Calypso: Vintage Songs from the Caribbean

Amazon.com
This admirable compilation concentrates on recordings from the '50s, when the toothsome melodies, infectious rhythms, and bawdy double-entendres of calypso and related West Indian styles were on the verge of becoming an international craze. Fun fact: at the height of his popularity, Harry Belafonte was outselling Elvis Presley! However, the tunes on this set are far more authentic than "Day-O." Most of the material comes from the Bahamas, but there are also flying visits to Trinidad, Jamaica, and Grenada. George Simonette's ragtime-inflected "Touch Me Tomato," Mighty Sparrow's "No More Rocking and Rolling," and Lord Shorty's "Kim" are as uproarious as they are danceable. Meanwhile, Calypso Mama comes across as a deadpan Bahamian blues woman on the ribald "Yes, Yes, Yes." Despite the vintage sound quality, these mellow, mischievous tunes are delightful listening from start to finish. --Christina Roden

Tracks:

Don't Touch Me Tomato - George Symonette
Yes, Yes, Yes - Calypso Mama
Take Me Back To Jamaica - The Jolly Boys
Crazy Like Mad - Leslie Scott & Irene Williams
Peas And Rice - Blind Blake And His Royal Victorians
Linstead Market - Lord Composer
No More Rocking And Rolling - King Sparrow
Goombay Drum - The Percentie Brothers
Fed-A-Ray - Lord Beginner
Kim - Lord Shorty
Little Nassau/Bahama Mama - Andre Toussaint
Barbados Carnival - Mighty Panther
J.P. Morgan - The Percentie Brothers
The Limbo Song - Frankie Anderson
It's Always Springtime In Nassau - Delbon Johnson

Amazon.com

This admirable compilation concentrates on recordings from the '50s, when the toothsome melodies, infectious rhythms, and bawdy double-entendres of calypso and related West Indian styles were on the verge of becoming an international craze. Fun fact: at the height of his popularity, Harry Belafonte was outselling Elvis Presley! However, the tunes on this set are far more authentic than "Day-O." Most of the material comes from the Bahamas, but there are also flying visits to Trinidad, Jamaica, and Grenada. George Simonette's ragtime-inflected "Touch Me Tomato," Mighty Sparrow's "No More Rocking and Rolling," and Lord Shorty's "Kim" are as uproarious as they are danceable. Meanwhile, Calypso Mama comes across as a deadpan Bahamian blues woman on the ribald "Yes, Yes, Yes." Despite the vintage sound quality, these mellow, mischievous tunes are delightful listening from start to finish. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews:

Back to my Mother's time!.......2007-07-05

I have been listening to Bahamian calypso since my mother took me to hear Blind Blake at the Royal Victoria when I was in grade-school. This compilation is a favorite, with Blind Blake doing "Little Nassau" (though they edited out the last few lines: "My mama get drunk till she couldn't get drunk no more") and some other wonderful singers doing great Bahamian songs. The Mighty Sparrow's contribution is also terrific, and other others are good to great. One of my favorite CDs.

I can prove this is authentic calypso music!.......2007-02-01

I was looking through my father's collection of 45's and ran across one that was signed by George Symonette in 1959. I didn't know who that was so I "googled" the title. You might not like the music, but you cannot say that it is not authentic! George Symonette was called the Bahamian Troubadour and played at several leading hotels in Nassau in the 1950's.

Look no further, if.........2005-08-20

Look no further, if..you want a horrible compilation of Calypso. The stuff there from Barbados is no where near as upbeat, the stuff from the Bahamas isn't authentic. If you want some real dancy Calypso, I would reccomend the album "The Party Classics", which is a compilation of The Mighty Sparrow's party hits. As a second generation Canadian (my family is from Trinidad), most of this was quite insulting to the origins of Calypso.

I love this CD!.......2004-06-23

I don't know much about "authentic" calypso music. Some of the other reviewers have panned it based upon those aspects, but I LOVE THIS CD! The music is happy and upbeat. I found myself singing along after one listening. So regardless of whether or not it is authentic or not, it is highly enjoyable and one of the best Putumayo CDs I have heard. I am definately ready for a trip to the islands now!

Ghastly.......2004-04-09

Horrible CD. I can't believe that this is what people are passing of as vitage calypso. Don't get this CD.

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