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

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