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.

The unique strengths and qualities of Phng Tms voice, coupled with her commanding stage presence, had swiftly elevated her to top billings on Saigons nightclub stages. Parallel to the brutality and uncertainty of an already protracted war, South Vietnams 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 Phng Tm. She soon caught the attention of Saigons leading recording companies and composers (Y Vn, Khnh Bng, Trng Hi, Thanh Sn, Y V and Mc Th Nhn, 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, Phng Tm 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 nhc kch ng, or, action music) though as youll 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 Saigons music scene continued to evolve and escalate, Phng Tm 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 Phng Tms discography. A collective effort was required in sourcing materials and information to compile this record, involving key collectors and producers internationally (Jan Hagenktter – Saigon Supersound, Cng Phm, Adam Fargason, Khoa H granddaughter of composer Y Vn, and researcher Jason Gibbs). As the veils of history were slowly lifted, the genuine thrill was witnessing Phng Tm 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 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.

Deluxe CD release comes housed in a 6-panel digipak, with two 32-page booklets in English and Vietnamese, featuring extensive liner notes by Hannah H and Mark Gergis, exclusive photos, album and sheet music art, original magazine and newspaper extracts, nightclub advertisements + more. Digital version is accompanied by a 41-page pdf booklet. Vinyl release forthcoming in 2022.

1. C Nh m No = Remember The Night
2. Bun 18 = Sorrow At 18
3. 20-40 = 20-40
4. Anh u Em = Wherever You Are, I Will Be There
5. Nu C Xa Nhau = If Were Far Apart
6. Pht Say M = In My Dream
7. m Huyn Diu = Magical Night
8. Nhp n Vui = A Merry Tune
9. Ai? = Who?
10. Vn Yu Hoi = Still Loving You Always
11. Ngy Php Ca Lnh = A Soldiers Day Of Leave
12. L Th = The Letter
13. i Tm = Double Eight
14. Thn Tng = Idol
15. Nh Mnh Anh Thi = Missing Only You
16. 60 Nm = 60 Years
17. Tnh Lnh = A Soldiers Love
18. Bun Ln Thnh Ph = The Sadness Of The City
19. Lng Trai 20 = The Heart Of A 20-Year-Old
20. Nu C Em = If I Have You
21. Tnh M = Dreamy Love
22. Bc Giang H = My Wonderful Journey
23. Nhng Ngy Qua = Bygone Twisted Days
24. Cn Nh G Khng = Do You Remember?
25. Th Hy Cn Xa Lm = Still So Far Away