Various
London Is The Place For Me 1
'Trinidadian Calypso in London 1950-1956' - Long before there was reggae, or even ska, the official soundtrack of black Britain was calypso. Not just records coming from "back home" into newly-arrived immigrant communities, but a genuine London/Port Of Spain hybrid with some of the Caribbean's greatest entertainers composing songs about Lyon's Corner Houses, riding on the Underground, nosey landladies and--of course--the British weather. Calypso provided a vibrant, exciting, often hilarious commentary on 1950s London life. This music couldn't have happened anywhere else, and yet it is customarily forgotten. Until now, that is. Honest Jon's has unearthed recordings by the likes of Lord Kitchener, Lord Beginner and The Lion and put them together as London Is The Place For Me. A timely reminder, in such proximity to the 40th anniversary of Jamaican independence, that 50 years ago the voice of Britain's West Indian communities had a distinctly Trinidadian lilt. Spin a few of these tunes and you'll find out as much about life in the mother country in those days as you could from any textbook--and you can dance to them.