From: js@cs.duke.edu (John A. Sammerson)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.caribbean
Subject: RE: Steel band CDs in DC
Date: 7 Apr 92 18:14:05 GMT
Organization: Duke University Computer Science Dept.; Durham, N.C.


   For soca, etc. in DC, I do my shopping at the Kilamanjaro
Record Shop. As far as pan CDs are concerned, I actually buy
those here in N. Carolina. There is a store here called CD
Superstore, that you can actually listen to the CDs prior to
deciding on whether to purchase them or not (caribbean style),
also you can return them within 30 days for a refund for any reason.
Anyways, at that store (and I'm sure the same holds for other CD
stores), there is a book called "Spectrum" that gives a quite
detailed listing of what's out there on CD. Within there, check
out the Caribbean section and there will steel band music
listed on there. So what the store doesn't have in stock, they
can use this book to special order it. So far I have managed to
get:

		Pan Jazz 'n' Calypso - Vat19 Fonclaire
		Pan Woman - Various Bands (dis one so-so)
		Panorama - Various Bands (1990 Panorama bands)
		Pan Progress - Our Boys (Good quality recording)
		Little Secrets - Andy Narell (contemporary jazz)
		
   For Pan-enthusiats, there is also an excellent album dat jus' come
out by Robert Greenidge - "Pan is Meh Jumbie"; which is de tune
Witco Desperadoes played. As you may know, he arranges for Despers.
It has tuh be one of the best albums I've heard this year. Music
galore, showing Robbie's second tuh none panmanship, as well as 
top-notch lyrics by Gregory Ballantyne. This is a must have fuh
you pan-lovers. Sorry, I don't know if it is available in de States
yet. I got mine from T&T; and since it was recorded there, it might
take a while to get into the US market. Here is a sample of de 
lyrics of "Lavue Lavue" (all yuh who know French Creole could tell 
meh what dis means)


Verse 1
-------
Just after J'ouvert
  Carnival Monday
Savannah jus' lull
  Wit' no action at all
Bands congregating
  People just waiting
De stage was as bare
  As when curfew declare
People wit' drinks, some pelau and small conversation
  Givin' some winks, as de heat increase dey frustration
But from de East came a small music band
  Carnival caravan
Dat shake up de North Stand wit' Jam
 Jam, jam,.....

Two piece of brass alone and a sax
  .....like income tax
    One guitar man like a Jumping Jack
Ah couple Scratcher man, two pots, a cow-bell
  Dey cast such a spell
    Dat dey had everyman in de band just prancin' like hell

CHORUS
Hear dey bawlin', Lavue, Lavue
Is a mas we come tuh play, Lavue, Lavue
We ain't stopping till Tuesday
We not going tuh stop
  All yuh lock we up
Jail ain't make fuh fig 
  An' we money big
When we come each year
  Mama, law does disappear
Is we does paint de town
  So when we coming down
People clear de ground 
  for miles around...
Let de good times roll
  Lewwe lose control
Well dey have no fete anywhere
  Dat could ever start to compare 
    With dis festival we have here
Freedom is we toast
  An' we could boast
    When it comes down tuh fun-loving people we are de most


Verse 2
-------
Who sleeping, wake up
  Who waking, shake up
Pelau left on chairs
  With bottles, stocks and beers
Who play de devil
  Rubbing on people
Jump inside de ban'
  With an ole pitch-oil pan
A little boy wit' a head-piece from a wild indian
  Handsomely coy, we eh sure if is man or woman
Out of de blue, came 2 white-face minstrels
  And de caravan swell
    De bachannal now gel, it swell, it swell...

Ah man with a blue book stealing de line
  Telephone hanging from he behin'
    Calling up long distance while he wine
Ah tell yuh when yuh face de North and de Grand
  Dat was commotion
    Because more people climbing de stage to jump in de band


  Ah Gone!


John S.
100% Trini
De crowd start to roar
  Despers gimme more
It was de Woman on De Bass...
          - Scrunter


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