Bangkok Boogie

Something a bit special for you today - 1970s disco from Thailand, courtesy of the compilers of "Thai Funk - Zud Rang Ma Volume 1" (there are two other volumes). It is a fantastic listen, and well worth tracking down if you can. I am told there were only 1300 copies made so I am not sure how easy that will be. I picked up my copy in trendy Williamsburg a month or so back and have been enjoying it regularly since.

Of the eighteen tracks on the album about a third are slightly wonky cover versions of Western hits, including one by James Brown, two by Boney M, and these two which you will recognise straight away.

"Kod Hang Kam" - Kana TNT

"Chown Tur Ten Rum" - Pranee Thanasri

To my mind "Kod Hang Kam" is a great improvement on the original as you can enjoy the tune without having to listen to the pompous words. But for me probably the best, and certainly the most distinctive, track on the album is this next one, which has a bit of a Krautrock feel to it. Either that or very early Human League played at slightly the wrong speed.

"Disco Tour" - Nakplang Krumklowna

The Boney M covers were of their disco rendition of Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" and of this all time classic.