Roosevelt in Trinidad: Calypsos of Events, Places and Personalities, 1933-1939 [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com
This delightful CD is a remarkable time capsule of Trinidadian society of the 1930s, preserving opinions, emotional responses, and attitudes of the people along with the historical record of the events of the day. The Calypsonians use witty wordplay to comment on local and international politics, sports, movies, music, and matters of the heart. Endearing music accompanies the topical lyrics. Clarinet and violin often play lead, joined by horns and piano, and the rhythm sections propel the syncopated music along jauntily. It is easy to enjoy this music without knowing some of the more obscure lyrical references, but the extensive liner notes do a fine job of explaining the context and details. The sound restoration of the rare masters that make up this excellent collection preserves the ambience of the period while getting rid of annoying surface noises and making the important lyrics all the more clearly audible. --Jeff Grubb

Tracks:

Trinidad Hurricane - Wilmoth Houdini
The Treasury Fire - Lionel Belasco And His Orchestra
West Indian Federation - The Atilla
Mannie Dookie - The Tiger
Captain Cipriani - Egbert Moore (Lord Beginner)
Duke And Duchess Of Kent - Raymond Quevedo (Atilla The Hun)
M.C.C. Vs. West Indies - Egbert Moore (Lord Beginner)
Unfortunate Bridegroom - King Radio
Movie Stars - The Tiger
Four Mills Brothers - The Radio
Body Life - King Radio
Intercolonial Tournament - The Atilla
Edward The VII - The Caresser
Roosevelt In Trindad - The Atilla
King George VI - The Lion
Reign Of The Georges - The Executor
Modern Times - The Lion And The Atilla
History Of Woodbrook Vicinity - The Growler
The Beautiful Land Of Lere - The Tiger
The Vendor's Song - The Lion
School Boys' Adventure - Black Prince
Fire, Fire In Port Of Spain - The Caresser
Police Diplomacy - The Growler
Bing Crosby - The Lion
Poppy Day - Lord Executor

Amazon.com

This delightful CD is a remarkable time capsule of Trinidadian society of the 1930s, preserving opinions, emotional responses, and attitudes of the people along with the historical record of the events of the day. The Calypsonians use witty wordplay to comment on local and international politics, sports, movies, music, and matters of the heart. Endearing music accompanies the topical lyrics. Clarinet and violin often play lead, joined by horns and piano, and the rhythm sections propel the syncopated music along jauntily. It is easy to enjoy this music without knowing some of the more obscure lyrical references, but the extensive liner notes do a fine job of explaining the context and details. The sound restoration of the rare masters that make up this excellent collection preserves the ambience of the period while getting rid of annoying surface noises and making the important lyrics all the more clearly audible. --Jeff Grubb

Customer Reviews:

Time Capsule to the Thirties.......2002-02-20

The colonial experience of Trinidad in the 1930's is reflected perfectly here. The colonial interest in matters concerning the British Empire, the celebrated visit of FDR to Trinidad, the favorite American film stars of the Trinidadians, the outcome of spectacular cricket matches where the West Indies prevailed are all reflected here with topical terseness, elated rhythms but often dark minor keys from Gerald Clark and his Orchestra etc. I love these thematic Calypso CD's that have been released in the past few years. I do believe that the picture on the cover of the CD is of Roosevelt arriving in Port of Spain harbor, in which case, hey, that's the hill I grew up on in the background! This music puts one in touch with 1930's Trinidad in a very palpable way with a level of detail that could only otherwise be got from going down to the Trinidad Guardian newspaper archives with soft cotton gloves and a magnifying glass. So we have Calypso to thank for this poignant yet amusing time capsule of the 1930's.

I REALLY LIKE THE MUSIC THAT IS PLAYED.......1999-05-02