Cambodian Rocks (MP3s)

In 1996, the Parallel World label released the LP "Cambodian Rocks", a collection of Cambodian psych and garage music from the 60s and early 70s (probably), compiled by an American tourist named Paul Wheeler from some cassettes he bought in Phnom Penh. No information on the songs was provided at all, no artist names, no song titles, and no recording dates. Four years later, Parallel World reissued this compilation on CD with a few extra tracks, but still without any identifying information. Unfortunately, it is more than likely that many of the featured musicians, showing a definite Western influence in their music, were murdered by the Khmer Rouge regime which took over power in 1975. Certainly none of them ever received any money from the sales of this compilation. However, the music is wonderful, and here it is for your enjoyment.

Cambodian Rocks MP3s: Track 1 (Yol Aularong - Jeas Cyclo "Ride Cyclo") | Track 2 (Ros Sereysothea - Chnam oun Dop-Pram Muy "I'm 16") | Track 3 (Ros Sereysothea - Tngai Neas Kyom Yam Sra "Today I Drink Wine") | Track 4 (Yol Aularong + Tuk - Sou Slarp Kroam Kombut Srey "Rather Die Under the Woman's Sword" | Track 5 (Sinn Sisamouth - Srolanh Srey Touch "I Love Petite Girl") | Track 6 (Pan Ron - Rom Jongvak Twist "Dance Twist") | Track 7 (Pan Ron - Knyom Mun Sok Jet Te "I'm Unsatisfied") | Track 8 (Liev Tuk - Rom Sue Sue "Dance Soul Soul") | Track 9 (Ros Sereysothea + Seang Vanthy - Jam 5 Kai Thiet "Wait 5 More Months") | Track 10 (Ros Sereysothea + Seang Vanthy - Jah Bong Ju Aim "Old Sour & Sweet") | Track 11 (Sinn Sisamouth + Ros Sereysothea + Pan Ron + Dara Jamchan, composer Voy Ho - Maok Pi Naok) | Track 12 (Sinn Sisamouth - Phneit Oun Mean Evey "What Your Eyes Has?") | Track 13 (Yol Aularong - Yuvajon Kouge Jet "Broken Heart Man") | Track 14 (Meas Samon, composer Mai Bun - Jol Dondeung Kone Key "Going to Get Engaged" | Track 15 (Ros Sereysothea - Kerh Snae Kyoum Thai) | Track 16 (Ros Sereysothea - Chnang Jas Bai Chgn-ainj "Old Pot, Tasty Rice") | Track 17 (Ros Sereysothea + Dara Jamchan, composer Voy Ho - Kone Oksok Nas Pa "We're Very Bored, Dad!") | Track 18 (Ros Sereysothea - Kom Kung Twer Evey "Don't Be Mad") | Track 19 (Ros Sereysothea - Penh Jet Thai Bong Mouy "I Like Only You") | Track 20 (Pan Ron & In Yeng - Sralanh Srey Chnas "I love mean girl") | Track 21 (Sinn Sisamouth + Meas Samon, composer Voy Ho - Komlos Teng Bey "Three Gentlemen") | Track 22 (Ros Sereysothea - Retrey Yung Joup Knea "The Night We Met")

Thanks to Giles, Robin Edgerton, and especially to Pyro Tech for identifying the artists and song titles. Pyro Tech's comment contains more info and links that you should definitely check out. You should also download Giles' compilation of music from the same time. Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Sereysothea, and Pan Ron were big stars in Cambodia before 1975, and all three "disappeared" under the Khmer Rouge, most probably killed like millions of others.

If anyone has more information about these tracks and/or the musicians, please leave a comment.

A few more or less helpful links: Kevin Nutt reviewed the CD and gave a little more background information; the Californian band Dengue Fever did a great job covering some of these songs; confusingly, the record label Khmer Rocks released a series of compilations also called Cambodian Rocks which doesn't seem to have anything to do with the Parallel World release.

There is also a documentary film being made about the Cambodian rock music scene before the genocide: Don't Think I've Forgotten (Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll). According to the website, they are currently looking for funding to finish post-production.

Comments

[katie]

this music is amazing! i'm a fan of dengue fever, which opened my eyes to the music scene in cambodia in the 60's. i just spent 1 week in cambodia on my recent vacation and picked up a stack of compilations. it is my new and favorite obsession to hear more of this music, learn about the musicians, and what was going on in cambodia at the time, and the tragic end that many of these artists met. thank you so much for making this available! cambodia is an amazing country and i hope to return someday.

[Sarnserm]

I've been working on translating many of my Cambodian favorite Oldies songs . Just type samouth, samuth, or sothea for your search on Youtube and you'll likely to find my work. The translation is kind of unpolished, but the bits and clues it provides might help the listen make out what the song is about.

If you can't find it, try samouth and house of the rising sun for the search on Youtube. Enjoy.

[okie]

Wow, this is awesome! I first came across Cambodian Rock on The Intercontinental, a show on WMBR (definitely recommended: http://www.wmbr.org/www/sched-wed#intercon). Today they played "Dengue Fever" on the radio and now I really wanted to get more of this!

I also added the track list to CDDB so instead of spår 1, spår 2 you can now get the correct tags automatically.

[Nicholas]

This is great stuff! I'm currently living in Saigon, Vietnam, and I've been scouring the markets for similar tapes. Does anyone out there have any info on Vietnamese garage/psych from the same era?

[phearany]

i have downloaded music from this site cambodiamusic.org where do i go to listen to it.

[Rom Sue! Sue!]

I have been looking at eBay,record dealer lists,and before that Goldmine for over thirty years,and I have never seen any of the original vinyl issues of Cambodian rock at any price.I have a few 60s rock records from Thailand and Burma,but none from Cambodia. What happened to these records ? Did any make it out of the country to other countries in Asia?Were they all destroyed by the Khmer Rouge ? Has anybody seen any?

[Sarnserm]

Check out http://www.aquariusrecords.org . This site has good info. on a lot of underground music. If you type "Cambodian" for your search, you'll see a few Cambodian music collections there.

One time I listened to a short clip version of "Rider in the Storm" by the Door there.

[MLD6]

Whoa..."Old Pot, Tasty Rice" turns out to be the source of Plastic Little's underground rap hit "Crambodia". Shouldn't be a surprise, given the name of the song, but wow, now I know!

[Z. G. Plimyofn]

Giles,
Do you have a listing of the composers of all the tracks on Cambodia Rocks? I'm glad to have the list of singers/artists on the tracks that you provided above, but now I would like to have a list of the song's composers.

Thanks.

Z.G.

[stan]

thanks for posting those nice songs. the sound is well preserved. just want to point out that the title for track 9 should read "jam 10 kai thiet (wait 10 more months)".

[Daniel]

As an update, the website for the documentary "Don't Think I've Forgotten" is now located at www.cambodianrock.com, and the film is currently in post-production.

[jj]

how can we download this righteous comp? put it on itunes and i'll pay for it.

[rr]

right click and save as...

[Conlon]

Thanks for this.
As enjoyable as this album is, though, I think it cannot be stressed enough that these are, in fact, REMIXES of the ORIGINAL recordings, with additional overdubs added.
Still REALLY fun, regardless.

[Say Mwa]

Thanks for the downloads. Sounds interesting. Got the tip from Ry Cooder "I got a record of some Cambodian rock guys doing this weird surf music, probably during the Cambodian war. It's called Cambodia Rocks. Listen to that. Now that's world music. That shit is so wicked it'll take your face off."
http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/melancholy-vista/2009/11/20/1258219956786.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

[peter fraser]

how can I download Cambodian Rocks?

[peter fraser]

how can I download the Cambodian Rocks tracks?

[Curran Son]

Does anyone have the Khmer collections: Wat Phnom or The Best of the Golden Butterfly? If so please tell me!

[mr helper]

to peter fraser just right click on the link(track)and select save as...

[Jean-Sien Kin]

Hey amazing collection! thank you so much for sharing! the songs have been remastered, right? really good work!

[Laura]

Hey, thanks for all the good music.
Greetings from Germany