TAÏ PHONG = タイ・フォン = 恐るべき静寂 — Discography 1975-2013 | RM | 5 Albums | Pick Up Your Music Series | Mini LP | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Taï Phong is a bit of an oddity, as it is a French band founded by Vietnamese brothers Kahn and Taï Ho Tong. The sound is comparable to Camel, and Novalis, but the most telling description is 'France's answer to Barclay James Havest.' 

The first incarnation came together in 1972, and included an American and a German (keep telling yourself this is a French band). They were in the process of recording, when contract disputes broke out. Because the brothers refused the terms (thus leaving them without a deal), the other two members left. Soon after, they would be replaced by keyboardist Jean Alain Gardet, and the now famous (or infamous) Jean-Jacques Goldman. Yes, he is the man responsible for several of Céline Dion's hits (does this mean that Céline is prog related? Say it ain't so). 

In 1973, they again entered the studio. However, more artistic disputes, and contract haggling, with recording executives would keep them from releasing anything for the next couple of years. By 1974, they had a contract they could live with, but still needed a drummer. They chose 17 year-old Stéphan Caussarieu. The classic lineup of Taï Phong was now complete, and would remain intact for the first two albums. This was also a potent combination of talent and ego.

After the release of 1976's "Windows," some of the members branched out. Jean-Jacques dabbled in some solo work, and Gardet recorded an album with Alpha Ralpha. It is during this period that trouble started brewing. "Windows" did not sell very well, and the band spent all the money from the first album on a new sound system. Goldman did not wish to perform live, which was a serious problem considering his contribution to the band's sound. This disheartened Jean Alain, causing him to exit. The band went on tour in 1977 with bassist Michael Jones also taking over lead vocal, but it just wasn't working. They decided to cancel any remaining shows, and just concentrate on studio work. This is the moment when brother Taï left. 

After much turmoil, they released 1979's "Last Flight," but the magic was gone. By 1980 interest in the band was waning, and they were in yet another contract dispute. Rather than push ahead with a fourth album, the band broke up. 

Over the years the interest in Taï Phong's music went up and down. This is largely due to the song "Sister Jane" resurfacing in one form or another. In 1993, reissues of the albums breathed new life into the story. Some of the guys got together, and the obvious talk of reunion came around. The main conspirators were Kahn and Stephan.

In 1995 they began work on new material, and shopped it around. Goldman was not interested in rejoining the band, so they found Herve Acosta to fill the lead vocal spot. Angelo Zurzulo had been a replacement keyboardist in the old days, and he was also tapped for the new project. It took a while, but the result was 2000's Sun. progarchives 

TAÏ PHONG —Taï Phong (1975)

Tracklist :

1 Goin' Away 5:41

2 Sister Jane 4:04

3 Crest 3:25

4 For Years And Years (Cathy) 8:33

5 Fields Of Gold 7:37

6 Out Of The Night 11:25

    – BONUS TRACKS –

7 (If You're Headed) North For Winter 3:13

8 Let Us Play 2:34

9 Sister Jane (Single Version)

Credits :

Arranged By – Taï Phong

Drums, Percussion – Stephan Caussarieu

Piano, Organ, Synthesizer [Moog], Keyboards – Jean-Alain Gardet

Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer [Moog] – Taï

Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar, Mixed By, Engineer – Khanh

Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Violin – J.J. Goldman

TAÏ PHONG —Windows (1976)

Tracklist :

1 When It's The Season

2 Games

3 St. John's Avenue

4 Circle

5 Last Chance

6 The Gulf Of Knowledge

7 Dance

8 Back Again

9 Cherry

Credits :

Arranged By – Taï Phong

Keyboards – Jean-Alain Gardet

Percussion, Drums – Stephan Caussarieu

Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards – Taï

Vocals, Guitar – Jean-Jacques Goldman

Vocals, Guitar, Engineer – Khanh

TAÏ PHONG — Last Flight (1979)

Tracklist :

1 End Of An End

Drums – Stephan Caussarieu

Vocals – Khanh

Vocals, Bass – Michaël Jones

Vocals, Piano [Acoustic] – Pascal Wuthrich

Written-By, Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Jean-Jacques Goldman

2 Farewell Gig In Amsterdam

Acoustic Guitar – Johnny Sehlhoff

Electric Piano, Organ [Hammond] – Pascal Wuthrich

Slide Guitar – Khanh*

Tenor Saxophone – Michel Gaucher

Vocals, Bass, Electric Guitar – Michaël Jones

Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Jean-Jacques Goldman

Written-By, Drums, Percussion, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Stephan Caussarieu

3 Sad Passion

Drums – Stephan Caussarieu

Piano, Synthesizer [Moog] – Pascal Wuthrich

Vocals, Electric Guitar, Bass – Michaël Jones

Written-By, Vocals, Electric Guitar – Jean-Jacques Goldman

4 Thirtheenth Space

Drums – Stephan Caussarieu

Vocals, Electric Guitar, Bass – Michaël Jones

Written-By – Michaël Jones

Written-By, Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Pascal Wuthrich

5 Last Flight

Bass – Michaël Jones

Drums – Stephan Caussarieu

Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Pascal Wuthrich

Vocals – Jean-Jacques Goldman

Written-By, Vocals, Electric Guitar – Khanh Mai

6 How Do You Do

Drums – Stephan Caussarieu

Piano, Electric Piano – Pascal Wuthrich

Slide Guitar – Khanh

Written-By, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass – Michaël Jones

– BONUS TRACKS –

7 Follow Me

8 Fed Up

9 Shanghai Casino

TAÏ PHONG — Sun (2000) 

 

Tracklist :

1 Rainy Night In Saigon (Part 1 & 2)

Lead Vocals – Hervé Acosta

2 Everything's Wrong

Lead Vocals – Stephan Caussarieu

3 Lisa

Lead Vocals – Hervé Acosta

4 Know I Know (Part 1 & 2)

Lead Vocals – Stephan Caussarieu

5 Lady Love

Lead Vocals – Hervé Acosta

6 Last Friend

Lead Vocals – Stephan Caussarieu

7 Sister Jane (Definitive Version)

Lead Vocals – Hervé Acosta

8 Sun

Lead Vocals – Stephan Caussarieu

9 Fly Away

Lead Vocals – Hervé Acosta

Credits :

Arranged By – Angelo Zurzolo, Stephan Caussarieu

Bass – Manu Ducloux

Drums, Percussion, Piano, Keyboards, Vocals – Stephan Caussarieu

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – François Ovide (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9)

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar, Vocals – Khanh Mai

Synthesizer, Programmed By, Keyboards, Piano – Angelo Zurzolo

Vocals – Hervé Acosta

TAÏ PHONG — Return of the Samurai (2013)

Tracklist :

1 One Day

2 Carry Me

3 Davy

4 Long Ago

5 Maggie

6 The Second Life

7 Sherry

8 Come To Me

9 Never Let Me Go Away

10 Talk To Me

11 Reviens-moi

12 Eclipse

Credits :

Guitar, Keyboards, Lead Vocals – Khanh Maï

Guitar, Synthesizer, Programmed By – Davy Kim

Lead Vocals – Sylvie Tabary

Piano, Keyboards – Jean-Philippe Dupont