Phng Tm Magical Nights Saigon Surf, Twist & Soul (1964 to 1966)

Description

Sublime Frequencies is honored to present the first ever retrospective of Phng Tm, the groundbreaking Saigon teenager who became one of the first singers to perform and record rock and roll in 1960s Vietnam.

By chance in early 2020, Hannah H (USA) learned that her mother, Phng Tm, had once been a famous young singer, performer and recording artist at the heart of Saigons music scene in the early 1960s. The family had heard some mention of their mom as a singer at the time, but the extent of her legacy and the many songs she had recorded came as a big surprise. Further investigations soon led Hannah to producer Mark Gergis, compiler of Saigon Rock and Soul (2010, Sublime Frequencies), enlisting him to join her on a journey of discovery and recovery. The result is this essential document of Phuong Tams brief but prolific career, and at the same time, reuniting the long-lost music with its singer.

At the heart of this project is a family story Hannah Hs dedication to recovering and sharing her mothers musical legacy is helping put Phng Tm back on center stage after 55 years. But it is also a story that adds critical context to the fragmented understanding of Vietnamese popular culture during the 20th century, particularly after so much has been lost to war and dislocation.

25 tracks spanning Phng Tms recording career: early rock and roll, surf, twist, soul, blues and jazz ballads recorded in Saigon between 1964-1966, featuring electric guitars, contrabass, lush brass, saxophone, drums and organ, and rich backing vocal arrangements. Restored and remastered from original records and reel tapes. – on Bandcamp