Thai Pop Spectacular: 1960s-1980s

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 7, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sublime Frequencies
• ASIN: B000SM7R2E
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,413 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Introduction: Welcome to Thailand - Thai Pop Spectacular 1960s-1980s

2. Roob Lor Thom Pai (There Are Many Handsome Men Out There) - Buppah Saichol

3. Mae Kha Som Tum (Papaya Salad Merchant) - Onuma Singsiri

4. Lung Dee Kee Mao (Uncle Dee Is a Drunk) - P. Promdan

5. Fawn Ngeo (Dance of the Ngeo) - Johnny Guitar

6. Kwuan Tai Duew Luk Puen (You Should Die by Bullets) - Chailai Chaiyata

7. Dek Kai Nuang Sue Pim (Newspaper Boy) - Sangthong Seesai

8. Gao Guek (Wise Old Man) - Gawao Siangthong

9. Tid Lom Ta Lai (Drinking Whiskey Until I'm Blurred) - Man City Lion

10. Mai Na Lork Gun (Don't Deceive Me) - Kampee Sangthong

11. Nan Nan Pob Gan Tee (Long Time No See) - Generation

12. Koh Phuket (Phuket Island) - Phet Potaram

13. Gang Geng Nai Krai Lab (Look Whose Underwear Is Showing) - Kabuan Garn Yor Yod Yung Yong

14. Khor Tan Gor Mee Hua Jai (The Beggar Has a Heart, aka The Night Chic - Pairoj

15. Sao Dok Kum Tai (Lady from a Flower) - Pumpuang Duangjan

16. Tangkon Tangnae (We Both Think We're the Best!) - Sangthong Seesai

17. Keng Ma (Dog Races) - P. Promdan

18. Na Doo (Very Striking Girl) - Man City Lion

19. Dteuu (Bothering) - Setha

20. Mia Rai Duen (Monthly Wife) - Duongdao

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Thai pop history has been largely ignored and neglected by the international musical community for far too long. By the late 20th century, Thai pop music had developed as many faces as localized roots music such as molam or styles like luk thung or luk krung (each with their own respective pop-sectors). Bangkok -- always the hub of the Thai recording industry -- attracted musicians and singers from across the country that were both informed by tradition and inspired by the wealth of international sounds entering the region via radio and phonograph. Jazz, for instance, had a profound influence on early Thai pop music, the King of Thailand himself being a noted jazz composer. This superb collection features modern Thai music styles combining with elements of surf, rock, funk, disco and comedy, revealing the use of clever instrumentation, brilliant vocals, great arrangements, twisted breaks, and resourceful production techniques. Discover the Queen of Luk Thung, the 1960s "Shadow Music" sound, classic tracks from Thai films, blazing examples of Bangkok disco from the 1970s, legendary Thai comedy pop, and the most outrageous version of "The Night Chicago Died" you'll ever encounter. Thick horn sections, wah-wah guitars, tight drums, and funky organs help round out this astounding set which proves beyond a doubt that the Thai were a completely unique and powerful force during the 1960s, '70s & '80s global popular music explosion.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious, August 25, 2008

By 

John Studer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thai Pop Spectacular: 1960s-1980s (Audio CD)

feel good tunes, that place where you remember from back in the day but couldn't get there. this helps you do that.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The girls are cute on the cover, April 20, 2011

By 

Comment Man "Comment Man" (Omaha, Ne) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thai Pop Spectacular: 1960s-1980s (Audio CD)

When I put this on the stereo my wife crunched up her nose and said "Why did you buy THAT?" I showed her the cover art, and she said, "Oh cute girls."

That's not the whole story. I was hoping a 20 year retrospective of Thai music would have some unusual sounds and maybe pathos. Unfortunately, this music did not speak to me at all. I could not find a way into the harmonies and keys used by the musicians--it just sounded out of key to me. And I can often do this with non-Western music, so I was a little surprised by my failure. The audio quality is also pathetic, some of the worst recorded music I have heard. Finally, a really strange sense of humor seems to propell some of these songs--personally I just found it annoying.

I am writing as a Westerner who has fairly broad taste in world music--for example, I love Bollywood, and kind of like the old Cambodian stuff. If you are unfamiliar with this music, you may want to download a track or two and listen to it before you buy the whole CD, cause frankly, the picture of the girls is pretty small and won't compensate you for buying the whole CD if you never listen to it.