Lord Kitchener

I don't think I have featured Lord Kitchener before on this blog - an oversight on my part. This LP (with no sleeve)on the Trinidad label is from 1979 and more Soca than Calypso but still worth a listen. I must admit I prefer the earlier stuff from the 50's and 60's. Wikipedia says - "Aldwyn Roberts (18 April 1922 – 11 February 2000), better known by the stage name Lord Kitchener (or "Kitch"), was one of the most internationally famous calypsonians. He was the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and homemaker, Albertha. Kitchener emigrated from Trinidad, spending six months in Jamaica before traveling on the Empire Windrush to the UK. Kitchener's success began after he moved to England in 1948. During the 1950s he built a large following in the expatriate communities of the West Indian islands. His fame continued throughout the 1950s, when calypso achieved international success. Later, though, he moved towards soca, a related style, and continued recording until his death. Kitchener's compositions were enormously popular as the chosen selections for steel bands to perform at the annual National Panorama competition during Trinidad Carnival. Kitchener became a very important figure to those first 5000 West Indian migrants to the UK. His music[3] spoke of home and a life that they all longed for but in many cases couldn't or wouldn't return to. On June 29, 1950, he immortalised the defining moment for many of the migrants in writing "Cricket, Lovely Cricket". This was one of the first widely-known West Indian songs, and epitomised an event that historian and cricket enthusiast C. L. R. James defined as crucial to West Indian post-colonial societies ( West Indies' victory over England in a Test Match at Lord's). The song, later recorded by Lord Beginner, is rarely credited to Lord Kitchener although Tony Cozier and many who attended the Test at The Oval can attest that it was a Kitch composition. In England, Kitchener started out working in London pubs. At first there were difficulties with English audiences who did not understand all the words, but that did not deter Kitch, and after the BBC gave him a chance to broadcast, he moved on to club bookings, and was soon performing in three clubs every night. Kitchener returned to Trinidad in 1962. He and the Mighty Sparrow proceeded to dominate the calypso competitions of the sixties and seventies. Lord Kitchener won the road march competition ten times between 1965 and 1976, more times than any other calypsonian. For 30 years, Kitchener ran his own calypso tent, Calypso Revue, where which he nurtured the talent of many calypsonians. Calypso Rose, David Rudder, Black Stalin and Denyse Plummer are among the many artists who got their start under Kitchener's tutelage. It was always important to Kitchener throughout his career to gain new experiences that could be woven into his material. This led him to performances in Curaçao, Aruba and Jamaica in the early days, and finally to London, when he was already flying high in Trinidad. Kitchener once said: "I have reached the height of my popularity in Trinidad. What am I doing here? I should make a move." This creator of highly popular and sweet melodies died of a blood infection and kidney failure at Port of Spain's Mount Hope Hospital on 11 February 2000. He is buried in the Santa Rosa Cemetery in Arima. He was later honoured with a statue in Port of Spain. A bust of the beloved entertainer is also on display on Hollis Avenue, Arima, not far from the Arima Stadium." Tracks are as follows - 1. Netball Queen 2. Barataria Sweet 3. No Pan

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Sparrow

A big calypso favourite - Sparrow ( The Mighty Sparrow ) here on a Ra label LP from 1974. A few instrumental Soca tracks on side two of this disc which is unusual.

Wikipedia says -

"Sparrow was born in Grenada on July 9, 1935, but moved to Trinidad when he was one year old. His birth name is Slinger Francisco. He grew up in Port of Spain.
He was first exposed to music through the choir in Catholic school, and became interested in calypso at 14 when he joined a steel band composed of neighborhood boys. He received his performing name "The Mighty Sparrow" during his early career:
Your calypso name is given to you by your peers, based on your style. In the old days they tried to emulate British royalty. There was Lord Kitchener, Lord Nelson, Duke. When I started singing, the bands were still using acoustic instruments and the singers would stand flat footed, making a point or accusing someone in the crowd with the pointing of a finger, but mostly they stood motionless. When I sing, I get excited and move around, much like James Brown, and this was new to them. The older singers said "Why don't you just sing instead of moving around like a little Sparrow." It was said as a joke, but the name stuck.

In 1956, Sparrow won Trinidad's Carnival Road March and Calypso Monarch competitions with his most famous song, "Jean and Dinah". His prize for the latter was $40. In protest of the small sum, he wrote the song "Carnival Boycott" and attempted to organize other singers to boycott the competition. About half of the singers followed. Sparrow claims credit for succeeding improvements in the conditions of calypso and steelband musicians in Trinidad, as well as the formation of the Carnival Development Committee, a musicians' assistance organization. Sparrow refused to participate in the competition for the next three years, but he continued to perform unofficially, even winning another Road March title in 1958 with "P.A.Y.E."

Tracks are -

1. Letter From Miami
2. Heavy Jamming
3. Peace Pipe
4. Priest
5. Coldest Day Of My Life
6. We Pass That Stage



Sparrow - Side Two

Sparrow

Another LP from The Mighty Sparrow who has dropped the Mighty from this 1984 LP on the B's Records label. Recorded in New York and very much more "Soca" than the calypso in days of old.

"Slinger Francisco, better known as The Mighty Sparrow, affectionately dubbed, The Birdie is the unrivaled Calypso King of the World, with a career that spans over 40 years and counting. This artist par excellence has earned his rightful place as "King of the Calypso World" by defeating every other competitor/pretender to his throne. He has entertained audiences across the globe, including, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, to name but a few.

Sparrow's roots are in Gran Roi, a rural fishing village in Grenada. He was born to a poor working class family. They migrated to his adopted homeland, Trinidad, when he was just one year old. He attended the New Town Boys School where he was selected to sing in the boys. choir of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. This was his initial involvement in music. The harmonics of the Gregorian Chants and the Plainsongs of the church that were embedded in him would later affect the depth and intensity of his compositions. His vocal abilities also reflect his childhood role as the head choirboy who sang baritone and tenor in Latin in the church."


Sparrow - Don't Back Back

Sparrow - BYO

Sparrow - Marajhin Cousin