Afro | Brasil |
Calypso |
Exotica-Foreign |
Latin | Mid-East
Jazz | Funk LP | Funk 45
Beatnik-Crime-Spy
Pop-Rock-Strange | 45s
Moog-Space-Electronic
Truck-C&W-Steel
to orderLinks below are to the Hyp Records guide to records & artists:
Pertinent records listed & rated:
See the Vinyl Safari section for the main calypso page plus others on major stars: Duke of Iron, Eloise Lewis, Mighty Sparrow, Talbot Brothers.
Related pages cover Haitian/voodoo recordings and other Caribbean or sacred drums/cult music; calypso jazz and crossover (or "blue-eyed" calypso) are covered here too.
See the Soul Patch section for the funky caribeat page.
Only Hip Wax items are for sale!
Lou Adams Plays Bahamania Calypso with vocals by Blind Blake, Jack Roker, Cyril Ferguson 10"; Art ALP-12; 1954; w/lyric sheet insert E-/V $20 -- calypso; rare!; also w/Bruce Coakley, Eric Cash, Maurice Harvey, Leonard Perpall, Fred Henfield; Over So, Tanneray, Bad Woman, Monkey Song, Oh Look Misery, Coconut Man, Barnyard Calypso, Better Be Safe than Sorry; priced low for wear and noise on some songs
Arawaks: Only Man on the Island; Arawaks A-001; 1974; E/V+ S $20 -- calypso/caribeat; Bahamian guitar-led trio; "Come On Back" is the funk original that highlights this obscure treasure; otherwise there's an interesting cover of "Just My Imagination" & the usual mix of originals & chestnuts (Shame & Scandal, Mary Ann, Yellow Bird); wear but looks worse than plays
The Beginning of the End; Alston SD-33-379; 1971; 2nd/flexi cutout E-/V+ S $25 (or reissue N/N shrink S $15, specify) -- caribeat/funk/Afro-Beat; THE most famous/essential funky caribeat LP ever, by the illustrious Munnings family of the Bahamas (father Freddie Munnings guests on clarinet); Funky Nassau Parts 1 & 2, Come Down, Sleep On Dream On, Surrey Ride, Monkey Tamarind, In the Deep, Pretty Girl, When She Made Me Promise; original has some wear, some of it audible but not too shabby, particularly at the low price
Count Bernadino & his Calypso Bacchinals: Count Bernadino's Calypso Philosophies (jacket: Count Bernadino at the Sheraton British Colonial); Sun Rise ST-55752/3; deep groove N/N shrink S $30 -- calypso; self-made, great, & quite scarce!; Bernardino's Theme & Philosophy, Nassau the Paradise, Gimme Gimme Gimme Dance, Woman Go Look for Work, Ruckus in Detroit, Take Your Meat Out Me Rice..
Boystown Steel Orchestra/Trinidad Pan Harmonic Orchestra: Trinidad Carnival; Vitadisc TC/L-159; deep groove E-/E+ $50 -- steel band; glorious color jacket (same jacket & title as another LP on the label by Lord Melody w/Cyril Diaz); we're not suggesting it's the best Vitadisc calypso, just a great instrumental steel-band LP on the coveted label; jacket has a bite out of the lower left corner & a couple of lesser woes but the disc at least is very impressive
Ronnie Butler & his Ramblers: Ronnie Butler Steps Out at the Big Bamboo; Elite LP-OE-3 (formerly OE-1!); deep groove E-/N- S $20 -- first LP on the label--heavy vinyl; top ex-King Eric singer; Big Bamboo Jump Up, Don't Touch Me Tomatoes, Goombay, Ugly Woman, Kinston Market, Water She Garden..
Lord Brynner: Lord Brynner: Calypsorama; Wirl WIRL-1054; E/E- S $50 -- original Wirl pressing!; Calypsorama, Canadian Redhead, Don't Bring Your Problem to Me (I'm Sorry Honey), Munsinger Affair, The Queen Singing Calypso, Uncle Crazy-Uncle Mad, Back to My Islands, Dorothy, West Indian Culture, My Teacher
Lord Brynner: Lord Brynner's Calypsorama [in Jamaica]; Erin LP-1940; E+/E+ S $50 -- Canadian version (different jacket art/photos/liners but same record) of one his best; rare & great!; Calypsorama, Canadian Redhead, Don't Bring Your Problem to Me (I'm Sorry Honey), Munsinger Affair, The Queen Singing Calypso, Uncle Crazy-Uncle Mad, Back to My Islands, Dorothy, West Indian Culture, My Teacher
Lord Brynner's Big Big Bamboo Calypso; Erin LP-1941; Canada; jacket only (E+), in flapped mylar sleeve -- free for the asking w/order
Choco & his Mafimba Drum Rhythms: African-Latino-Voodoo Drums; Audio Fidelity AFSD-6102; 1963; N/N shrink S $25 -- Haitian/voodoo/drums; a classic!; 14 cuts by drummer Chocolaté (Antonia Diaz Mena) in his most impressive, 12" hi-fi stereo showcase; sensational voodoo-scene jacket; very un-pc liners; some chanting but the whole thing is...SERIOUS BEATS!!!; 14 cuts: Tambor Majimba, Tambor Loco, Claves, Baba, Bembe, Rhumba (Baile Voodoo), Fantasia Haitiana #1-3..
Lord Christo: Authentic Calypso; Mercury MG-20297; deep groove sealed $90 -- it's the unthinkable: first-rate Trinidadian calypso on a major label; this superb, legendary wonder has everything: top artist (associated with Lord Melody), tremendous original material (Mama Look-a Boo Boo is the only standard), great jacket photo, full liner notes, impeccable sound, and it's even sealed (tho stickered and stamped under the shrink it looks like not a rewrap); Trip to Mars, Jacob from Panama, Boy Days, The Landlord, Food from Chicago, Frozen Chicken, Mama Look-a Boo Boo, Tantie Earnestine, Shakespearean Quotations, Hurricane Janet, Apple Tree; from the notes on "Trip to Mars": "What I like on Mars is the female. A girl child on Mars was born with a tail. By the tail you can tell the girl from the boy."
Aaron Collins: Calypso, U.S.A.; Crown CLP-5028; deep groove V+/V $20 (or V-/V- $15, specify) -- cross-over calypso; before Robert Mitchum did his calypso thing, there was this rare collectors item by leader of the Cadets (which makes this primarily a rock collectors item); hard to do better than this w/out spending a lot of money!; Jamaica Farewell, Mary Anne, Mama Look a Boo Boo, Marie My Love, The Riddle, I Had But 50 Cents, Pretty Evey, Rum Jamaica Rum, Sylvie, Day-O, John Henry, Matilda
[Sun Ra &] Roz Croney, Queen of the Limbo: How Low Can You Go?; Audio Fidelity/Dauntless DS-6309; 1963; E+/E S $90 (or mono DM-4309 w/Audio Fidelity catalog cutout N/N- shrink $60, specify) -- dance rock (limbo/twist/etc.); as w/the Dan & Dale Batman LP (but much rarer!), it's another fun, silly LP w/Sun Ra (credited as "Edward O. Bland") backing a female singer not unlike Eloise Lewis; apart from the Sun Ra aspect, it's one of the better LPs of its kind (lively, good, w/vintage guitar); nice jacket photos of dancer Roz Croney doing the limbo & sliding low (she once held the record at 7.5"--just imagine!); It's Limbo Time, Limbo Like Me, Bagpipe Limbo, Bossa Nova Limbo (Sun Ra original!), What Makes the Limbo Rock, Whole Lot of Shaking Going On
Harold Courlander (rec.): Drums of Haiti (Music of Haiti, Vol. 2); Folkways P-403; (c)1950; 1st press/jacket w/booklet, deep groove E+/V+ $30 (or 2nd press/jacket w/booklet, deep groove E/V $20, specify) -- fantastic stuff, similar to Ti-RoRo's Voodoo Drums in Hi-Fi (similar rara); drums & vaccines; vodun, ibo, congo, juba, bumba, salongo, etc. dances; some marks & noise
Richie Delamore: Goombay & Ballads of the Islands; Bahamian Rhythms BRH-33; 1960; E+/E+ S $25 -- calypso; "Delamore in Stereo" w/Peanuts Taylor & Dirty Dick's Orchestra; Cocoanut Woman, Little Nassau, Come Back Liza, Matilda, Man Smart, Bahamian Brown Baby..
Jean Léon Destiné: Festival in Haiti; Elektra 130; (c)1955; [no booklet] deep groove E+/E $30 -- Haitian/vodun; with highly influential master drummer Ti Ro Ro(!!!), Alphonse Cimber; fantastic set, liners, artwork; 1 more cut than the 10"!
[The Drums of Trinidad/Equatorial Jazz:] Drums of Trinidad; Cook 1045; translucent brown vinyl, deep groove V+/E $35 -- calypso jazz/percussion; among all the heavy, early ethno-drum LPs, this is truly exciting & fantastic (as good as any on the label & there are some great ones!); "tribal rhythms from Carriacou/6-man drum orchestra recorded in Little Carib Theatre in Port of Spain"; Calypso in Drums, Drumology, Primitif, Nation, Koromanti, Manding, Halicord, Congo, Calinda
Emile: Marie; RID 108; N-/N S $25 -- Haitian/caribeat/Moog; from Brooklyn; nice ballads but also amazing party songs w/lots of funky synth, very early '70s like best of Byron Lee/Sparrow soca; Mamaya Mufanga, Si Loin Que Je Sois, Pipilite Sambo, Egoisme, Invitation (party song!), Viens, Manman Moin Pas La, Marie
King Eric & his Knights: BA MA Hit Parade; Carib LP-2008; 1960; 1st/deep groove N-/N S $40 (or same but E+/E- $30, specify) -- calypso; fantastic early one (their 1st & best) epitomizes the lure of the Bahamas in the Golden Age of tourism (& record production); dig the great club-photos jacket w/the sensational 
King Eric & his Knights: Calypso Encores; Carib LP-2017-S; 1962; 1st/gold/deep groove N-/N- S $25 (or E+/E+ S $20, specify) -- calypso; "More Hits from the Bama"; beautiful jacket (great niteclub photos); 12 great songs from their prime, including both Ugly Woman & Pretty Woman, Measurements, Cha Cha Baby, Conch Ain't Got No Bone, Calypso Island, Little Nassau Bahama Mama, Bahamian Gal..
King Eric & his Knights: All Time Favourites Calipsos (sic); Elite OE-24; deep groove E+/N S $15 -- calypso; great for jacket; top tunes include Are You Lonely for Me Baby (r&b hit Gregg Allman also covered!), Yes Yes Yes (Yass Yass Yass), My Pussy, Archie, Ring Ting Ting..
King Eric & his Knights: Live at the King & Knights Club; Elite LP-OE-46; E-/N S $20 -- groovy liner notes and jacket photos, top sound, good production all around and always entertaining King Eric, leading calypso group of Nassau; Come to the Bahamas, Killing Me Softly, John & his Sexy Phone, Take the Ribbons, Quando, My Way, Joy to the World, Call Me, Doctor, For the Good Times, Sweet Gypsy Rose, Sail
Duke Errol & his Lords: Wings of a Dove; Tropical CLP-3081; E-/V+ S $15 -- calypso; "an album of favorites"; one of the tougher-to-find of the wonderful LPs by Errol Strachan (King Eric's cousin, great voice!) w/Ralph Munnings; highlights include "House of the Rising Sun" & "Hard Days Night" covers
Lord Flea & his Calypsonians: Swingin' Calypsos; Capitol T-842; E+/N- $65 -- one of the most famous and desired calypso/mento LPs, particularly on a major label!; based in California Lord Flea was featured in films such as Bop Girl Goes Calypso (under the auspices of Les Baxter!), on such TV programs as the Perry Como Show, and he headlined at Gene Norman's Crescendo club; the smash hit "Shake, Shake Senora" was used recently in a shampoo commercial and you can bet it will be used again and again (if not many of the rest of the winning songs well-chosen for this much-loved LP): Shake Shake Senora, Shi-Du-Bi-Du-Bab, Bachelor's Life, I Can't Cross Over, Out de Fire, Mister Give Me de Rent, Monkey, Love, Calypso Be Bop, Pretty Woman, Magic Composer, Naughty Little Flea
Lord Foodoos: Calypso Carnival; Legacy LEG-116; E/E- ES $15 -- reissues very affordably a rare Elektra record; 14 songs: Back to Back, Don't Touch Me Tomato, Lousy Mother in Law, Lady Trelalay, Day-O, Peas & Rice..
Serge Gainsbourg: Aux armes et caetera; Philips 9120-384; 1979 (Canadian pressing of 9101-218) N/N- S $70 -- reggae; w/Sly & Robbie; great stuff ("Relax Baby Be Cool" is the best), great sound!
Sandy Gamory w/Syd Joe & his Caribbean All Stars Orchestra: The Calypso Man; San Joe SJ-4667; V+/E S $35 -- TERRIFIC authentic Trinidadian calypso very much in the Sparrow/Troubadours vein but even more exciting/jazzy/intriguing, not to mention rare!; originals: Grace Line, Don't Underestimate the Power of a Woman, Taxation, Merengue, Spread Joy, Every Day I'll Love Her Better; covers: My Pussin (Kitch), Hold On to Your Man (Kitch), Fowl Thief (Sparrow), The Devil (Lord Melody)
Teddy Greaves: Living it Up with Teddy Greaves; Art ALP-64; E-/V+ S $15 -- calypso (except for jazz "Out of Nowhere"--2 sax players featured); live at either the Turtle Walk supper club, Grand Bahama Hotel or the Jack Tar (dual creditation); rare jacket of him on boat, with a waterskiing photo on back (other jacket's face has him waterskiing while the band plays in background boat); Shame & Scandal, Zombie Jamboree, Swahili Song 13 in all, continuous groove
Claude "Fats" Greene: Fats Shake 'Em Up; Camille 9021; 1968; N-/N- shrink S $50 (or E+/E+ S $40, specify) (or cutout E/E- S $25, specify) -- Caribeat/calypso instrumental; famous calypsonian MacBeth's(!) group featuring Pritchard, leader of the band after Fats died (just before this LP was released; Fats had taken over after MacBeth); very hip (sounds like Ed Watson) w/great instrumental solos (clarinet, horns..); a treat usually found only in NYC that we are always very proud to offer (most LPs like this are super-rare); Let's Advertise, Boogalypso, Carib Soul, Green Bananas, Calypsorama, The Devil, Fats Shake 'Em Up, Carnival Bounce, Nelsonia
The Happening BDA; Edmar ELPS-1123; Canada E/N- S $50 -- caribeat/funk; the #1 pick is the long, jazzy-funky version of "Shaft" (not bad for white longhairs in Bermuda!); but the #2 is the outro: a hip, brief "Freddie's Dead" (the middle is more lounge-act style, subject to taste); why it's really extraordinary is that each of the funky cuts has a FANTASTIC announcer (1st for the band at the start of Shaft; then for the band members at the start of Freddie, which is really just an excuse to introduce the band with a funky background) -- this helps give the impression it's live; while there are other excellent versions of Shaft, the voiceovers are so cool the savvy sampler would do well to pounce on it NOW!
[Stamma Haughton/Stammer's Band] Stamma & the Clubbites: Montego Beat; Federal Record Mfg. FRM-134; deep groove E/E+ S $30 (or same but mild warp E/E S $20, specify) -- caribeat/calypso-jazz/reggae; Stamma Haughton sings terrific, funky proto-reggae versions of "Shaft" & "Black Magic Woman" covers!!!; album also has some great calypso-jazz; Sparrow's Tent, Mr. Walker, Fire Fire, Love of the Common People, Cry to Me, What's the Idea, Play Mas..
Richard Hayman: Voodoo!; Mercury MG-20465; deep groove 1st press N-/N $30 -- Afro-Cuban/Haitian/voodoo-themed orchestral pop w/cool incantations, sounds, etc. (really good & nearly the only LP of its kind); Danse Calinda, Conjuration, Spell of Deatra, Incantation, Afro, Zombi, Voodoo, Mamba, Haiti, Midnight Ritual, Gris-Gris, Invocation; dig that wild voodoo-doll jacket!!!
Geoffrey Holder & his Trinidad Hummingbirds; Riverside RLP-4004; deep groove E-/E- $65 (or deep groove V/V $25, specify) -- Shango/calypso/Martinique; mainly Shango cult music (the Trinidadian equivalent of voodoo but far rarer, particularly on '50s LPs!) by famous dancer, etc., including similar tunes from Martinique & other places not often heard on LPs of the period; unique & wonderful stuff on the prestigious jazz label's "world folk music series"; the vinyl is incredibly thick, yielding intense sound/bass; 11 cuts: Sol Leve Woyo, Shango Hymn, Fay Oh, Invocation, Hymn to Osine, Pendant Mone dans l'Armee, Wake Song, Adieu Madras, 'Ti Paule, Miss Lily White, Adam in de Garden
Wilmouth Houdini/Bert McLean's Jazz Hounds: Calypso; RCA Camden CAL-360; 1st press N-/N $40 -- calypso; rare LP, nicely produced, reissues priceless 78 records in reliable, clean, convenient LP sound (albeit lo-fi, since they date to 1940); 7 Houdini songs with 5 calypso-jazz instrumentals (solo instruments include clarinet and banjo; Poor But Ambitious, Pepper Pot, Cousin Scratch Here So for Me, Mama Call the Fire Brigade, Mademoiselle, Resisting Temptation, They are Lying to Me, Bacanal, Don't Do that to Me, Sweet Lilian, Pretty Woman, Calaloo
The Islanders: The Black Beret Presents the Islanders; Black Beret BB-333; AUTOGRAPHED E/N- S $75 -- Haitian/voodoo/French/calypso/lounge act; we know of no other LP like this, which it has it all: nice jacket (liners & group photo on back, in this case signed), clean stereo sound, and great material by a leading lounge-act in Port-au-Prince; the star track is "Voodoo Drum" (instrumental) but the vocal pop is unusual and to a high standard as well; we particularly like the originals and French songs; L'Artibonite, I Wish You Love, Yellow Bird, Darling, All at Once It's Love, Not Enough for Me, Love is Blue, Chaise, Calypso Potpouri, Voodoo Drum, Never on Sunday
Herb Jeffries: Devil is a Woman; Golden Tone C-4066; deep groove E+/N- $50 -- calypso/Afro-Cuban/voodoo/vocal; 1 of the most exciting vocal LPs we know & love as well as an unusual treasure for this page; a mojo bag of sinsational thrills, mainly original & unique to this very LP!!!; the popular Jeffries had hits on major labels, but this obscurity is his best for our purposes; since Golden Tone is a budget label, it's more sturdy (heavy vinyl) & winsome than slick, but that also keeps it affordable (also it's hard to find in top shape like this); Adam & Evil Blues, Calypsociety, Don't Spank de Baby, Magical Joe..
Herb Jeffries: Jamaica; RKO SLP-1280; V+/E+ $20 -- another flavor of Devil is a Woman (same set exactly but in a less sensational jacket); claims to be stereo but isn't; advantages are it's clean, cheaper, and comes with liner notes (about Jeffries)
Lord Jellicoe & his Calypso Monarchs at the Sheraton; WIRL 1040; autographed deep groove E/E+ S $30 (or deep groove N-/E- S $20, specify) -- calypso; The Big Bamboo (not the same as on their other LP with that song), My Pussin, Shame & Scandal, Hold On To Your Man, Wings of a Dove..
Little Joe & his Calypsonians; Elite LPOE-17; 1967; deep groove E/E S $15 -- 13 cuts recorded by "King Eric" Gibson; mainly steel-pan instrumentals but also some pan-free songs; we love the band's home-made sign in the jacket photo; Big Bamboo, Nosey Mother-in-Law, Merci Cherie, Danny Boy, El-Logo, Archie Buck Em Up, Going Home Tonight, Nassau or Jamaica, What Now My Love, Island in the Sun..
Lord Kitchener: Curfew Time; Trinidad TRCS-0001; E-/E+ S $30 -- calypso w/the Sparks & Art de Couteau; Curfew Time, Play Mas, Whait Teacher, Let Them Crow, PP 99, Mas at Madison, True Confession, Ah Go Tell Granny, Jealous Cathy, Black Power
Lord Kitchener: Carnival Fever; Trinidad TRCS-4000; 1975; deep groove E-/V S $20 -- w/the Sparks & Art de Couteau; Soul Train, No Streakers, Fever, Local Wood, Gih We Back We Stadium, Alma Blow, Tell Dem Judges, Tribute to Spree..
Byron Lee & the Dragonaires: Reggay Hot, Cool, & Easy; Dynamic DY-3328; E+/N- S $45 -- caribeat (funky); covers James Brown's "Hot Pants" (as "Hot Reggay"--TERRIFIC VERSION!!!) and "Shaft" (done to death by others but this is a GREAT reggaefied version); amazingly, even the rest of the LP is happening too; nice jacket photo of the band performing; Byron Lee's best by far (the only one you really need); Shaft, Sweet City Woman, Hot Reggay (Hot Pants), Bam Sa Bo, Have You Seen Her, For Your Precious Love, Maegre Dog, Mammy Blue, Flying Machine, Show Me Your Company, A Little Love
MacBeth the Great: Calypso Holiday; Time S-2144; Canadian press E+/N S $40 -- calypso; one of the best, authentic Trinidad calypso LPs collectors still can acquire at a basic price (also one of the best things on Time); first-rate, mostly unusual/original songs: Cab Calloway, Nora, Buy Me a Zeppelin (very catchy--worth it for this alone), Bajan Girl, Bad Bad Whiskey, Outside, Oh Lady You're Mashin' My Toe, Turn Around Girl, Jockey, Ugly Woman..
Carlos Malcolm & his Afro-Jamaican Rhythm: Ska-Mania; Federal/Upbeat 101; deep groove E/E+ $65 (or E-/V+ $40, specify) -- caribeat/ska/mento; "The Sound of the Soil"; Malcom is legendary for a later funk LP but in the mid-'60s he was known for top ska & mento (for dancing, full of jazzy horns, not boring as most ska); sensational historic photos grace a first-rate jacket; Head Shrinker, Earthman, Hunchback No.1, Skamania, Wings of a Dove, Skokian..
Carlos Malcolm & the Jamaica Brass: Carlos Malcolm Jamaica Brass; Scepter S-551; E+/E+ $50 -- caribeat/ska/mento; compilation; 6 tracks from Upbeat 102, 4 from Upbeat 101 presented w/beautiful new jacket art, reliable production; scarce!; Space Flight, Cut Munu, Bonanza, Sweetie Charlie, Lonely Bull, Mambo en Sax (Perez Prado!), Tip Toe..
Vincent Martin & the Bahamians: Island Woman; Island Artists LP-1007; 1957; E-/E- $20 -- w/Peanuts Taylor; distinguished by D. Pullinger's great jacket art (full color original sketch) as well as top vocals & interesting material: Calypso Blues, Zombie Jamboree, Uncle Lou--No Drunken Man, Uncle Joe (Colon Man), Kitch, Stone Cold Dead..
The Fabulous McClevertys; Verve MG-V-2034; c. 1957; all copies deep groove, whether black or orange label N-/N- $40 (or N-/E+ $35, specify) (or E/E+ $30, specify) -- calypso; FANTASTIC early, major-label oddity!; the sole LP by the Charmer (Louis Farrakhan)'s excellent backup group(!) and one of the only calypso LPs ever to get book value for the rock crowd (for killer original "Don't Blame it on Elvis" [for shakin' his pelvis]; nice jacket art & top Verve production; finally, and for us the best reason to love it, 1/3 or more are great covers of 
The Mighty Panther & Lad Richards: West Indian Calypso Magic; Art ALP-18; 1956; N-/V* $50 -- calypso; considered by many to be the best LP on the wonderful Art label, it's so great it's scary, striking jacket image & all; Lad Richards features Irvin Brown & Pershing de Graff singing (including "The Big Bamboo"); The Mighty Panther (Vernon J. Roberts) sings 5 (4 are originals): Chinese Children, Blood Thicker than Water, Me Mama Tol' Me Don't Give, Barbados Carnival, Nora; *disc not worn but has slight areas of cludge on it that produce noise in spots (on cheap vinylite anyway)--worth it anyway (price if perfect: $150)
The Mighty Panther Sings Songs of Dynamite; Drum Boy DBLM-1000; sealed $200 (or N-/E- $100, specify) -- calypso; rare LP on obscure Chicago label; top artist whose better-known LP on Art is in big demand; great titles (including at least 3 by 
Lord Montego & his Calypsonians: Jamaica Calypso; Audio Fidelity AFLP-1832; 1957; gold deep groove E-/V+ $20 -- early mento by Leo Montego Stevenson; 12 songs, almost all original/unique to this LP; beautiful dancer jacket; mono-only, never reissued, scarce!
Enid Mosier & her Trinidad Steel Band: Hi-Fi Calypso, etc.; Columbia CL-928; 1st/black 6-eye/deep groove N/N $45 (or same but E+/E+ $35, specify) (or same but E-/E- $20, specify) -- crossover calypso (NOT STEEL BAND!); the group was w/her in "House of Flowers" (the Clarence Williams Trio appears too); fortunately it's not a steel band at all but spirited calypso backing a great singer; like Josephine Premice & Eartha Kitt (& this LP is mandatory if you appreciate those two), she's a first-rate [Broadway] entertainer as well as a decent, unique, captivating interpreter of calypso; as you expect with Premice & Kitt, the songs are nearly all unusual/original & it's one of the best things in calypso on the label; 16 songs!: Satan's Little Lamb, Coconut, Boy Days, Chant Song, Tinga-Layo, Petit Brun Doux Doux, Buds Won't Bud..
[Bill Fleming w/] Bill La Motta: Songs the Virgins Love; Westindy ST-1002; deep groove E+/E S $20 -- calypso jazz/calypso/Latin jazz; famous for the jacket but also a lovely record; Castle in St. Thomas, Alfredo Boy, Marvella, Yellow Bird, Mister Monday Mornin', Mills of Old St. Croix, Island Girl Audrey, Moon Bolero, Lovin' Ole Women..
Freddie Munnings: Goombay Rhythms; Bahamian Rhythms BRH-17; 1956; E/E- $30 -- Munnings is known for siring the "Beginning of the End: Funky Nassau" family but his earlier calypso is important and great; w/Harold McNair, Billy Cooke, and others including really interesting vocal work; Bay Street Road March (w/the Jolly Junkanoo Jivers), Bahama Lullaby, Matilda, Ugly Woman, Pretty Woman, Mango Walk, Junkanoo, A Matter of Mind Over Matter, Caroline, Family Scandal, Two-Timing Josephine, It Never Happened to Me
"Ivy" Pete & his Limbomaniacs: Limbo Party; Alshire/Somerset SF-17600; N-/N S $25 (or top seam split E/E+ S $20, specify) -- calypso/blue-eyed calypso/Latin; one of the best "blue-eyed" calypso LPs, which may not be saying much but this party album has charms beyond mirroring authentic calypso for the crossover or casual consumer--treat it as groovy period decor or a fun record, either way it's a nice one; well done and great sound; hall-of-fame jacket (featured on the cover of one of the "Incredible Strange Music" books and finally done justice here); Jamaica Farewell, Brown Skin Gal, Sly Mongoose, I Adore Her, Donkey Wants Water, Limbo Man, Mary Ann, Somebody Bad Stole de Wedding Bell, Liza See Me Here, Peas & Rice, Man Smart Woman Smarter, Limbo All de Way Home
Louis Polliemon w/"Lord" Preston Epps: Calypso Trinidad; Crown CLP-5031; deep groove V+/E- $40 -- crossover calypso/bongo/shango; "Calypso Trinidad" is a shameless misnomer, as it's the great Epps on bongo with Jamaican Polliemon singing; still, it's one of those real treasures on Crown (old, rare, unique, good despite the later crappiness of the label), not to mention that holy of holies, a Preston Epps LP!; unusual tunes & style plus a great jacket (seam splits & very slight wear here); Camelia, 10 Penny Nails, Bed Bug, The Rooster Fight, Beautiful American Girl, Dumbalai ("Dumbala"--Shango cult song!!!), Whose Your Husband Josephina, Teena & the Bamboo, Divorce, Louispolieman Brown, Calypso Tina
Emy de Pradines w/Haiti Danse Chorus & Orchestra: Voodoo--Authentic Music & Rhythms of Haiti; Remington R-199-151; (c)1953; deep groove E+/E $40 -- Haiti/voodoo; one of a pair on Don Gabor's very rare NY label that did not survive into the hi-fi LP era, and you can forget about reissues; priceless material by the accomplished daughter of top composer/poet/author Candiau; Emy de Pradines, Katherine Dunham, and Maya Deren were THE major exponents of Haitian voodoo in the US; Drums (rada), I Man Man Man, Choucoune, Negress Quartier Morin, Erzule, Loa Azaou..
Josephine Premice: "Caribe"--Josephine Premice Sings Calypso; Verve MG V-2067; 1st/deep groove E/E- $50 -- calypso-crossover; rarer, first, and better of two fantastic LPs by star Eartha Kitt rival (also a famous Katherine Dunham dancer/singer/actress), both fantastic and easily the most exciting/desirable of all calypso LPs made by non-calypsonians; mainly unusual songs, such as several from Broadway calypso features; Two Ladies in de Shade of de Banana Tree, The Man I Love, Island Wind, Rookombey (GREAT!!!), Talk to Me, It Never Happens to Me, No No Joe, Taking a Chance on Love, Chicken Gumbo, Song of the Jumbies (AWESOME!!!), The Thief, Mind Over Matter
Josephine Premice Sings Calypso; GNP Crescendo GNP-24; white label deep groove E+/V+ $30 -- calypso; Eartha Kitt rival (famous dancer/singer/actress) made 2 LPs, both fantastic & easily the most exciting/desirable of all calypso LPs made by non-calypsonians; w/Norman & Armstead Shobey, bongo & conga; Choucoune, Mommy Out de Light, Hollywood Calypso, Siesta, Lost Watch, Sweetie Joe, You Ugly Son of an Animal..
Guy du Rosier: Haitian Rhythms (w/Ti Ro Ro); Decca DL-8602; 1957; T1/spectral/deep groove E+/E+ $45 (or T1/black/deep groove E/E $30, specify) -- Haitian/voodoo/Latin/calypso jazz; rec. at the Riviera Hotel d'Haiti in Port au Prince; one of the very best LPs of its kind (perhaps THE classic, essential Haitian LP in the US), and there aren't that many of this vintage and quality; w/drum legend Ti RoRo (huge influence on US jazz drummers)--see below for more of his; Shango (original), Ca Qui Tire, Cao Te Ro Ro..
Stan Seymour (Lord Necktie): Carnival Jump Up (jacket: Calypso Carnival); Edmar ELPS-1116 (Canada); autographed black label N/N S $15 (or silver label E+/N S $15, specify) -- top Bermudan calypso star's best LP, from just after winning the crown in 1971; nice music too, incl. organ; Big Bamboo, Sally in She Hot Pants, Mama Love Carnival, Locust & Wild Honey, Marje & Jacob, Womens Liberation..
Stan Seymour: Lord Necktie Sings Songs of Bermuda; Edmar ELPS-1161 (Canada); sealed S $20 -- top Bermudan calypso star does all originals in his 4th LP for the label: Calypso is Sweet, Soap Operas, Festival Time, Bermuda Triangle, Traffic Calypso, Sunset in Bermuda, Heritage Calypso, Lost Me Bamboo (fans of "The Big Bamboo" take note!), Kiskadee, Golf Lessons, Bermuda My Island, Rainbow
Roy Shurland & the Big Bamboo Orchestra: The Big Bamboo; Carib LP-2015 (mono); 1961; flat N/E+ shrink $20 (or deep groove E-/V+ $15, specify) -- calypso; one of the best & most desired/essential LPs on the great label; 3 great "big bamboos:" (1) well-sung signature version of the title song (funniest "naughty" calypso of all time, long associated with 
Hubert Smith & Sydney Bean: Calypso Holiday in Bermuda; Bermuda BLP-2003 (subsidiary of Monogram); deep groove E+/V $25 -- one of the rarest Monogram (or Monogram-esque) titles is also one of top Bermudan star Hubert Smith's best; great jacket (in a darker green than our own copy); Bloodshot Eyes, Green Ticket, Collegiate Invasion, Opportunity, Island Gal Audrey, Gombay Dance, Right Side of the Road, Bermuda, Matilda, Mary Anne, Mothers of Today; marks & wear, priced accordingly
Wilfred Soloman & the Magnetics at the Fabulous Xanadu Beach Hotel; Xanadu 7175; E/E+ S $15 -- caribeat/lounge act/private press; groovy jacket photos of the resort & the group in super-'70s funky dashkikis; 12 cuts of mainly reggae covers (Andros, Equal Rights, Trench Town Girl, African, Talking Fool, I Man Born Here), some updates of calypso standards, & the standout original "Disco Gone Calypso"; groovy stuff you won't see again
Gene & Pinky Steede: Step Through a Moongate with Gene & Pinky Steede; GG-2; AUTOGRAPHED! deep groove N-/E- $15 -- calypso/torch/lounge act; w/Hugo Pedell Orchestra dir. George Cort, James Gregory; prod. Don Gibson; rare wonder of strange, swinging, pop/lounge-act stuff from Bermuda; unusual songs w/bongo accents; great jacket art; Step Through a Moongate, Loads of Lovely Love, Spanish Harlem, Ugliness, Island, The Sweetest Sounds, Country Boy..
George Symonette & his Goombay Sextette (w/Peanuts Taylor): Calypso & Goombay Rhythms; Bahama Records 4; (c)1955; AUTOGRAPHED E-/V $20 -- calypso; great, rare, signed!; Little Nassau, I Kissed her Hand (but I Left her Behind for You), Jones Oh Jones, Man Smart Woman Smarter, Cotton-n-Corn, Like Ma-ad, Bahama Lullaby, Calypso Man
George Symonette & his Calypso Sextette: "Goombay"--The Folk Songs of the Bahamas; Art/Bahama Records ALP-14A; 1957; deep groove E+/E+ $40 -- calypso; major '50s star of the Bahamas in the original group of acclaimed drummer Berkley "Peanuts" Taylor; great jacket, liners, 14 songs--terrific scarce LP of classic material!; Peas & Rice, Sponger Money, Delia Gone, Eight Babies, Love Alone, J.P. Morgan, Goombay, Boat Pull Out-Bahama Mama
George Symonette: Calypso & Goombay Rhythms; Bahama BR-26; (c)1957; E/V $20 -- calypso; Bahamian superstar w/acclaimed drummer Berkley "Peanuts" Taylor; his final mono-only LP offers 12 songs (Bloodshot Eyes, Nassau Samba, All Suit No Man..), mostly by Alice Simms plus a couple by himself and others; some wear is heard but given the scarcity it's worth putting up with, priced accordingly
[Berkley] "Peanuts" Taylor: Moods of Peanuts (The Various Moods of "Peanuts" Taylor); Tropical 2740; 1964; blue deep groove AUTOGRAPHED E-/E- $40 -- Latin jazz/bossa/calypso/exotica; in this classic, scarce first LP (the only one that predates stereo) the emphasis is on Latin jazz (lots of vibes), including one mambo that really is exotica; in fact the whole style is as if Candido were covering Arthur Lyman and Tito Puente, including lots of juicy conga (goombay drum) solos; big sound, swinging set, and nice jacket design/liners; Mama La La, Girl from Ipanema, Nassau Mambo, Island Woman, Baba, Calypso Island, Canela, Quiet Nights, Mayba-solo, Yellow Bird, Love for Sale
Berkley "Peanuts" Taylor & Others: Showtime at the Drumbeat; Tropical CLP-2471; deep groove N/N- shrink S $35 (or E/N- S $25, specify) -- calypso/calypso jazz/Latin jazz; essential for 4 cuts of prime Peanuts, "solo on bongos, goombay, and congo drums"; rest of LP is a nice collection of Richie Delamore (4 songs: Limbo, Matilda, Yellow Bird, Island in the Sun), Eloise (2 songs: Chi Chi Merengue, La Bamba), and 1 each by Luis Perez (La Agarradera), Pat Rolle (John B. Sail), and Bullumba Landostoy (Sin Ti); beautiful jacket!
Wesley Thomas Combo; Stella T-503; deep groove E/E- $40 -- one of just a handful of unusual LPs (all scarce!) by leading VI small group; Race Tracks Scandal, Royal Jail, Bugle Merengue, Pachanga, Festival Calypso, Goza Cha Cha Cha, Melo Twist, Licks in the Police, Yellow Bird, St. Croix Country Dance, Tipitin, Beautiful Girl
Wesley Thomas Combo: Calypso Holiday in the Virgin Islands; Stella 0159; deep groove E+/E $40 -- scarce US Virgin Isles group stretches out into pop and Latin as well as serves up more of their unique calypso; The River, Pussycat Ruthy and the Cash Pan, The Clock, I Confess, St. Croix by the Sea, Mack the Knife, You Go to My Head, Crazy Love, Pachanga, Coqui, Begin the Beguine, Sugar Time
Roy Thompson & the Cocoanut Vendors: Ambassador of Calypso; Request RLP-8029; deep groove E/E $25 -- semi-authentic calypso (or mento, for you purists) by Jamaican singer--somewhat like Herb Jeffries or Robert Mitchum in that sense; nice jacket & production; unique songs: Stay Away, Zelma, Devil's Island Rock Pile, Italian Calypso, Things are Bad, Montego Bay, What a Calamity, Brother Ramgoat, The Constant Lover, Sally's Ghost..
Issa el Saieh w/Ti Ro Ro, Ti Marcel, Guy DuRosier, etc.: Hi-Fi Haitian Drums; Capitol of the World T-10110; 1st (originally sold by Roger's of Okinawa!) N-/N $200 (or D4 press E+/N $150, specify) -- THE BEST LP of its kind, incl. the best LP w/master drummers Ti-RoRo, Ti-Marcel, Ti-Rene; wide variety incl. rah rah, invocations, etc.; gorgeous jacket, first-rate liners; very rare, important, & legendary, like the Hi-Fi Cuban Drums LP but much rarer; truly a collector's dream; Voodoo Drum Solo, Christiana, Damballah, Tele, Artibonite Oh, Moin Tende Youn Canon Qui Tire, Main Diable La, Nous Rive, Voyez Zin, Nou Bre, Ce Gran Chemin M Te Ye, Loa Zao
Tiroro--"Best Drummer in Haiti"; Cook Road Recordings 5004; deep groove E+/E $60 -- Haiti/voodoo/drums; master drummer and ambassador of Haitian music Ti RoRo (Raymond Baillargau) in one of the most significant Cook LPs; one of only a very few LPs that's all him
The Tradewinds: Caribbean Calypso; RCA Victor PCS-1218 (Canada); cutout N/N S $15 -- rare import by Toronto group similar to the Merrymen; Mrs. Clyde, Oh Oh Marie, She Belongs to You, Mr. Rooster, We Were Young, Little Bird, Gimme that Rum Fast, Blue Water Country, Calypso from Long Ago, In Time, Pretty Colours, Miss Imelda
Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band: Hits of the Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band--Trinidadian Reggae Style Music; American Variety International AVI-1025; 1973; N/N- shrink S $30 -- steel-band/caribeat; "Trinidadian Reggae Style Music"; instrumental & live but with a nice clear, studio-quality sound; rare & legendary among rare-groove collectors for the Meters' "Cissy Strut"(!!!)--which features Meters-y crisp, spare kit drumming as well as steel pan; also: Spinning Wheel, Aquarius, Girl from Ipanema, Games People Play..
Maureen Du Valiera w/Lad Richards Calypso Orchestra: A Calypso Mama Sings; Art ALP-17 (a.k.a. Calypso Mama); E-/V $25 -- hard wear but plays reasonably; too scarce & important & great to pass up if you don't have it; great jacket design
Olive Walke's La Petite Musical--Folk Songs of Trinidad & Tobago; RCA Victor Trinidad LPB-3001; deep groove V+/E+ $35 -- folkloric vocal choir; super rare document of famous singing group & its leader that played for royalty, the UN, etc.; 1 song from St. Vincent, 6 each from Trinidad & Tobago
Uncredited, w/Ti RoRo: Voodoo of the Caribbean 10"; Monogram 815; deep groove E/V+ $100 -- Haitian/Afro-Cuban sacred cult music/voodoo/drum; "Actual Ceremonial Recordings--Drums & Voices of the Caribbean" rec. in the Caribbean by Lisa Lekis; the Ti RoRo feature has a great spoken intro which earns it our vote for most thrilling Ti Ro Ro piece (possibly includes Issa El Saieh); add to that 7 more sensational cuts, rarity (even by Monogram standards), and beyond-fantastic artwork (spooky lime-green-on-black sketch & more sketches on back) make it a fave among faves; we're thrilled finally to be able to offer it; Aie Bobo, Gran Masso, Voodoo Drums, Damballah, Yanvallou, Shango, Naningo, Belen
Various: Bahamas Treasure Chest; Carib LP-2016; 1961; deluxe inner-leaved/die-cut photo jacket V+/V+ S $30 -- one of the most desirable/valuable/scarce on the label (has sold for $100s), it's a magnificent survey of the top Carib artists (Delamore, Kasavubu, King Eric Gibson, Shurland, Taylor, Chipman), also prized for pages of terrific color photos (including famous ones used on other Carib jackets), extensive liners, & die-cut jacket (unique among calypso LPs)
Various: Beat of the Bahamas; [Art custom for] Bahamas Airways [no #]; orange/deep groove N/N shrink S $75 (or orange/deep groove E+/N S $60, specify) (or blue/deep groove mono E/E+ $40, specify) -- calypso compilation; spectacular asset to the Art collector, as it gives you a clean, rich version of the very best of the label (best artists, lots of jazzy playing) on real vinyl (not the plastic of regular Art LPs) and in stereo for the first time (in the case of orange-label stereo copies); very colorful jacket art too; Mary Ann, Mr. Give Me De Rent (Mighty Panther), Zombie Jamboree (Harold McNair), Ask Me Why I Run, Don't Touch Me Tomato (Calypso Mama), Lizzie Carry Basket on Head (Peanuts Taylor), Noise in the Market, Never Interfere with Man & Wife, medley (Blind Blake), Sly Mongoose (Delbon Johnson), Woman Sweeter than Man (Percentie Brothers), Island Woman (Leslie Scott)
Various: Bermuda Holiday Island Cruise; Edmar LP-1041; AUTOGRAPHED (by Rogers) E+/E+ $25 -- calypso; scarce comp split 3 ways (4 songs each); Stan Seymour: Everybody Loves Bermuda, Emerald of the Sea, Radar Trap, Blue Bird; Sidney Bean: There's No Place Like Bermuda, Bermuda is Calling Me, Kasavubu Meets Mr. Lumunba, Take Me Back to Bermuda; George Rogers: Sloop John B, Women Are Smarter, Bermuda Holiday, Beautiful Bermuda
Various: Calypso; Grand Award GA-33-352; deep groove N-/N- $75 (or E-/E- $40, specify) -- calypso; true collectors item, RARE!!!; calypso on this label is both a total delight and some of the rarest issued in the US (probably in part because of the Ink Spots and Monarchs); great color jacket art by Don Miller; great songs in heavy-vinyl hi-fi: Congo Bey & the Count of Monte Cristo (
Various: Calypso -- Volume II; Grand Award GA-33-357; E+/N- $150 (or deep groove, w/generic jacket/E+ $60, specify) -- calypso; true collectors item, RARE!!! (took us over a decade to find it w/the jacket); calypso on this label is a total delight and some of the rarest issued in the US (perhaps in part bc of inclusion of the Ink Spots & Monarchs); as with the related Waldorf Music Hall comp LPs, it's a comp of what were issued as 78s originally; color jacket art "Calypso Drums" by Don Miller; great, rare songs in heavy-vinyl hi-fi: 
Various: Calypso Cavalcade Vol. 1; Request/Sounds of the Caribbean SLP-731; sealed $75 (or N/E+ shrink $60, specify) -- excellent, rare "Collectors Series" comp (1 of 3 vols.) of priceless old Monogram material that we generally don't find on vintage LPs (it's either newly issued or reissues obscure old singles); Sparrow (Give the Youngsters a Chance, Trinidad Carnival), Lord Melody (Life in Brasil, Can Can), Lord Beginner (Mama Me Belly A Hurt Me, Louise), The Terror (Chinese Children), George Brown (Origin of Calypso, Mary Anne, She Likes It He Likes It, I Do Adore Her), Lion (Wash Your Hands)
Various: Calypso Jazz; Cook XX-2; dark red vinyl E+/E- $20 (or E-/V $15, specify) -- calypso/calypso jazz; "a riot of actual on-the-scene recordings from the capitol of calypso...Trinidad and the sultry Caribbean"; excellent sampler featuring 14 unabridged cuts from nine of the rarest and most desirable Caribbean Cook LPs, incl. Calypso Kings & Pink Gin, Haiti Confidential, Le Jazz Primitif, Dance Calypso!, Jump Up Carnival in Trinidad..; w/Lord Melody (who sings his original "Mama Looka Booboo"), 
Various: Calypso Kings & Pink Gin; Cook 1185; E+/V+ $20 -- calypso; "Behind his own fence every dog is a lion"; one of the great Cook LPs featuring classic. "on-the-scene" road-recording sets by the greats at their early best: Mighty Sparrow (Dear Sparrow, Situation in Trinidad, Sailor Man), Lord Melody (Creature from the Black Lagoon, Jonah & the Bake), King Fighter (Silly Meal-Coocoo Soup), King Solomon (Mornin' Time, Belafonte), Nat Hepburn/March of Dimes Quartet (Senorita, General Election), Chang-Kai-Shek (Naughty Boy), Lord Cypher (P.N.M. Balisier), Young Brigade Tent; blue w/brown vinyl w/inevitable wear/noise in spots, priced low/worth it just for the jacket
Various: Calypsos for Adam & Eve (& the Life of Your Party); Monogram 854; 1st/deep groove E+/E+ $90 (or 1st/deep groove E-/E $60, specify) -- famous both for the great full-color jacket art & killer calypsos: Lord Kitchener: Romeo, Big Toe, Woman Like Saxaphone (sic); Lord Melody: Calypso Life in Brazil, Missing Frozen Chicken; Young Invader: Give Her Banana; Mighty Dictator: Mathematical Brother; Sparrow: Give the Youngsters a Chance, Family Size Coke; Beginner: Injection; Hepburn: Plastic Surgery; Lloyd Thomas: German Calypso
Various: Calypsos from Jamaica; Ritmo 12-503; deep groove E/E- $40 (or E-/E $35, specify) -- great Monogram-produced rarity w/spectacular full-color jacket art & top songs rec. in Jamaica; w/Lord Flea, Hubert Porter, The Wigglers, Lord Lebby..; Dr. Kinsey Report, Old Lady You Mash Me Toe, Miss Goosie, Not Me, Rum & Coconut Water, Ten Penny Nail, Mama Don' Want No Rice No Peas No Cocoanut Oil..
Various: Calypsos from the West Indies; Monogram 834; green jacket/orange label E+/E+ $75 (or green jacket/green label deep groove V+/V $25, specify) -- calypso great rarities on of the greatest titles on the super Monogram label by The Charmer (Gene Wolcott a.k.a. Louis Farrakhan!!!): Back to Back (Zombie Jamboree), Is She Is or Is She Ain't (about a tranvestite!), Stone Cold Man, Trinidad Road March; 
Various: Calypsos Too Hot to Handle; Monogram 837; E+/E- $60 (or E-/E- $50, specify) (or deep groove E-/V+ $40, specify*) (or deep groove V/V $25, specify**) -- THE BEST CALYPSO LP EVER "puts life in your party"; ultimate original, naughty-calypso comp and classic party LP featuring mostly the very best work by Duke of Iron, Charmer/Farrakhan, Kitch, and others; 
Various: Caribbean Calypsos; Capitol T-10071; green label N-/N- $30 (or green N-/E- $20, specify) -- top comp of great, classic, authentic Trinidad songs by Lord Beginner, Tony Johnson, The Torpedo; wonderful jacket/photos/liners; well worth getting clean!; I Will Die a Bachelor, Pretty Woman (answer to Ugly Woman), Love Love Love!, Syncopation, Africa, Mattie Rag, Lazy Janie, The Dollar & the Pound, Queen Elizabeth Calypso..
Various: Caribbean Dance Party; Gateway GSLP-3544; 1977; N/N shrink S $60 (or E+/N S $50, specify) (or E+/E S $35, specify) -- caribeat/disco/voodoo/mazurka/beguine/cadence-lypso; hip, modern, funky LP that few know about (looks like an old limbo-instruction record but sure isn't!!!); very impressive, versatile mix of Haitian voodoo, drums, disco, reggae, mazurka; Gateway is a STRANGE label w/awesome titles of many kinds--this is one of our favorites!; w/Ti Emile (Chaud I Chaud, Fanmi Grand Gile), Gramacks (La Vie Disco, Take Good Care), Johnny Grey (Se Fe Local, Moin Ain Min 76), Black Affairs (Black Affairs Ca Wake, Doucine), Gilles Sala (Petit Roi Des Ananas), Puissance 8 (Revanche de Maguy)
Let's Love a Little with Cool Calypsos from the West Indies; Paragon 610; green/deep groove E+/E- $100 (or white/deep groove V/V $35, specify) -- rare!; early, great calypso comp in the prized Monogram family; no artist credits listed but we've identified at least The Charmer (Louis Farrakhan/Gene Wolcott); notable for the jacket, high gain (loud, clear sound), & several unusual songs; Matilda, Chit Chit Rit Chit, Stupid Husband, Ugly Woman, Stone Cold Dead in de Market, Blue Calypso Samba, Conch Ain't Got No Bones, Mary Anne, Take Me, Give Her de #1, Red Head, Fire Down Dere
Various: Meet Me in Jamaica; Monogram 852; yellow label E-/E- $30 -- calypso; the fave is "Wide Screen (Three Dimension Irene)" but the whole thing is first-rate (like most Monogram--collectors know the whole "Meet Me in" series is wonderful), including great instrumental solos; mento (Jamaican calypso) can be a little laid back but this isn't!; Woman is Smarter (great version), Night Food, Mango Walk, Talking Parrot, Doctor, Jackass..
Various: Nassau's Junkanoo Festival; Bahama Records 22; deep groove E/E- $30 -- calypso; compilation/sampler makes rare treat for fans of the label & its great stars: Eloise Lewis (I Need It, Digby), George Symonette (Pretty Boy, All Suit No Man, Brown Skin Gal), Peanuts Taylor (Nassau Blues), Harold McNair (Bahaman Brown Baby), Andre Toussaint (Jolly Junkanoo, La Cruz, several others incl. duets w/Symonette); photos of each in the liners & nice jacket art of dancing figures; good to have even just to supplement the rare separate LPs (IF you can manage to get them all--everyone's seeking the early Eloise!)
Various: Native Calypso Songs 10"; Royale 1839; 1954; E+/E+ $50 -- rare wonder on budget label compiles 8 great, rare (78 rpm) singles from the classic period by calypsonian all-stars; later reissued on the 1956 12" LP Allegro 1716 which credits "G. Clark & the Calypso Orchestra"; the real stars are Atilla (Coffee Coffee, Professor Carver), Lord Invader (You Don't Need Glasses to See, Down at Rockaway), the Lion (Ugly Woman, Fan Me Saga Boy), MacBeth (Hold 'im Joe, Man Smart--Woman Smarter)
Various: Saturday Night in Haiti; Monogram 856; E+/E- $50 -- Haiti/voodoo; fantastic rare collectors item (says so itself, but it's true) w/Ferere Laguerre & Choeur Simidor, Guy du Rosier, Rodolphe Legros, Felix Guignard & Ensemble Ibo Lele, Louis Lahens, Auguste Durosier, Orch. Citadelle, Rene Daure, & probably TiRoRo uncredited; reissued in 1973 as Request/SOC SLP-748 but only the Monogram has the original artwork; La Mercie, Bamboche Paysanne, Chaille Aux Pieds, Damballah, Palmannan, Li Bon Chou Chou, Volo Cadav, Intro Ibo, Adeline, Maria Leve, Contravention No-No-No, Ibo Lele
Your Musical Holiday in the West Indies--A Calypso Carnival; Decca DL-8159; 1st/T1 press E-/E $40 (or T2 press E-/V+ $25, specify) -- all eight songs from the "Calypso Carnival" 10" LP/EP set plsu three more (Rum & Coca-Cola, Gin & Coconut Water, Ugly Woman); terrific, rare, authentic LP on a major label (w/some European recordings) from the classic 78 era (great stuff hiding in obscure tourist series); Wilmoth Houdini (not on the earlier version), Lord Beginner, Lord Kitchener, The Lion, The Iron Duke; Nora, Man Smart, Housewives, Mary Ann, The Dollar & the Pound, General Election..
Luis Amando: Calypso Joe/Trinidad-E-O; Encino 1006; E $15 -- crossover calypso all the way from Hollywood (old, rare, & not at all bad, as these things go)
Claude "Fats" Greene: Let's Advertise/"Fats" Boogalypso; Camille 112; E- $15 -- Caribeat/calypso instrumental; hip, jazzy, swinging, happenin' instrumentals--great for the jukebox
The Island Aires: Bermuda Holiday Island Cruise EP; picture sleeve N-/N- $15 -- Island Cruise Memories (narrated w/music)/Bermuda Holiday (original calypso by Geoff Kitson) in a nice photo jacket w/notes--souvenir item
Hubert Smith & the Coral Islanders: Bermuda is Another World/Today; Edmar E-1120; N- $15 -- calypso/vocal; rare late one from Canada (we found it inside a Stan Seymour LP)
Various: Authentic Caribbean Music--Haitian Songs & Drums EP; Alcoa Steamship Company MEP-131 (disc only) E+* $30 -- Haitian w/Ti Ro Ro; rec. by Lisa Lekis; the Ti Ro Ro feature & 2 other cuts are also on a rare 10" (Monogram 815) but you'd do well to get them this way too or instead; "Drum Medley" ("Voodoo Drums" on the LP) is our favorite of all Ti Ro Ro cuts thanks to a wonderful intro spoken by an announcer; disc is remarkably clean/unworn; only problem (priced accordingly) is a skip in "Gran Masso" which you can move past if recording, at least (or grind out if you care to); Damballa & Les Cloches are the other 2 cuts (Les Cloches is not on Monogram 815)
Various: Calypso Carnival EP; Decca ED-624; 2-disc gatefold E/N- $30 -- terrific, rare, authentic LP on a major label (w/some European recordings) from the classic 78 era; nicely packaged w/artwork & liners; Lord Beginner, Lord Kitchener, The Lion, The Iron Duke; Nora, Man Smart, Housewives, Mary Ann, The Dollar & the Pound, General Election..