Radiodiffusion Internasionaal Annexe

♬ Kill 1 Pig / ฆ่าหมูตาย 1 ตัว

Many years ago, I bought this single for the A side: Soreng Santi / สรวง สันติ – ”Dub Fai Kui Gun” / ”ดับไฟคุยกัน”. For some reason, I never bothered to listen to the other side until about a year or so ago. Needless to say, I was surprised to hear Led Zeppelin’s “Living Loving Maid”. And then I translated the title… How hasn’t this song been included in one of the 100 or so Thai compilations out there?

As for Rayrai Na Koratch / เรไร ณ โคราช… I have not been able to find anything. If you have any further information about this artist or anything else about this recording, please leave it in the comment section below.

Catalog number MK 08 on Mon Muangnue / มนต์ เมืองเหนือ. No Release date listed.

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Since this posting, I have been contacted by the ever helpful Peter Doolan of Monrakplengthai. Here’s what he had to say:

Rerai Na Khorat (“of Khorat”) was, unsurprisingly, from Khorat (Nakhon Ratchasima) in Thailand’s northeast. she was a breakout star in Chai Muangsing‘s group, her specialty being female “answer-songs” to hits by male artists. She is now in her early 70s, and still lives in Khorat, where she runs a restaurant. She still occasionally gets back on-stage, such as last year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Chai’s band.

♬ Rose in Your Hands / กุหลาบในมือเธอ

♬ Suranari / สุรานารี

The I. S. Combo started in Bangkok, Thailand in 1962. The following year, they changed their name to Silver Sand / ซิลเวอร์แซนด์ – also seen as Silversand.

They produced two instrumental singles – the first which was released in 1966 – before singer Sirima Sunthonrangsi / สิริมา สุนทรรังษี joined the band. They would go on to record two more singles and two more albums before disbanding in 1979.

Some of you may recognize the cover. It was used on the first volume of the Thai Beat A Go Go series from Subliminal Sounds.

Catalog number 45-920 on Sri Krung / ศรีกรุง of Thailand. No release date listed.

♬ Angkhanang Khunchai / อังคนางค์ คุณไชย • Ka Po Lom / กะโป๊ะลม

♬ Onuma Singsiri / อรอุมา สิงห์ศิริ • Sao Molam Cham Rak / สาวหมอลําชํ้ารัก 

Angkhanang Khunchai / อังคนางค์ คุณไชย was born on February 6, 1955 in Khok San / โคกสาร subdistrict of Chanuman / ชานุมาน district in the province of Amnat Charoen / อำนาจเจริญ. From an early age she was mentored by renowned national molam artist Chawiwan Damnoen /ฉวีวรรณ ดำเนิน and in her mid-teens joined the legendary musical troupe the Ubon Phatthana Band as the lead vocalist. In 1971 at the age of 16 she released a single “Isan Lam Phloen” / “อิสานลำเพลิน”, which went on to become a classic. She went on to record over 20 albums and more than 40 singles. The label EM Records has reissued two of her albums: Isan Lam Phloen / อิสานลำเพลิน and Never Forget Me / แฟนจ๋าอย่าลืม.

Onuma Singsiri / อรอุมา สิงห์ศิริ was born on February 12, 1961 in Chumphon / จุมพล subdistrict of Phon Phisai / โพนพิสัย district in the province of Nong Khai / หนองคาย. She recorded almost 20 singles and three albums. Her biggest hit was “Isan Girl Fall in Love” / “สาวอีสานรอรัก”. Her album by the same name has been reissued by Baichasong. 

Many thanks to ever helpful Peter Doolan from Monrakplengthai for his input on this post. 

Released by Uea Ari Chao Kao / เอื้ออารีย์เจ้าเก่า of Thailand. No catalog number or release date listed.

♬ Thahan Bok / ทหารบก

Amphon Phonphrom / อัมพร พรพรหม was from Thailand. To the best of my knowledge, he only recorded two songs – both of which were B sides to Yotrak Salakchai / ยอดรัก สลักใจ singles. Beyond that, I have not been able to find anything on him or the songwriter Prasit Phramklang /  ประสิทธิ์ พราหมกลาง.

If you have any further information about this artist or anything else about this recording, please leave it in the comment section below.

Many thanks to Peter Doolan of Monrakplengthai for the translation.

Catalog number PSS 02. No release date listed. But since his other single – which is catalog number PSS 04 – says 1981, it would be safe to assume that his single was released the same year.

♬ Kratae / กระแต

♬ The Moon Departs the Sky / จันทร์จากฟ้า

Kabuan Mukda / ขบวน มุกดา – not to be confused with his adoptive father and manager Payong Mukda – was from Thailand.

The first track Kratae / กระแต may sound familiar. It’s a version of the first song of the Thai Beat A Go Go compilation which you can hear here. The second song – The Moon Departs the Sky / จันทร์จากพ่า – was originally written by Phranbun / พรานบูรพ์ and recorded by Phensi Phumchusi / เพ็ญศรี พุ่มชูศรี. You can here it here.

Many thanks to the amazing Peter Doolan of Monrakplenthai for translation and for the information about this record. You can find more more information about and recordings by Kabuan Mukda over at Monrakplenthai here.

Catalog number MLK – 739 on Metro Records of Bangkok, Thailand. No release date listed.

♬ Tortoise Shell / แมงตับเต่า

The Petch Phin Thong Band was the backing band for comedian Ning Nong Petchphinthon / หนิงหน่อง เพชรพิณทอง.They formed in 1982. They recorded nine album and five singles. All of their singles and three of their albums were released on their own label – also named เพชรพิณทอง.

Their song “Soul Lam Plern” was included on Soundway‘s The Sound of Siam (Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz & Molam in Thailand 1964-1975) and Subliminal Sounds’ Thai Beat A Go-Go Vol. 3 (Groovy Sounds From The Land Of Smile!). The song “Bump Lam Plern” was included on Soundway’s The Sound of Siam Vol. 2 (Molam & Luk Thung from North-East Thailand 1970-1982).

Catalog number HS 354 on Petch Thong. No release date listed.

♬ Lam Phloen Hak Sao Phom Pia / ลำเพลินฮักสาวผมเปีย

Wician Salawan, aka Sonthaya Kalasin, was born in the Kalasin Province in 1957. From an early age, he loved to sing, imitating the molam songs he heard on the radio and TV – including his favorites Angkanang Kunchai and Banyan Siwongsa. He did not undertake training as an apprentice, instead he learned the techniques for performing lam from his father, who himself was a molam singer.

Sonthaya was given his debut by Surin Paksiri. In 1975, Paksiri – who’s real name was Tidso Lam Sudsanan – formed the Tidso Lam Phloen Troup. Originally, he wanted Angkanang Khunchai / ทองนาง คุณไชย as the lead singer of the group, but she had become too popular. So, Paksiri hired Sonthi Sonmat / คม คีรีบูน, Phairin Phonphibun / ไพรินทร์ พรพิบูลย์ and Sonthaya Kalasin. Sonthaya originally started out as a dancer in the group but it was not long before Suring notice that Sonthaya had a talent for singing.

Although Sonthaya was adored by female fans for his good looks, he harbored a deep secret: He was transgender. Everyone in the Tidso Lam Phloen Troupe except Surin Paksiri knew this and affectionally referred to Sonthaya as ‘Older Sister’. Surin didn’t understand the nickname, and asked Sonthaya about it, and he explained everything. Surin was understanding and requested that Sonthaya continue to perform as a man as long as he was in the group. After the troupe disbanded, Sonthaya Kalasin fully transitioned. Her popularity has continued – mostly on television where she has become a regular personality.

EMI Japan released a compilation of Sonthaya Kalasin’s work in 2016 entitled Grade A Guy. Most of the information in this post was published in the extensive liner notes of that release. Many thanks to the amazing Peter Doolan of Monrakplenthai for translation and for the information about this record.

Catalog number RP 3129 3093 on Surin Paksiri / สุรินทร์ ภาคศิริ of Thailand, distributed by Golden Sound Record Store / ห้างแผ่นเสียงเสียงทองคำ จัดจำหน่าย. No release date listed.

♬ ยมบาลเจ้าขา

♬ ไทยดำรำพัน

This was supposed to be the next record… But for some reason, I never posted it. This has been sitting in draft folder for over eight years. Just sitting there…

Buppha Saichon was an actress and recording artist from Thailand. 

You may recognize the first song. Although the name translates to “The Guardian”, it was given the title “Satan’s Nightmare” on the first Thai Beat A Go-Go compilation. That version was recorder by her husband Sripai Jaipra but miscredited as Paiboon – most likely songwriter Paiboon Butakhan.

Besides being included in just about every Thai music series – Sublime Frequencies‘ “Thai Pop Spectacular“, Subliminal Sounds‘ “Thai Beat A Go-Go Volume 3” and both of ZudRangMa “Thai Funk” compilations – you can also find more of her music at Monrakplengthai.

Catalog number KTE-069 on Supanahong Records of Thailand. No further information available.

♬ ผู้ยิ่งใหญ่ ภาค

By now, most of you should know Suang Santi…

In the last few years, he has appeared on a few Thai compilations – most notable being Finders Keepers‘ Thai? Dai! The Heavier Sound of The Lukthung Underground, where his name was transliterated as “Sroeng Santi”. The Black Sabbath inspired “Kuen Kuen Lueng Lueng” on that compilation is worth the price of admission alone. You also get “Dub Fai Kui Gun” and “Nam Mun Pang” – both of which had appeared on two of ZudRangMa‘s compilations – which are quite heavy as well. But this track is a bit different…

Whereas Suang Santi’s backing band – “The Suang Santi Band” – borrowed the opening riff from “Iron Man” on “Kuen Kuen Lueng Lueng”, here the intro is sampled directly from Ennio Morricone. The soundtrack music from Sergio Leone‘s “Man with No Name Trilogy” was quite popular throughout Asia, and was released in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. A vast majority of those records were not properly licensed, and some were even credited to Clint Eastwood instead of Ennio Morricone. The soundtrack was also covered by a number of bands, including Hong Kong’s Man Chau Po Orchestra and Singapore’s The Stylers, to name a few.

According to Monrakplengthai, Suang Santi had originally started out as a boxer before getting into the music business. He 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. Unfortunately, Suang Santi was killed in a car accident in 1982 while on tour at the age of 37.

The first couple verses of the song basically describe the hero, who is compared to Charles Bronson (“Once Upon A Time in The West“), Alain Delon (“Zorro“) and “Ringo” (“A Pistol for Ringo“). As the song continues, Suang asks: “Where does this mystery man come from, does anyone know?” Then you hear the gruff, accented voice ordering laap, khao nieow and lao khao (typical Isaan food and drink), and Suang remarking upon it. That this man is obviously from Isaan is what listeners are meant to take away. Isaan, the northeast part of the country, is often viewed as Thailand’s “Wild West“, and cowboy culture has a notable following there. Bangkok people often derive amusement from Isaan stereotypes.

This song has a “Part Two” that was included on Suang Santi last album 1 2 3 Duan Song Thaeo.

Much thanks to Peter Doolan for the information and translation.

Catalog number MN 146 on ตรากระต่ายคู่ (Tra Kratai Kkhu) or Pair of Rabbits Brand of Thailand. No release date listed.

♬ Pee Lok

It’s funny. Over the years, I’ve picked up a few random words in various languages that I see over and over. A good example is ‘bintang’, which is Indonesian for ‘star’ – as well as the name of a brewery in Indonesia. ‘Ngozi‘ is Igbo for ‘blessing’ and ‘hob’ is Arabic for ‘love’. But ‘pee’ is the Thai word for ‘ghost‘. And there are a lot of songs from Thailand about ‘pee’…

The title of this song translates as “Ghost Haunting”, and I figured it was a good way to start off October. I have not been able to find any information on Tuangchai Boonparaksa, other than the song “Mahn Kao Lah” – or “What Fun” – on Subliminal Sounds‘ Thai Beat A Go-Go Vol. 2 compilation. If you have any further information, please get in touch or leave a comment.

Thanks to Peter Doolan from the always amazing Monrakplenthai for the translation.

Catalog number ST-182 on Star Records of Thailand. No release date listed.