khana tapphonwathit: piphat mon

artist: คณะ ทับพรวาทิต (khana tapphonwathit)

album: ปี่พาทย์มอญ (piphat mon)

tracklist: 

01. พม่าใหญ่ (phama yai)

02. พม่าเล็ก (phama lek)

03. พม่ากลาง (phama klang)

04. อรุณนิมิต (arun nimit)

this week, some great mon-style piphat music! rather than being associated specifically with any of the numerous mon communities in thailand or across the border in burma's mon state, piphat mon refers to a style of ensemble that has long since been incorporated into the larger thai classical repertoire, and is heard most often in funeral ceremonies. our players on this cassette are the tapphonwathit ensemble, led here by national artist kalong phuengthongkham, performing a selection of mostly burmese-accented compositions. beautiful music, enjoy!

preview:

thepphon phetubon: kong khao noi kha mae

artist: เทพพร เพชรอุบล (thepphon phetubon)

album: ก่องข้าวน้อยฆ่าแม่ (kong khao noi kha mae)

tracklist:

01. ก่องข้าวน้อยฆ่าแม่ 1 (kong khao noi kha mae 1)

02. ก่องข้าวน้อยฆ่าแม่ 2 (kong khao noi kha mae 2)

03. คนเร่หนัง (khon re nang)

04. อีสานบ้านเฮา (isan ban hao)

05. ศรีธนหลงป่า (si thon long pa)

06. เลิกเป็นลูกจ้าง (loek pen luk chang)

07. ทหารม้าลาเมีย (thahan ma la mia)

08. ของแซบอีสาน (khong saep isan)

09. ส่งใจไปกันฟ้า (song chai pai kan fa)

10. หนุ่มนาสาบาน (num nasa ban)

11. ของดีบ้านเฮา (khong di ban hao)

12. สงกรานต์บ้านนา (songkran ban na)

today i bring sad word that we recently lost the great thepphon phetubon, who passed away on october 22nd. thepphon, as his stage name suggests, was born & raised in thailand's ubon ratchathani province. he attended college in bangkok, but left after 2 years with dreams of becoming a luk thung star like his idol, phon phirom. he returned home to ubon and landed a radio job with nophadon duangphon, then was picked up by phiphat boribun to join saksi siakson's band. in addition to his role as singer, thepphon was selected to transcribe songbooks for the group, because of his beautiful handwriting. through this task, he was able to study the art of composition (which would come to serve him especially well after the loss of his voice in the 80's). when saksi's band broke up, thepphon worked and performed (playing sax & accordion) around the u.s. air force base in ubon, before breaking into the molam scene under the guidance of impresario thepphabut satirotchomphu¹. while his songwriting for star saksiam phetchomphu brought him renown, he was slow to land a hit as singer, until his song "khit hot ai nae doe (please think of me)" became a national farewell anthem as radio djs resigned en masse in protest of severe censorship resulting from the 1971 coup². here's one last farewell to the late great thepphon!

preview:

prayat namsi & khana "super si ubon"

artist: ประหยัด นามศรี + คณะ "ซุปเปอร์ศรีอุบล" (prayat namsi & khana "super si ubon")

album: พี่อ้ายกับน้องเมีย (phi ai kap nong mia)

tracklist:

01. พี่อ้ายกับน้องเมีย (phi ai kap nong mia)

02. โชเฟอร์เบอร์ 500 (chauffeur no. 500)

03. พ่อเฒ่าลูกเขย (pho thao luk khoei)

04. หูไม่พัฒนา (hu mai phatthana)

05. ซาอุดร (sa-udon)

06. บ้านนอกเข้ากรุง (ban nok khao krung)

07. นายสังสวนสนุก (nai sang suan sanuk)

08. คนขี้ลืม (khon khi luem)

09. 4 เกลอเที่ยวกรุง (4 kloe thieow krung)

10. ชื่อนั้นสําคัญไฉน (chue nan samkhan chanai)

this week, fantastic lam klon from mr. prayat namsi! i couldn't find too much information about mr. prayat.. i know he was a protégé of p. chalatnoi songsoem, and that he died tragically in kalasin while on tour with his band in the late 70s. thanks to this tape, i know he was associated with banyen rakkaen as well (she's the producer here). if anyone knows more about this guy, please share. in the meantime, enjoy this album of pleasing voice and khaen!

preview:

dao bandon: khon khi lang khwai

artist: ดาว บ้านดอน (dao bandon)

album: คนขี่หลังควาย (khon khi lang khwai)

tracklist:

01. คนขี่หลังควาย (khon khi lang khwai)

02. ทิดจ้อยปล่อยไก่ (thit choi ploi kai)

03. ลำเพลินเกี้ยวสาว (lam phloen kieow sao)

04. จันดีขี้ฝอย (chan di khi foi)

05. นั่งสามล้อตามแฟน (nang sam lo tam faen)

06. ตามหาสายบัว (tam ha sai bua)

07. ลาน้องไปจัดรายการ (la nong pai chat rai kan)

08. นัดวันกินดอง (nat wan kin dong)

09. จดหมายไม่มีซอง (chot mai mai mi song)

10. รักจริงๆ ตาหวาน (rak ching ching ta wan)

11. หนุ่มลำน้ำชี (num lam nam chi)

12. ลำเพลินเจริญใจ (lam phloen charoen chai)

13. หนุ่มปั้มน้ำมัน (num pump nam man)

14. อ้ายบ่ลืม (ai bo luem)

15. แหล่สอนหญิง (lae son ying)

16. น้ำในคลอง (nam nai khlong)

this week, the legendary buffalo rider, dao bandon! dao was born to a rice farming family in northeastern thailand's yasothon province. after 4th grade, his parents couldn't afford to continue sending him to school, and he was sent to live in a monastery and there continue his education. it was here that he realized his significant vocal gifts, by way of the rhythmic chant & preaching required by the vocation. he was discovered at temple by songwriter thepphabut satirotchomphu, who guaranteed him a career as molam when he left the monkhood. dao gave up his robes, and theppabhut made good on his promise. the talented young singer quickly won success, and would in fact become the first molam ever to sell one million copies! and he's still a big name today, whether it's on the lips of current pop stars or through the amazing re-issue work of zudrangma records. from the first listen, it should be obvious why.. enjoy!

preview:

songs of major general luang wichit wathakan

artist: กรมประชาสัมพันธ์ (government public relations department)

album: เพลงของ พลตรี หลวงวิจิตรวาทการ และชุด หนักแผ่นดิน (nak phaendin & other songs of major general luang wichit wathakan)

tracklist:

01. หนักแผ่นดิน (nak phaendin)

02. รักเมืองไทย (rak mueang thai)

03. ตื่นเถิดชาวไทย (tuen thoet chao thai)

04. เลือดสุพรรณ (lueat suphan)

05. แหลมทอง (laem thong)

06. ใต้ร่มธงไทย (tai rom thong thai)

07. เลือดไทย (lueat thai)

08. รวมไทย (ruam thai)

09. ไทยน้อยไทยใหญ่ (thai noi, thai yai)

10. ดวงจันทร์ (duangchan)

11. สยามมานุสติ (siam manutsati)

12. รักชาติ (rak chat)

13. แดนอิสาน (daen isan)

14. วีรบุรุษดอนแตง (wiraburut don taeng)

15. ไทยควรคำนึง (thai khuan kham nueng)

16. อธิษฐาน (athithan)

17. แผ่นดินของเรา (phaendin khong rao)

18. เราสู้ (rao su)

19. อยุธยาเมืองเก่า (ayutthaya mueang kao)

today, a set of (in)famously rousing tunes from thailand's foremost propagandist, major general luang wichit wathakan! the right hand man of mid-century dictator field marshal plaek phibunsongkhram, wichit crafted countless novels, plays and songs in support of the power clique's chauvinistic ideal of thai national identity. these were often published through government agencies and received wide-reaching (obligatory) broadcast. this cassette compiles some of the best known works by the government public relations department during that era. besides the notorious "nak phaendin" (more discussion here), sung by ubon khongsin & sirichan isarangkul na ayutthaya, there are also a handful of vocal contributions from chintana suksathit, somphop chantharaprapha and the queen's reputed favorite, santi lunphe. despite featuring dark and often violent lyrics in the service of a fascist dictatorship, the music is quite often upbeat, even "merry melodies"-esque in it's orchestration and choral arrangements. enjoy?

preview:

s. khlaonoi: lok nang iat

artist: ศ. เคล้าน้อย (s. khlaonoi)

album: หลกหนังเอียด (lok nang iat)

tracklist:

01. หลกหนังเอียด ตอน 1 (lok nang iat, pt. 1)

02. หลกหนังเอียด ตอน 2 (lok nang iat, pt. 2)

this week; sounds of the south, from s. khlaonoi! nang talung is southern thailand's shadow-puppet theatre, and s. khlaonoi is among the most renowned of its troupe leaders. these leaders (or hua na) front the band from behind the screen, giving voice to a range of characters, both male and female, alternating between song and spoken dialogue [disclaimer for non-southern thai speakers: this tape is primarily dialogue]. they're typically called upon to be singer, comedian, puppeteer & bandleader all at the same time. nang talung is probably the most prominent cultural signifier for southern thai people.. you can spot the iconic puppets (especially the bawdy ai theng) on vehicles, restaurant awnings, t-shirts and even personified by s. khlaonoi on the tape cover (which to me distinctly resembles a 90's darryl "joe cool" daniel work). enjoy!

preview:

waeo mayura: mai mi khrai rak chan ching

artist: แวว มยุรา (waeo mayura)

album: ไม่มีใครรักฉันจริง (mai mi khrai rak chan ching)

tracklist:

01. ไม่มีใครรักฉันจริง (mai mi khrai rak chan ching)

02. รักเหมือขอบฟ้า (rak nuea khop fa)

03. น้องเป็นคนรักที่เท่าไหร่ (nong pen khon rak thi thao rai)

04. เข็ดกรุงเทพฯ (khet krung thep)

05. รักหล่นเมื่อฝนซา (rak lon muea fon sa)

06. ไปตามดวง (pai tam duang)

07. คนสุดท้าย (khon sut thai)

08. โตเกียวแห่งความหลัง (tokyo haeng khwam lang)

09. คนชื่อปราณี (khon chue prani)

10. รอวันทหารกลับ (ro wan thahan klap)

11. เจอะปุ๊บเกลียดปั๊บ (che pup kliat pap)

12. ทำบุญร่วมชาติ (tham bun ruam chat)

this week, a great old cassette from one of luk thung's most tragic cases, 70's darling waeo mayura. born to a rice farming family in central thailand's uthai thani province, waeo made her way to stardom the old-fashioned way; up through local singing contests, to radio spots, singing for small bands, and finally discovered by the late sayan sanya. sayan was looking for a fresh voice to sing female answer-songs to his hits and brought waeo into his group, where she met her husband, sakon alongkon. the couple left sayan's group together to open a restaurant, but sakon was tragically murdered soon after in a dispute over ownership of the shop. waeo tried to form her own band after the tragedy, but not having the resources to make it happen, had to sell her house and go back to singing in local cafés to earn a living. not long after, she decided to end her own life, at only 30 years of age¹. her music is beautiful, and just about as sorrowful as you'd expect from someone who lived the life she did. enjoy her music, and make sure to check out much more of her over at the kadao ton kao blog!

preview:

dontri phuen mueang isan: pong lang

artist: โปงลางกาฬสินธุ์ (pong lang kalasin)

album: ดนตรีพื้นเมืองอีสาน โปงลาง (dontri phuen mueang isan: pong lang)

tracklist:

01. กาเต้นก้อน (ka ten kon)

02. แม่ร้างกล่อมลูก (mae rang klom luk)

03. ลมพัดต้นมะพร้าว (lom phat ton maphrao)

04. นกไทรบินข้ามทุ่ง (nok sai bin kham thung)

05. ภูไทเลาะตูบ (phu thai lo tup)

06. เดี่ยวพิณ (dieow phin)

07. ม้าย่อง (ma yong)

08. เซิ้งสวิง (soeng sawing)

09. รำสาละวัน (ram salawan)

10. สุดสะแนน (sut sanaen)

11. เซิ้งโปงลาง (soeng pong lang)

12. ลำเพลิน (lam phloen)

13. ต้อนวัวขึ้นเขา (ton wua khuen khao)

14. บุญเดือนหก (bun duean hok)

15. เซิ้งภูไท (soeng phu thai)

16. พม่ารำขวาน (phama ram khwan)

17. รำภูไท (ram phu thai)

18. นกโซบินข้ามทุ่ง (nok so bin kham thung)

today, classic northeastern instrumentals from pong lang kalasin! the xylophone-like pong lang, thought to derive from a signal instrument used by rice farmers, was adapted for ensemble by national artist and kalasin native plueang chairatsami. the group on this cassette are plueang's original practitioners, and i imagine few can do it better. after an introductory solo by the featured instrument, the isan big band shows up; drums, cymbals, phin, khaen. outstanding music throughout! dense and energetic. now: why the cassette cover features the phrathat phanom chedi (in nakhon phanom, not kalasin), i'm not sure..

preview:

suthep wongkamhaeng & sawali phakaphan

artist: สุเทพ วงศ์กำแหง + สวลี ผกาพันธุ์ (suthep wongkamhaeng & sawali phakaphan)

album: ถาม-ตอบ จาก สุเทพ-สวลี (tham-top chak suthep-sawali)

tracklist:

01. คนใจดำ (khon chai dam)

02. คนใจเดียว (khon chai dieow)

03. สั่งฟ้าฝากดิน (sang fa fak din)

04. ฟ้าลาดิน (fa la din)

05. ลาชู้ (la chu)

06. ชู้ลา (chu la)

07. บัญชารัก (bancha rak)

08. บัญชาสวาท (bancha sawat)

09. จอมนางบนกลางใจ (chom nang bon klang chai)

10. ชายเดียวในดวงใจ (chai dieow nai duang chai)

11. รักเธอกว่าล้านบาท (rak thoe kwa lan bat)

12. รักเธอไม่ถึงบาท (rak thoe mai thueng bat)

13. จูบประทับใจ (chup prathap chai)

14. จูบประจำใจ (chup pracham chai)

15. ธาราระทม (thara rathom)

16. ทะเลระทม (thale rathom)

this week, some delightful old city sounds from luk krung crooners suthep & sawali! veterans of suntharaphon (originally the thai public relations department band), suthep wongkamhaeng & sawali phakaphan both had successful solo careers, as well.. and often in tandem! this album in particular features the pair trading question-answer songs. the idea is essentially the same as what you can find in early american country&western or r&b, among calypsonians from trinidad, or (for a modern day equivalent) the diss track. these answer songs use the same composition with a slight, clever twist to the lyrics (i.e. "the woman utmost in my heart" vs. "the only man in my heart"). while nowhere near as spirited as the song battles that raged between their luk thung contemporaries, there's still plenty to like from these two. enjoy!

preview:

sit suraphon: thi raluek khrop rop 22 pi

artist(s): various

album: ศิษย์สุรพล ที่ระลึกครบรอบ 22 ปี (sit suraphon: thi raluek khrop rop 22 pi)

tracklist:

01. อยากดัง (yak dang)

sung by กังวาลไพร ลูกเพชร (kangwanphrai lukphet)

02. รักพี่เสียดายน้อง (rak phi sia dai nong)

sung by ศักดิ์ชาย วันชัย (sakchai wanchai)

03. คนดีของแม่ (khon di khong mae)

sung by ศรีไพร ลูกราชบุรี (siphrai lukratburi)

04. ด่วนสายใต้ (duan sai tai)

sung by สกาวเดือน (sakaoduean)

05. มาลัยแฟน (malai faen)

sung by พนมไพร ลูกเพชร (phanomphrai lukphet)

06. วิมานเนรมิต (wiman neramit)

sung by แทน นครปฐม (thaen nakhonpathom)

07. คอยวันเธอใจเดียว (khoi wan thoe chai dieow)

sung by เรียม ดาราน้อย (riam daranoi)

08. รักฉันแล้วอย่ารักใครอีกนะ (rak chan laeo ya rak khrai ik na)

sung by ละอองดาว (la'ongdao)

09. โปรดให้ความหวังผมบ้าง (prot hai khwam wang phon bang)

sung by พร พนาไพร (phon phanaphrai)

10. ถวิลดอกฟ้า (thawin dok fa)

sung by มนต์ไพร ลูกราชบุรี (monphrai lukratburi)

11. คิดถึงบ้าน (khit thueng ban)

sung by ก้องไพร ลูกเพชร (kongphrai lukphet)

12. จ้อกแจ้กจอแจ (chok chaek cho chae)

sung by ศรีไพร ลูกราชบุรี (siphrai lukratburi)

today, 16th august 2013, marks 45 years since the death of suraphon sombatcharoen! suraphon, the king of luk thung, was arguably thailand's first real superstar, a character whose personality loomed as large as his talent & a major force in the development of thailand's popular music. in 1969, at the height of his fame, he was gunned down after a show by an unknown assailant (theories about who may have orchestrated his killing are too numerous to list here, and the issue is still contentious today)¹. but in addition to his own successes, suraphon fostered a large retinue of disciples, many of whom carried on his legacy, becoming the biggest stars of the next generation. this tape, compiled in commemoration of his 22nd death anniversary, features some of the lesser-known of these singers and their excellent songs.. enjoy!!

preview: