Calypso--Compilations/Various Artists |
 |
Thank tourism for making possible an incredible variety of calypso records from the islands. For an island of limited resources, one way to economize was to feature several artists on one label; calypso compilations, or various-artists collections, abound. More often than not, these are the sole releases of the particular recordings. In other cases the collections bring together unforgettable but otherwise lost material. One type is the classic, ancient calypso which may exist only rare 78s. Another is the stuff of recent years, the past "road march" and "calypso tent winners" which may have been recreated in the studio. Buying: Calypso compilations are as sure a thing as any; almost all collections offer unique, worthwhile material if not the very best calypso on record. The Monogram family of labels, including the reissue version (Request/Sounds of the Caribbean) leads the pack. |
Various-Artist Calypso LPs
| Rating | |
| 7 | Bacchanal at Chez Paul Meeres; Carib LP-2004; 1958 (compilation; reissued as "Bacchanal at the Confidential Club"; Berkley "Peanuts" Taylor Presents, w/Guy DuRosier, Richie Delamore, Harold McNair, Vincent Martin, Andre Toussaint, Count Desire) |
| 7 | The Bahama Islands; Carib LP-2038; 1962 (Eloise, Delamore, Butler, Lotmore, Kasavubu, Shurland, Taylor, Chipman) |
| 7 | Bahamas Treasure Chest; Carib LP S-92016/LP-2016; 1961 (deluxe inner-leaved/photo jacket; Delamore, Kasavubu, King Eric Gibson, Shurland, Taylor, Chipman) |
| 5 | Bamboo-Tamboo/Bongo & the Belair; Cook 5017 ("generic Afro-Caribbean rhythms & forms...recorded in the hills of Trinidad") |
| [Eastry Presents] Barbados Holiday Vol. 1; Eastry (Keith Campbell..) | |
| 7 | [Eastry Presents] Barbados Holiday Vol. 2; Eastry QC-152 (Lord Sivers, Keith Campbell, Opels, Norma Stoute, Clifton Glasgow's Combo, Air Canada All Stars) |
| 8 | Beat of the Bahamas; Art/Bahamas Airways (Mighty Panther, Harold McNair, Calypso Mama, Peanuts Taylor, Blind Blake, Delbon Johnson, Percentie Brothers, Leslie Scott) |
| 6 | Bermuda Calypso Festival; Bermuda 2000 (The Four Deuces, Kingsley Swan, Sidney Bean, Erskine Zuill) |
| 7 | Bermuda Holiday Island Cruise; Edmar 1041 (George Rogers, Sidney Bean, Stan Seymour) |
| 5 | The Best of Don Gibson's Holiday Island Revue; GG 1; (calypso/lounge act show; Hugo Pedell Orchestra dir. George Cort, James Gregory; Gene & Pinky Steede, Dudley Browne, June Caisey, Bill Caisey, Eugene Ming, Sally Neal) |
| Cafe Music of Curacao 10"; Dial Ethnic Series 408 | |
| 7 | Calypso; Art CELP (custom for Cunard Eagle Airways; Delbon Johnson, Leslie Scott, Percentie Brothers, Blind Blake, Digby McNair, Colin Kelly, Denis Donelson, Billy Cook, Calypso Eddie, Calypso Mama, Peanuts Taylor, Andre Toussaint) |
| 8 | Calypso; Grand Award GA-33-352 (Count of Monte Cristo & Congo Bey, Ink Spots, Monarchs, Pat Mathews, Stu Phillips, Loren Becker) |
| 8 | Calypso; Grand Award/Waldorf Music Hall MHK-33-1220 (1/2 overlaps w/Grand Award 352; Count of Monte Cristo & Congo Bey, Ink Spots, Lord Marlboro & the Monarchs, Pat Mathews, Stu Phillips, Loren Becker, The Zig Zag Quartet w/Enoch Light, Paul Whiteman) |
| 8 | Calypso--Volume II; Grand Award GA-33-357 (Duke of Iron, Sir Lancelot, Pat Mathews, Count of Monte Cristo & Congo Bey, Monarchs) |
| Calypso Volume I 10"; Stinson | |
| 7 | Calypso Volume II 10"; Stinson SLP-27 (also a 12"; Lord Invader, Lord Beginner, Macbeth, Felix & his Internationals) |
| 7 | Calypso Volume III 10"; Stinson SLP-28 (Duke of Iron, Lord Invader, Lord Beginner, Macbeth, Felix & his Internationals) |
| 6 | Calypso; RCA Camden CAL-360; 1957 (Wilmouth Houdini & his Bamboo Orchestra, Felix's Krazy Kats Orch., Houdini w/Krazy Kats, Bert McLean's Jazz Hounds) |
| 8 | Calypso Capers (Calypso--Vol. II); Grand Award/Waldorf Music Hall MHK-33-1220 (2 cuts reissued from Grand Award; Wilmoth Houdini, Count of Monte Cristo & Congo Bey, Monarchs) |
| 8 | Calypso/Meringues; Folkways FP-8; 1950 (FW-6808; SF-12192; w/Duke of Iron "Druscilla"; Lord Caresser, Lord Invader, Macbeth, Felix & his Internationals, Jazz Majestic Orchestra) |
| 7 | Calypso Carnival; Oleander OLP-104 (Lloyd Simmons, Red Smith Trio, Moira, Ghandi Burgess, Bishop Caines, King Trott, Graham Bean, Terry Brannon, Eugene Steed (Gene Steede of Gene & Pinky), Eric Webb, Mac Lightbourne, Al de Josheph) |
| 8 | The Calypso Carnival; Columbia CL-1007 (Sammy Heyward, Irene Lusan, Lord Zebedee, Amy Goodwin, Massie Patterson, Theresa Merritt, Alfred Earle, King Flash) |
| 8 | Calypso Cavalcade Vol. 1; Request/Sounds of the Caribbean SLP-731 (reissues or newly issues old Monogram; Sparrow, Melody, Terror, Lion, George Brown, Lord Beginner) |
| 7 | Calypso Cavalcade Vol. 2; Request/Sounds of the Caribbean SLP-735 (reissues Monogram; Frank Deniz, Charmer, Melody, Lion, Four Deuces, King Rudolph, Macbeth, Invader, Young Kitchener) |
| 8 | Calypso Cavalcade Vol. 3; Request/Sounds of the Caribbean SLP-745 (reissues Monogram; Charmer, The Sparrow, Lord Kitchener, Melody, Island Champions, Macbeth) |
| 6 | Calypso Date; Waldorf Music Hall MHK-33-1220 (Lord Messam/Composer/Fly, Count Owen, George Moxey, The Ticklers, Baba Motta, Monty Reynolds) |
| 7 | Calypso Holiday in the Virgin Islands; Monogram 844 (w/Archie Thomas of St. Croix & Alwyn Richards of St. Thomas) |
| Calypso Jamboree; Mongoram 603 (Paragon 603; Duke of Iron, Llyd Thomas..) | |
| 7 | Calypso Jazz; Cook XX-2 (compilation) |
| 7 | Calypso Kings & Pink Gin; Cook 1185 (Mighty Sparrow, Lord Melody, King Fighter, King Solomon, Nat Hepburn/March of Dimes Quartet, Chang-Kai-Shek, Lord Cypher, Young Brigade Tent..) |
| 5 | Calypso Lore & Legend--An Afternoon with Patrick Jones; Cook 5016 (w/early string band, bamboo-tamboo, calypso "The Ugly One") |
| 9 | Calypso Magic 10"; Monogram/Supertone 802 (Duke of Iron, Lord Kitchener, MacBeth, Lord Invader; possibly reissued as 12" Monogram 820 w/Marie Bryant) |
| 9 | Calypso Party Featuring Outstanding Calypso Artists; Art ALP-7A (Frankie Anderson, Mighty Panther, Brownie, Calypso Mama, Lord Composer, Pershing De Graff) |
| 6 | Calypso/Meringues 10"; Folkways FW-6808; 1959 (Duke of Iron, Invader..) |
| 7 | Calypsos for Adam & Eve; Monogram 834 (Kitchener, Melody, Young Invader, Dictator, Beginner, Sparrow, Hepburn, Lloyd Thomas) |
| 7 | Calypsos from Jamaica; Ritmo 12-503 (Lord Flea, Hubert Porter, Lord Lebby..; Request/Sounds of the Caribbean SLP-734) |
| Calypsos from Panama; Monogram/Paragon 600 (Request 739?) | |
| 8 | Calypsos from the West Indies; Monogram 834 (Duke of Iron, The Charmer, Kitchener, Mighty Terror, The Lion, Lord Beginner) |
| 9 | Calypsos Too Hot to Handle; Monogram 837 (Duke of Iron, The Charmer, Kitchener) |
| 6 | Caribbean Carnival; Mace M-10016 (Sparrow, Nelson, Mighty Duke, Mighty Beaver, Bert Inniss/Starlift) |
| 7 | Caribbean Calypsos; Capitol T-10071 (Lord Beginner, Tony Johnson, The Torpedo) |
| 7 | Caribbean Dances 10"; Folkways FP-840; (c)1953 (Mighty Zebra & folkloric groups) |
| 7 | Carnival in Paradise; Carib LP-2036-S; 1962 (Chipman, Eloise, Delamore, Lord Cody & Kasavubu, Shurland, Lotmore) |
| 7 | Carnival in Trinidad 10"; Dial Ethnic Series 404 (Mighty Zebra & others at 1953 Carnival) |
| 5 | The Castilianne; Cook 10890 |
| 9 | Cavalcade of Calypso Vol. 1 10"; Dial Ethnic Series 401 (Mighty Terror, Mighty Panther, The Growler, Wonder, Calypso Kings, Young Kitchener, Small Island Pride, Mighty Dictator) |
| 8 | Cavalcade of Calypso Vol. 2 10"; Dial Ethnic Series 405 (Mighty Panther, Terror, Zebra, Vivian Comma) |
| 8 | Cruise Party; Art/Artrec Custom (great except electronic stereo; Calypso Mama-7 songs!, Delbon Johnson-2, Calypso Eddie-1, Andre Toussaint-1, Digby Harold McNair-1) |
| 5 | Dance Calypso!; Cook 1180 (w/Lord Cristo, Johnny Gomez, Mighty Dictator, Small Island Pride, Herbert Howard) |
| Dance Music of Martinique 10"; Dial Ethnic Series 402 | |
| 7 | Dancing Calypso; Cook 930 (instrumental, partly jazz/vibes; Clarence Curvan, Johnny Gomez, Vin Cardinal, Tom Charles, Fitz Vaughn Bryan) |
| 9 | Don't Touch Me Tomato; Sounds of the Caribbean SLP-727 (reissues Calypsos Too Hot to Handle except 1 track different) |
| 9 | Favorite Calypso Songs; Monogram 608 (or Paragon; Duke of Iron, Charmer, Lloyd Thomas, Kitchener, Invader) |
| 7 | Favorite Calypsos from the West Indies; Monogram 803 |
| 9 | Favorite Calypsos of the Virgin Isles; Monogram 400 (Duke of Iron, Lord Kitchener, unknown; same as Virgin Islands Calypso 10"; Virgin Isle Supertone or R.C. Spenceley VLP-400) |
| 6 | Folk Music of Curacao 10"; Dial Ethnic Series 407 |
| 6 | Folk Sounds of Trinidad & Tobago; Folk Sounds FSS-1; 1967 (w/Lord Beginner & Young Lion) |
| 7 | For Adults Only; Vitadisc H-43 (Trinidad but rec. Jamaica; w/lyric insert; gold label then blue) |
| Hits from Bahama Hot Spots; Bahama; 1956 (Symonette/Eloise/Harold McNair) | |
| 6 | Instrumentally Bermuda; Edmar ELPS-1110 (Bermuda Gombeys, Eric Webb, Eddy de Steel Kings) |
| 4 | Music of the Bahamas Vol. 3; Folkways FS-3846; 1959 (Fresh Creek Dance Band/Daniel Saunders Brass Band; rec. Samuel B. Charters) |
| 4 | Jump Up Carnival in Trinidad; Cook 1072 |
| 7 | Let's Go Calypso (King Scratch, Bay Street Boys); Somerset P-2300 |
| 8 | Let's Love a Little with Cool Calypsos from the West Indies; Monogram 610 (or Paragon 610; The Charmer..) |
| [artist(s) unknown:] Limbo from Trinidad; RCA Victor Trinidad LPB-3013 | |
| 7 | Meet Me in Jamaica; Monogram 852 |
| 6 | Meet Me in Trinidad (Kitchener, Calypso Joe, Young Invader, Mighty Skipper); Monogram 835 |
| Nassau's Junkanoo Festival (Symonette, Lewis, Taylor, Toussaint); Bahama BR-22 | |
| 9 | A Nation is Born--A Musical History of the Bahamas; Bahamas Nationhood Ltd.; 1973 (w/unique [live] material & rare grooves; note by Sidney Poitier; w/Eloise, Beginning of the End, Blind Blake, Ronnie Butler, Biosis Now..) |
| 8 | Native Calypso Songs 10"; Royale 1839; 1954 (8/11 of 12" LP Native Calypso Songs; RCA/Allegro 1716; 1956; G. Clark & the Calypso Orchestra, Atilla, Lord Invader, the Lion, MacBeth, The Big Boy) |
| 6 | Shango Ceremonial Dances 10"; Dial Ethnic Series 403 |
| 7 | Showtime at the Drumbeat; Tropical LP-2471; 1964 (Berkley "Peanuts" Taylor, Richie Delamore, Eloise Lewis, Pat Rolle, Bullumba Landostoy, Luis Perez) |
| 4 | Sights & Sounds of Elbow Beach Surf Club; Bermuda BLP-4012 (Hubert Smith, Calypso Trio, King Trott) |
| 8 | Souvenir of Jamaica; Request/Sounds of the Caribbean SLP-738; 1972 (reissues Monogram, original unknown) |
| 6 | Sweet Richard's Limbo Party; Carib LP-2013; 1960 ("Sweet Richard with Princess Kitty at the Place Pigalle on Miami Beach"; Tony Allyne, Guy Durosier, King Eric & his Knights, Sweet Richard's troupe, Pat Rolle, Roy Shurland, Andre Toussaint) |
| 8 | Top Calypsonians; RCA Victor Trinidad LPB-3018 (Lord Melody, King Fighter, Lord Superior, Mighty Power, Nap Nepburn, Mighty Bomber) |
| Trinidad All Time Calypso Hits--1960; Telco TL-5004; 1960 (Lord Blakie, Mighty Skipper..) | |
| 8 | Trinidad All Time Calypso Hits--1961; Telco TL-5007; 1961 (same jacket as previous year w/rear face pasted over; Mighty Dougla, Nap Hepburn, Mighty Robin, Frank Francis, Telco Recording Orchestra) |
| 8 | Trinidad & Tobago All Time Calypso Hits--1969-70 [Calypso Vocals]; Telco TLS-5038; 1970 (Mighty Power, Lord Blakie, Mighty Duke, Calypso Princess, Mighty Cypher, Lord Campanero, Mighty Composer, Richard "Boyie" Lewis, Solid "7" Combo) |
| 8 | Trinidad Calypso Kings 10"; Monogram ML-801 (w/Duke of Iron, Lord Kitchener, Lord Invader, Mighty Terror, Johnny Attila, Innocentay & his Afro-Caribbeans, Casablanca Steel Orchestra) |
| Trinidad's Favorite Calypsos; Monogram 601 (or Paragon 601; Lloyd Thomas..) | |
| 9 | Virgin Islands Calypso 10"; Virgin Isle Supertone or R.C. Spenceley VLP-400 (Duke of Iron, Lord Kitchener, unknown; same as Favorite Calypsos of the Virgin Isles 10"; Monogram 400) |
| 7 | Your Musical Holiday in the West Indies--A Calypso Carnival; Decca DL-8159 (Wilmoth Houdini, Lord Beginner, Lord Kitchener, The Lion, The Iron Duke) |
Various Artists Calypso EPs
| Rating | |
| 7 | Hits from Bahama Hot Spots; Bahama BEP-21; 1956 (George Symonette/Eloise Lewis/Harold McNair) |
| 7 | Hit Calypsos!; Capitol EAP 1-852 (Lord Flea: "Shake Shake Senora"; Stan Kenton; Nat "King" Cole w/Jack Costanzo: "Calypso Blues"; Andrews Sisters) |
| 7 | The Mighty Zebra w/La Motta Brothers/Connie Boswell; RCA Victor DJ-63 (promo; "The Bedbug" & "La Empaliza"; Boswell: "Japanese Sandman" & "Giannina Mia") |
Hyp Records is a 3-part guide:
|
Go to Hip Wax Some of these records may be for sale at |
© 2004 Hip Wax