chedi trakan

artist: จำรัส เศวตาภรณ์ + หมู่ (chamrat sewataphon & chorus)

album: เจดีย์ตระการ (chedi trakan)

tracklist:

01. ธรรมบดี (thammabodi)

02. ความปราโมทย์ (khwam pramot)

03. เสียงโจทก์ขาน (siang chot khan)

04. เจดีย์ตระการ (chedi trakan)

05. ชื่นใจ... ชื่นใจ (chuen chai... chuen chai)

06. รังสรรค์ศรัทธา (rang san sattha)

07. ใจกว้างกว่าฟ้า (chai khwang kwa fa)

08. น่าภาคภูมิใจ (na phak phum chai)

09. ธรรมบดี (บรรเลง) (thammabodi (instrumental))

10. ความปราโมทย์ (บรรเลง) (khwam pramot (instrumental))

11. เสียงโจทก์ขาน (บรรเลง) (siang chot khan (instrumental))

12. เจดีย์ตระการ (บรรเลง) (chedi trakan (instrumental))

13. ชื่นใจ... ชื่นใจ (บรรเลง) (chuen chai... chuen chai (instrumental))

14. รังสรรค์ศรัทธา (บรรเลง) (rang san sattha (instrumental))

15. ใจกว้างกว่าฟ้า (บรรเลง) (chai khwang kwa fa (instrumental))

16. น่าภาคภูมิใจ (บรรเลง) (na phak phum chai (instrumental))

this week, pop songs of religious devotion from thailand's dhammakaya movement! the buddhist sect has been controversial, among both local religious authorities and international observers, regularly earning comparisons to the likes of scientology (comparisons which probably aren't hindered by their massive u.f.o.-looking temple in pathum thani, pictured above). they were recently in the headlines again, following a report they issued on the state of steve jobs' immortal soul in the buddhist afterlife. dhammakaya has it's strongest following among the affluent in thailand, including new age maven and green music/little bird records founder chamrat sewataphon, who leads the efforts on this cassette. enjoy!

hongyok wilaiwan: sai klon hua chai

artist: หงส์หยก วิไลวรรณ (hongyok wilaiwan)

album: ใส่กลอนหัวใจ (sai klon hua chai)

tracklist: 

01. ใส่กลอนหัวใจ (sai klon hua chai)

02. เสียใจเพราะเสียรัก (sia chai phro sia rak)

03. ทั้งที่รู้ว่าทางตัน (thang thi ru wa thang tan)

04. พอกันที (pho kan thi)

05. แอบรักแอบคิดถึง (aep rak aep khit thueng)

06. เช็ดน้ำตาพ่อ (chet nam ta pho)

07. เอาคืนไปเลย (ao khuen pai loei)

08. ซังคนใจดำ (sang khon chai dam)

09. ใจเอ๋ยใจ (chai oei chai)

10. สิบล้อแฟนหนู (sip lo faen nu)

11. แทบไม่เชื่อสายตา (thaep mai chuea sai ta)

12. สาวทุ่งกุลาร้องไห้ (sao thung kula rong hai)

this week, some late-80s molam pop from hongyok wilaiwan! i see cassettes by ms. hongyok around pretty frequently, but finding information about her is another matter. i can tell you the producer here was none other than achan khamkoeng thongchan, and though this 1988 effort is a lesser known entry in the catalog, it's definitely got the thongchan promotions' sound; heavy bass grooves, live instrumentation with synth flourishes. always solid.. enjoy!

preview:

khana si pho

artist: คณะ สี่โพธิ์ (khana si pho)

album: พระนางผมหอม (phra nang phom hom)

tracklist:

01. ลิเกตลก เรื่อง พระนางผมหอม (like talok rueang "phra nang phom hom")

02. แข่งฟุดบอล (khaeng football)

03. ร้องเพลงคู่ เพลงแปลงอักษร เพลงโห่ (rong phleng khu, phleng plaeng akson, phleng ho)

this week, another old comedy album! [disclaimer: the primary draw here is in the wordplay, so enjoyment may be limited for non-thai speakers] there's practically no info about this group online, but i'm thinking they were affiliated with legendary comedian thep pho'ngam (recently in the news for his public retirement & possible expatriation to laos¹), seeing as their stage names are pho'ngoen, pho'thong, pho'kaew and pho'khwan (plus si mok). the first side of this cassette features a half hour of "modern" liké, featuring a sholay-sampling ok khaek. the second side has some mock football commentary, followed by a medley of novelty songs. enjoy!

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yodrak ok hak

artist: ยอดรัก สลักใจ (yodrak salakchai)

album: ยอดรักอกหัก (yodrak ok hak)

tracklist:

01. ขมกว่าสะเดา (khom kwa sadao)

02. ยอดรักอกหัก (yodrak ok hak)

03. สุราษฎร์ ขาดน้อง (surat khat nong)

04. ใจคู่ใจ (chai khu chai)

05. ทุยทิ้งทุ่ง (thui thing thung)

06. เข็ดแล้วความรัก (khet laeo khwam rak)

07. ได้หอมยอมตาย (dai hom yom dai)

08. รำวงฝากรัก (ram wong fak rak)

09. เจอะปุ๊บรักปั๊บ (choe pup rak pap)

10. น้ำแห้งน้องหาย (nam haeng nong hai)

11. คนจนเจ้าเอ๋ย (khon chon chao oei)

12. ขาดคนหุงข้าว (khat khon hung khao)

13. เมียไม่มาเมียไม่มี (mia mai ma mia mai mi)

14. รักไม่ยุ่งมุ่งแต่งาน (rak mai yung mung tae ngan)

15. เชื่อยากปากหญิง (chuea yak pak ying)

16. น้องม่วย (nong muai)

17. รักของชาวนา (rak khong chao na)

18. กุหลาบที่รัก (kulap thi rak)

19. น้ำใจลิ้นจี่ (nam chai lin chi)

20. งอนนักเดี๋ยวรักไม่ลง (ngon nak dieow rak mai long)

big hits for the new year; top-rate 70s funk from pol. cpl. yodrak salakchai! yodrak was from phichit in northern thailand, the youngest of 8 kids. after losing his father at age 7, yodrak & 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, yodrak himself moved down to nakhon sawan for a steady gig at a restaurant. here 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. for fans of the thai disco sound, yodrak is not to be missed.. enjoy!

preview:

santa claus ma ban rao

artist: มณีนุช เสมรสุต + ณรงค์ศักดิ์ อิ่มเจริญ (maninut samerasut & narongsak imcharoen)

album: ซานตาคลอสมาบ้านเรา (santa claus ma ban rao)

tracklist:

01. ซานตาคลอสมาบ้านเรา (santa claus ma ban rao)

02. เด็กเล่นกลอง (dek len klong)

03. คืนนั้นเงียบสนิท (khuen nan ngiap sanit)

04. เราทั้งสามกษัตริย์บูรพา (rao thang sam kasat burapha)

05. จงฟังเพลงแห่งทูตสวรรค์ (chong fang phleng haeng thut sawan)

06. รูดอล์ฟ เจ้ากวางจมูกแดง (ดนตรี) (rudolf chao kwang chamuk daeng (instrumental))

07. โอ! ต้นคริสต์มาส (o! ton christmas)

08. โอ้คืนศักดิ์สิทธิ์ (o khuen sak sit)

09. พระคริสต์เสด็จมา จงยินดี (phra christ sadet ma chong yin di)

10. เพลงระฆัง (phleng rakhang)

11. กุมารน้อย จอมราชา (kuman noi chom racha)

12. ซานตาคลอสมาบ้านเรา (ดนตรี) (santa claus ma ban rao (instrumental))

the season is here, and it's about as cold as it gets in thailand, so i think it's about time to share this.. yup, it's all your favorite christmas carols, translated into thai! our performers are tv star maninut samerasut and easy listening piano guru narongsak imcharoen, featuring the congregation of the sisters & daughters of the queenship of mary, as well as students from saengtham college, rongrian phra mae mari (trok chan) and singers from the holy rosary church. definitely a unique object.. enjoy!

preview:

phensi phumchusi: wihok hoen lom

artist: เพ็ญศรี พุ่มชูศรี (phensi phumchusi)

album: วิหคเหิรลม (wihok hoen lom)

tracklist:

01. วิหคเหิรลม (wihok hoen lom)

02. ขวัญของเรียม (khwan khong riam)

03. คนจะรักกัน (khon cha rak kan)

04. ไทรโศก (sai sok)

05. หนามชีวิต (nam chiwit)

06. ไฟเสน่หา (fai saneha)

07. กระจกส่องโฉม (krachok song chom)

08. เอื้องระทม (ueang rathom)

09. พ่อพระในดวงใจ (pho phra nai duang chai)

10. แม้ทะเลยังระทม (mae thale yang rathom)

11. นกน้อยในกรงทอง (nok noi nai krong thong)

12. บางปะกง (bang pakong)

13. เตือนใจ (tuean chai)

14. อยากมารักเขาเอง (yak ma rak khao eng)

15. อ้อมอกสวรรค์ (om ok sawan)

16. กล่อมวิวาห์ (klom wiwa)

17. ฟ้าเผยม่านทอง (fa phoei man thong)

phensi phumchusi, from phitsanulok, got her start early. she was winning local song contests from the age of 8 and made her first gramophone recordings at 12. in 1944, she was chosen to sing with uea sunthonsanan & the government public relations department band (later suntharaphon). she resigned from government service in 1952 to join her husband suwat woradilok's theatre troupe. five years later, they broke the military government's embargo to perform in china with writer & activist kulap saipradit (siburapha), and upon their return spent four years in prison as communist sympathizers¹. despite this, phensi's career barely took a hit; she was regularly chosen by the king to perform his own compositions and recorded countless popular standards, founded her own music school and held the title of national artist until her passing in 2007. this cassette features some of her work from the mid-60's; latin beats & luk krung ballads.. tasteful, jazzy accompaniment and even a xylophone solo here and there. enjoy!

preview:

sunari ratchasima: klap khorat

artist: สุนารี ราชสีมา (sunari ratchasima)

album: กลับโคราช (klap khorat)

tracklist:

01. กลับโคราช (klap khorat)

02. ลูกชายลุงมา (luk chai lung ma)

03. ตำตาตำใจ (tam ta tam chai)

04. สาวโสด (sao sot)

05. สะใภ้สุพรรณ (saphai suphan)

06. ซาวด์ดนตรี กลับโคราช (klap khorat [instrumental])

07. เจ็บไม่รู้จบ (chep mai ru chop [instrumental])

08. แตกเนื้อสาว (taek nuea sao)

09. สัญญาคนซื่อ (sanya khon sue)

10. เจ็บไม่รู้จบ (chep mai ru chop)

11. ตัวไกลใจอย่าลืม (tua klai chai ya luem)

12. หัวใจบอดสี (hua chai bot si)

13. ซาวด์ดนตรี ลูกชายลุงมา (luk chai lung ma [instrumental])

this week, some early tracks from luk thung superstar sunari ratchasima! a song contest champion from age 13, sunari grew up in khorat where she worked in garment manufacturing before being discovered by local radio manager suksan hansa. after her first two albums (this cassette is the second) sold slowly, she was picked up by songwriter chonlati thanthong, with whose compositions she rose to fame. she was at the top of the charts for many years, landing roles on movies and television as well. she still performs today, and can even be seen in this year's country music comedy film "ruam phon khon luk thung ngoen lan". enjoy!

preview:

khana orot arab: lamtat chiwit

artist: คณะ โอรสอาหรับ (khana orot arab)

album: ลำตัดชีวิต (lamtat chiwit)

tracklist:

01. ออกแขกแบบภารตะ (ok khaek baep bharata)

02. สองไม้ชีวิต (song mai chiwit)

03. ผู้วิเศษ (phu wiset)

04. ตลกน้ำขึ้นน้ำลง (talok nam khuen nam long)

05. ลำตัดชีวิตออกลิเก (lamtat chiwit ok like)

06. ลำตัดทำนองสากล (lamtat tham nong sakon)

07. อีแซว ชายหญิง (isaeo chai ying)

this week, some fantastic central thai muslim music! a number of musical styles associated with central thailand (liké, lamtat, etc.) have their origins in malay artforms, though they have long been integrated into the majority buddhist culture. there are, however, still a handful of muslim practitioners.. including today's star of voice & violin, mr. orot arab! i'm not sure where the group is from originally, but i believe they've been based in bangkok for some time. this cassette was produced by yanavy sound (note their classic mosque & crescent logo) which, as we're told us on the recording, is located behind the old phra khanong rama theatre off sukhumvit road. sad to say, last i heard mr. orot arab was comatose in minburi hospital¹.. if anyone knows how he's doing please fill us in.

preview:

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: