Pound,” many calypsonians from Trinidad were recorded for the indigenous and export market. Most were backed by Cyril Blake’s Calypso Serenaders or Freddy Grant from Guyana and his various fine bands. Following their success, Jamaica and other islands got their chance. Vol. 1 includes such classics as “Man Smart, Woman Smarter” and “Iere” by George Brown, “(Marry An) Ugly Woman” and “Tick! Tick!” by The Lion, “Daddy Gone To Cove & John” by Bill Rogers and “Linstead Market” by Tony Johnson, as well as some fine Jazz pieces by Grant and British clarinettist, Humphrey Lyttleton. Vol. 2 has the hilarious but affectionate put-down of Be-bop,
“Calypso Be” by Tiger (“Can’t make heads or tails of Dizzy Gillespie and his Oo-Blop-Blee-Dah,”) “Mary Ann Calypso” and “Kalenda March” by The Lion, “Fire, Fire,”
“Mattie Rag” and others, showing the bonds between Black musics around the world. Fine sound and notes. (Review by John McCord) — $8.50 each
