Saigon Rock & Soul Vietnamese Classic Tracks 1968-1974

• 1. Bich Loan and CBC Band – Tinh Yeu Tuyet Voi
• 2. Elvis Phurong – Bai Ca Ngong
• 3. Carol Kim – Cai Tram Em Cai
• 4. Thanh Mai – Toc Mai Soi Van Soi Dai
• 5. Carol Kim – Noi Buon Con Gai
• 6. Bich Loan and CBC Band – Con Tim va Nuroc Mat
• 7. Phurong Tam – Dem Huyen Dieu
• 8. Le Thu – Sao Bien
• 9. Minh Xuan & Phurong Hoang – Mat Troi Den
• 10. Thai Thanh – Burng Sang
• 11. Bang Chan – Nhurng Dom Mat Hoa Chau
• 12. Giao Linh – Chuyen Tinh Sao Ly
• 13. Elvis Phurong – Kho Tang Cua Chung Ta
• 14. Thanh Lan – Hoai Thu
• 15. Hung Curong & Mai Le Huyen – Hon Anh Gian Em
• 16. Mai Le Huyen – Duyen Phan Con Gai
• 17. Phurong Dung – Do Ai

Sublime Frequencies excursion into the Vietnamese rock, pop and soul sound of the late 1960s and early 1970s is finally here!

'Saigon Rock & Soul' delivers the goods that international retro collectors have been searching for in vain for many years - and it delivers beyond belief. Every song is a mini-masterpiece, be it heavy acid-rock psychedelia, horn- and guitar-drenched funk grooves, or gripping soul ballads reflective of life during wartime.

During the 1960s and 1970s, pulp ballads were being recorded by leading crooners of the time who alternated between modern and traditional forms of regional music. When the electric guitar hit the streets of Saigon, Vietnamese renditions of contemporary instrumental trends such as surf-rock, beat and twist soon emerged, followed by some pretty deep soul sounds inspired by Motown radio hits as well as funk grooves brought on by James Brown and his contemporaries. By the mid-1960s, Vietnam had been ravaged by war for years. American G.I.s had become a standard fixture in Saigon, as did many of the cultural artifacts they brought with them. This certainly included the music. The sounds of rock and roll dominated the radio waves, and Saigon nightclubs were teeming with new sounds. Musically, The Shadows and The Ventures soon gave way to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones as an enthusiastic set of young Vietnamese rockers signed on to the lifestyle, always eager to hear the latest musical trends the G.I.s would bring in on LP or tape. This era saw the birth of a vibrant rock scene, yet rock music and anything that came close was commonly referred to as "soul" in the Vietnamese genre-listings. Like many cultures in Asia, Vietnamese music is recorded, marketed, listened to and disposed of in a relatively quick manner. This level of advanced ephemera ensures a degree of difficulty when trying to unearth and discover cultural histories. Literally, most of the music heard here has been brought back from the dead. Artists featured include some of Vietnam's most popular at the time: Elvis Phuong, Hung Cuong, Mai Lei Huyen, Le Thu, Thai Thanh, Giao Linh, Mai Lei Huyen and the CBC Band.

The limited edition 2LP vinyl release features 70 minutes of classic original recordings compiled by Mark Gergis housed in a beautiful full-color gatefold jacket with extensive liner notes.

Recommended!