Legends of Calypso

by TOUSSAINT,ANDRE / BLIND BLAKE / CALYPSO MAMA

Overview

A collection licensed from the Goombay Life archives featuring some of the greats of calypso's early days. Andre Toussaint, Calypso Mama, Blind Blake, and Mighty Panther all hand in a number of performances. As usual, the lyrical fare deals with gossip of the day and/or a good deal of sexual innuendos and double entendres. The music is a basic two-beat lope with guitars, drums, and any other nearby instrument, depending on the song. These are the classic standards of the genre -- from Mighty Panther's "Big Bamboo" to a number of songs made famous later by Harry Belafonte. The performances are all above the standard, with the legends putting out their most famous pieces. There are a number of old calypso compilations available, most of which come from the same archives. It's the song choices that separate one from the next. As such, this one makes a good show for the lead against its rival compilations, featuring the best shows of the various aspects of the old genre while staying relatively clear of non-Trinidadian items (though not completely, of course). ~ Adam Greenberg

Product Details

Release Date:	01/28/2003
Label:	ARC MUSIC
UPC:	5019396177420

Tracks

1. Calypso Island  - Alice Simms  - Andre Toussaint
2. Court House Scandal  -  Calypso Mama
3. Lizzie Carry Basket  - Peanuts Taylor
4. De Pig an' Goat  -  Blind Blake
5. Brown Skin Gal/Mary Ann  -  Blind Blake
6. Crazy Like Mad  - Leslie Scott  - Irene Williams
7. Matilda  -  Calypso Eddie  - Norman Span
8. Back to Back (Zombie Jamboree)  - Conrad Mauge  - Harold "Digby" McNair
9. Barbados Carnival  -  Mighty Panther
10. The Bedbug Song  - Irving "Skinny" Brown  -  Brownie
11. De Peas 'N' de Rice  -  Calypso Mama
12. Gin & Coconut Water  -  Blind Blake
13. Yellow Bird  - Alan Bergman  - Marilyn Bergman  - Norman Luboff  - Andre Toussaint
14. Mama Hold de Light  -  Mighty Panther
15. Bahama Lullaby Rock  -  Blind Blake
16. Don't Touch Me Tomato  -  Calypso Mama  -  Traditional
17. Hold 'Em Joe  - Roy Thomas  - Andre Toussaint
18. Scratch My Back  - Leslie Scott  - Andre Toussaint  - Irene Williams
19. Bellamena  -  Blind Blake
20. Nora Nora  -  Mighty Panther
21. O' Look Misery  -  Blind Blake
22. Watermelon Spoilin'/Here I Go Walkin'
23. The Monkey Song  -  Blind Blake
24. The Big Bamboo  -  Mighty Panther
25. The Snorkel Song  - Colin Kelly

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Blind Blake   Primary Artist
Calypso Eddie   Primary Artist
Brownie   Primary Artist
Andre Toussaint   Primary Artist
Mighty Panther   Primary Artist
Calypso Mama   Primary Artist
Leslie Scott   Primary Artist
Peanuts Taylor   Primary Artist
Irene Williams   Primary Artist
Harold "Digby" McNair   Primary Artist
Colin Kelly   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Jesse Reuben Wilson   Cover Design
Barbara Papadopoulos   Typesetting,Layout Design
Roy Thomas   Composer
Alice Simms   Composer
Jason L. Pascal   Liner Notes
Norman Luboff   Composer
Norman Span   Composer
Alan Bergman   Composer
Marilyn Bergman   Composer
Leslie Scott   Composer
Diz Heller   Pre-Mastering,Liner Notes
Colin Kelly   Composer
Irene Williams   Composer
Irving "Skinny" Brown   Composer
Conrad Mauge   Composer
Traditional   Composer