Mor lam and luk tung can seem rather impenetrable to the outsider: this is a high turnover industry, with the most popular singers producing new albums every few months (the rate further inflated by the extraordinarily high number of compilation albums put out), and many of the less popular singers fading after an album or two and being replaced by fresh faces. At the same time, the formulaic nature of of much of the music and the lack of imagination in the design of albums (spangly dresses/suits, cheesy grins and primary colours) can make it seem that the industry is running to stay still.

To help the beginner to these styles of music make sense of it all, here's a top ten of great songs which should be relatively easily available. The song title, artist and an album on which the track can be found are given in Thai as well as roman script, so that you can search for them online or ask for help in a shop. Links are provided to online stores where you can order disks, or just check what the album looks like so that you can track it down yourself. The links are provided as a source of information, and are not a recommendation of any particular site. When buying discs, do check whether they're CDs or VCDs.

1. Track: Rak salai dawkfai baan (รักสลายดอกฝ้ายบาน)
Artist: Jintara Poonlarp (จินตหรา พูนลาภ)
Album: Collected Hits 19 Golden Years Volume 2 (รวมฮิต 19 ปีทองชุดที่ 2)
Link

This song holds an exalted place in the history of mor lam: it's the first song on the first album in Jintara's second series, and it's also perhaps the greatest mor lam song ever recorded. Two rhythmically fascinating lam breaks, a soaring sax, an unforgettable tune, and Jintara vocally in the form of her life. The original album is now quite hard to obtain, but the song is the first track on the hits album Collected Hits 19 Golden Years Volume 2.

2. Track: Motosai hang (มอเตอร์ไซด์ฮ่าง)
Artist: Rock Salaeng (ร็อคแสลง)
Album: Ginggue Tok Saang (กิ้งกือตกส่าง)
Link

One of the all-time great songs, in the luk tung prayuk genre which is livelier than the average luk tung ballad. Still a favourite of tuk-tuk drivers everywhere, this originally appeared on the album Ginggue tok saang; if you can't find that, it also features on some later compilations.

3. Track: Bow rak si dam (โบว์รักสีดำ)
Artist: Siripon Ampaipong (ศิริพร)
Album: Siripon Special (ศิริพร สเปเชี่ยล)
Link

To be honest, I don't rate Siripon as a singer: she's underpowered, and on this recording is often virtually inaudible under the instrumentation. This however is a true classic of a song. It's one of the evergreen tunes you'll hear again and again across Thailand, though as it's an old song, on the small PGM label, it can be hard to get hold of. It's track 2 on disc 1 of the Special double album.

4. Track: Siang jaak sao Lao (เสียงจากสาวลาว)
Artist: Nok Ponpana (นก พรพนา)
Album: Siang Faak Jaak Nok (เสียงฝากจากนก)
Link

This is a driving anthem, which just invites you to sing along. If you like, you can do the dance too. From her album Siang Faak Jaak Nok; see the review for a sample.

5. Track:Jep laeo tawng jam (เจ็บแล้วต้องจำ)
Artist: Jop and Joy (จ๊อบ & จอบ)
Album: Morlam Panlai 7 (หมอลำพันลาย 7)
Link

This is a beautiful example of the lam phu-tai genre, which features epic leaps and slowly descending vocal lines. It's very seldom that the commercial stars perform this type of song, making this an essential buy. It appears on their album Morlam Panlai 7.

6. Track: Wan ti baw mi ai (วันที่บ่มีอ้าย)
Artist: Tai Oratai (ต่าย อรทัย)
Album: Yuu Nai Jai Samue (อยู่ในใจเสมอ)
Link

The luk tung ballad is an easily mocked genre, but this is a fine example of what it can do. This is the greatest song from tbe biggest young star of the moment, and appears on her album Yuu Nai Jai Samue. See the review for a sample.

7. Track: Sao Isan plat tin (สาวอิสานพลัดถิ่น)
Artist: Jintara Poonlarp (จินตหรา พูนลาภ)
Album: Master Hit Volume 2 (มาสเตอร์ฮิต 2)
Link

This is a bizarre hybrid of mor lam and swinging country and western, which leaves its biggest tune till the end, and which somehow all manages to come together. Originally issued many years ago on album nine of Jintara's first series, it's also track seven on her collection Master Hit Volume 2. The VCD versions feature an unmissable eighties-style video.

8. Track:Mi huajai wai rak tue (มีหัวใจไว้รักเธอ)
Artist: Mike Pirompon (มค์ ภิรมย์พร)
Album: Mi Huajai Wai Rak Tue (มีหัวใจไว้รักเธอ)
Link

Included here not fot its innate musical value - yes it's a fine song, bit it's not a titan like some of the others on this list - but because it sums up Mike's image as an ordinary guy who just happens to be one of the biggest stars of luk tung. From his album of the same name; see the review for a sample.

9. Track: Fan rak fan rai (ฝันรักฝันร้าย)
Artist: Honey Sri Isan (ฮันนี่ ศรีอีสาน)
Album: 16 Hit Songs (รวมฮิต 16 เพลงดัง)
Link

Honey Sri Isan is sadly long dead, but the current availability of some compilations of her work is a welcome reminder that mor lam did exist in the last century. This song has a great intro and an even better main tune. Available on the CD and VCD double set 16 Hit Songs, and featuring appropriately ropey concert footage.

10. Track: Nakrawng mi ber (นักร้องมีเบอร์)
Artist: Pumpuang Duangjan (พุ่มพวง ดวงจันทร์)
Album: Hit Don Jai (ฮิตโดนใจ)
Link

No list would be complete without a song from Pumpuang. One could choose almost any, but this is one of my favourites: simple, elegant and restrained, this is old-school luk tung and none the worse for it. It's track twelve on disc 2 here.


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