Calypsos From Trinidad: Politics, Intrigue & Violence in the 1930s

Calypso music has often been used as a form of political protest. This was particularly true in Trinidad in the 1930s, when the collapse of the agricultural economy coincided with the discovery of oil—a situation that gave rise to economic disparity among the island’s residents. The songs in this collection reflect the social, political, and economic conditions of the time. Many of the songs were sung by Attila the Hun, a popular Calypso singer of the day. The detailed liner notes with song lyrics was edited and annotated by musicologist Dick Spottswood.

Track Listing

101	Iere Now And Long Ago	Atilla The Hun and Lord Beginner	02:57
102	Money Is King	The Tiger	02:59
103	The Gold in Africa	The Tiger	03:02
104	Bargee Pelauri	The Lion	03:02
105	Send Your Children to the Orphan Home	The Lion	03:06
106	Paramaribo	The Caresser	03:01
107	Ah, Gertie	The Caresser	03:00
108	Treasury Scandal	Atilla the Hun	03:13
109	I Don't Know How the Young Men Living	The Executor	03:03
110	Shop Closing Ordinance	The Executor	03:06
111	Too Botheration	The Growler	02:32
112	The Rats	The Tiger	03:01
113	Down the Road	The Tiger	02:52
114	Try a Screw to Get Through	The Tiger	03:03
115	The Strike	Atilla the Hun	02:24
116	Miss Marie's Advice	The Tiger	03:03
117	Where Was Butler?	Atilla the Hun	02:48
118	The Governor's Resignation	Atilla the Hun	02:57
119	We Mourn the Loss of Sir Murchison Fletcher	Lord Executor	02:57
120	Mr. Nankivell's Speech	Atilla the Hun	02:57
121	Commission's Report	Atilla the Hun	02:46
122	Sedition Law	King Radio	03:06
123	The Five Year Plan	Atilla the Hun	03:03