Ploen Promdaen - "At the end of the Kathin Ceremony..."

...I can smell women". Welcome to another Ploen Promdaen post. This record is a bit older than the previously posted "Glua Duang" - the record actually has the year on the top left, 2510 -  that makes it 1967 in western calendar. This is before Ploen Promdaen developed his talking style (plaeng put) which made him famous, but from the title (what does it mean really?) you can already see that he loves provoking and hilarious lyrics for his songs. Its a great set, and I post the whole album, even though the last song on Side A is a cheesy ballad from a female singer, but she makes up for it with the last song on Side B, which closes the set with a great Lae style song. The rest is Ploen Promdaen at his finest. The file is this time in .wav, because I had problems converting to mp3. DL should be quick though (its on Mega). Please enjoy!

Charoenjai Sunthornwatin - Thai classic, not for the casual listener...

A great album with classic Thai Music! Don't let the term classic scare you off - we are not talking Mozart or Beethoven. The music is quite challenging to listen to, and not for those who like their bath lukewarm, with bubbles and so ... but if you are into uncommon sounds and singing, ever had an interest in experimental sounds (say, Throbbing Gristle and the like) then this might be one for you. The vinyl I got is not the best, but it is an excellent and rare album and I never mind some crackling... enjoy Ms. Charoenjai here!

Sabaithong Powpuri - great Isaan Molam on the Phin Kaen Label!

If you liked Phet Pin Thong or Onuma Singsiri, this is just the right record for you! Great Molam (mostly Lam Ploern, but rich in variation) from Ms. Sabaithong Powpuri. She is less well known than Angkanang Khunchai or Onuma, but personally I like her voice the best. I have only seen two LPs from her - this one is excellent (if the cover picture looks familiar: it was used for a Sublime Frequencies Compilation of Molam). "Lam Ploern Tüan Jai Tahan Thai" for your listening pleasure here!

Killer Molam from Monruedee Promjak!

This is from a split album by Chapabrai Naamwai (Side A) and Monruedee Promjak (Side B). The style here is not Lam Ploen but Lam Dang Wai (sometimes transcribed Lam Tung Wai), very hypnotic - reminds me a lot of Junior Kimbroughs hypnotic blues guitar riffs. Since its in a nondescript gray cover, I put a picture of another LP by Monruedee as a header for this post. The original cover and titles you find below. Be prepared for very intensive 17 listening minutes here! Enjoy!

Waiphod Petsuphan Vinyl - เซิ้งกระติ๊บข้าว great Isaan LP!

One of Waiphod's finest LPs. Luk Thung Isaan or Molam-style...? It is definitely Isaan music, just to give you a rough idea. Waiphod Petsuphan is in Europe one of the better known Thai singers, thanks to Re-issues and compilations (Sound of Siam, Ding Ding Dong 7 inch, Thai Beat a-go-go etc). Taken from vinyl LP BK 712, as always as a single file for the true connoiseur. Recommended unconditionally, please enjoy!

Kwanjit Sriprachan - "Nang Kruan" Lae album

This is an absolute astonishing Lae album from Kwanjit Sriprachan. Lae is often described as rap-like, and it certainly shares characteristics with Rap, but also reminds me of funk or soul. Songs are usually variations or deeper explorations into a spiriritual topic. On this album, songs come in pairs. There are six songs, and each has two parts, overall the rhythm builds up from song to song. This kind of music was described as "space funk" Lae, and it is one of the best Thai records I know. Please enjoy as much as I did!

Thai Classic - C.T.R. 248 ...it's amazing!

Without much ado I give you this otherworldly album - "Thai Doem", Classical Thai music, haunting, challenging ...an acquired taste I suppose...please give it a try here!

Onuma Singsiri - "Mae Kha Som Dam", the somdam vendor...from Vinyl!

If you like Molam you have heard her song "Mae Kha Somdam" for sure...its included on the splendid "Sound of Siam" compilation. The LP with this song is "Sao Isaan Ror Rak" (Isaan girl waiting for love), and its amazing. It blends Pop with Molam style, and you will find Isaan pop (the first 2 tracks are related - first Onuma has her saying, and in the second song her male companion answers, a song form that is called "rong gae"), great ballads ("orn sorn siang sor", track 7), funky stuff with wah-wah guitars and traditional Molam.
Actually, there are lots of awesome 45s which are not found on any LP. If you see anything by Onuma Singsiri, just get it...whatever she sang sounded great! But please hear for yourself - enjoy!

Thai Funk/Luk Thung e-san from Mister Dao Bandon!

Sunday and some time to fool around...! This record from Mr. Dao Bandon has been with me for a while, but I only recently discovered how great it actually is. Probably a perfect example of what is often considered Thai Funk (which is not that funky, but more like late sixties soul that is just about to get funky). I'd rather say it is the E-san version of Luk Thung (luk thung e-san), and together with Saksiam Petchompoo and Thepporn Pethubon he is one of the great stars of this genre. His voice is much higher than for example Thepporn's, but this makes it so suitable for funky rhythms. Here is HLP 236! Beware, I did not include the last 2 songs, which like on many other records from this period give a far too sweet (=cheesy) closing to this record...

For further listening you may check out a recent compilation of his essential songs on the wonderful EM Records label from Japan called "Man on a Water Buffalo".

more from Banyen Rakgaen - Molam from HLP 231 and 247

Was neues altes von Banyen Rakgaen! Ich hatte hier bereits die fantastische "Lam ploen denn isaan" gepostet, die sehr roh und groovig ist. Leider sind viele späte Alben von Banyen vollkommen anders, möglicherweise gab es den Wunsch, auch einmal einen Hit zu haben, erfolgreich zu sein und Geld zu verdienen. Möglicherweise war es ähnlich wie bei anderen Musikformen, dass irgendwann die Möglichkeiten, den Molam zu variieren, ausgereizt waren. Ich lass das mal als Hypothese so stehen, denn es würde ganz gut diese zwei Alben von Banyen erklären. HLP 231 und 247 haben jeweils eine fantastische A Seite, die mit Molam und Lam Ploen sehr experimentell umgeht, während die B Seiten jeweils nur schmalzige Balladen bieten. Das Konzept war wohl, auf Nummer sicher zu gehen. Schmeisst man den Schmalz der B-Seiten raus, hat man ein absolutes Killer Album! Ich erlaube mir daher mal, hier jeweils nur die A Seiten zu posten!

Sorry folks, this time I prefer to write in German. Please let the music speak for itself! You will find innovative Molam from Banyen Rakgaen, only the A Sides from HLP 231 and 247 - together they make for a killer record! 

Have fun!

Thai Funk from The Impossibles! "Stage Show" (1974)

                                           

The Impossibles were really big in Thailand throughout the Seventies, playing Soul, Funk, Country and Ballads alike. They recorded their 1975 Album “Hot Pepper” in Sweden while on Tour in Europe: reportedly they were the first Thai Rock Band to record a whole album in English.  They took their name from a 1960s cartoon called “The Impossibles” (a Hanna-Barbera TV Series). The group split up in 1977. While “Hot Pepper”, originally issued on Philips in 1975, has been repressed (unofficially?), “Stage Show” from 1974 has not been repressed. A couple of weeks ago I found this record in a small shop and did not expect too much, since most later records from The Impossibles were rather unlistenable (cheesy ballads). .. but not his one! It gets immediately funky, starting with an awesome version of Stevie Wonders “Superstition”, and stays funky and soulish (think Kool & The Gang, Barry White etc.). The only song I had to omit is a cover of Hank Williams' “Your cheatin’ heart”. I am a big fan of Hank Williams, but I want to spare you (and the world) this cover-version from the Impossibles… anyway, the rest is awesome, please enjoy! If you like to see the songlist, it can be found on Discogs…

Jan Molam - a couple of my favorite 7inches compiled

Semester break, and finally I can upload a few of my favorite tunes. You will find Lae  (check out tune number 1 Yodkaew - sounds to me like a thai sibling of Junior Kimbrough), Lam Ploen/Molam, Shadow/Garage (The Cat), the unique Waiphod Petsuphan, even one classical song, some popular singers like Ploen Promdaen, Chai Mueangsing and Thepporn Petubon, and many I have no information about. All of these are from 7 Inch vinyl, so I hope lots of songs you have never heard before! Here are the tracks:

1. Yodgaew Duangden: lae mae mai
2. Suntorn Chairungrueang: toey disco
3. Banyen Sriwongsa: lam phloen sawan chao na
4. Chai Mueangsing: blug ban
5. Kobgun Wongsawaat: lam phloem hag num ban na
6. Napapon Mueangsuphan: sawan jao ka
7. Asawin Binphet: lan toey giao saao
8. Waiphod Petsuphan: chom sao isaan
9. Kam Mueang Nakorn: chuan nong long dai (2^nd half)
10. Dao Bandon: lae pattana meuang
11. The Cat: torpedo run
12. Thepporn Petubon: phlaeng jai dam
13. Rungpet Phetisaan: phon hen naa
14. Samai & Somchai & Sonwong: jubyae jan
15. Waiphod Petsuphan: tid gaew gin liang
16. Thai Classical Music: serng kratipkao
17. Ploen Promdaen: farang serng bongfai

 Hope you enjoy my compilation!

Banyen Rakkaen - this is where Molam really kicked off...!

...Molam is probably hundreds of years old, but for me it really kicks off with this album - because here the traditional Lam Ploen was taken to a new groove that it did not have before in my opinion. Older forms have a good groove as well, but here it started to kick you hard. This set does not yet use electric instruments, but the drums that support the traditional Kaen (mouthpipe) move it away from folklore and push in the direction of rough soul. I guess it is from the late sixties or early seventies. The recording itself has a raw quality that later Lam Ploen records do not possess. So here is this really rare record (titled "Lam Ploen Denn Isan") in all its glorious Mono for you to enjoy!

Thai VS Bollywood III: Waipod Petsuphan "Setthi Ngoen Gu" (7")

As requested another item concerning Thai-Indian (musical) relations... Waipod Petsuphan of "Ding Ding Dong" fame (Sound of Siam Vol. 1) issued this little gem on one of my favorite labels, Khob Ploeng - nearly every single I have from them is briliant (see label logo below). On this one, Waipod sings about one of the main professions of Indians in Bangkok, money lender, backed by pseudo-indian music, sung in his unique Lae singing style! Enjoy!

Noknoi Uraiporn - Isaan Molam from the 70ties (HLP 232) split album

Noknoi Uraiporn did this excellent album back in the 70ties - it is a split Album with Noknoi Uraiporn on Side A and Chutima Duangpon ("Fon dok Laew" featured on "Siamese Soul - Thai Pop Spectacular" Vol. 2) on Side B. Noknoi has the Phet Pin Thong Band backing her, but this record is a nice mix of ballads - which are luckily not as cheesy as other Molam singers attempts at Luk Thung - and groovy Molam tunes. Actually Miss Uraiporn is still touring with a big Molam group, but the sound is not as raw and funky as it was back in the 70ties. Please forgive me for just posting the Noknoi Side: Enjoy!

Chabaprai Naamwai - Lam Ploen Kidtueng Faen Tahan HLP 276

Chabaprai Naamwai is from Kalasin Province and issued some excellent records on the "Thra Pin Kaen" Label in the 70ties. This one, HLP 276, is one of her best, collecting some of her best "Lam Phloen" Songs. Basically I choose to upload this set because so far I feel that I did not yet post a lot of Lam Phloen (just the Pet Phin Tong Albums) even though my main motivation for this blog was my wish to make Lam Phloen better known. Chabaprai sings a more accessible kind of pop style Lam Phloen, which is good as an introduction to Lam Phloen. The early songs in the 50ties and 60ties had only the singer and the Kaen, and gradually musicians added drums and electric instruments. Usually these songs start with the singer vocalizing (ooh la nor... ooh la nai....) and after a minute or so the drums and other instruments kick in. Great fun, great music! Get on your dancing feet here!

If you like this, take a look at the excellent Monrakplengthai Blog, where you find an early tape, and another excellent post at saoban esan with a lot of information on Chabaprai!

JanMolam - WeddingMix for Lina

vielen Dank von Prairin und mir für deine Gastfreundschaft in Hamburg! - und wie versprochen findest du hier den Molam Mix, den wir für unsere Heirat vorbereitet hatten - so kannst du doch noch irgendwie dabeisein!


1. Ploen Promdaen - Farang Zeang Bong Fai
2. Angkhanang Khunchai - Toey Salap Parma
3. Banyen Sriwongsa - Lam Ploen Kon Baa Huay
4. Banyen Sriwongsa - Ramwong Saraphan
5. Montien Tiantong - Gor Gai
6. Angkhanang Khunchai - Kid Hod Chu
7. Chutima Duangporn - Fon Dok Laew
8. Suang Santi - Phu Yingyai Part 2
9. Ornuma Sringsiri - Mae Khai Somdam
10. Pet Pin Thong - Bump Lam Ploen
11. Banyen Rakgaen - Siang Toey Jak Jai
12. Petch Asia Band - Lam Ploen Doa Yang
13. Saksiam Petchompoo - Saksiam Doern Glon
14. Monruedee Promjak - Lam Dangwai
15. Ubon Pattana Band with Surin Paksiri - Lam Sarawan
16. Bratuang Siangpalong - Tahaan Palat Song
17. Waipot Petsupan - Nang Maew Pee
18. Saksiam Petchompoo - Saksiam Grab Faen
19. Chanpen Sirithep - Lam Ploen Ha Faen
20. Samli Sitong - Pong Lang Sang Sao
21. Rome Srithammarat - Sao New Look

คลิ๊กที่นี่

 

Saksiam Petchompoo - Thai Funk and Molam! HLP245 full album!

Saksiam Petchompoo should be well known, his songs are featured on the "Sound of Siam" Compilations and on the "Theppabutr Productions" Sampler... his music is more soul than funk, with razor sharp saxophones and a driving molam beat. Just check the first 2 songs, Saksiam Grab Faen (Saksiam salutes his fans) and Saksiam doen glorn (Saksiam spins a tale) and you will be hooked! This album "Saksiam Grab Faen" is a very rare compilation of impossible to find 7inches, and probably the best Saksiam LP ever. Enjoy!

45 of the week - Deep Molam from Brasitchai Srimueang: "Pee Jon Nong Oey"

Little is known about this singer - he sounds a little bit like Tiantong Montian ("Gor Gai")  from the second Sound of Siam compilation, but I just love his voice and the spaced out way he sings. So without further ado - listen to this super rare gem here!

Thai VS Bollywood II: Ultra rare Suang Santi (Iron Man) / Sumit Stachatape, full album!

You would never suspect it from the look of the cover - this is Suang Santi's record with the Black Sabbath cover "Iron Man" (Kuen Kuen Long Long) on it. The guy on the cover is of course not our cool hero Suang, but Sumit Stachatape, who is found on the A-side... and to my surprise it is a real find! It's a blend of Indian music and Luk Thung, hence I feature it in my little series of reports about thai-indian musical relations. Side B then is probably some of the most recent stuff from Suang Santi before his untimely death, and definitely some of his finest. Have fun!

...and if you have the chance to find it - there is a 7 Inch re-issue from Finders Keepers with "Kuen Kuen Long Long" on it, this time Suang Santi on the cover: