| More Middle Period Single Scans |
Page last revised: 3/22/08
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Assorted
Scans of Singles From Mento's Middle Period
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On the WIRL label -- surprisingly pressed on red vinyl -- is the a 45 RPM single: "John Tom" by Derrick Harriot with Audley
Williams and Combo, backed with "John Tom" was included in the 2006 collection "Dip And Fall Back" and is described on the "Can I Buy Mento?" page. "Solas Market" is an unreleased instrumental. On both sides, flute is the lead instrument over multiple percussion players, bass and guitar. The overall sound is similar to that heard on the 1968 LP "Jamaican Carnival at The Myrtle Bank", by Baba Motta. |
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On the obviously named but
uncommon Mento Records label is "Mongoose In Mento" backed with "Out
of Many, One People" by Baba Motta and His Orchestra featuring
Ernest Ranglin.
A date of 12/5/63 is said to written in the run-off groove. The writing on the label does not appear to be autographs. |
| Courtesy of Matthias Münchow of
Hamburg, Germany is "Calypso Mama" by The Barons on Byron Smith's
label, Baron's. Many reggae fans have this mento side, as
it the b-side of Nora Dean's
classic reggae hit, "Barbwire". |
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Matthias describes recording as
being based on "Peanut Vendor", which though part of the mento repertoire,
was originally a Cuban song. Explains Matthias:
"Peanut Vendor" was first recorded as "El Manicero (The Peanut Vendor)" by Don Azpiazu around 1928. It became an international hit. "Calypso Mama" an instrumental with occasional shouting ("Ayayay" and some other words, perhaps "Mama come and ... it up" and "I hit them all"). Penny whistle is the lead instrument along with guitar and rumba box, played in a very hectic manner. |
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Courtesy of Dan Neely is this scan of "Cudelia Brown", a Clyde Hoyte production that he released on his Clyde label. It features Dennis Haynes and The Boris Gardiner Happening. Hoyte began recording mento in the 1950s for Stanley Motta. (One of these tracks was compiled on the MRS/London LP.) He released recordings intermittently well into the 1970s, when this disc was probably released. |
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Here is a single on Sue Records by Percy Dixon and His Merry Boys: "Balimbo" backed with "Bloodshot Eyes" More on this band and the LP this single is drawn from can be seen here. |
| Once again, courtesy of Dan Neely is this scan "Yellow Bird", by Lord Composer, on Coxsone Dodd's Port-O-Jam label. Composer recorded two classic 1950s sides (go More here Artists and Song Clips page for more on these, including clips). However, Dan describes this disc as being far more notable for the autograph than the music. It reads, | ||
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"God bless you, From Lord Composer, Shaw Park Beach Hotel, Ocho Rios." This single was also released on the Composer and WIRL labels. To the right is the b-side, Jamaica Lulabye, also autographed (though more simply), but from a different record. |
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Perhaps the same single as seen
immediately above is this release of "Yellow Bird" on the Kalypso
label. The b-side is "Jamaica Lullaby". The tracks are credited to Lord Composer
and His Happy Boys.
The sleeve is autographed. It reads:
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From the collection
of Kenichiro Takeda of Japan, a two 1960s mento 45 RPM singles. |
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First, on Port-O-Jam is "Cutting Wood", produced by Coxsone Dodd in 1965, by female mento singer Girl Wonder. This pseudonym is not nearly as well known as her real name. Also included is a photo of the b-side, "Mommy Out The Light", taken from another disc. |
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Second, on
the Top Sound label, a rural mento version of "Peanut Vendor" by The Diggers, produced by Neville Foo-Loy in 1965. Peanut Vendor is a popular mento instrumental that is said to have migrated to Jamaica from Cuba. |
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From the collection of Allen Kaatz of the US:,
on the Wasp label, Euton Gale and
The Seasiders:
The Landlord b/w Euton (Lord) Gayle was Count Owen's banjo player. |
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A single by Denzil Laing and The Wrigglers, "The Little Fly", b/w "Welcome To The Arawak", on the Kalypso label. These tracks musically and thematically are a companion to their "Sing Calypsos At The Arawak Hotel" LP. |
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Courtesy of Matthias Münchow of Germany, an Island Records release of
the single "Rub Up" by
Dennis Sindrey.
According to Roots Knotty Roots, this UK release was originally released in 1962 in Jamaica on the D Darling label, produced by CS Dodd, and was originally titled "Jamaican Song (Rub Up)". This release can be seen below. |
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On the Black Swan label, a
1963 single by popular calypsonian Lord Kitchener,
"Jamaican Woman" backed with "Love In The Cemetery" |
For more on "Jamaican Woman", including the CD compilation that makes it available today, visit the "Can I Buy Mento" page. The flip side is the hit "Love In The Cemetery", which has made it into the mento repertoire (covered, for example, by The Jolly Boys and King Barou) as well as being covered by the reggae DJ team of Clint Eastwood and General Saint, as "Talk About Run". |
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On the
SOMB label is a
single by The Joy Makers. The unseen flipside "Zombie Jamborie" is "Big Bamboo". This single is taken from The Joy Makers LP, "Jamaica Calypso Souvenir", as seen here. A brief video clip of the Joy Makers performing can be seen on this site's "Mento Video" page. |
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On the
Venus label is a
Christmas single, credited to Studio 3. The pictured side is "Jingle Bells (Mento)" The unseen flip is "Little Drummer Boy (Reggae)" I have not heard this single. |
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A single on the Melodisc label by the obscure George Brown, one of many who reacted to Harry Belafonte's massive popularity. Farewell Jamaica b/w
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| Melodisc was a UK label that re-released some mento recording for UK fans in the early 60s. The sound is dominated by electric guitar percussion, lead and backing vocals. |
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A single on the Kalypso label by the obscure Lord Rose and The Beachcombers. Independent Jamaica b/w Authorship of both songs is credited to "Abrahams, Rose". |
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Rose is not known to me. Sir Horace's
actual surname is Abrahams, though I do not know if this is the him.
The sound is rural mento, though a professional saxophone rather than a
bamboo instrument is heard. If the song titles don't give it away, the advent of putting the publication date on the label shows that this "golden age" single is not a 1950s release, but from 1962. |
| Also, in 1970, reggae group Seven Letters (also know as Symarip) released several songs of interest. One was a harmonica driven instrumental mento version of "Hold Him Joe". Second a reggae cover of "Bam Bam Bargie". Finally was "La Bella Jig", a quadrille track. Thanks to Gibb Schreffler of Santa Barbara, California for pointing this out. Each of these tracks can all be heard on Symarip CDs. |
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In the mid to late 1960s, a number
of "mento-ska" LPs were released. ("Let's Dance The Ska" by Lord Gayle
and "Ska-Motion In Ska-Lip-So" by The Hiltonaires
are just two examples.) Count Owen followed this with an LP of
"mento-rock steady", at least in name, called "Rock
Steady Calypso". So it comes as no surprise that in the 1970s, a sub-genre
of "mento-reggae" records appeared. Mento-reggae is more than a
reggae cover of a mento song, or a reggae song sung by a mento vocalist
-- it is a fusion of instruments and /or stylistic elements from both
genres. Naaman Lee recorded in this style (though not always), likewise The Prince Brothers and Stanly Beckford. Below are a few additional examples of mento-reggae. (With mento-ska and mento-reggae, it may come as no surprise that these sub-genres were followed by mento-dancehall, as described here.) |
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"Mento Sweet", a single from 1976 on the Weed
Beat label finds Denzil Laing moving from his 1960s hotel
friendly mento releases to a mento-reggae style. This is a pleasing track
with fine mento vocals, lyrics extolling mento, a melody that recalls
more than one old mento song, a pocomania influenced drum rhythm, and flute. The b-side has an instrumental version called "A Sweet Version". |
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Mento-reggae from 1974 by The Viceroys on the Harry J Records
label: "Wheel and Jig" backed with "Version". A lovely song that is an original composition as far as I know. The sound is much more like a Stanley Beckford mento-reggae track than anything else I've heard by The Viceroys. Rural vocals with piano as the featured instrument. |
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Below are the
only two records I've found by Sir Horace and His Merry Knights outside the classic
1950s single,
"Morgan's Mento" backed with "Mambo Jamaica", as seen
here (along with sound clips).
Both of these record appear to be entries in the 1971 and 1972 the Jamaican Annual Festival of the Arts, more commonly shortened to "Festival", which is best known for its song competition. Horace's vocal delivery is far more relaxed than the frantic pace heard on his earlier single. But after all, he's has about 15 years to relax! |
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Above is a Daily Gleaner ad from February 26, 1963 for a pair of live performances by Sir Horace shows that he and his Knights were also active in the 1960s. Also, Dan Neely informs us that Horace Abrahams was the president of the Jamaican Federation of Musicians for a time in the 1970s. |
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On the Merritone label, from 1971, is a mento-reggae
45 by the Sir Horace and the All Stars called "Good Time
Festival" backed with "Version". It features a melody that borrows from "Hol' 'Im Joe", with new Festival lyrics. |
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No producer is listed, though the A-side has the unusual legend, "Jamento". Musically, this track adds some calypso into the mento-reggae mix. A slick horn section and country fiddle are both prominent. |
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On the Jamrec label, a glance at which leaves
little doubt that the release was from 1972, is an interesting mento-reggae
45 by the Sir Horace and the All Stars called "Walk Good". Roots Knotty Roots has this as a Coxsone Dodd production. Although both sides of the label are identical, there is a different mix of the song on each side. The first has rustic sounding guitar and organ, playing the role earlier filled by banjo and guitar, along with horns, drums, bass and, of course, Sir Horace's vocals. The mix on the flip deletes the rustic |
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On the Jerico label from 1974, a 45 by the obscure Danny D:
This is not to be confused with the Harold Richardson song, "Country Gal". This is a very nice mento-reggae track in its own right, featuring piano and a bouncy pre-ska mento rhythm. |
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On producer Sonia Pottinger's label, High Note, is a
mento-reggae single by The Prince Brothers:
"Hold
Him Joe"
b/w As with the single above, it features piano and a bouncy pre-ska mento rhythm. |
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Another Prince Brothers mento-reggae single on High Note, is "Ram Jam". This is a nice example of the genre, comparing well in quality and sound to Stanley Beckford's mento-reggae. Mid way, "Hog In Me Minty is quoted". Below, we can see that this single gave name to a Prince Brothers LP with two different jackets. |
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On the Mart's label (a Treasure Isle NYC imprint and a Duke
Reid production), also from 1974, a 45 by The Black Brothers
and Treasure Isle All Stars:
This is slightly calypso sounding mento-reggae version of "The Jackass Song". |
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A Lord Composer
autographed 45,
on the Mundle label: "Devaluation" b/w "Gimme Yah". The
guitar, bass and drums backing is rather neutral, falling somewhere between
mento, reggae and calypso. The autograph reads, "To Dorothy, With Love,
Keep Me Among Your [??] Souvenirs, Lord Composer". |
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On Sonia Pottinger's label, Gay Feet,
an interesting mento-reggae single probably from the mid 1970s. One side has
"Country Gal" as voiced by Jackie Brown. Of the two, this track has
more of a recognizable reggae sound about it. The flip is "Country Man",
a chugging flute led instrumental by the great Skatalites drummer
Drumbago. |
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The sound and rhythm do not exactly reflect the mento of the past nor the reggae of the time of its recording, yet its clearly mento-reggae. (The same can be said of some Naaman Lee singles.) The Drumbago track is not a version of the vocal side as the titles might lead you to expect. |
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From 1975, a 45 RPM
single on the Harry J label by George Fullwood:
"Rukumbine" b/w "Rukumbine Dub" Rural vocals & electric instruments combine nicely in a track that falls to the reggae side of mento-reggae. The dub version is very nice. |
| King Barou
recorded all of 4 rural mento sides on two singles during mento's
middle period. These are spirited affairs with excellent playing. The first
track discussed below ("Calypso Cha Cha") is a real standout. Though I've been able to learn
little about the the artist or these recordings, I did find a mention in
The Daily Gleaner of King Barou performing at a party in December of 1959.
One of the autographed labels below establishes that Barou performed at
least into 1976. |
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On Coxsone Dodd's Port-O-Jam label King Barou's great 1972 track, "Calypso Cha Cha Cha". This track is discussed, along with a clip, on the Other Artists & Favorite Song Clips page. This is Barou's only original composition. The b-side is "Shame and Scandal". |
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Here is the same record reissued is on the obscure Calypso Judge label The song is mis-titled as "Calypso Go Cha Cha" and Barou's band is given a name, The Mighty Swingers. The label is autographed. |
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With the same naming conventions as seen on the Calypso Judge pressing, here's the same single from a different run, this time on a nameless label. |
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Courtesy of Roger Yax of Austin, Texas, another autographed King Barou side "Love In The Cemetery" on the Port-O-Jam label. To the right is the b-side (from a different copy), "Bloodshot Eyes", an R&B song that Lord Lebby made part of the mento repertoire. |
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Here is the same King Barou single, "Blood Shot Eyes", again on the Calypso Judge. To the right . Once again, an autograph is present from the apparently very approachable and accessible (is that his address?) Barou. From these autographs, we can assume that Barou performed for tourists in Ocho Rios. |
| Another souvenir EP,
this time on the WIRL label by Lord Creator backed by The Audley
Williams Quintet. Not to be confused with Lord Composer, Creator
was a popular Trinidad-born calypso (and later, ska) singer that recorded in
Jamaica. He never recorded mento. But all four tracks on this EP are
shared between the calypso ands mento worlds, and, hey, I like the sleeve. |
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1. Shame and Scandal 2. Big Bamboo 3. Limbo 4. Wings of A Dove |
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| On the RCA Camden label is a 4 song 7" EP by Peter Ricardo and His Calypso. The songs include "Take Her To Jamaica", "Liza Open the Door" (not the Harry Belafonte "Liza"), "Run Run Run" and "La Solas Market". The label indicates that the music was recorded in Europe. Though, as you may have guessed, this is in an international pop style, the instrumentation is a bit more jazzy than Belafonte, with flute, muted trumpet and electric guitar solos. The slightly mistitled rendition of "Solas Market" is not bad at all. |
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| On the Sonnet label is a 4 song 7" EP by George Browne. The song selections, style and arrangement owe a great deal to Harry Belafonte. |
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An EP ("Calypso") and a single ("Amstel Beer
Calypso") with picture sleeves by Jamaica Johnny and His Mialrgo Boys.
These were release on the Philips label, out of Holland.
Johnny may be Jamaican, but these recordings are definitely calypso rather than mento. |
"Calypso": | ||
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As seen below, Count Zebra's single "Bed Bug" backed with "Cat-O Nine" was
released on a collection of labels as a 45 RPM single. Yet, for all the apparent
popularity of this single,
it does not appear that Count Zebra recorded anything other than these two
sides. Nor have these rough and ready rural mento recordings ever been
compiled on an album. Count Zebra is not to be confused with calypsonian Mighty Zebra of the Virgin Islands.
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First, here the single on the Go Calypso Go label. Another version of this label can been seen elsewhere on this page. |
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Here is the
Count Zebra
45, this time on the
Love label.
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Courtesy of
Matt Dinsmore of San Francisco another re-release of the
Count Zebra 45.
Seen left, complete with the original sleeve, is the "Cat-O-Nine" side, released on the Randy's label. |
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The same single yet
again, this time on the Kalypso label.
Some times, as on this single, as well as on the Go Calypso Go release, Zebra's band, The Seasiders re also credited. |
From Matt Dinsmore's Collection
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At the end of 2004, Matt Dinsmore of San
Francisco was kind enough to send me a collection of scans. The majority of
them are below. Additional scans from Matt of these appear on other pages,
and one appears elsewhere on this page.
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First from Matt is the original Darling release of the single "Jamaican Song" by
D. Sindry and The City Slickers.
By all means, click the small version to the left to enjoy the original vintage sleeve that Matt still has. Incidentally, the hit flip side is "Tango Lips" by Yvonne & Lascelles (Perkins). The re-release of this single on the UK Island label can be seen above. |
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Next from Matt, on the
Head of Gold label is "Take It Easy"
by
Oscar King, Music by Charlie Binger. I am not familiar with the
vocalist, but band leader Charlie Binger backed some
Harold Richardson recordings in the 1950s.
The b-side is "I Love You So". |
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Matt again includes the original
sleeve for this release on the K. I. W. label: Clyde Hoyte's "Dream Cha Cha". The b-side is "I Heard Your Heart" written by Clyde Hoyte and performed by Julian Iffla. |
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With vocals by Wilfred 'Jackie' Edwards is a song written and produced by song writer and sometimes mento singer Clyde Hoyte: "Bright Christmas". Matt describes the track (and its b-side, "Jamaica Calling") as ballads. So this may not be, in fact, a mento tracks. But how often do you have the opportunity to see a scan of the Liquid Foods label?! |
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Here is another
Clyde Hoyte production: By Dennis Haynes with Boris Gardiner Happening is "Ooh Cudelia Brown" backed with
I have not heard this single.. |
From Jeremy Collingwood's Collection
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In
December 2003, Jeremy Collingwood (www.Traxonwax.net)
generously send me a collection of scans. Though some are found on other
pages, several can be seen below.
First are
two examples of the rare Coxsone Dodd imprint, National
Calypso. These tracks are really more
calypso than mento. |
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The first, "Carnival Jamaica", by Lord Rigby. The song is credited to both Rigby and Dodd. This single is from 1964, and the flip side would be "Music Teacher". The second, on red vinyl (!) is "Jamaica", by King Fighter, from 1963. The flip would be "Bicycle Tyre". |
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Next from Jeremy is "Calypso Mama" by The Barons, released on the Barons Label. Jeremy describes this recording as "flute Mento that uses 'Peanut Vendor' on the chorus". Some reggae collectors may already have this disc in their collection, as its the b-side of Nora Dean's classic 1969 track, "Barbwire".
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Another scan from
Jeremy is the Lord Jellicoe side, "Zombie Jamboree". Its on the
BRA label, which is parented by WHIRL.
The b-side is a fast-paced take "Take Her To Jamaica (Where The Rum Comes From)". On both tracks, electric guitar, hand drum and a backing vocalist are prominent. On the A-Side, Jellicoe name-checks band member Pee Wee. |
| Another rarity from
Jeremy, though its not quite
mento. Sponsored by the Machado Tobacco Company (ironically, complete
with cigarette burns) is a 45 with "The Albany Calypso" b/w "Max
Mambo" by The Caribs. Says Jeremy,
the a-side "is straight JA calypso", and the
b-side is "calypso jazz". |
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Also on display on this web site is another Machado Tobacco promotion 45, which featured two rural golden age mento performances by Count Owen and Lord Tanamo. |
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The final scan from Jeremy on this page is Count Zebra's "Bed-Bug", on the rare UK Go Calypso Go label, from 1962. A variant of this single on Go Calypso Go and a collection of other labels can be seen elsewhere on this page, |
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For more more label and jacket scans and song clips, also see this site's:
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