Name: Magical Nights – Saigon Surf, Twist & Soul (1964-1966)
Brand: Phương Tâm

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

SF120LP

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-07-22

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Cargo

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

843563151662

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Total Cap

2 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Phương Tâm

Genre GB

Rest of World

Label GB

Sublime Frequencies

Phương Tâm is a renowned artist with a passion for music. With her mesmerizing voice and captivating performances, she has won the hearts of fans worldwide. Born and raised in Vietnam, Phương Tâm's talent was evident from a young age. She honed her skills through years of dedication and hard work, making her mark in the music industry.
Phương Tâm's music transcends genres, blending traditional Vietnamese melodies with contemporary sounds. Her unique style and soulful lyrics resonate with listeners of all ages. Whether performing heartfelt ballads or energetic pop songs, she effortlessly connects with her audience on an emotional level.
With numerous hit albums and sold-out concerts under her belt, Phương Tâm continues to inspire aspiring musicians and entertain millions around the globe. Her unwavering commitment to her craft has earned her critical acclaim and a loyal fan base. Experience the magic of Phương Tâm's music today!

Sublime Frequencies is a collective of explorers dedicated to acquiring and exposing obscure sights and sounds from modern and traditional urban and rural frontiers. Founded by Alan Bishop of Sun City Girls, the label showcases a diverse range of music through film, video, field recordings, radio transmissions, international folk and pop music, sound anomalies, and other forms of human and natural expression. Their mission is to bring attention to these underrepresented genres that are often overlooked by academic research, the recording industry, media outlets, or corporate foundations.

With an extensive catalog spanning various cultures and regions around the world, Sublime Frequencies offers a unique listening experience for those seeking unconventional sounds. Through their releases, they aim to shed light on hidden musical treasures that might otherwise go unnoticed. Whether it's capturing the vibrant street life in Morocco or unearthing rare recordings from Southeast Asia, Sublime Frequencies takes listeners on a sonic journey unlike any other.

Owned and operated by Alan Bishop alongside Mark Gergis, Sublime Frequencies continues to push boundaries in its exploration of global music traditions. By bridging gaps between different communities through music discovery, this label serves as a platform for cultural exchange and appreciation. With each release carefully curated by passionate individuals with deep knowledge of these lesser-known genres, Sublime Frequencies remains at the forefront of uncovering extraordinary musical experiences from around the world.

Back In Stock

Sublime Frequencies is honored to present the first ever retrospective of Phương Tâm, 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 Hà (USA) learned that her mother, Phương Tâm, had once been a famous young singer, performer and recording artist at the heart of Saigon’s 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 Tam’s brief but prolific career, and at the same time, reuniting the long-lost music with its singer. The unique strengths and qualities of Phương Tâm’s voice, coupled with her commanding stage presence, had swiftly elevated her to top billings on Saigon’s nightclub stages. Parallel to the brutality and uncertainty of an already protracted war, South Vietnam’s music and recording industry were developing at a rapid pace in the early 1960s. Globally, musical trends with wild, ephemeral dance crazes were being thought up weekly; the twist, hully gully, the mashed potato – none of them a problem for Phương Tâm. She soon caught the attention of Saigon’s leading recording companies and composers (Y Vân, Khánh Băng, Trường Hải, Thanh Sơn, Y Vũ and Mặc Thế Nhân, among others). Her energy translated unsurprisingly well in the studio, backed by electric guitars, contrabass, drums, lush brass sections, saxophone, piano, organ and rich backing vocals. Between 1964-1966, Phương Tâm would record almost 30 known tracks, released by the three main record companies in Saigon. The teenage starlet became a vital centerpiece of pop music of the time, and one of the very first singers to perform and record rock and roll (known locally as nhạc kích động, or, action music) – though as you’ll hear, she could also transform a jazz ballad into something otherworldly. While these musical styles were undeniably influenced by contemporary trends worldwide, the musicians and composers worked to localize the sounds, incorporating linguistic adaptations, lyrical content and past artistic traditions into something all their own. In 1966, as Saigon’s music scene continued to evolve and escalate, Phương Tâm walked away from her singing career without looking back – marrying the man she loved and beginning the next rich chapter of her life. But her recorded output had laid the stylistic groundwork for the following generations of singers, and many of the songs she first sang would later be further popularized by others. Her impactful, but short- spanning career has seen her legacy remain historically understated until now. Due to the lack of master tapes or documentation from pre-1975 Vietnam, and the scarcity of records and tapes that had survived the war, it was difficult to grasp the extent of Phương Tâm’s discography. A collective effort was required in sourcing materials and information to compile this record, involving key collectors and producers internationally (Jan Hagenkötter - Saigon Supersound, Cường Phạm, Adam Fargason, Khoa Hà – granddaughter of composer Y Vân, and researcher Jason Gibbs). As the veils of history were slowly lifted, the genuine thrill was witnessing Phương Tâm herself, hearing these songs for the first time in over 50 years – sometimes since the day she recorded them. At the heart of this project is a family story – Hannah Hà’s dedication to recovering and sharing her mother’s musical legacy is helping put Phương Tâm 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.

Magical Nights – Saigon Surf, Twist & Soul (1964-1966)

Music GB