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!

chai mai sai rakam

artist: various
album: ใจไม้ใส้ระกำ (chai mai sai rakam)
tracklist:
01. ใจไม้ใส้ระกำ (chai mai sai rakam)
02. ขอมีอกใหม่ (kho mi ok mai)
03. มันเกินไปแล้วนะ (man koen pai laeo na)
04. มันเกินไปแล้วละ (man koen pai laeo la)
05. ไก่กับพลอย (kai kap phloi)
06. ไม่น่าเต๊ะ (mai na te)
07. รักดูซิ (rak du si)
08. รักซิ..จะช้ำ (rak si.. cha cham)
09. กตัญญงูเห่า (katanyu ngu hao)
10. เกือบไป (kueap pai)
11. รักพี่ตอนเป็น (rak phi ton pen)
12. ปรึกษากันหน่อย (prueksa kan noi)
13. มนต์รักเกาะสมุย (mon rak ko samui)
14. รอรักเกาะสมุย (ro rak ko samui)
15. เกาะสมุยเกาะสวรรค์ (ko samui ko sawan)
16. ด้วยปีกของรัก (duai pik khong rak)
17. อดีตหลอนใจ (adit lon chai)
18. ตะติ๊งโหน่ง (ta ting nong)
19. รักเล่นกล (rak len kon)

1, 3, 5, 7, 9 sung by ดอน สอนระเบียบ (don sonrabiap)
2, 4, 6, 8, 10 sung by กอบกุล ศรีสวัสดิ์ (kopkun sisawat)
11, 13, 15, 1617 sung by เศรษฐา ศิระฉายา (settha sirachaya)
12, 14 sung by สาวิตรี จินดากุล (sawitri chindakun)
18 sung by ชัยรัตน์ เทียบเทียม (chairat thiapthiam)
19 sung by ฉันทนา กิติยพันธ์ (chanthana kitiyaphan)

this week, a compilation of top pop-rock sounds from '70s thailand! side a features don sonrabiap (of p.m. 5 fame) along with answer-singer kopkun sisawat, presenting an album originally titled, "in remembrance of elvis presley". it features some interesting re-writes of favorite hits from the "king of rock and roll", and dates (presumably) from shortly after 1977. side b compiles a number of contemporary singles/extended-play tracks from singers on the soul side of things: settha sirachaya (of the impossibles fame) along with answer-singer sawitri chindakun, before closing out with a disco number each from chanthana kitiyaphan (of the professionals fame) and chairat thiapthiam. enjoy!

 

ot & o: rak... wan wan

artist: อ๊อด รณชัย ถมยาปริวัฒน์ + โอ อัจฉรพรรณี หาญณรงค์ (ot ronnachai thomyapariwat & o atcharaphanni hannarong)
album: รัก...หวาน หวาน (rak... wan wan)
tracklist:
01. วนาสวาท (wana sawat)
02. ปาริชาด (parichat)
03. ขวัญ-เรียม (khwan-riam)
04. ธารน้ำรัก (than nam rak)
05. น้ำใจรัก (nam chai rak)
06. เรือรัก (ruea rak)
07. สัญญา (sanya)
08. สองใจเรา (song chai rao)
09. เพื่อน (phuean)
10. ขวัญ-เรียม [บรรเลง] (khwan-riam [instrumental])
 
this week, some sweet bangkok oldies with ot & o! ronnachai thomyapariwat (ot) was the front-man of khiribun, a star band of the early r.s. sound roster. atcharaphanni hannarong (o), was a label-mate of ot's at r.s., one third of the vocal trio puifai. in 1987, the two came together to try their hand at some luk krung classics on an album called "phlae kao". this cassette from the following year is a second helping of the same: retro city-music selections re-scored by impossibles' alum prachin songphao & co. with lush orchestration and synth backing. enjoy!

 

bang bang

artist: แบง แบง (bang bang)
album: แบง แบง (bang bang)
tracklist:
01. กามเทพ 2002 (kam thep 2002)
02. อิ๊บไว้คนเดียว (ip wai khon diao)
03. เสียดายสตางค์ (sia dai satang)
04. ไม่เจตนา (mai chetana)
05. เลยตามเลย (loei tam loei)
06. ฮอลิเดย์ (holiday)
07. รักไม่รัก (rak mai rak)
08. i love you
09. รักและเสียใจ (rak lae sia chai)
10. สวัสดี (sawatdi)

this week, some forgotten synth-pop from 90's bangkok! the bang bang band comprises models/actors sutthida han-thanom ("jenny"), parichat thawichat ("sai"), sorawit thanathonkit ("matchang"), and rungrat duangkhwan ("pond"). they were assembled in 1994 for the mega music label by producer phoemsak sapmok (who would later found hit boy band the next for r.s. promotion), seemingly inspired by the formula established by frank farian (founder of boney m. and milli vanilli). the songs were drafted by a team of songwriters and crafted by mononymous studio musicians po and prot on guitar and boy on keyboards, with the rest of the programming handled mostly by producer phoemsak. the music itself also bears the influence of aforementioned farian projects, with their signature reggae-disco-pop sound. apparently, mega music lacked the marketing power to promote the group properly, and today there are only a few reminiscences about them online. are they a long-lost bubblegum classic, or a minor thai pop footnote? you decide!

phuean: thang rak thang kliat

artist: เพื่อน (phuean)
album: ทั้งรักทั้งเกลียด (thang rak thang kliat)
tracklist:
01. ทั้งรักทั้งเกลียด (thang rak thang kliat)
02. สิ่งเดียวสุดท้าย (sing diao sut thai)
03. เหตุใด (het dai)
04. กระดาษใจ (kradat chai)
05. จะจำไว้ (cha cham wai)
06. รู้ทั้งรู้ (ru thang ru)
07. เธอไม่รักทำไมไม่บอก (thoe mai rak thammai mai bok)
08. จริงใจ i love you (ching chai i love you)
09. คน ป.ม. (khon p.m.)
10. เพื่อนฝูง (phuean fung)
11. แบบว่าง่ายๆ (baep wa ngai ngai)
12. รักสักนิด (rak sak nit)

what's better than ringing in the new year with friends?.. the band phuean (friends), that is! phuean were formed in the early '80s at nithithat promotion around an original core of 4 former grand ex' members. these included thanongsak aphonsiri (ed) on piano and sane suppharat (daeng) on trumpet, who stuck around, while a rotating cast of other.. well, friends.. came and went. here those pals include future break-out star vocalist tuangsit riamchinda (kung), plus bunlue opkaeo (pit) on bass, wira chotwichian (tum) on guitar, anuson phatthanakun (daeng) on drums, yongyut phiosuwan (yoi) on saxophone, and udon thapthimto (don) on keyboards. today's 1988 cassette, their fifth album and last before their break-up (although there would be a reunion in 2003), finds them at the top of their game, nailing both the sax-ballads and the pop-rap numbers alike. enjoy!

tonchabap 1

artist: various
album: ต้นฉบับ 1 (tonchabap 1)
tracklist:
01. ยากยิ่งนัก (yak ying nak)
performed by ชาตรี (chatri)
02. ดั่งเม็ดทราย (dang met sai)
performed by สุชาติ ชวางกูร (suchat chawangkun)
03. รักครั้งแรก (rak khrang raek)
performed by ชาตรี (chatri)
04. ใจรัก (chai rak)
performed by สุชาติ ชวางกูร (suchat chawangkun)
05. ลองรัก (long rak)
performed by จันทนีย์ อูนากูล (chanthani unakun)
06. น้ำเซาะทราย (nam so sai)
performed by จำรัส เศวตาภรณ์ (chamrat sewataphon)
07. เหมันต์ที่ผ่านพ้นไป (heman thi phan phon pai)
performed by สุชาติ ชวางกูร (suchat chawangkun)
08. ลมลวง (lom luang)
performed by ธีระศักดิ์ อัจจิมานนท์ (thirasak atchimanon)
09. รักฉันนั้นเพื่อเธอ (rak chan nan phuea thoe)
performed by พิงค์แพนเตอร์ (pink panther)
10. เดือนเพ็ญ (duean phen)
performed by คาราวาน (caravan)

this week, a great label sampler of early 80's bangkok sounds courtesy e.m.i. music (thailand) co., ltd., a local branch of the british transnational conglomerate. this compilation brings together a mix of their offerings from the first half of the decade, with an emphasis on soft-rock and a.o.r. sounds, whether from pop groups like chatri and pink panther, phuea chiwit veterans caravan, or solo artists like singer-actor suchat chawangkun, singer-songwriter chanthani unakun, grand ex' alum chamrat sewataphon and relative-unknown folkie thirasak atchimanon. enjoy!

 

arisman: khwam mai khong phu chai khon nueng

artist: อริสมันต์ (arisman)
album: ความหมายของผู้ชายคนหนึ่ง (khwam mai khong phu chai khon nueng)
tracklist:
01. ไม่เจียม (mai chiam)
02. เธอลำเอียง (thoe lam iang)
03. จริงใจ (ching chai)
04. หัวงใจเด็กเด็ก (huang chai dek dek)
05. ครึ่งทางใจ (khrueng thang chai)
06. เชื่อซิ (chuea si)
07. จากกันด้วยดี (chak kan duai di)
08. รอยยิ้มและเสียงเพลง (roi yim lae siang phleng)
09. ของใหม่ (khong mai)
10. อย่าทนง (ya thanong)

this week, bangkok-style soft-rock from arisman phongrueangrong! born in ratchaburi to parents of chinese and indian descent who were involved in the local liké theatre scene, arisman first moved to bangkok for higher education. he recorded this, his 1989 debut, while working as a vendor at discount clothing stalls around the capitol. produced for r.s. promotion and with music by guitar-ballad maestro itthi phalangkun, the album was a huge hit. his style was considered very unique at the time for his hazy vocals and moody, romantic lyrics. the two made a series of successful records together, before arisman made a move first towards acting and later into politics. in the latter field, he's perhaps best remembered for his participation in the united front for democracy against dictatorship (the red shirts), during which he was arrested several times. he was accused of being one of the movement's "hard-core" leaders, advocating violent means of protest, and was speculated to have fled to neighbouring cambodia. but back to the music: let's enjoy the sweet, late-80s city sounds of arisman!

narathip kanchanawat: tra wai nai duang chai

artist: นราธิป กาญจนวัฒน์ (narathip kanchanawat)
album: ตราไว้ในดวงใจ (tra wai nai duang chai)
tracklist:
01. หัวใจเจ้าชู้ (hua chai chao chu)
02. กลับจากกลอนดอน (klap chak london)
03. ตราไว้ในดวงใจ (tra wai nai duang chai)
04. ขวัญใจ (khwan chai)
05. เฉือนใจ (chuean chai)
06. รักสุดสายรุ้ง (rak sut sai rung)
07. เธอ (thoe)
08. ปรารถนาแห่งหัวใจ (pratthana haeng hua chai)
09. เข็ดรัก (khet rak)
10. คืนเหงา (khuen ngao)
11. ขาดรัก (khat rak)
12. กำแพงรัก (kamphaeng rak)

last time we heard from bangkok soft-rockers chatri.. this week, we'll hear lead singer narathip striking off on his own! i believe this is his debut solo album, released 1985 (the same year as the break-up of chatri). shedding his previous group, he is joined by the already-successful pink panther band, led by wichai punyayan (formerly of silversand). the songwriting is handled by narathip and his wife butsaba kanchanawat (the liners contain an apologetic note about an illness that prevented her from sharing vocal duties on the album, as well). the accompaniment is a bit more electronic than the final chatri album, and pointed towards the increasingly synth-pop angle that narathip's solo career would take. enjoy! 

chatri: rak mai pen

artist: ชาตรี (chatri)
album: รักไม่เป็น (rak mai pen)
tracklist:
01. ภาษาเงิน (phasa ngoen)
02. แสนเสียดาย (saen siang dai)
03. รักไม่เป็น (rak mai pen)
04. จากชายแดน (chak chai den)
05. รักซ้อนรัก (rak son rak)
06. ใคร (khrai)
07. เที่ยวอีสาน (thiao isan)
08. ความหวังใหม่ (khwam wang mai)
09. ฉันรักตะวัน (chan rak tawan)
10. อ้อนรัก (on rak)
11. คู่ใจ (khu chai)
12. หากจะรัก (hak cha rak)
 

this week, bangkok soft-rockers non-pareil, chatri! chatri was founded in 1969 as a folk revival group by 3 students of photography at bangkok technical college: narathip kanchanawat (daeng), prathueang udomkitchanuphap (mao), and khathawut sathantraiphop (pom). initially all played acoustic guitar, though they later added drummer anuson khamkesom (pui), and expanded their instrumental roles, with mao and pom taking on bass and keyboard duties, respectively. they recorded their first album in 1975 and were leaders of the a.o.r. format in thailand until their break-up in 1985. today's cassette features their 11th record, released in 1982 with emi records. in spite of the especially sunny cover art, this outing actually finds them exploring a slightly heavier sound in places, with guitar distortion and fuzz bass joining alongside their typically chirpy leads and smooth harmonies.. enjoy!

 

phatchara waengwan: klam kluen

artist: พัชรา แวงวรรณ (phatchara waengwan)
album: กล้ำกลืน (klam kluen)
tracklist:
01. กล้ำกลืน (klam kluen)
02. ใครคนหนึ่งถึงใครสักคน (khrai khon nueng thueng khrai sak khon)
03. เราจะโทษใคร (rao cha thot khrai)
04. หัวใจที่ว่างเปล่า (hua chai thi wang plao)
05. บาดตา ตำใจ (bat ta, tam chai)
06. เข็ดแล้ว พอแล้ว (khet laeo, pho laeo)
07. โง่รัก (ngo rak)
08. ไม่มีที่ว่างสำหรับเธอ (mai mi thi wang samrap thoe)
09. ลืมไม่ลงปลงไม่ได้ (luem mai long plong mai dai)
10. รักหลอกลวง (rak lok luang)

this week, a set of classic early-'90s string hits! phatchara, born in khorat, started her singing career young, joining the band ovation in 1981 at age 18 and signing to nithithat promotion, co. ltd.. after a number of popular albums with the group, she broke off for a solo career, likewise to great success. this 1992 album, her fourth under her own name, consists primarily of bittersweet torch songs complimented by the slick, cosmopolitan pop production sound of the era. our particular cassette, however, is uncharacteristically lo-fi, likely due to it reaching us through what appears to be a lao bootleg. enjoy!

yotrak salakchai: ao nae

artist: ยอดรัก สลักใจ (yotrak salakchai)
album: เอาแน่ (ao nae)
tracklist:
01. เอาแน่ (ao nae)
02. ช้ำดวงใจ (cham duang chai)
03. เกี๊ยะลอยน้ำ (kia loi nam)
04. ยอดรักเมา (yotrak mao)
05. รักซิ่ง (rak sing)
06. ไม่เหมียนเดิม (mai mian doem)
07. จากเธอด้วยดวงใจ (chak thoe duai duang chai)
08. เมาตาสาย (mao ta sai)
09. วันครึ้มใจ (wan khruem chai)
10. คืนส่งตัว (khuen song tua)

this week, another great cassette from the late police corporal yotrak salakchai! yotrak was from phichit in northern thailand, the youngest of 8 kids. after losing his father at age 7, he and his siblings started singing ramwong music in local bars to help support themselves and their mother, earning enough to finance their schooling. after high school, yotrak himself moved down to nakhon sawan for a steady gig at a restaurant, where he started in with luk thung style (particularly the songs of phraiwan lukphet) and was picked up by a local radio dj, who passed him onto impresario chonlathi thanthong. under chonlathi, he came to be one of the biggest names in luk thung, from the late 70s until his untimely passing in 2008. this 1986 cassette on phanom nopphon's label (nopphon promotion and pictures, later nopphon silver gold co., ltd.) finds yotrak in hi-nrg disco mode, with songwriting from suchat thiangthong and arrangements by chittakon buaniam. i thought the cover photo may have been a still from one of yotrak's many film appearances, but it's actually from a music video shot to promote the album.. enjoy!

 

the impossibles: pen pai mai dai

artist: ดิอิมพอสซิเบิ้ล (the impossibles)
album: เป็นไปไม่ได้ (pen pai mai dai)
tracklist:
01. เป็นไปไม่ได้ (pen pai mai dai)
02. ไหนว่าจะจำ (nai wa cha cham)
03. คอยน้อง (khoi nong)
04. ทะเลเปี่ยมรัก (thale piam rak)
05. ชาวดง (chao dong)
06. ชั่วนิจนิรันดร (chua nit nirandon)
07. สกุณา (sakuna)
08. นกขมิ้น (nok khamin)
09. เพลงรักทะเลใต้ (phleng rak thale tai)
10. วนาสวรรค์ (wana sawan)
11. ขาดเธอ ขาดใจ (khat thoe, khat chai)
12. พี่เองก็เท่านี้ (phi eng ko thao ni)
13. หากรักเป็นเช่นทะเล (hak rak pen chen thale)
14. ว่าเหว่ (wa we)
15. บุหงาลาก่อน (bunga la kon)
16. คำสุดท้าย (kham sut thai)
17. ห้วงใจรัก (huang chai rak)
18. หมื่นไมล์แค่ใจเอื้อม (muen mile kae chai ueam)
19. อย่ากวนใจทะเล (ya kuan chai thale)
20. สู่อ้อมอกดิน (su om ok kin)

this week, mellow sounds from thailand's premiere string combo! formed in 1966 (though cycling through different names the first few years), the impossibles were among the emergent talents of the country's early pop/rock scene, favorites at nightclubs and song competitions around bangkok. by the early 70s (the era these tracks are culled from) they had settled down for primarily syrupy balladry, before embracing funk and disco in the latter part of the decade, and becoming somewhat of a staple in silver-screen movie-musicals. core members settha sirachaya, winai phanthurak, and rewat phutthinan would all have successful solo careers (performance and music-business-wise). enjoy!

[note: our manufacturer ran out of time for the last track on side b (and graciously struck it from the tracklist) but i've included what they were able to fit on!]

tik shiro: cho chaiyo

artist: ติ๊ก ชิโร่ (tik shiro)

album: โชะ ไชโย (cho chaiyo)
tracklist:
01. ไชโย (chaiyo)
02. อย่าทำเป็นเห็นใจ (ya tham pen hen chai)
03. ออกมาเต้น (ok ma ten)
04. มนุษย์ค้างคาว (manut khang khao)
05. ปล่อยเขาไป (ploi khao pai)
06. ทุนน้อย (thun noi)
07. หัวใจดีเด่น (hua chai di den)
08. อย่าไปคิด (ya pai khit)
09. มีเล็กน้อย (mi lek noi)
10. ยอมรับคนเดียว (yom rap khon diao)

this week, a classic '90s throwback! tik shiro (born manatsawin nanthasen) of khorat, got his start in high school as a drummer, moving between string-style groups in his hometown and khon kaen, until one (celebration) got picked up to back chanthana kitiyaphan, who brought them to bangkok. he then joined ploy, who performed behind the early grammy stars like chae danuphon and rewat phutthinan, before finally breaking out as a solo act. this cassette was his first album, released 1990, for n.t. promotion. besides spawning a number of hits that still get radio play today, tik also made a big splash for writing/arranging most of his own material (and performing vocals, 12-string, synth bass, drums and keyboards, as well!), which was apparently a bit novel for stars of the time. enjoy!

sathiya silaket: wan wan kap sathiya

artist: สาธิยา ศิลาเกษ (sathiya silaket)
album: วันหวาน กับ สาธิยา (wan wan kap sathiya)
tracklist:
01. คืนหนึ่ง (khuen nueng)
02. กำพร้าคู่ (kamphra khu)
03. ดวงใจใครหนอ (duang chai khrai no)
04. ต้องเข้าใจ (tong khao chai)
05. จันทร์เอ๋ย (chan oei)
06. ตะวันยอแสง (tawan yo saeng)
07. วันเพ็ญ (wan phen)
08. แรกรัก (raek rak)
09. ข้องจิต (khong chit)
10. ทาสน้ำเงิน (that nam ngoen)
11. แหวนที่ถอดวาง (waen thi thot wang)
12. ใครจะร้องไห้เพื่อฉัน (khrai cha rong hai phuea chan)
13. หนี้รัก (ni rak)
14. โลกหมุนเวียน (lok mun wian)
15. ยอดสน (yot son)
16. แว่วกริ่งกังสดาล (waeo kring kangsadan)

tracks 1-2, 9, 13, 16: featuring ยุรนันท์ ภมรมนตรี (yuranan pamonmontri)
tracks 7-8: featuring เศรษฐา ศิระฉายา (setha sirachaya)

this week, we're back to the smooth, nostalgic sounds of the city, with sathiya! i haven't been able to track down any biographical details about our singer here, but she seems to have been positioned at the conjuncture in the 1980s of the luk krung and string scenes; the time when formerly rock/pop/funk-oriented groups like the impossibles began harkening back to bangkok's mid-century big-band crooner music. indeed, setha sirachaya of the aforementioned impossibles provides guest vocals here, along with yuranan pamonmontri (better known as an actor and later politician). the songs are oldies from songwriters like sanga arampi and wet sunthonchamon, with slick new arrangements from 80s pop producers like thanit choenphiphatanasakun and prachin songphao (another impossibles alum). enjoy!

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grand ex': duang duean

artist: แกรนด์เอ็กซ์ (grand ex')
album: ดวงเดือน (duang duean)
tracklist:
01. ลาวดวงเดือน (lao duang duean)
02. เหมือนไม่เคย (muean mai khoei)
03. ถ้าฉันจะรัก (tha chan cha rak)
04. ดวงใจในฝัน (duang chai nai fan)
05. เท่านี้ก็ตรม (thao ni ko trom)
06. จำพราก (cham phrak)
07. ร.รอรัก (r. ro rak)
08. ธรณีสายเลือด (thorani sai lueat)
09. ทำบุญด้วยอะไร (tham bun duai arai)
10. กาลเวลา (kan wela)
11. พรุ่งนี้ (phrung ni)
12. เนื้อทองของพี่ (nuea thong khong phi)
13. ลาวดวงเดือน [ดนตรี] (lao duang duean [instrumental])

this cassette was a generous gift from our pal sam of the (now sadly defunct) archive of southeast asian music!

this week, more great 1980's thai city-pop! founded in 1970 by nakhon wetsuphaphon and friends at bangkok's bophit phimuk college, grand ex' (like last week's royal sprites) got their start playing at nightclubs and string combo competitions around the capitol. the group carved out a niche for themselves by eschewing the hard rock image popular with other local groups, preferring a straight-laced look complete with dress shirts and neckties. they went through a range of personnel changes before settling on a line-up with chamrat sawetaphon (who would later found the ubiquitous new-age label green music) on lead vocals and starting their recording career. this cassette contains their 14th album, from 1984, wherein the group build slick, jazzy, electronic disco-crossover songs out of older classical and luk krung melodies. enjoy!

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royal sprites: rueang chip choi

artist: รอยัลสไปรท์ส (royal sprites)
album: เรื่องจิ๊บจ๊อย (rueang chip choi)
tracklist:
01. เรื่องจิ๊บจ๊อย (rueang chip choi)
02. กินรีเล่นน้ำ (kinari len nam)
03. กิ่งฟ้า (king fa)
04. เจอะคุณเข้าอีกแล้ว (choe khun khao ik laeo)
05. มนต์รักบ้านนา (mon rak ban na)
06. ธาราระทม (thara rathom)
07. เพ้อ (phoe)
08. ลมจ๋า (lom cha)
09. สั่งฟ้าฝากดิน (sang fa fak din)
10. จับปลาสองมือ (chap pla song mue)

this cassette was a generous gift from our pal sam of the (now sadly defunct) archive of southeast asian music!

this week, some classic thai funk! originally styled the royal academy of magic sprites, today's group was founded in 1969 by lead guitar amnat sima and singer adisak prakhunhangsit while they were studying at the poh-chang academy of arts. they played at nightclubs and string combo competitions around bangkok, in friendly rivalry with fellow pop/rock groups like the impossibles. toward the end of the 70s, adisak left the group and sunthon sutcharitchan came on as lead vocalist, whereupon they took on a more funk/disco bent and also began their recording career in earnest. they released a string of successful albums up until 1987, when they disbanded. the cassette featured today was their first for the azona label, released in 1982. enjoy!

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winai phanthurak: kham laeo nai ruedu nao

artist: วินัย พันธุรักษ์ (winai phanthurak)
album: ค่ำแล้วในฤดูหนาว (kham laeo nai ruedu nao)
tracklist:
01. ค่ำแล้วในฤดูหนาว (kham laeo nai ruedu nao)
02. เสียงกระซิบสั่ง (siang krasip sang)
03. แหวนประดับก้อย (waen pradap koi)
04. ยิ่งคิดยิ่งช้ำ (ying khit ying cham)
05. เสียงเพลงทิพย์ (siang phleng thip)
06. ผีเสื้อกับดอกไม้ (phi suea kap dok mai)
07. ใจเป็นห่วง (chai pen huang)
08. คำปฏิญาณ (kham patiyan)
09. บางปู (สะพานสุขตา) (bang pu (saphan suk ta))
10. พรานเบ็ด (phran bet)

this week, a solo outing from the famed winai phanthurak! a saraburi native, winai got his start as a vocalist in one of phayong mukda's youth chorus projects before moving up to be an instrumental contributor to p.m. pocket music, phayong's shadow prayuk or "modernized" thai music ensemble. from there, he teamed up with settha sirachaya to form the impossibles, thailand's pre-eminent smooth 70's vocal/funk group. after they split up in 1977, winai joined rewat phutthinan (future head of gmm grammy) to form a band called the oriental funk. where, through all these comings-and-goings, did this particular album fall? i'm not exactly sure, but it bears the hallmarks of his erstwhile career, with a lightly funk-informed MOR sound dominating. interestingly, the selections all date from a generation or so previous, compositions of early luk krung songwriter and accordion star luan khwantham. on the musical side as well, the band keeps things interesting with some left-field moog-ish stabs. and speaking of left-field, the cassette also includes alternate (though clipped) beardless cover art of winai. as per your taste, i suppose.. enjoy!

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oi b.m.: sao pump

artist: อ้อย บีเอ็ม (oi b.m.)
album: สาวปั้ม (sao pump)
tracklist:
01. สาวปั้ม (sao pump)
02. ไปไหนมา (pai nai ma)
with ใหญ่ บางกรวย (yai bangkruai)
03. ตัวเดียวอันเดียว (tua diao an diao)
04. ตำรวจตำเล่น (tamruat tam len)
05. คนในซอย (khon nai soi)
06. พี่มีแค่เนียะ (phi mi khae nia)
07. หนุ่มยาวสาวใหญ่ (num yao sao yai)
with ใหญ่ บางกรวย (yai bangkruai)
08. หนุ่มเล่นว่าวสาวตกเบ็ด (num len wao sao tok bet)
with ใหญ่ บางกรวย (yai bangkruai)
09. ขายเกาเหลาไปเกาหลี (khai kao lao pai kao li)
10. เอ็นดูน้องเมีย (en du nong mia)
11. คนเล่นของ (khon len khong)
12. หนูให้ดู (nu hai du)

this week we have an interesting historical curiosity: one of a series of cassettes released by oi b.m., a legend of bangkok's escort industry in the 1980s. as founder of the "sensuality bank" and godmother of hundreds, possibly thousands, of the nation's sex workers, she was influential in part for encouraging her employees to take up with their johns whenever possible, helping to launch the field of "open-ended prostitution"¹. the recordings here consist mostly of oi singing humorous lyrics, occasionally alluding to her professional life, over a synthesized backing with the occasional electric guitar lick and male back-up vocals from yai bangkruai. enjoy!

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khana dok mai pa: thui chai dam

artist: คณะ ดอกไม้ป่า (khana dok mai pa)
album: ทุยใจดำ (thui chai dam)
tracklist:
01. ทุยใจดำ (thui chai dam)
02. สิ้นเยื่อขาดใย (sin yuea khat yai)
03. ชมไพรในฝัน (chom phrai nai fan)
04. รักร้าง (rak rang)
05. ฝน (fon)
06. เมื่อวานนี้ (muea wan ni)
07. ช้ำ (cham)
08. รักยามรวย (rak yam ruai)
09. ชื่นชมสมรัก (chuen chom som rak)
10. เต็มใจรัก (tem chai rak)

back this week with some bangkok pop-rock from the jungle-flower group! dok mai pa is chothima chuangwit (daughter of suntharaphon's chawali chuangwit) & pattama monrangsi, a female singing duo put together by montri phonphanthin to build off the fame of the renowned hot pepper singers. this cassette, dating from 1982, is their first, and seems to consist mostly of thai copy-songs of chinese hits. unfortunately, it seems this poor old tape got a bit demagnetized at some point, though only the first track seems to be affected severely. it's the biggest single, but hey, what can you do? enjoy the rest!

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kham mueang disco

artist: คณะ ไม้สัก (khana mai sak)

album: คำเมืองดิสโก้ (kham mueang disco)

tracklist:

01. อุ๊ยคำ (ui kham)

02. สาวมอร์เตอร์ไซค์ (sao motorcy')

03. หยุบมือกำ (yup mue kam)

04. คนสึ่งตึง (khon sueng tueng)

05. แก๋งเนื้อ (kaeng nuea)

06. ผักกาดจอ (phak kat cho)

07. บ่เกย (bo koei)

08. ฮักอ้ายซักคน (hak ai sak khon)

09. เมาตายห่า (mao tai ha)

10. อุ๊ยคำ (ui kham)

11. สาวมอร์เตอร์ไซค์ (sao motorcy')

12. หยุบมือกำ (yup mue kam)

13. คนสึ่งตึง (khon sueng tueng)

14. แก๋งเนื้อ (kaeng nuea)

15. ผักกาดจอ (phak kat cho)

16. บ่เกย (bo koei)

17. ฮักอ้ายซักคน (hak ai sak khon)

9: ชาตรี รัตนถาวร - ฮันนี่ไทท์คลับ เชียงใหม่ (chatri rattanathawon & the chiang mai honey nightclub band)

10- 17: คณะ นกแล (khana nok lae)

re-upload by request: northern-style disco from khana mai sak! this band was the project of kitcha manophet, brother of the biggest name in lanna pop music, jaran manophet. jaran's music had an acoustic, american folk revival sort of sound, while kitcha & his band drew more from disco & funk music. it's interesting to hear jaran's minimal, nostalgic ballads transposed to such a rhythmic setting, complete with bass octave grooves and some ghostly synth organ. the second side of the tape features the same instrumentals with vocals handed over to khana nok lae, a kids' chorus who actually got quite popular in the mid 80s. enjoy!

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