artist: วิเทพ กันธิมา (withep kanthima)
album: เดี่ยวสะล้อลานนา (dieow salo lanna)
tracklist:
01. พม่า (phama)
02. ปราสาทไหว (prasat wai)
03. เชียงใหม่ จะปุ ละม้าย (chiang mai cha pu la mai)
04. ฤาษีหลงถ้ำ (ruesi long tham)
05. สาวไหม (sao mai)
06. อื่อ (uea)
07. เงี้ยว (ngieow)
08. จ๊อย (choi)

this week's post marks the sixth in a series of cassettes gifted to us by educator cliff sloane. a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

our sixth tape from cliff again features the talents of lanna artist withep kanthima. born in 1954, withep trained from a young age with his father in the local music of northeast thailand, studying a range of folk instruments and performance styles. aside from this paternal instruction, withep was also a student of chao sunthon na chiang mai, our previously featured performer from cliff's collection. like his teacher, withep made his name hand-crafting local instruments and instructing young musicians at the chiang mai college of dramatic arts, marking that institution's first hire of a folk musician, according to cliff. he passed away in 2006 at the age of 54^[1]. this third cassette from withep finds him switching to the salo, a three-stringed spike fiddle, running through improvisations on a selection of favorite regional tunes with accompaniment. enjoy!

preview:

artist: วิเทพ กันธิมา (withep kanthima)
album: เดี่ยวซึง ชุดที่ 2 (dieow sueng, vol. 2)
tracklist:
01. แขกเชิญเจ้า (khaek choen chao)
02. นางครวญ ๒ ชั้น (nang khruan, 2nd level)
03. ต้นวรเชษฐ์ ๒ ชั้น (ton worachet, 2nd level)
04. ลาวลำปางใหญ่ ๒ ชั้น (lao lampang yai, 2nd level)
05. ลาวกระทบไม้ (lao krathop mai)
06. ลาวเสี่ยงเทียน ๒ ชั้น (lao siang thian, 2nd level)
07. ทยอยญวน (thayoi yuan)
08. สร้อยลำปาง ๒ ชั้น (soi lampang, 2nd level)
09. เขมรไทรโยค (khmer sai yok)
10. กล่อมนางนอน (klom nang non)
11. ลาวราชบุรี (lao ratchaburi)
12. สร้อยลาว (soi lao)
13. ลาวชมดง (lao chom dong)

this week's post marks the fifth in a series of cassettes gifted to us by educator cliff sloane. a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

our fifth tape from cliff again features the talents of lanna artist withep kanthima. born in 1954, withep trained from a young age with his father in the local music of northeast thailand, studying a range of folk instruments and performance styles. aside from this paternal instruction, withep was also a student of chao sunthon na chiang mai, our previously featured performer from cliff's collection. like his teacher, withep made his name hand-crafting local instruments and instructing young musicians at the chiang mai college of dramatic arts, marking that institution's first hire of a folk musician, according to cliff. he passed away in 2006 at the age of 54^[1]. this cassette is his second volume of solo performances on the sueng, a plucked fretted lute, this time with some light accompaniment and featuring melodies drawn from the central thai classical/folk repetoire. enjoy!

preview:

artist: วิเทพ กันธิมา (withep kanthima)
album: เดี่ยวซึง (dieow sueng)
tracklist:
01. น้อยใจยา (noi chai ya)
02. ลาวเดินดง (lao doen dong)
03. ซอล่องน่าน (so long nan)
04. ปราสาทไหว (prasat wai)
05. ล่องแม่ปิง (long mae ping)
06. เพลงอื่อ (phleng uea)
07. ฤษีหลงถ้ำ (ruesi long tham)
08. ระบำซอ (rabam so)
09. พม่า (phama)
10. เชียงใหม่ (จะปุ-ละม้าย) (chiang mai (cha pu-la mai))

this week's post marks the fourth in a series of cassettes gifted to us by educator cliff sloane. a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

our fourth tape from cliff features the talents of lanna artist withep kanthima. born in 1954, withep trained from a young age with his father in the local music of northeast thailand, studying a range of folk instruments and performance styles. aside from this paternal instruction, withep was also a student of chao sunthon na chiang mai, our previously featured performer from cliff's collection. like his teacher, withep made his name hand-crafting local instruments and instructing young musicians at the chiang mai college of dramatic arts, marking that institution's first hire of a folk musician, according to cliff. he passed away in 2006 at the age of 54^[1]. this cassette features a performance on the sueng, a plucked fretted lute, running through solo improvisations on a selection of favorite regional tunes. enjoy!

preview:

artist: ไวพจน์ เพชรสุพรรณ (waiphot phetsuphan)
album: สาระวันรำวง (sarawan ramwong)
tracklist:
01. สาระวันรำวง (sarawan ramwong)
02. รักพิลึก (rak philuek)
03. หน้าด้านหน้าทน (na dan na thon)
04. แม่คนเก๋ (mae khon ke)
05. แม่สาวคนโก้ (mae sao khon ko)
06. ขวัญใจคนจร (khwanchai khon chon)
featuring ขวัญจิต ศรีประจันต์ (khwanchit siphrachan)
07. พ่อเพลงพบรัก (pho phleng phop rak)
08. แม่ฟังเลี่ยมทอง (mae fang liam thong)
09. นะหน้าทอง (na na thong)
10. อุ้มช้างอาบน้ำ (um chang ap nam)
11. เพลงใหม่ไวพจน์ (phleng mai waiphot)
12. คนเร่หนัง (khon re nang)

this week, some excellent old roots music from the mighty waiphot phetsuphan! a national artist and luk thung boss nonpareil, waiphot has been a staple of the thai country music scene for half a century. born into a musical family from central thailand's suphanburi province, waiphot was trained from a toddler's age in a range of local styles. at 14 he joined a local liké theatre troupe, and at 16 won his first song contest. he was discovered shortly after by singer chaichana bunnachot, who introduced him to samniang muangthong, leader of the ruam daokrachai band. waiphot's powerful voice and spiritual focus have made him one of the most enduring and omnipresent characters of thai popular music. this cassette features several welcome surprises including a guest apparance by mae khwanchit siprachan and some unusual (for the time) molam-style khaen introductions.. enjoy!!

preview:

artist: คณะ เจ้าสุนทร ณ เชียงใหม่ (khana chao sunthon na chiang mai)
album: เอกลักษณ์ลานนา ชุดที่ 3 (ekkalak lanna, vol. 3)
tracklist:
01. น้อยใจยา (เดี่ยว) (noi chai ya (solo))
02. เพลงพม่า (phleng phama)
03. ลาวสวยรวย (lao suai ruai)
04. ลาวลำปางใหญ่ (lao lampang yai)
05. ลาวดำเนินทราย (lao damnoen sai)
06. น้อยใจยา (noi chai ya)

this week's post marks the third in a series of cassettes gifted to us by educator cliff sloane. a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

our third tape from cliff features the ensemble of chao sunthon na chiang mai presenting volume 3 of their "lanna identity" series, focusing on solo vocal performances with orchestral backing. born into the chiang mai royal family, chao sunthon left the northern capitol and moved south to central thailand to study classical music. upon his return, he became a central character in the preservation and continued innovation of northern thai local music, composing new melodies, hand-crafting the finest local instruments and instructing young musicians at the chiang mai college of dramatic arts. he passed away in 1986 at the age of 68^[1].

preview:

artist: คณะ เจ้าสุนทร ณ เชียงใหม่ (khana chao sunthon na chiang mai)
album: เอกลักษณ์ลานนา ชุดที่ 2 (ekkalak lanna, vol. 2)
tracklist:
01. ระบำซอ (rabam so)
02. ลาวคำหอม (lao kham hom)
03. ฟ้อนม่านมุ้ยเชียงตา (fon man mui chiang ta)
04. น้อยใจยา (คู่) (noi chai ya (duet))

this week's post marks the second in a series of cassettes gifted to us by educator cliff sloane. a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

our second tape from cliff features the ensemble of chao sunthon na chiang mai presenting volume 2 of their "lanna identity" series, adding vocal duets and choruses to the instrumental styles found on volume 1. born into the chiang mai royal family, chao sunthon left the northern capitol and moved south to central thailand to study classical music. upon his return, he became a central character in the preservation and continued innovation of northern thai local music, composing new melodies, hand-crafting the finest local instruments and instructing young musicians at the chiang mai college of dramatic arts. he passed away in 1986 at the age of 68^[1].

preview:

artist: คณะ เจ้าสุนทร ณ เชียงใหม่ (khana chao sunthon na chiang mai)
album: เอกลักษณ์ลานนา ชุดที่ 1 (ekkalak lanna, vol. 1)
tracklist:
01. เพลงประสาทไหว (phleng prasat wai)
02. ล่องแม่ปิง (long mae ping)
03. ฤษีหลงถ้ำ (ruesi long tham)
04. เชียงใหม่จ๊ะปุ้ละม้าย (chiang mai cha pu la mai)
05. เพลงเงี้ยวไทยใหญ่ (phleng ngieow thai yai)
06. น้อยใจยา (บรรเลง) (noi chai ya (instrumental))
07. ขี่แม่จ๊อย (khi mae choi)
08. เพลงแห่ (phleng hae)
09. ฟ้อนผีมด (fon phi mot)
10. สร้อยเวียงพิงค์ (soi wiang phing)
11. เพลงพม่า (บรรเลง) (phleng phama (instrumental))
12. เพลงมวย (phleng muai)

this week's post marks the first in a series of cassettes gifted to us by educator cliff sloane. a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

our first tape from cliff features the ensemble of chao sunthon na chiang mai presenting volume 1 of their "lanna identity" series. born into the chiang mai royal family, chao sunthon left the northern capitol and moved south to central thailand to study classical music. upon his return, he became a central character in the preservation and continued innovation of northern thai local music, composing new melodies, hand-crafting the finest local instruments and instructing young musicians at the chiang mai college of dramatic arts. he passed away in 1986 at the age of 68^[1].

preview:

artist: ชบาไพร นามวัย (chabaphrai namwai)
album: สาวบ้านนาสะอื้น (sao ban na sa'uen)
tracklist:
01. สาวบ้านนาสะอื้น (sao ban na sa'uen)
02. บ่มีคู่กอด (bo mi khu kot)
03. คอยพี่ที่แม่มูล (khoi phi thi mae mun)
04. บ้านนาคอยพี่ (ban na khoi phi)
05. สุดทางรัก (sut thang rak)
06. คิดฮอดเสียงพิณ (khit hot siang phin)
07. คิดถึงเสียงแคน (khit thueng siang khaen)
08. หนูรักบ้านนา (nu rak ban na)
09. บ่ลืมบ้านนา (bo luem ban na)
10. สิ้นใจผัว (sin chai phua)
11. แกล้งฉันทำไม (klaeng chan thammai)
12. ลำเพลินรักพี่แต่บุญไม่ถึง (lam phloen rak phi tae bun mai thueng)
13. ลำล่องแถมพรศรัทธา (lam long thaem phon sattha)
14. ลำล่องสั่งลา (lam long sang la)
15. ลำเพลินเดินนิทาน (lam phloen doen nithan)
sung by สะไบทอง เผ่าภูรี (sabaithong phaophuri)
16. ลำเพลินอวยพรทาน (lam phloen uai phon than)
sung by สะไบทอง เผ่าภูรี (sabaithong phaophuri)

this week, classic luk thung, lam phloen & more from chabaphrai namwai! like thongmai mali last post, miss chabaphrai of kalasin province brings us another set from doi inthanon's catalogue, this time dating further back to the 70's. chabaphrai gained her bona fides under molam sawai homsombat, and quickly earned a leading spot in the rung isan lam phloen and later khwanchai kalasin troupes. after gaining success with a few luk thung-style singles, she was able to form her own group and later became an instructor of molam at the kalasin college of dramatic arts, before she passed away in 2009^[1]. please enjoy this eclectic collection of her early recordings, and don't miss her second album at the fantastic saobao esan blog!

preview:

artist: ทองมัย มาลี (thongmai mali)
album: ลำแพน.. ท้าดวลเหล้า (lam phaen.. tha duan lao)
tracklist:
01. ลำแพนท้าดวลเหล้า (lam phaen tha duan lao)
02. ลำแพนเมาชาบ้ารัก (lam phaen mao cha ba rak)
03. ลำแพนขันอาสา (lam phaen khan asa)
04. ลำแพนลาแฟนเข้าบวช (lam phaen la faen khao buat)
05. ลำแพนห้ามเจ้าบ่ฟัง (lam phaen ham chao bo fang)
06. ลำแพนให้มึงจื่อบักหัวใจ (lam phaen hai mueng chue bak hua chai)
07. ลำแพนงามคือดารา (lam phaen ngam khue dara)
08. ลำแพนสาวร่อนเร่ (lam phaen sao ron re)
09. ลำแพนสุรามาเฟีย (lam phaen sura mafia)
10. ลำแพนคนค๊วดๆ เขี่ยๆ (lam phaen khon khuat khuat khia khia)

this week, some groovy lam phaen from mr. thongmai mali! coming from doi inthanon's circle of stars in the 80s, thongmai was one of the earliest and chief practitioners of the lam phaen style, which seems to have been the link between 70s lam phloen, which first wedded traditional lam with international pop influences, and lam sing, the manic, racy non-stop party music of the 90s. lam phaen added some speed and raunch to the former, setting pace for the brilliant excesses to come. it was also alleged by one source, at least, to have been influenced by the music and/or speech patterns of the kui people in sisaket province. is there any truth to this? who knows? enjoy!

preview:

artist: ทีมงานคนไทภู (team ngan khon thai phu)
album: ซาวด์ดนตรี ลำซิ่ง ชุด 1 (sound dontri lam sing, vol. 1)
tracklist:
01. ซิ่งเทพธิดาเทวี (sing thepthida thewi)
02. ซิ่งขายหัวเราะ (sing khai hua ro)
03. ผู้ใหญ่ลีขอซิ่ง (phu yai li kho sing)
04. ซิ่งไอ้เซียงหมี (sing ai siang mi)
05. ซิ่งสาระวัน (sing sarawan)
06. ซิ่งสาวหยิกแม่ (sing sao yik mae)

this week, some instrumental wonder from northeast thailand! the "khon thai phu [/phu thai?] work-team" are a little-known group, recording for ubon ratchathani's ratchabut stereo. here they turn in a cassette's worth of phin-khaen workouts, strongly influenced by the lam sing style, the hip, "racing", 1990s technological update to the molam tradition. drum machines, electric bass and synthesizer back up the soloists. needless to say, great stuff.. enjoy!

preview:

artist: ดาวใจ ไพจิตร (daochai phaichit)
album: ยังจำได้ไหม (yang cham dai mai)
tracklist:
01. ยังจำได้ไหม (yang cham dai mai)
02. ไม่ใกล้ไม่ไกล (mai klai mai klai)
03. วิมานสีชมพู (wiman si chomphu)
04. อย่าปันใจให้ฉัน (ya pan chai hai chan)
05. ผู้แพ้รัก (phu phae rak)
06. ยามร้าง (yam rang)
07. มันใจไม่รัก (man chai mai rak)
08. เสียงกระซิบจากเกลียวคลื่น (siang krasip chak klieow khluen)
09. ลืมเสียเถิดอย่าคิดถึง (luem sia thoet ya khit thueng)
10. บัวกลางบึง (bua klang bueng)
11. สาส์นรัก (san rak)
12. ปาหนัน (panan)

this week; the blue bangkok sounds of daochai phaichit! the famed luk krung crooner is said to have gotten her start in the suntharaphon band (although there's some debate on that point), before striking off as a solo artist under the tutelage of songwriter sisawat pichitworakan. she had a string of hits to her name throughout the 1970s, but the songs collected on this cassette were first made famous by the previous generation of stars, primarily ruangthong thonglanthom. with daochai, the big band arrangements of the originals are updated to a smooth 70's feel. enjoy!

preview:

artist: ชัยชนะ บุญนะโชติ + ยงยุทธ เชี่ยวชาญชัย (chaichana bunnachot & yongyut chieowchanchai)
album: บางกอกน้อย (bangkok noi)
tracklist:
01. บางกอกน้อย (bangkok noi)
02. ล่องใต้ (long tai)
03. ตังเกเร่รัก (tangke re rak)
04. นิ่งเสียเถิดคนดี (ning sia thoet khon di)
05. น้ำใจพ่อตา (nam chai pho ta)
06. แหล่สอนพ่อนาค (lae son pho nak)
07. ช่วยกันทำบุญสร้างวัด (chuai kan tham bun sang wat)
08. วิวาห์พาชื่น (wiwa pha chuen)
09. แห่ขันหมาก (hae khan mak)
10. ขันหมากพี่มาแล้ว (khan mak phi ma laeo)
11. รับขันหมากพี่ (rap khan mak phi)
12. ลาน้องไปบวช (la nong pai buat)
13. ดอลลาร์พาเศร้า (dollar pha sao)
14. มีจนเหมือนกัน (mi chon muean kan)
15. น้ำไหลใจหญิง (nam lai chai ying)
16. รักหนี (rak ni)
17. จุดเทียนรำวง (chut thian ramwong)
18. ป้ายแขวนคอ (pai khwaen kho)

1-2, 4-8 sung by ชัยชนะ บุญนะโชติ (chaichana bunnachot)
3 sung by ชัยณรงค์ บุญนะโชติ (chainarong bunnachot)
9 sung by เสน่ห์ เพชรบูรณ์ (sane phetchabun)
10, 12-16, 18 sung by ยงยุทธ เชี่ยวชาญชัย (yongyut chieowchanchai)
11 sung by ผ่องศรี วรนุช (phongsi woranut)
17 sung by นิยม มารยาท (niyom marayat)

this week's excellent cassette presents a sampling from the careers of a couple of luk thung luminaries, with a few lesser-knowns thrown in (and uncredited!) for good measure. our lead artist is chaichana bunnachot, one of the earliest practitioners of thai country music and a favorite throughout the years as both a singer and songwriter. after a few mainstream luk thung hits, we're treated to a set of his rarer, religiously-themed numbers. this brings us to yongyut chieowchanchai, the famed yodeler of chinese extraction and suraphon disciple, for whom such material is his forte. a series of wedding-themed tunes, including an answer song from the magnificent phongsi woranut. this is really a great one.. don't miss!

thanks to all at plengpakjai.net, especially prasit and mueangphet, for the help identifying the unattributed tracks.

preview:

artist: various artists
album: ลิเกลูกทุ่ง (liké luk thung)
tracklist:
01. ลิเกเงินกีบ (liké ngoen kip)
sung by ยอดรัก สลักใจ (yotrak salakchai)
02. ลิเกเงินล้าน (liké ngoen lan)
sung by แจ่มจันทร์ กำไลทอง (chaemchan kamlaithong)
03. ลิเกไพรวัลย์หาคู่ (liké phraiwan ha khu)
04. ลิเกไพรวัลย์ (liké phraiwan)
sung by ไพรวัลย์ ลูกเพชร (phraiwan lukphet)
05. ลิเกสงสัย (liké songsai)
sung by สุชาติ เทียนทอง + หฤทัย หิรัญญา (suchat thianthong & haruethai hiranya)
06. ลิเกเจ้าชู้ (liké chao chu)
sung by สังข์ทอง สีใส (sangthong sisai)
07. ลิเกแมวเฝ้าปลา (liké maeo fao pla)
sung by ไพรวัลย์ ลูกเพชร + เพลิน พนาวัลย์ (phraiwan lukphet & phloen phanawan)
08. ลิเกเงินผ่อน (liké ngoen phon)
sung by เพชร โพธาราม (phet photaram)
09. ลิเกดาวหมาหลับ (liké dao ma lap)
sung by กิตติ บุญญาการ + นิรันดร์ นันทนิมิตร (kitti bunyakan & niran nanthanimit)
10. ลิเกวิทยุตะโพนทีวี 1 (liké withayu taphon t.v. 1)
11. ลิเกวิทยุตะโพนทีวี 2 (liké withayu taphon t.v. 2)
12. ลิเกวิทยุตะโพนทีวี 3 (liké withayu taphon t.v. 3)
13. ลิเกวิทยุตะโพนทีวี 4 (liké withayu taphon t.v. 4)
14. ลิเกวิทยุตะโพนทีวี 5 (liké withayu taphon t.v. 5)
sung by อนันต์ สันติสุข + สมศักดิ์ ศรีบางช้าง (anan santisuk & somsak sibangchang)
15. ซุปเปอร์ลิเก (super liké)
sung by ยอดรัก สลักใจ (yotrak salakchai)

this week's tape comes courtesy of michel, the person behind both the kadao ton kao blog and the new sao bao isan.. excellent sites, not to be missed!

luk thung draws from a myriad of thailand's traditional musics to create its folk-pop hybrid sound, but perhaps my favorite are those songs which use liké as their basis. descended from malay dikir, the street theater form liké is a staple of temple fairs, instantly recognizable by its technicolor matte painting backdrops and blindingly-sequined actors. liké luk thung numbers often start out in standard pop form for a verse or so, after which an ensemble figure leads them down into a deep, rhythmic speak-sing section, which vocalists usually use to great ornamental effect. this cassette features some of the stars best known for this luk thung sub-genre (although in most cases none of their biggest hits were in liké style) as well as some very obscure offerings, too. fantastic all around.. enjoy!

preview:

artist: อรอุมา สิงห์ศิริ (onuma singsiri)
album: สาวอีสานรอรัก (sao isan ro rak)
tracklist:
01. สาวอีสานรอรัก (sao isan ro rak)
02. หนุ่มอุดรฝากรัก (num udon fak rak)
sung by อัศวิน ปิ่นเพชร (atsawin pinphet)
03. สาวอีสานครวญ (sao isan khruan)
04. คอยพี่ที่บ้านนา (khoi phi thi ban na)
05. คืนเดือนหงาย (khuen duean ngai)
06. สาวหมอลำช้ำรัก (sao molam cham rak)
07. สาวอีสาน (sao isan)
08. แม่ค้าส้มตำ (mae kha som tam)
09. รอวันพี่กลับ (ro wan phi klap)
10. ออนซอนเสียงซอ (on son siang so)
11. อรอุมา อะบานิบี (onuma "a ba ni bi")
12. อรอุมา พาเพลิน (onuma pha phloen)
13. สัญญารักที่ศาลาลอย (sanya rak thi sala loi)
14. ฮักอ้ายอีหลี (hak ai ili)
15. บ่ลืมพี่ที่ยโสธร (bo luem phi thi yasothon)
16. ลำเพลินเกี้ยวบ่าว (lam phloen kieow bao)
17. เต้ยริมโขง (toei rim khong)

this week i wanted to re-post an old crowd-favorite from this blog, with a link that's long since dead and a re-upload much requested [i also needlessly excised one track last time around, so this seemed like a good opportunity to redress that questionable decision, as well]. onuma singsiri's classic single "sao isan ro rak (northeastern girl waiting for love)" (penned by sumthum phairimbueng, whom we heard from recently) was a huge hit, and remains a karaoke staple to this day. onuma is from khon kaen, and i've heard she lives now in tennessee, but aside from that i don't know much about her. soi48 let me know that the backing band is that of so fiddle maestro thonghuad faited, and that the whole album was recorded in one day! lastly, people have asked for a date on this one, and after some consideration i can almost certainly give 1978 or 1979, since it contains a cover of israeli eurovision song contest winner izhar cohen & the alphabeta's "a-ba-ni-bi" from 1978 and the lead single was covered by grand ex' in 1979. so there you go.. enjoy!

preview:

artist: สมาน กาญจนะผลิน (saman kanchanaphalin)
album: เดี่ยวแอคคอเดี้ยน ไทยเดิม-สากล (accordion play thai classical music)
tracklist:
01. แขกมอญ 2 ชั้น (khaek mon 2 chan)
02. ลาวดวงเดือน (lao duang duean)
03. เขมรไทรโยค (khmer sai yok)
04. ลาวดำเนินทราย (lao damnoen sai)
05. สีนวล (si nuan)
06. คลื่นกระทบฝั่ง (khluen kratop fang)
07. ลาวเสี่ยงเทียน (lao siang thian)
08. ขับไม้บัณเฑาะว์ (khap mai bantho)
09. แขกเชิญเจ้า (khaek choen chao)
10. แขกต่อยหม้อ (khaek toi mo)
11. ค้างคาวกินกล้วย (khangkhao kin kluai)
12. ลาวเจริญศรี (lao charoen si)

this week, another classic from suntharaphon bandleader saman kanchanaphalin! while most famous for the many big band pop tunes he's written for various jazz-age bangkok balladeers, we've also heard saman playing a selection of classical tunes on the marimba and a selection of modern numbers with a piphat mon orchestra. on this cassette, the instrument of choice is the accordion, and the a-side features classical melodies performed in “thai style” (meaning only percussive accompaniment) while the b-side is done in “international style” (with a jazz combo behind). another interesting prayuk-style endeavor from mr. saman.. enjoy!

preview:

artist: สายัณห์ สัญญา (sayan sanya)
album: สายัณห์มาแปลก (sayan ma plaek)
tracklist:
01. เต้ย สาวสีหนีกรุง (toei sao si ni krung)
02. เต้ย ยังมีหัวใจให้เธอ (toei yang mi hua chai hai thoe)
03. เต้ย โลกนี้มีปัญหา (toei lok ni mi panha)
04. เต้ย หนาวนี้พี่คอยนาง (toei nao ni phi khoi nang)
05. เต้ย รักสิบล้อรอนับแบงค์ (toei rak sip lo ro nap bank)
06. เต้ย บ้านนาบ้านเรา (toei ban na ban rao)
07. เต้ย ลบไม่หมด (toei lop mai mot)
08. เต้ย วาสนาอาภัพ (toei watsana aphap)
09. เต้ย ลมรักลมคิดถึง (toei lom rak lom khit thueng)
10. เต้ย ฐานะอ้ายจน (toei thana ai chon)
11. เต้ย ไผจองหรือยัง (toei phai chong rue yang)
12. เต้ย หน้าตาไม่สำคัญ (toei na ta mai samkhan)

we're back this week with an unusual entry from the late, great sayan sanya! born & 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 80's & early 90's he paired up with phumphuang duangchan and reigned as the biggest of luk thung stars. this 1993 cassette seems to be the first in his "sayan ma plaek (sayan comes strangely)" series, wherein the luk thung star performs a set of songs in a style outside his usual. this volume sees him teaming with songwriter sumthum phairimbueng and the band of daeng phalanchai for an isan-style album of lam toei. was he meant to be a molam all along? you decide! .. enjoy!

preview:

artist: สมญา ยอดหญิง (somya yotying)
album: เย้ายวน (yao yuan)
tracklist:
01. เสียงครวญจากเจแปน (siang khruan chak japan)
02. สะพานรักมิตรภาพ (saphan rak mittraphap)
03. ค่ำนี้นอนไหน (kham ni non nai)
04. ลาก่อนกรุงเทพ (la kon krungthep)
05. บอกรักบอกลา (bok rak bok la)
06. ยินดีสาบาน (yin di sa ban)
07. ไปให้ไกลๆ (pai hai klai klai)
08. สาวรุ่นใหม่ (sao run mai)
09. ฉันไม่อยากร้องให้ (chan mai yak rong hai)
10. หัวใจไร้เจ้าของ (hua chai rai chao khong)
11. เด็กหน้าร้าน (dek na ran)
12. ผ้าเช็ดหน้าเช็ดน้ำตา (pha chet na chet nam ta)

this week, some 90s luk thung from somya yotying! i hadn't heard of somya prior to picking up this cassette, but from the j-card we can learn that she was on the roster of sansoen rungserichai's boxing sound label, home also to star yingyong yotbuangam. like yingyong, somya was a creation of producer phamon anothai and his anothai promotion group. therefore, the music is similar in sound to yingyong's hits of the time (the notes seem to indicate it might even be that singer's band backing her here); a standard sound for the time, not too different from yui yatyoe or later material from phumphuang duangchan. enjoy!

artist: ยอดรัก สลักใจ (yodrak salakchai)
album: นอนคนเดียว (non khon dieow)
tracklist:
01. นอนคนเดียว (non khon dieow)
02. ไม่อยากจะมอง (mai yak cha mong)
03. คนใจน้อย (khon chai noi)
04. แคชเชียร์ที่รัก (cashier thi rak)
05. คนเห็นแก่เงิน (khon hen kae ngoen)
06. นอนคนเดียว [ดนตรี] (non khon dieow [instrumental])
07. ไม่อยากจะมอง [ดนตรี] (mai yak cha mong [instrumental])
08. สำนึกสุดท้าย (samnuek sut thai)
09. เธอมีแฟนใหม่ (thoe mi faen mai)
10. ถ่านนอกเตา (than nok tao)
11. ทหารก็มีหัวใจ (thahan ko mi hua chai)
12. นักจัดรายการ (nak chat rai kan)
13. สำนึกสุดท้าย [ดนตรี] (samnuek sut thai [instrumental])
14. คนใจน้อย [ดนตรี] (khon chai noi [instrumental])

this week, another great cassette from the late police corporal 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. while this cassette is a bit heavier on the ballads than others of his i've posted, fans of the thai disco sound should still find some enjoyment! and if you're into the syrupy luk thung ballad, of course, this has you written all over it. enjoy!

artist: ชัยโย ยโสธร (chaiyo yasothon)
album: ฮักหลายเด้ (hak lai de)
tracklist:
01. ลำแคน (lam khaen)
02. ฮักหลายเด้ (hak lai de)
03. คนจนยิ้มจาง (khon chon yim chang)
04. คำวอนก่อนลา (kham won kon la)
05. หนุ่มนาหาคู่ (num na ha khu)
06. เปลี่ยวใจไร้คู่ (plieow chai rai khu)
07. เอาใจนาง (ao chai nang)
08. ลาก่อนที่รัก (la kon thi rak)
09. ลาแฟนไปแทนคุณ (la faen pai thaen khun)
10. ลำเดินเชิญม่วน (lam doen choen muan)
11. คอยนางคืนมา (khoi nang khuen ma)
12. หนุ่มนาคอย (num na khoi)
13. ฮักหลายเด้ [ดนตรีฝึกร้อง] (hak lai de [instrumental])
14. ลำแคน [ดนตรีฝึกร้อง] (lam khaen [instrumental])

this week, a quite obscure cassette from chaiyo yasothon! my search turned up practically nothing about this singer, although i'd guess he's from.. yasothon. neither of the credited songwriters yielded many results either (though one, adison phonsayam, seems to have had one memorable rewrite of a yodrak salakchai song).  the music, though, is by num phuthai, and having been recorded for metro records in 1987, this would seem to place chaiyo in the same camp as phimpha phonsiri, whose isan khieow was produced in that same configuration. classic 80s molam-luk thung sound.. enjoy!

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!

preview: