt. 2)

03. อทินนาทาน ศีลข้อ 2 ตอนที่ 1 (athinnathan, sin kho 2, pt. 1)

04. อทินนาทาน ศีลข้อ 2 ตอนที่ 2 (athinnathan, sin kho 2, pt. 2)

05. กาเมสุมิจฉาจาร ศีลข้อ 3 ตอนที่ 1 (kamesumitchachan, sin kho 3, pt. 1)

06. กาเมสุมิจฉาจาร ศีลข้อ 3 ตอนที่ 2 (kamesumitchachan, sin kho 3, pt. 2)

07. มุสาวาท ศีลข้อ 4 ตอนที่ 1 (musawat, sin kho 4, pt. 1)

08. มุสาวาท ศีลข้อ 4 ตอนที่ 2 (musawat, sin kho 4, pt. 2)

09. ทำบุญกฐิน (tham bun kathin)

10. สุราเมรัย ศีลข้อ 5 ตอนที่ 1 (suramerai, sin kho 5, pt. 1)

11. สุราเมรัย ศีลข้อ 5 ตอนที่ 2 (suramerai, sin kho 5, pt. 2)

12. นางครวญ ตอนที่ 1 (nang khruan, pt. 1)

13. นางครวญ ตอนที่ 2 (nang khruan, pt. 2)

14. ทำบุญสร้างวัด (tham bun sang wat)

15. ปิดทองลูกนิมิต (pit thong luk nimit)

16. ปิดทองพระ (pit thong phra)

17. แห่ผ้าป่า (hae phapa)

18. แห่กฐิน (hae kathin)

with the buddhist holiday of makha bucha coming up tomorrow, it seems like a great time to share some religious tunes.. and who better to sing them than ms. khwanchit siprachan? famous for her mastery in a range of central thai folk styles, this tape finds khwanchit pairing up with the late, brilliant phon phirom as songwriter to bring us a series of multi-part lae on the topic of the five precepts (no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying and no liquor!) as well as a few exhortations to merit-making and a pair of parade songs to round things out. a few other singers make appearances on here, but i couldn't find any clues to their identities.. if you know, tell us! otherwise just enjoy!

preview:

MRPT204 by monrakplengthai

sonphet la buat

artist: ศรเพชร ศรสุพรรณ (sonphet sonsuphan)

album: ศรเพชรลาบวช (sonphet la buat)

tracklist:

01. บอกบุญทางอากาศ (bok bun thang akat)

02. จิ๊กโก๋ลาบวช (chikko la buat)

03. โกนหัวใจหาย (kon hua chai hai)

04. ลาสาวเข้าโบสถ์ (la sao khao bot)

05. นาคคนจน (nak khon chon)

06. แตรวงการกุศล (trae wong kan kuson)

07. ลำตัดงานบวช (lamtat ngan buat)

08. รถทัวร์บอกบุญ (rot tour bok bun)

09. ลิเกการกุศล (like kan kuson)

10. เด็กหน่วยเร่หนัง (dek nuai re nang)

tomorrow is khao phansa, the beginning of what's sometimes called "buddhist lent", which will see many thai men leave secular life on a 3 month monastic retreat for the wet season. in celebration, i'd like to share what might be the most unique and raucous music on the topic of this event in my collection. this album commemorates suphanburi-born star sonphet sonsuphan's entry into monkhood, gathering the talents of famous lae songwriters chiw phichit & yotthong bunthup. you'll hear disco swells, yodeling, psych-y organ licks & guitar sounds augmenting a handful of folk genres traditionally associated with the ngan buat ceremony. enjoy!

preview:

waiphot phetsuphan: lae prawat phumphuang

artist: ไวพจน์ เพชรสุพรรณ (waiphot phetsuphan)
album: แหล่ประวัติพุ่มพวง (lae prawat phumphuang)
tracklist:
01. แหล่ประวัติพุ่มพวง ตอน 1 (lae prawat phumphuang, pt. 1)
02. แหล่ประวัติพุ่มพวง ตอน 2 (lae prawat phumphuang, pt. 2)

the death of phumphuang duangchan in 1992 was a big deal.  she was the singer who reversed the decline of luk thung in the 80's and redefined notions of stardom in thailand.  the much-beloved star's early passing at the age of 31 was undoubtedly something to be mourned.  her funeral merited a royal cremation ceremony and attendance levels unheard of for a commoner, and her shrine at wat thap kradan in her home province still attracts legions of followers, hoping to win luck from her spirit.  on today's cassette, her former mentor chants a nearly hour-long eulogy to the memory his most famous pupil.  even putting aside the close relationship between the two singers, waiphot, the king of lae, is uniquely qualified for this undertaking.. have a listen...

preview:
  MRPT159 by monrakplengthai

kawao siangthong: sit luang pho khun

artist: กาเหว่า เสียงทอง (kawao siangthong)

album: ศิษย์หลวงพ่อคูณ (sit luang pho khun)

tracklist:

01. ชมวัดบ้านไร่ (chom wat ban rai)

02. ศีลห้าข้อ (sinlaha kho)

03. หนุ่มกุดพิมาน (num kut phiman)

04. ด่านขุนทด (dan khunthot)

05. หลวงพ่อคูณเทิดทูลนายหลวง (luang pho khun thoet thun nai luang)

06. วันเกิดหลวงพ่อคูณ (wan koet luang pho khun)

07. ส. รัตนพล (s. ratanaphon)

08. ต่าย พิจิตร (tai phichit)

09. หอมกลิ่นดอกสะเรเต (hom klin dok sarete)

10. หลวงพ่อคูณเป็นศูนย์รวมใจ (luang pho khun pen sun ruam chai)

11. หลวงพ่อคูณช่วยด้วย (luang pho khun chuai duai)

12. วาจาหลวงพ่อคูณ (wacha luang pho khun)

this week some buddhist audio for everyone!  a loving tribute from luk thung veteran kawao siangthong.  the subject of kawao's devotion on this cassette is luang pho khun (khun parisuttho), also known by his royally bestowed title phra thep witthayakhom.  formerly a wandering forest monk, luang pho khun is the longtime abbot of wat ban rai in nakhon ratchasima, though old age has restricted his activity.  coming from an influential khorat family with a history of sorcery, luang pho khun is well known throughout thailand for his magical incantations.  he would freely bestow his powers upon any devotees who sought him, typically in the form of amulets or talismans.  although in my opinion this tape finds kawao with his best years behind him, there are still some great moments.  enjoy!

preview:

  MRPT158 by monrakplengthai

waiphot phetsuphan: la buat 20 pi thong

artist: ไวพจน์ เพชรสุพรรณ (waiphot phetsuphan)
album: ลาบวช 20 ปีทอง (la buat 20 pi thong)
tracklist:
01. ไวพจน์ลาบวช 21 มิถุนา (waiphot la buat 21 mithuna)
02. ไวพจน์ลาบวช (waiphot la buat)
03. ต้นฉบับลาบวช (ton chabap la buat)
04. โห่ 3 ลา ไวพจน์กลองยาว (ho 3 la, waiphot klong yao)
05. เบิกบายศรี (โห่ ลา) (boek bai si (ho, la))
06. ทำขวัญนาค (tham khwan nak)
07. บวชพระดีกว่า (buat phra di kwa)
08. กล่อมใจนาค (klom chai nak)
09. ก่องข้าวน้อยฆ่าแม่ (kong khao noi kha mae)
10. แหล่ลำนำอิสาน (lae lamnam isan)

any fan of vintage thai music ought to know the word ton chabap... meaning "original", this is typically a sure sign that you'll be getting the old-school sounds you're after, not re-performed or adulterated with new bass lines, drum machines or so on.  except in this instance.  i was probably too excited by waiphot's fancy robe & bald pate that i didn't read closely enough, as it turns out the cover (rather honestly) advertises "original lyrics" only!  but the biggest surprise of all?  i don't mind in the least.  that's because on this time the new sounds come courtesy of a full isan music combo... that means electric phin shredding, classic northeastern bass & liberal use of cowbell.  as far as i knew waiphot had never performed in this style, so enjoy this rare look into his classic lae tracks, isan-ified!

preview:
  MRPT156 by monrakplengthai

phra wetsandon chadok

artists: พระอาจารย์ มหาสดใส เตชธโร, พระอาจารย์ มหาสุรัตน์ สุติรโต, พระอาจารย์ มหาทองดา โชติปัญโญ + พระอาจารย์ มหาสมเด็จ สุวณโณ (phra achan mahasotsai techaro, phra achan mahasurat sutinto, phra achan mahathongda chotipanyo & phra achan mahasomdet suwanno)
album: พระเวสสันดรชาดก (phra wetsandon chadok)
tracklist (1) (2) (3):
01. กัณฑ์สักกบรรพ (kan sakkabap)
02. กัณฑ์ฉกษัตริย์ (kan chokasat)
03. กัณฑ์นครกัณฑ์ (kan nakhon kan)

it's thet mahachat season in thailand, and so today i'd like to share this epic boxed-set, featuring a northeastern take on the sermons.  thet mahachat (or "the great birth sermon") is the reading of the vessantara jataka (phra wetsandon chadok in thai), the final and most popular of the tales concerning the buddha's past incarnations.  celebrated throughout southeast asia, the story features prince vessantara & his journeys, wherein he exemplifies the virtues of charity & selflessness.  our monks here orate using thet lae, the unmistakably isan style of sing-sermonizing.  after a brief instrumental flourish, they launch forth with the final 3 of the jataka's 13 chapters (chapter 10 "the words of indra", chapter 12 "the six kshatriya" & chapter 13 "the return to the city" [i assume it also features chapter 11 "the great king", but i don't know the text well enough to identify it]).  these are old tapes and have a good bit of mechanical noise, but if you can get through it, you'll find a great document of a unique & compelling tradition.  it's a 3 hour set, so i've kept with the original tape divisions and put it up in 3 parts.. make sure you get all three, and enjoy!

preview:
  MRPT151 by monrakplengthai

waiphot phetsuphan & kaeo sarika

artists: ไวพจน์ เพชรสุพรรณ + แก้ว สาริกา (waiphot phetsuphan & kaeo sarika)
album: พุทธประวัติ ชุด 4: แหล่เที่ยวเมืองสุพรรณ (phuttha prawat, vol. 4; lae thieow mueang suphan)
tracklist:
01. แหล่เที่ยวเมืองสุพรรณ (lae thieow mueang suphan)
02. ชูชกพาสองกุมารตอนจบ (chu chok pha song kuman ton chop)
03. สารวันดิสโก้ (sarawan disco)
04. แหล่ชมสาวบางกอก (lae chom sao bangkok)
05. แหล่ชีวิตไวพจน์ (lae chiwit waiphot)
06. แหล่ปลาหมอ ปลาทู (lae pla mo, pla thu)
07. แหล่ตำนานพระปฐมเจดีย์ (lae tamnan phra pathom chedi)

this week, music from the king of lae, waiphot phetsuphan!  hailing from central thailand's suphan buri province, waiphot has for nearly half a century been among the biggest names in luk thung.  born into a musical family, waiphot was trained from the age of 2 in a range of local styles.  at 14 he joined a local liké theatre troupe, and at 16 won his first song contest.  he was discovered shortly after by singer chaichana bunnachot, who introduced him to ruam daokrachai bandleader samniang muangthong.  waiphot was greatly respected by audiences and fellow singers alike for his expertise in traditional forms and his uniquely powerful voice.  this cassette, with side 2 featuring one of his prominent latter-day proteges, kaeo sarika, is a collection of lae focusing on his home province.  the styles range from low-key ballads to up-tempo disco numbers, all imbued with lae rhythm & inflection.  enjoy!!

achan duangchan khemachitto

artist: อาจารย์ ดวงจันทร์ เขมจิตฺโต (achan duangchan khemachitto)
album: เทศนานิทานธรรม (thetsana nithan tham)
tracklist:
01. เทศนานิทานธรรม ตอน 1 (thetsana nithan tham, pt. 1)
02. เทศนานิทานธรรม ตอน 2 (thetsana nithan tham, pt. 2)

this week, we have some beautiful sacred music from thailand's northeast; achan duangchan khemachitto performing thet lae!  despite buddhist monks being prohibited from performing music, there does exist a tradition of very melodic & expressive vocalizations used for reciting sacred texts, and even sermons composed in klon (the same poetic form used by molam) known as thet lae.  lae can be heard during all sorts of festivals in isaan, and was a significant influence on early luk thung music.. there's even a history of bandleaders courting talented young preachers to become recording stars (including mr. dao bandon, for instance).  this tape, however, features the original formula; a solitary voice, unaccompanied & unpolished.  i haven't been able to find out much about our monk, a. duangchan khemachitto, but i would assume he is affiliated with wat phrathat phanom woramahawihan in nakhon phanom, the chedi of which graces the cover of the j-card.  enjoy!!

chaichana bunnachot: chai nang muean thang rot

artist: ชัยชนะ บุญนะโชติ (chaichana bunnachot)
album: ใจนางเหมือนทางรถ (chai nang muean thang rot)
tracklist:
01. ดอกดินถวิลฟ้า (dok din thawin fa)
02. ใจนางเหมือนทางรถ (chai nang muean thang rot)
03. หัวอกหนุ่มโสด (hua ok num sot)
04. แม่แตงร่มใบ (mae taeng rom bai)
05. สุสานคนรัก (susan khon rak)
06. แหล่อวยพร (lae uaiphon)
07. ใจน้อยจริงน้อง (chai noi ching nong)
08. ลูกเขยผู้กว้างขวาง (luk khoei phu kwang khwang)
09. ลาสาวเข้ากรุง (la sao khao krung)
10. สาวสุพรรณโสภา (sao suphan sopha)
11. น้ำตาพ่อ (nam ta pho)
12. ฆ่าพี่เสียเถิด (kha phi sia thoet)
13. เกาะสมุย (ko samui)
14. แหล่ชูชก ตอน 1 (lae chu chok, pt. 1)
15. แหล่ชูชก ตอน 2 (lae chu chok, pt. 2)
16. เสียงสั่งจากบ้านนา (siang sang chak ban na)
17. ลูกสาวชาวนา (luk sao chao na)
18. หยาดเหงื่อเหนือคิ้วนาง (yat nguea nuea khiw nang)
19. หิวจะตายอยู่แล้ว (hiw cha tai yu laeo)
20. สำนึกผิด (samnuek phit)

this week, vintage luk thung from "national artist" mr. chaichana bunnachot!  one of the earliest practitioners of thai country music, chaichana has remained a favorite throughout the years as both a singer & songwriter.  hailing from central thailand's chachoengsao province, he grew up working on a mango plantation before joining his uncle's liké troupe, where he learned to sing all manner of folksong.  eventually, he left for bangkok with his brother and the two sang at bus terminals throughout the city, earning some renown as street performers.  chaichana soon turned his talents towards the new style being pioneered by khamron sambunnanon, which would come to be known as luk thung.  he came to the attention of songwriter & bandleader phayong mukda, who penned his earliest songs.  from there he worked with other songwriters like phaibun butkhan & phiphat boribun before eventually coming into his own as a songsmith.  for many generations chaichana has been a star performer and mentor to younger singers, and is still performing today! enjoy!

num'ek chetsada: lae kam mueang fang muan muan

artist: หนุ่มเอก เจษฎา (num'ek chetsada)
album: แหล่กำเมืองฟังม่วนๆ (lae kam mueang fang muan muan)
tracklist:
01. แหล่กำเมืองฟังม่วนๆ ตอน 1 (lae kam mueang fang muan muan, pt. 1)
02. แหล่กำเมืองฟังม่วนๆ ตอน 2 (lae kam mueang fang muan muan, pt. 2)

something out of the ordinary this week; northern-style party music from the late nineties! i don't know anything about num'ek chetsada, other than that he comes from northern thailand, chiang mai most likely. his singing is influenced by lae, the central thai luk thung sub-genre which in turn is derived from isan-style thet lae sermonizing.. num'ek mixes in bits of the northern thai dialect to inject some local pride into the proceedings. the music in the background is of the synth-heavy drum machine mega-mix style popular around the time of the recording (1997). enjoy!