mani maniwan: chot mai rak chak mia chao

artist: มานี มณีวรรณ (mani maniwan)
album: จดหมายรักจากเมียเช่า (chot mai rak chak mia chao)
tracklist: 
01. จดหมายรักจากเมียเช่า (chot mai rak chak mia chao)
02. เพื่อนตาย (phuean tai)
sung by วรินทร์ วีระเทพ (warin wirathep)

this week, a real treasure: one of the most fascinating and enduring examples of language-mixing in thai music! originally broadcast on television via suthep wongkamhaeng's suthep show, "love-letter from a rented wife" dramatized the relationship between thai women in the northeast and their american g.i. partners following the u.s. war in vietnam and the withdrawal of military presence there. written by achan achin panchaphan and backed by the apollo band, the song is sung in a singular blend of thai and english, and is still covered often today.

a must-read for further context is my friend ben tausig's amazing new book, bangkok after dark: maurice rocco, transnational nightlife, and the making of cold war intimacies, which features extensive discussion of both this song and the real people who inspired it.

i'm also embedding below a short documentary that my friend pix co-directed for khang lang phleng on thai pbs, all about this song and the legacy of thai kham angkrit kham. 

luk thung nai adit, vol. 2: waeo siang sueng

artist: various 
album: ลูกทุ่งในอดีต ชุด 2 แว่วเสียงซึง (luk thung nai adit, vol. 2: waeo siang sueng) 
tracklist: 
01. สมัครรักสมัครแฟน (samak rak samak faen) 
sung by ชาตรี ศรีชล (chatri sichon) 
02. สมัครรักมักไม่จริง (samak rak mak mai ching) 
sung by วันเพ็ญ เดือนสิบสอง (wanphen dueansipsong) 
03. เหมือนข้าวคอยเคียว (muean khao khoi khiao) 
sung by เพลินพิศ พูนชนะ (phloenphit phunchana) 
04. แสบหัวใจ (saep hua chai) 
sung by พรชัย สร้อยเพชร (phonchai soiphet) 
05. รักกับพี่ดีแน่ (rak kap phi di nae) 
sung by ดำ แดนสุพรรณ (dam daensuphan) 
06. ถึงพี่จะดำ (thueng phi cha dam) 
sung by ดำ แดนสุพรรณ (dam daensuphan) 
07. ยิ้มแป้น (yim paen) 
sung by พจน์ พนาวัน (phot phanawan) 
08. เพชฌฆาตใจ (phetchakhat chai) 
sung by ชินกร ไกรลาศ (chinnakon krailat) 
09. โฉมนาง (chom nang) 
sung by ชาตรี ศรีชล (chatri sichon) 
10. รอยรักรอยมลทิน (roi rak roi monthin) 
sung by ไพรวัลย์ ลูกเพชร (phraiwan lukphet) 
11. แว่วเสียงซึง (waeo siang sueng) 
sung by เรียม ดาราน้อย (riam daranoi) 
12. หยุดก่อนผู้ชายเจ้าชู้ (yut kon phu chai chao chu) 
sung by เรียม ดาราน้อย (riam daranoi) 
13. เมียพี่มีชู้ (mia phi mi chu) 
sung by ชาย เมืองสิงห์ (chai mueangsing) 
14. รักที่เท่าไหร่ (rak thi thao rai) 
sung by หนุ่ม เมืองไพร (num mueangphrai) 
15. แบ่งสมบัติ (baeng sombat) 
sung by ไวพจน์ เพชรสุพรรณ (waiphot phetsuphan) 
16. เบี่ยงสมบัติ (biang sombat) 
sung by สุทธิพันธ์ รักวงศ์ (sutthiphan rakwong) 
17. อีแม๊ะ (imae) 
sung by ระพิน ภูไท (raphin phuthai) 
18. ช้ำรักจากเมืองชล (cham rak chak mueang chon) 
sung by ชาตรี ศรีชล (chatri sichon) 
19. ไม่เสียใจหรอก (mai sia chai rok) 
sung by หนุ่ม เมืองไพร (num mueangphrai) 

this week, an amazing collection of golden-age luk thung! dating mostly from the early '70s, this tape from nok kaeo (parrot records) features vinyl-sourced evergreen hits from the post-suraphon generation of stars, as well as some gender-swapping answer-songs and even a couple of left-field selections i wasn't familiar with before. a range of the era's prominent sub-styles are represented here; from slow, sweet ballads to heavy, khaen-driven samai onwong productions to bollywood filmi borrowings. not sure i could dream up a better introduction to the period myself, so.. enjoy!

[i have to note, though.. it seems the compilers and the graphic designers weren't on the same page, as our man in the bottom-right corner, the late great sonphet sonsuphan, is nowhere to be found on the album itself!]

num mueangsurin: kantruem khayao lok

artist: หนุ่ม เมืองสุรินทร์ (num mueangsurin) 
album: กันตรึมเขย่าโลก (kantruem khayao lok) 
tracklist: 
01. โตวนาโม (to na mo) 
02. โนโค้กเขมร (no coke khmer) 
03. อากัมปรอ (akam pro) 
04. ไปไหนมา (pai nai ma) 
05. รักสาวเสราะไชง (rak sao sro chngai) 
06. ขอพร (kho phon) 
07. คนบ้านนอก (khon ban nok) 
08. โมโฮบบาย (mo hop bai) 
09. อย่าเลย (ya loei) 
10. ปะการันเจก (paka ran chek) 

this week, bilingual thai-khmer rap from the border region! i don't know much about our star here, num mueangsurin ("the boy from surin city"); he seems to have mostly vanished from memory as far as the internet is concerned. thanks to some helpful liner notes, though, i can tell you that his 1994 cassette from topline-diamond features music by the era's ever-present a. num phuthai, as well as two lesser-knowns, maengkabi and frank nio-thong, and was recorded between bangkok's chaturong, phaibun, and c.a. studios. the tracks are a combination of luk thung- and kantruem-flavored originals with some light rap verses, and rewrites of both international and domestic pop hits (see: dr. albarn's "no coke"). enjoy! 

krongthong thatsanaphan: ya awon

artist: กรองทอง ทัศนพันธ์ (krongthong thatsanaphan) 
album: อย่าอาวรณ์ (ya awon) 
tracklist: 
01. เซียมซีเสี่ยงรัก (siam si siang rak) 
02. วิวาห์น้ำตา (wiwa nam ta) 
03. รอยแผลเก่า (roi phlae kao) 
04. เงือกน้อยในธารา (ngueak noi nai thara) 
05. บ้านน้อยกลอยใจ (ban noi kloi chai) 
06. มิตรแห่งความหวังดี (mit haeng khwam wang di) 
07. อย่าอาวรณ์ (ya awon) 
08. เซ่อก็รัก (soe ko rak) 
09. มิมีวัน (mi mi wan) 
10. ครั้งเดียวไม่เคยพอ (khrang diao mai khoei pho) 
11. คอยรักจากเธอ (khoi rak chak thoe) 
12. ทะเลมีตาไหม (thale mi ta mai) 

this week, krongthong thatsanaphan in the golden sound studio! krongthong is the daughter of luk thung pioneer somyot thatsanaphan, but got her start singing international cover tunes on the nightclub circuit with bands like the oriental funk and pink panther. after finding success with those acts, she signed on as a solo artist with golden sound. this tape, her 1985 album with the label, finds her revisiting a number of her father's signature mellow hits, while also tackling some sassier original numbers on the second side. enjoy! 

.. and if this sort of stuff is up your alley, definitely don't miss the upcoming compilation, baa records selects: thailand’s golden sounds (80s synth pop & disco), with liner notes by your truly!

sayan sanya: ya ma khit thueng chan loei

artist: สายัณห์ สัญญา (sayan sanya)
album: อย่ามาคิดถึงฉันเลย (ya ma khit thueng chan loei)
tracklist:
01. อย่ามาคิดถึงฉันเลย (ya ma khit thueng chan loei)
02. พิณสะกิดสาว (phin sakit sao)
03. มนต์เมืองเหนือ (mon mueang nuea)
04. เสน่ห์สาวเวียงพิงค์ (sane sao wiang phing)
05. หนาวลมที่เรณู (nao lom thi renu)
06. อ่านหัวใจ (an hua chai)
07. รอยรักในอารมณ์ (roi rak nai arom)
08. เทพธิดาหลงฟ้า (thepthida long fa)
09. เขมรไล่ควาย (khamen lai khwai)
10. ควายหาย (khwai hai)
11. อาทิตย์อุทัยรำลึก (athit uthai ramluek)
12. ทั้งรักทั้งแค้น (thang rak thang khaen)

this week, we'll hear from "the original sweetheart", sayan sanya! born and raised in central thailand's suphan buri province, sayan grew up farming rice with his family. he started his musical career as a dancer in phongsi woranut's group, gradually moving up to back-up singer, and eventually forming his own band in 1973. through the '80s and early '90s he paired up with phumphuang duangchan and reigned as the biggest of luk thung stars. this cassette finds him in the late '70s, revisiting ten hits from the decades prior, tunes made famous by the likes of suraphon sombatcharoen, thun thongchai, and sonkhiri siprachuap, as well as a couple new ones that sayan had first crack at. enjoy!

thanin intharathep: phleng amata ngoen lan chut phiset

artist: ธานินทร์ อินทรเทพ (thanin intharathep)
album: เพลงอมตะเงินล้าน ชุด พิเศษ (phleng amata ngoen lan chut phiset)
tracklist:
01. พี่มีแต่ให้ (phi mi tae hai)
02. ผู้เสียสละ (phu sia sala)
03. บอกรักฝากใจ (bok rak fak chai)
04. เผลอใจรัก (phloe chai rak)
05. อเวจีใจ (awechi chai)
06. คิดถึงพี่ไหม (khit thueng phi mai)
07. 30 ยังแจ๋ว (30 yang chaeo)
08. ตัวไกลใจเหงา (tua klai chai ngao)
09. กระท่อมนางผ่าน (krathom nang phan)
10. แม่ค้าตาคม (mae kha ta khom)
11. บ้านนาสัญญารัก (ban na sanya rak)
12. พี่มีแต่ให้ [ชาวด์ดนตรี] (phi mi tae hai [instrumental])

this week, country-meets-city with mr. thanin intharathep! thanin is from samut sakhon, just outside of bangkok, and started out as a champion of local singing contests. he was discovered by pop impresario payong mukda, who got him in with suthep wongkhamhaeng's "suthep show" variety troupe. often billed as "thailand's frank sinatra", thanin brought a young, attractive face to the nostalgic and sentimental ballads of luk krung, and is still a favorite among older bangkokians. this 1990 cassette finds him outside of his typical ken, tackling hits of the more rural-oriented luk thung genre; songs made famous by sonkhiri siprachuap, sayan sanya, yotrak salakchai, ekkachai siwichai, and the like. for these tracks, he's backed by none other than the era's near-omnipresent lord of country music, num phuthai, who brings his yamaha yc-30-driven sound to nonpiya's minimalistic production style. enjoy!

 

[note: this tape had some bad dropouts for the first 30 seconds, so i did a little amateur splicing.. hopefully the edit is not too intrusive!]

 

ekkachai siwichai: mai yak phok mia

artist: เอกชัย ศรีวิชัย (ekkachai siwichai)
album: ไม่อยากพกเมีย (mai yak phok mia)
tracklist:
01. ไม่อยากพกเมีย (mai yak phok mia)
02. เอกชัยหาคู่ (ekkachai ha khu)
03. เดือนเก้าเศร้าใจ (duean kao sao chai)
04. รักพี่สักแต๊ด (rak phi sak taet)
05. ทำได้สนิท (tham dai sanit)
06. ตังเกขาดรัก (tangke khat rak)
07. ทีเดียวสองชื่อ (thi diao song chue)
08. น้ำตาตกใน (nam ta tok nai)
09. พระสุธน 1 (phra sunthon 1)
10. พระสุธน 2 (phra sunthon 2)
11. ไม่บอกไม่รู้นะเนี๊ยะ (mai bok mai ru na nia)
12. กุลาพาจน (kula pha chon)

this week, party-time classics from ekkachai siwichai! a native of nakhon si thammarat, ekkachai is one of the bigger names in the luk thung circle to hail from thailand's south. from temple boy, to shadow-puppet understudy, to bangkok-based star of stage and screen, he's had a storied career. today we'll listen back to his 1999 album, following his return to the south, put out by master tape records. the title track is among his best remembered, but the rest of the album is pretty eclectic and has some great tunes as well. a slight rock tinge is brought to the proceedings by tong thammarat suwanmongkhon from the famed phuea chiwit band khon dan kwian, who helped with the music. enjoy!

phloen phromdaen: phloen disco chao kao

artist: เพลิน พรหมแดน (phloen phromdaen)
album: เพลิน ดิสโก้ เจ้าเก่า (phloen disco chao kao)
tracklist:
01. กลัวตาย (klua tai)
02. ข่าวสดๆ (khao sot sot)
03. วอนพระอินทร์ (won phra in)
04. ตามใจเอ็งอย่าขัดใจข้า (tam chai eng ya khat chai kha)
05. กำนันผันเงิน (kam nan phan ngoen)
06. กลับบ้าน (klap ban)
07. เมียไม่เอาถ่าน (mia mai ao than)
08. อาตี๋สักมังกร (a ti sak mangkon)
09. อาจารย์ใบ้หวย (achan bai huai)
10. เบียร์คอแมว (beer kho maeo)
11. สร้างมนุษย์ (sang manut)
12. ยิงทิ้ง (ying thing)
13. ใจดำเหมือนกาละแม (chai dam muean kalamae)
14. ฟุตบอลดารา (football dara)
15. คึกลิดคิดลึก (khueklit khit luek)
16. สมัครด่วน (samak duan)
17. ชัยภูมิบ้านพี่ (chaiyaphum ban phi)
18. ลุงพุดหนังเหนียว (lung phut nang niao)
19. ห่วงเมีย (huang mia)
20. ศุกร์เมาเสาร์นอน (suk mao sao non)
21. คนขี้ลืม (khon khi luem)
22. ตาแป๊ะฝัน (ta pae fan)
23. นายรวยผู้พลิกแผ่นดิน (nai ruai phu phlik phaendin)
24. ศึกไอ้แสบ (suek ai saep)
25. หมอแผนใหม่ (mo phaen mai)
26. รักกระโหลกแตก (rak kalok taek)
27. คนโคราช (khon khorat)
28. ศิษย์หนุ่มกับครูสาว (sit num kap khru sao)

earlier this month, we lost another true legend of luk thung music: the incomparable phloen phromdaen. phloen grew up in aranyaprathet on the cambodian border, where he worked on his parents' farm. at age 20, a radio contest win landed him a spot in a local ramwong band. following that stint, he headed for bangkok to join the burgeoning luk thung scene, using his own savings to record original songs. eventually these sessions produced his massive hit "chom thung", which won him a spot among the biggest stars of the era, and even starring roles in several films. he was hugely influential in the luk thung world, being among the first to integrate heavier funk-rock sounds into the genre, introducing "talking music" (songs with comedic spoken interludes), and starting the trend of huge, feathery dance troupes through his wife sakuntala phromsawang's famous cabaret-inspired costumes. this cassette compiles a pair of albums that he recorded for s.o. records, presumably in the late '70s or early '80s. they present his funk hits of the prior decade, rearranged into 4 non-stop disco-style medleys (think: shalamar or stars on 45). he's backed by prayong chuenyen and his group, with arrangements by songkhro samatthaphaphong. enjoy! 

lung naep: 21 kham lung naep talui lok

artist: ลุงแนบ (lung naep)
album: 21 ค่ำ ลุงแนบตะลุยโลก (21 kham lung naep talui lok)
tracklist:
01. 21 ค่ำ ลุงแนบตะลุยโลก ตอน 1 (21 kham lung naep talui lok, pt. 1)
02. 21 ค่ำ ลุงแนบตะลุยโลก ตอน 2 (21 kham lung naep talui lok, pt. 2)

this week, classic isan comedy from lung naep and friends! a founding member of nopphadon duangphon's legendary phet phin thong troupe, lung naep (narong kotsaphon) was not only lead joke-man but also a prolific songwriter behind the scenes, penning many of the hit tunes associated with the band. he was a musician as well, one of the first to introduce the phin into luk thung music via his recordings with samai onwong's band, and apparently was the very person who gave the name "phin" to the instrument formerly known locally as "sung"¹. on this 1989 tape he's joined by an all-star roster of guests, including molam khen dalao, bunpheng faiphiochai, sunthon khangphae, p. suatluat, and saengduean prakaikham, alongside luk thung stars onuma singsiri, atsawin sithong, saksiam phetchomphu, and chinnakon krailat (who also handled the recording at his mangkon thong studio in bangkok). num phuthai (and lung naep himself) take up phin duties, while thongchan sonchai handles the khaen. enjoy!

rungfa kulachai: ok hak ton kae

artist: รุ่งฟ้า กุลาชัย (rungfa kulachai)
album: อกหักตอนแก่ (ok hak ton kae)
tracklist:
01. อกหักตอนแก่ (ok hak ton kae)
02. เมาหนักเพราะรักสาวดา (mao nak phro rak sao da)
03. ดื่มเพื่อลืมเธอ (duem phuea luem thoe)
04. น้องไปเพราะอ้ายจน (nong pai phro ai chon)
05. ลูกเขยออกแสง (luk khoei ok saeng)
06. รักอ้ายลองเบิ่ง (rak ai long boeng)
07. มอบใจให้นาง (mop chai hai nang)
08. รักสาวใต้ (rak sao tai)
09. ผู้หวังดี (phu wang di)
10. ซิ่งสลับสอย (sing salap soi)
11. ลำซิ่งลำสอย (lam sing lam soi)
12. แท็กซี่คนใหม่ (taxi khon mai)

this week, some fantastic molam pop from rungfa kulachai! a native of yasothon, rungfa made his way to bangkok to study at the poh-chang academy of arts, where he helped establish the school's first isan club. his success leading the club's molam group eventually landed him a recording contract, with his earliest works (under the name "rung dao-isan") helmed by producers don chedi (sawat si-udon) and phayung chamchong, backed by samai onwong & his group, and alongside fellow molam banyen rakkaen, pritsana wongsiri, and suprani sisuphat^[1]. he would later go on to be famous for embodying the role of khun phaen from thai literature on stage, with sword and full regalia, earning him the somewhat tongue-twisting title, "khun phon lam phaen, khun phaen lam phloen" (lord of lam phaen, khun phaen of lam phloen). this cassette comes after his earliest era but before his popular heyday, on prasit sukchai's short-lived label p.s. sound.. not too sure about the year or the backing band here, unfortunately. enjoy! 

em oradi: luk isan

artist: เอม อรดี (em oradi)
album: ลูกอิสาน (luk isan)
tracklist:
01. ลูกอิสาน (luk isan)
02. หนีความจำเป็น (ni khwam cham pen)
03. เดินไปเดินมา (doen pai doen ma)
04. รักเมืองไทย (rak mueang thai)
05. คนขี่ควาย (khon khi khwai)
06. หลอกเด็ก (lok dek)
07. ก. เอ๋ย ก. ไก่ (k. oei k. kai)
08. คนอิสาน (khon isan)
09. คนเมา (khon mao)
10. ราคาคุย (rakha khui)

a very cool tape today, and a bit of a mystery: i can't find any info about singer em oradi online, and no one i asked was familiar with her at all! i can tell you a few things though, thanks to the liners: this 1989 cassette was produced by phanom nopphon under his nopphon promotion & picture co., ltd. (a precursor to nopphon silver gold co., ltd.) with music by a. num phuthai and songwriting from cho. khamcha-i and prasit nakhonphanom. the sound is classic isan-themed late-'80s luk thung, with some double-tracked vocals that to me recall honey si-isan or early chintara phunlap and a range of interesting synthesizer sounds alongside a live band. if anyone knows more about our singer, please let me know.. in the meantime, enjoy! 

 

update: the experts at mohlum museum "หมอลำสัมมะปิ" have confirmed that this is in fact an early recording from the singer better known as เอม อภัสรา (em aphatsara)!

khana chao thung: pen sot thammai

artist: คณะ ชาวทุ่ง (khana chao thung)
album: เป็นโสดทำไม (pen sot thammai)
tracklist:
01. เป็นโสดทำไม (pen sot thammai)
02. 16 ปีแห่งความหลัง (16 pi haeng khwam lang)
03. หนาวจะตายอยู่แล้ว (nao cha tai yu laeo)
04. ดำเนินจ๋า (damnoen cha)
05. เดือนหงายที่ริมโขง (duean ngai thi rim khong)
06. สวยจริงๆ (suai ching ching)
07. สาวสวนแตง (sao suan taeng)
08. เดือนจ๋า (duean cha)
09. รักน้องไม่มีเงินแต่ง (rak nong mai mi ngoen taeng)
10. แน่ข้างเดียว (nae khang diao)

this week, another unusual discovery that my friend chris chanced upon recently in bangkok! there's not much information about this group online, but a little digging reveals that they were a project of prayong chuenyen, the arranger who crafted the sound of many classic funk-styled luk thung singles. while the backing band here shares that feel, with its steady beats, laid-back basslines and groovy electric piano, the vocals are something completely different. more akin to the university chorus-style recordings of the time, the singers are a large mixed choir, singing in close harmony and employing instrumental emulation (despite not being a cappella). as for the songs on this 1989 cassette, the selections are entirely chosen from the oeuvre of suraphon sombatcharoen, the "king of luk thung". the smooth, blended voices are quite a departure from suraphon's own rough and characterful delivery. hope you'll enjoy!

sonkhiri siprachuap: siang khlui ban na

artist: ศรคีรี ศรีประจวบ (sonkhiri siprachuap)
album: เสียงขลุ่ยบ้านนา (siang khlui ban na)
tracklist:
01. เสียงขลุ่ยบ้านนา (siang khlui ban na)
02. หนาวลมที่เรณู (nao lom thi renu)
03. มนต์รักแม่กลอง (mon rak mae klong)
04. แม่กระท้อนห่อ (mae krathon ho)
05. ทุ่งสานสะเทือน (thung san sathuean)
06. เฝ้าดอกฟ้า (fao dok fa)
07. หนุ่มกระเป๋า (num krapao)
08. เข็ดแล้ว (khet laeo)
09. หนุ่มนา (num na)
10. พระอินทร์เจ้าขา (phra in chao kha)

this week, a second entry of classic luk thung from long-time favorite sonkhiri siprachuap! born and raised in samut songkhram province, sonkhiri left school at a young age to work on his family's coconut palm farm, and later a pineapple plantation down in prachuap khiri khan. between shifts, he would entertain his fellow farmhands by singing the songs of khamron sambunnanon, dreaming of becoming a famous singer. eventually he auditioned for payong mukda's group, but was rejected.. he persisted in his struggle, though, and after many years of performing with a popular local ramwong group, came to the attention of luk thung maestro phaibun butkhan. with the hits of phaibun to propel him, sonkhiri became a huge star throughout the kingdom. sadly, he was killed in a motor accident in 1972, in the middle of a country-wide tour. sonkhiri's sweet, sorrowful voice is remembered fondly still.. his songs feature prominently in pen-ek ratanarueang's 1999 film "rueang talok 69" ("6ixtynin9" or "a funny story about 6 and 9"), wherein his tragic serenades cause the gangsters to break down in tears. enjoy!

phumphuang duangchan: phumphuang lai pho.so.

artist: พุ่มพวง ดวงจันทร์ (phumphuang duangchan)
album: พุ่มพวงหลาย พ.ศ. (phumphuang lai pho.so.)
tracklist:
01. เงินน่ะมีใหม? (ngoen na mi mai?)
02. ฉันเปล่านา...เขามาเอง (chan plao na... khao ma eng)
03. พี่ไปดู หนูไปด้วย (phi pai du, nu pai duai)
04. หนูไม่เอา (nu mai ao)
05. อะไรจะขนาดนั้น (arai cha khanat nan)
06. สองฝั่งโขง (song fang khong)
07. อีกหน่อยก็ลืม (ik noi ko luem)
08. เท่...ระเบิด (the... raboet)
09. นางสาวยี่ส่าย (nang sao yi sai)
10. พี่จ๋าหนาวไหม (phi cha nao mai)
11. คืนนี้เมื่อปีกลาย (khuen muea pi klai)
12. ขอให้โสดทีเถอะ (kho hai sot thi thoe)
13. ตั๊กแตนผูกโบ (takkataen phuk bow)
14. ทีเด็ดพุ่มพวง (thi det phumphuang)
15. นึกถึงบ้างเน้อ (nuek thueng bang noe)
16. พี่ จ. หลายใจ (phi cho. lai chai)

this week, some later-era hits from the "queen of luk thung": the one-and-only phumphuang duangchan! a native of suphan buri and protégé of waiphot phetsuphan, phumphuang shot to fame with her string of classic albums for azona records throughout the '80s. this 1990 collection, although released under her (then-current) imprint, topline music, actually repackages hits from her "phumphuang '31" and "phumphuang '32" ('88 and '89) albums with musicline. while the production is more computerized than in her earlier days, the arrangements (courtesy of azona holdover anek rungrueang) tie everything together, making for still more iconic luk thung pop.. enjoy!

sonphet sonsuphan: karaoke

artist: ศรเพชร ศรสุพรรณ (sonphet sonsuphan)
album: คาราโอเกะ (karaoke)
tracklist:
01. จดหมายตีกลับ (chot mai ti klap)
02. คอยสาวนา (khoi sao na)
03. รักน้องจังเลย (rak nong chang loei)
04. คนถูกแย่งแฟน (khon thuk yaeng faen)
05. นักโทษรัก (nak thot rak)
06. มนุษย์มนา (manutmana)
07. รอพี่ตีสอง (ro phi ti song)
08. รักน้องเมียเพื่อน (rak nong mia phuean)
09. สอบตกอกหัก (sop tok ok hak)
10. เสียไข่แดง (sia khai daeng)
11. แม่มะลิเลื้อย (mae mali lueai)
12. อดทนคือคนไทย (ot thon khue khon thai)
 
this week, a technologically notable entry from sonphet sonsuphan (who we sadly lost early this year). sonphet, as you might guess from his stage name, was a native of suphanburi, the central province that gave us so many golden-age luk thung singers. he had a long career, from ramwong dancer in the '60s to an elder statesman of the luk thung revival in the '90s, though since 2010 or so he had been suffering from serious health troubles. this particular cassette features an interesting innovation that i haven't come across before on cassette (though the trick would later show up quite often on vcd): that is, the backing track and vocal/melodic leads are separated out between the left and right channels. so if you want a "minus one" track for your karaoke performance, merely slide the balance knob to one side; if you want a (mostly) a cappella vocal track, slide to the other! as for the music, it has a classic late-'70s/early-'80s full band sound, with synth leads, a nice disco/bump-ramwong feel, and of course sonphet's one-of-a-kind voice sounding as impassioned as ever. enjoy!

 

dutduean dara: siang krasip chak kliao khluen

artist: ดุจเดือน ดารา (dutduean dara)
album: เสียงกระซิบจากเกลียวคลื่น (siang krasip chak kliao khluen)
tracklist:
01. บัวแดง (bua daeng)
02. ริมฝั่งน้ำ (rim fang nam)
03. เสียงกระซิบจากเกลียวคลื่น (siang krasip chak kliao khluen)
04. กระซิบสวาท (krasip sawat)
05. ฝนหยาดสุดท้าย (fon yat sut thai)
06. คาวหัวใจ (khao hua chai)
07. รักแรมไกล (rak raem klai)
08. มลทินใจ (monthin chai)
09. ฆ่าฉันให้ตายดีกว่า (kha chan hai tai di kwa)
10. ลุ่มเจ้าพระยา (lum chao phraya)
11. ยากจะหักใจลืม (yak cha hak chai luem)
12. ทะเลร่ำไห้ (thale ram hai)
13. อเวจีแห้งดวงใจ (awechi haeng duang chai)
14. โอ้ทูลกระหม่อม (o thun kramom)

this week, an eclectic outing from star dutduean dara! hailing from khon kaen, dutduean got her start when her uncle, musician prasit chamnanphrai of silver sand, petitioned her parents to let her do a recording with him at azona records. she then moved to bangkok and got a regular spot singing at "papa café" on vibhavadi rangsit road, gaining quite a following. thereafter, she was courted by a number of labels and frequently jumped between them, as well as releasing her own records independently. to me she's one of those artists who straddle the (admittedly often nebulous) boundaries of city and country.. while primarily remembered as a luk thung singer, this record features new takes on classic tunes penned by luk krung (and earlier thai sakon) luminaries like uea sunthonsanan, kaeo atchariyakun and narot thawonbut, sanga aramphi, chali intharawichit, sukhon phonphirun, a. kawi sattakowit, kamon thapkhanlai (as well as the more country-ish phaibun butkhan). also of interest is that the music here has, to my ear, a distinctly "chinese" sound, at least via the instrumentation.. unfortunately, the producer/arranger of the session is not credited. i don't think that any of the melodies are based off chinese originals, but if you know otherwise, please correct me. and most importantly.. enjoy!

hongthong dao-udon: hongthong khanong lam

artist: หงษ์ทอง ดาวอุดร (hongthong dao-udon)
album: หงษ์ทองคนองลำ (hongthong khanong lam)
tracklist:
01. หงษ์ทองคนองลำ (hongthong khanong lam)
02. หงษ์ทองตามแฟน (hongthong tam faen)
03. หงษ์ทองลำเพลิน (hongthong lam phloen)
04. หงษ์ทองรอคู่ (hongthong ro khu)
05. ลำรอรักจากซาอุดีฯ (lam ro rak chak saudi)
06. ตีกลองน้ำลำเพลิน (ti klong nam lam phloen)
07. ซึ้งเสียงแคน (sueng siang khaen)
08. ผู้ชายหลายบ้าน (phu chai lai ban)
09. บ่มีพี่ที่อีสาน (bo mi phi thi isan)
10. รักติ๋มแน่หรือ (rak tim nae rue)
11. กลัวใจไม่จริง (klua chai mai ching)
12. น้องนางบ้านนา (nong nang ban na)
13. อยู่ที่ความพอใจ (yu thi khwam pho chai)
14. ขวัญใจคนเลว (khwan chai khon leo)
15. บั๊มพ์ลำเพลิน (bump lam phloen)
16. เร่รักลำเพลิน (re rak lam phloen)

this week, an upgrade (in lieu of a re-upload request) for a molam-luk thung classic! hongthong dao-udon, as her stage-name suggests, hails from isan's udon thani province. a star of local temple fairs since childhood, she was picked up by luk thung star siphrai chaiphra to join his troupe in bangkok at age 10. she had a number of hits penned by songwriter doi inthanon, toured extensively throughout the country, and even landed some film roles. in the 90's, however, she tragically lost her voice after a thyroid operation. since then, she had been working steadily at regaining it, hosting a popular radio show in her home town meanwhile. unfortunately, following the red shirt protests in 2010, hongthong spent time in prison after being found guilty of incitement to riot through her radio platform. she's long since out, but has effectively retired from the music industry. this cassette features her biggest hits from the late 70s, in lam phloen and luk thung style, with heavy funk and disco influences and brilliant vocal performances. enjoy!

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!

somphon phetsayam & phatsara mabuntham: khon khi lang khwai

artist: สมพร เพชรสยาม + ภัสรา มาบุญธรรม (somphon phetsayam & phatsara mabuntham)
album: คนขี่หลังควาย (khon khi lang khwai)
tracklist:
01. คนขี่หลังควาย (khon khi lang khwai)
02. ทหารเกณฑ์ผลัดสอง (thahan ken phlat song)
03. รักจางที่บางประกง (rak chang thi bang prakong)
04. อ.ส. รอรัก (o.s. ro rak)
05. ทุ่งกุลาร้องไห้ (thung kula rong hai)
06. ด่วนจากพรากรัก (duan chak phrak rak)
07. หนุ่มปั้มน้ำมัน (num pump nam man)
08. เมียเขาคือแฟนเรา (mia khao khue faen rao)
09. แห่ชาวนา (hae chao na)
10. สั่งสาวชายแดน (sang sao chai daen)
11. ช่างหัวมันเถ๊าะ (chang hua man thoe)
12. เมษาอาลัย (mesa alai)
13. คอยรักที่ต้นกระโดน (khoi rak thi ton kradon)
14. แปรจ๋า (prae cha)

this week, by special request, another classic isan duo! miss phatsara mabuntham of roi-et is better known by the name em aphatsara and has enjoyed a long career in luk thung and molam, mostly with topline music. i don't know much about mr. somphon phetsayam, unfortunately; the only other work i have of his is with phatsara as well. this 1992 cassette is a bit of an oddity in that while most luk thung duet albums i'm familiar with feature the two stars trading verses, this tape finds phatsara and somphon singing in unison throughout. as part of krung thai records' kueng satawat (half-century) series, the selections are an assortment of genre favorites from decades past, penned by songwriters such as surin phaksiri, dao bandon, phongsak chantharukkha and sotsai rungphot-thong and like in our last post, the music is handled by a. num phuthai. enjoy!

phimchai phetphalanchai & dao bandon: 16 klon yot hit

artist: พิมพ์ใจ เพชรพลาญชัย + ดาว บ้านดอน (phimchai phetphalanchai & dao bandon)
album: 16 กลอนยอดฮิต (16 klon yot hit)
tracklist:
01. หนุ่มยาวสาวสั้น 1 (num yao sao san 1)
02. หนุ่มยาวสาวสั้น 2 (num yao sao san 2)
03. จีบสาวเลี้ยงเป็ด (chip sao liang pet)
04. จีบสาวขายไข่ (chip sai khai khai)
05. หนุ่มลำชีสาวลำโขง (num lam chi sao lam khong)
06. พาต้อยลอยกระทง (pha toi loi krathong)
07. เฮือนน้อยนางเมิน (huean noi nang moen)
08. คน ป. 4 (khon p. 4)
09. อีหวึ่งตายแน่ (i wueng tai nae)
10. น้ำตาสาวหวึ่ง (nam ta sao wueng)
11. รักจริงอย่าหลอก (rak ching ya lok)
12. เต็มใจให้หลอก (tem chai hai lok)
13. พาน้องล่องแหย่ง (pha nong long yaeng)
14. พาน้องดิสโก้ (pha nong disco)
15. คนบ่มีเก๋ง (khon bo mi keng)
16. ขอดังเบาๆ (kho dang bao bao)

this week, two major molam unite! legendary luk thung crossover star dao bandon and sam phalang sao leader phimchai phetphalanchai come together on this 1988 duets collection from ocean sound. dao himself handles the songwriting, and the late, great a. num phuthai leads the band. the music is classic late-80's isan-style, with prominent electric bass and live drums under the alternating phin, sax, and synth leads, plus an occasional extended khaen-backed kroen intro. extra flourishes adorn one themed number, "taking my girl to the disco" (track 14), where a hi-nrg beat and hard rock guitar solo added to the mix. excellent stuff.. enjoy!