Calypso: Vintage Songs From the Caribbean
This admirable compilation concentrates on recordings from the '50s, when the toothsome melodies, infectious rhythms, and bawdy double-entendres of calypso and related West Indian styles were on the verge of becoming an international craze. Fun fact: at the height of his popularity,Harry Belafontewas outsellingElvis Presley! However, the tunes on this set are far more authentic than "Day-O." Most of the material comes from the Bahamas, but there are also flying visits to Trinidad, Jamaica, and Grenada. George Simonette's ragtime-inflected "Touch Me Tomato,"Mighty Sparrow's "No More Rocking and Rolling," and Lord Shorty's "Kim" are as uproarious as they are danceable. Meanwhile, Calypso Mama comes across as a deadpan Bahamian blues woman on the ribald "Yes, Yes, Yes." Despite the vintage sound quality, these mellow, mischievous tunes are delightful listening from start to finish.--Christina Roden