thao dakdae: takua chup thong

artist: ท้าวดักแด้ (thao dakdae)
album: ตะกั่วชุบทอง (takua chup thong)
tracklist:
01. ไร้สารตะกั่ว (rai san takua)
02. ถูกหวยมาหรือเปล่า (thuk huai rue plao)
03. ตัวเองยังเลี้ยงไม่รอด (tua eng yang liang mai rot)
04. ล้มโต๊ะ (lom to)
05. คัม ฟรอม แอล.เอ. (come from l.a.)
06. ไม่ได้แอ้มหรอก (mai dai aem rok)
07. พอกันที (pho kan thi)
08. สาวโรงงาน (sao rong ngan)
09. เออ! เอ็งเก่ง (oe! eng keng)
10. คนอีสาน (khon isan)
11. ตุ๊กแก (tukkae)
12. ปั๊มน้ำใจ (pam nam chai)

i wanted to do a holiday-specific post here, but i'm running low on spooky thai stuff! the best i could find is this creepy gentleman... "lead dipped in gold", as the title goes. admittedly, i don't really have any idea what's going on here. thao dakdae is a comedian/singer from isaan, and this seems to be his only album? just some workstation-heavy 90's molam luk thung. enjoy! and check out some real thai ghost songs at radiodiffusion internasionaal, here and here, plus the fantastic "lady cat ghost" by the fox!

monruedi phromchak: nong daeng khuen thin

artist: มลฤดี พรหมจักร (monruedi phromchak)
album: น้องแดงคืนถิ่น (nong daeng khuen thin)
tracklist:
01. น้องแดงคืนถิ่น (nong daeng khuen thin)
02. หน้าหนาวสาวครวญ (na nao sao khruan)
03. บันทึกรักจากสายลม (banthuek rak chak sai lom)
04. อวยพรทหารรัก (uai phon thahan rak)
05. น้องอ้อยคอยฝัน (nong oi khoi fan)
06. ย้านสายตาทำลาย (yan sai ta tham lai)
07. สาวภูไทลาแฟน (sao phu thai la faen)
08. เชิญเที่ยวธาตุพนม (choen thieow that phanom)
09. วอนฮักสองฝั่งโขง (won hak song fang khong)
10. ลำคอนสวรรค์ หญิง ชาย เกี้ยวฮัก (lam khon sawan ying chai kieow hak)

today marks the 100th post here at monrakplengthai, so in honor of the occasion, i've got an especially great tape to share. i don't know alot about monruedi's background, though i believe she now teaches at khon kaen university. she's well known for her skill in lam phu tai, a unique style of lam associated with the phu tai ethnic group of thailand & laos, which can be pretty difficult to find in commercial recordings. the music revolves around a slow, hypnotic khaen line, supplemented by electric phin and heavy percussion. combined with monruedi's fantastic versification, it makes for quite a record. hope you all enjoy this as much as i do!

thai brass band

artist: unknown thai brass band
album: ลาวดวงเดือน (lao duang duean)
tracklist:
01. ลาวดวงเดือน (lao duang duean)
02. ลาวเสี่ยงเทียน (lao siang thian)
03. บุหลัน (bulan)
04. เพลงจีนขิมเล็กออกจีนเร็ว (pleng chin khim lek ok chin reo)
05. สร้อยสนออกเพลงเร็ว ลงเพลงลา (soi son ok pleng reo, long pleng la)
06. เพลงชาติ (pleng chat)
07. มหาฤกษ์ มหาชัย (maharoek mahachai)
08. สยามมานุสติ (siam manu sati)
09. ไหว้ครูมวย (ปี่ชวา) (wai khru muai (pi chawa))
10. มาร์ชพิทักษ์สันติราษฎร์ (march phithak santi rat)
11. มาร์ชนิยมไทย (march niyom thai)
12. มาร์ชภานุรังษี (march phanurangsi)
13. สรรเสริญเสือป่า (sansoen suea pa)
14. สดุดีการชุมนุมลูกเสือแห่งชาติ (sadudi kan chumhum luk suea haeng chat)
15. กราวกีฬา (krao kila)
16. สามัคคีชุมนุม (samakkhi chumnum)
17. สาธุการ (sathukan)
18. พระเจ้าลอยถาด (phra chao loi that)

this week, another great tape showcasing thailand's unique brass band tradition! the brass band was one of the earliest forms of western music to catch on in thailand, and has proved an enduring phenomenon with a distinct repertoire in addition to its borrowings. the band recorded here renders these tunes with great bombast; full-spectrum drum & horn, and even some thai traditional instruments in a few selections... it's a shame there's no credit given to the ensemble! in addition, it seems the compiler got a bit ambitious with the tracklist, since only 18 of the 24 songs listed seem to have fit onto the cassette. these factors, however, in no way diminish the greatness of this tape.. enjoy!

carabao: prachathipatai

artist: คาราบาว (carabao)
album: ประชาธิปไตย (prachathipatai)
tracklist:
01. ตาตี๋ (tati)
02. ประชาธิปไตย (prachathipatai)
03. ผู้ทน (phu ton)
04. เจ้าตาก (chao tak)
05. พ่อ (pho)
06. ถึกควายทุย ภาค 7 (thuek khwai thui, pt. 7)
07. วันเด็ก (wan dek)
08. มหาจำลอง รุ่น 7 (maha cham long, run 7)
09. มรดกเฮงซวย (moradok heng suai)
10. ค. ควาย ค. คน (kh. khwai kh. khon)

this week we'll hear once more from the biggest thai rock band of all time... the legendary carabao! often compared to u2, today carabao divide their time between music, social activism and corporate endorsements, but they came from a humbler beginning. founded in 1976 by two thai students studying in the philippines, carabao introduced a harder edge to the folksy pleng puea chiwit genre, bringing the genre to the national spotlight. this album, from 1986, features the band at their most electronic, replete with drum pads and synthesizer riffs, and even a few cues possibly taken from the fledgling industrial music scene of the time. enjoy!!

chaloemphon malakham: songsan khon ban klai

artist: เฉลิมพล มาลาคำ (chaloemphon malakham)
album: สงสารคนบ้านใกล้ (songsan khon ban klai)
tracklist:
01. สงสารคนบ้านใกล้ (songsan khon ban klai)
02. จดหมายคนจน (chot mai khon chon)
03. คิดถึงอดีต (khit thueng adit)
04. อยากมีเมีย (yak mi mia)
05. บักเขียวพาเพ (bak khieow pha phe)
06. รักแรกพบ (rak raek phop)
07. กลับบ้านนาเถิดน้อง (klap ban na thoet nong)
08. หยุดเถิดหัวใจ (yut thoet hua chai)
09. เย้ยกันทำไม (yoei kan thammai)
10. เมียใจร้ายแม่ยายทีเด็ด (mia chai rai mae yai thi det)

more great sounds from isaan this week, courtesy of mr. chaloemphon malakham! chaloemphon is from surin province in southern isaan and like most modern stars, made his way to the stage through local singing contests. he recorded his first album in 1985, becoming one of the pioneering singers of the molam-influenced luk thung isaan style that still dominates thai country radio today. chaloemphon is perhaps better known as a songwriter (for the likes of poifai malaiphon & other siang isaan stars), but he has a great many hit records to his name as well, often singing alongside phimpha phonsiri. he's recorded in a number of styles, from kantruem & lam phu tai to luk thung ballads, but this tape seems to be mostly straightforward lam phloen, carried by sax & synth with some great distorted guitar leads sprinkled in as well. enjoy!

khwanchit siprachan: luk thung 5 thotsawat

artist: ขวัญจิต ศรีประจันต์ (khwanchit siprachan)
album: ลูกทุ่ง 5 ทศวรรษ (luk thung 5 thotsawat)
tracklist:
01. กับข้าวเพชฌฆาต (kap khao phetchakhat)
02. แม่ครัวตัวอย่าง (mae khrua tua yang)
03. ก็นั่นนะซี่ (ko nan na si)
04. เศรษฐีเมืองสุพรรณ (sethi mueang suphan)
05. วุ๊ยว๊าย (wui wai)
06. ผัวบ้าๆ (pua ba ba)
07. พ่อเพาเว่อร์ (po power)
08. น้ำตาดอกคำใต้ (nam ta dok khamtai)
09. สุดแค้นแสนรัก (sut khaen saen rak)
10. สาวสุพรรณ (sao suphan)
11. อ้อมอกเจ้าพระยา (om ok chao phraya)
12. แหลมตะลุมพุก (laem talumphuk)
13. รักมฤตยู (rak maruettayu)
featuring กู้เกียรติ นครสวรรค์ (kukiat nakhonsawan)
14. ลิเกหลงโรง (like long rong)

this week, by special request, we'll hear from luk thung folk star khwanchit siprachan! khwanchit was born & raised in central thailand's suphan buri province. from a young age she took an interest in local folk song, but her father forbid her to pursue it, fearing the corrupting influence of the stage (as well as the prospect of losing a domestic hand!). nevertheless, she eventually left home to study with the great pleng isaeo songmasters of suphan, becoming a respected artist in the folk song community for her powerful voice & clever improvisations. she was an audience favorite upcountry, and in time even became a regular on the stage of sanam luang in bangkok. here she was courted by many luk thung groups, but found waiphot phetsuphan's to be most consonant with her love of folksong. she joined the group and quickly set to recording the string of hits collected here. by the early 70's, however, she had left luk thung behind. she returned to the folk songs she loved so much, as both performer and preservationist, and eventually was named a national artist for her contributions to the artform. hope you enjoy!

yusoh bothong dikir hulu

artist: ดีเกฮูลูคณะยูโซะ บ่อทอง (yusoh bothong dikir hulu)
album: วิทยาลัยดุริยางคศิลป์ มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล พ.ศ. 2550 (college of music, mahidol university, 2007)
tracklist:
01. ตาโบะห์ บานอ (โหมโรง) (taboh banor (homrong))
02. ปันตนดีเกฮูลู (pantun dikir hulu)
03. กาโร๊ะห์บูกอยาแล (ไหว้ครู) (karoh buko jalae (wai khru))
04. ยูวาปาดี (ขายข้าวสาร) (juwa padee (selling rice))
05. ฮูแยรีติ ตูโรงปาฆี (ฝนตกพรำๆยามเช้า) (hujae riti turong pagee (morning drizzle))
06. เมาะบางา (mah ba nga)
07. บัรตือมาสอ (เมื่อไรเราจะได้อยู่ดวงกัน) (bartuemasor (when will we be together?))
08. บือนาสารัง (เก็บไว้ในดวงใจ) (buenasarang (save in my heart))
09. กาโร๊ะห์แยะคีปาแย (karoh yaekee payae)
10. กาโร๊ะห์วาบูแล (karoh wabulae)

sorry it's been so long, just got back from a trip to malaysia & singapore! traveling by land mostly, we made a few stops in thailand's south, so i thought it would be nice to share some fantastic music from that region. yusoh bothong & his group are from pattani in the deep south and play a style known as dikir hulu, meaning "northern-style liké" (northern, because many in thailand's border provinces consider themselves northern malays, rather than southern thais). like central thai liké, dikir hulu is typically a community event centered around a musical stage show, although this album features a 2007 performance yusoh & his group gave at mahidol university in bangkok. after the overture & wai khru, yusoh leads the troupe through a selection of beautiful old dikir hulu tunes from his childhood, sung in the thai-malay jawi language. he's joined in spots by singers ma padiyo & yalee kayae from narathiwat, with an excellent musical backing of frame drums, gongs & assorted other percussion. wonderful stuff, hope you enjoy as well!

suang santi: 1 2 3 duan song thaeo

artist: สรวง สันติ (suang santi)
album: 1 2 3 ด่วนสองแถว (1 2 3 duan song thaeo)
tracklist:
01. 1 2 3 ด่วนสองแถว (1 2 3 duan song thaeo)
02. 4 5 6 ด่วนสองแถว (4 5 6 duan song thaeo)
03. เขาว่ามา (khao wa ma)
04. คนสุโขทัย (khon sukhothai)
05. หนุ่มหนองคาย (num nong khai)
06. เมาจนนึกไม่ออก (mao chon nuek mai ok)
07. รักตัวกลัวเมีย (rak tua klua mia)
08. บ้าพอกัน (ba pho kan)
09. 900 โรงจำนำ (900 rong cham nam)
10. 900 ความระกำ (900 khwam rakam)
sung by เตือนใจ บุญพระรักษา (tueanchai bunphraraksa)
11. ผู้ยิ่งใหญ่ ภาค 2 (phu ying yai, pt. 2)
12. เมาให้ลืมเมีย (mao hai luem mia)
13. น้ำมันแพงอีกแล้ว (nam man phaeng ik laeo)
14. น้ำมันมีน้อยใช้สอยประหยัด (nam man mi noi chai soi prayat)
15. เซ็นซิ (sen si)
16. หิ้วถุงปุ๋ย (hiw thung pui)
17. ควาย (khwai)

this week we've got a great tape from luk thung funk rock star suang santi! hailing from sukhothai, suang made his living as a boxer before joining with phiphat boribun & his band. after marrying bandmate namphueng boribun, he struck off on his own, first singing with siphrai chaiphra and finally mongkhon amatayakun's famous chularat band. suang pioneered a crossover style of luk thung and heavy funk rock which few others attempted, and won success not only with his own recordings but songs he penned for others, everyone from phanom nopphon to the royal sprites. sadly, suang was killed in a car accident in 1982 while on tour... this tape captures some of his last work, featuring a mix of straight funk tracks & few of his older hits redone in "talking music" style. enjoy!!

fine arts department band

artist: กรมศิลปากร (fine arts department band)
album: เพลงงานแสงเดือน (pleng ngan saeng duean)
tracklist:
01. งานแสงเดือน (ngan saeng duean)
ชาวไทย (chao thai)
รำซิมารำ (ram si ma ram)
คืนเดือนหงาย (khuen duean ngai)
02. ดอกไม้ของชาติ (dok mai khong chat)
ดวงจันทร์วันเพ็ญ (duang chan wan phen)
03. หญิงไทยใจงาน (ying thai chai ngan)
ยอดชายใจงาน (yot chai chai ngan yot chai chai ngan)
ดวงจันทร์ขวัญฟ้า (duang chan khwan fa)
บูชานักรบ (bucha nak rop)
04. เชิญชวน (choen chuan)
หล่อจริงนะดารา (lo ching na dara)
ยวน ยวน ยวน (yuan yuan yuan)
05. ซ่อมมาลี (som mali)
เธอรำว่างน่าดู (thoe ram wang na khu)
ยวนยาเหล (yuan ya lae)
06. ดอกฟ้าร่วง (dok fa ruang)
ตามองตา (ta mong ta)
ใกล้เช้าไปอีกนิด (klai chao pai ik nit)
ลา (la)

an interesting bit of history this week.. we've got an album from the thai government's fine arts department band, featuring their neo-classical ramwong style! a major event in the history of popular music in thailand, the ramwong (or "circle dance") was a sort of an engineered dance craze created during the phibun era by famed propagandist luang wichitwathakan & his fine arts department, intended to inject a bit of national pride into the imported dance steps (swing, rumba, cha cha cha, etc.) which had been sweeping the country. originally these ramwong were lively, sax-driven affairs, but by the time of this release we can see the fine arts dept. attempting to establish ramwong as being closer to classical tradition, thus the piphat and khrueng sai instrumentation. the ramwong still provides the rhythmic basis for a great deal of thai music today, and these very recordings can still be heard thorughout the kingdom on a number of national holidays. enjoy!!

kaifa daduang + siriphon amphaiphong

artist: ไก่ฟ้า ดาดวง + ศิริพร อำไพพงษ์ (kaifa daduang + siriphon amphaiphong)
album: ลำขอนแก่น (lam khon kaen)
tracklist:
01. ทุ่งร้างนางลืม (thung rang nang luem)
02. ทุ่งร้างนางคอย (thung rang nang koi)
03. ที่เก่าเวลาเดิม (thi kao wela doem)
04. มาตามนัด (ma tam nat)
05. รอยยิ้มพิศวาส (roi yim phitsawat)
06. รอยยิ้มมหาเสน่ห์ (roi yim maha sane)
07. คนกินดิน (khon kin din)
08. เสียงร้องจากน้องหนู (siang rong chak nong nu)
09. ฮักสาวท่าสะแบง (hak sao tha sabaeng)
10. เสียงครวญจากสวนแตง (siang khruan chak suan taeng)
11. สาวต๋อง ๆ (sao tong tong)
12. สาวตุ๋ย ๆ (sao tui tui)

this week we'll hear some early recordings from one of thailand's biggest contemporary country singers, the great siriphon amphaiphong!! born & raised in udon thani, siriphon left school at a young age to help out on her family's farm. when not working the fields, siriphon studied with lam with her father, a local performer. she began performing onstage at 16 and a year later joined the siang isaan group, before being discovered in khon kaen by doi inthanon. during her khon kaen period she often sang together with kaifa daduang, who joins her on this album. siriphon is well-loved for her unique husky voice, often likened to a cat's, and though her specialty nowadays is slow sorrowful songs, this album captures a rare set of uptempo khon kaen-style lam. enjoy!!