The BEST Calypso-Soca compilation available.
04/01/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Again Rounder and Gene Scaramuzzo have put together, for my money, the best introduction to Calypso and Soca. With classics,like Black Stalin's (check out Roots, Rock, Soca also on Rounder) "Kaiso Music" you cannot go wrong. There is traditional Calypso also included here that gives one a feel for the real roots of Soca. Again, the liner notes are extensive and well written. Straker is a legendary name in Brooklyn and Trinidad when it comes to Calypso/Soca. These selections are only a tease of what lies in the Straker vaults. An impressive collection of music from Trinidad and Tobago! Buy it if you have never heard music from these islands and buy it if you have. No disappointments in the over two hours of classic Kaiso music. I will personally refund your money if you're not moving at the end of the first track."
My friends and I endorse this compilation!
slcihla | Cleveland, Ohio USA | 03/03/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"To give you an idea of just how fetching this record is, I will tell you that I shared it with some friends. They liked it so much, they stole it for themselves! So let it be said of this excellent disc set, beware! Your friends may like it better than they even like you! (Or is it me????)I'd tell you more about the artists, but, well, I guess you already know what happened. Worth a listen!"
A great cultural document
Curmudgeon | West Australia | 08/31/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wonderfully infectious, good natured music. I bought it because of the previous recommendation, and Mark was right: it's great. And I knew practically nothing about calypso or soca. The liner notes are indispensable because they explicate the often political nature of the songs and allow a better understanding of the music itself. Fantastic!"