Interest in calypso has revived in recent years, thanks in part to the London is the Place For Me compilations that document Caribbean music in the postwar UK. Culled from Trinidad, Jamaica and beyond, the 19 tracks here range from acoustic folk ditties such as Lord Flea's Out De Fire to the orchestral arrangements of Cyril Diaz on Voodoo. Always central are intricate vocals that celebrate current events, such as Lord Ivanhoe's Lift the Iron Curtain, or dive into ribaldry, such as Brownie's The Bed Bug Song. Lovingly annotated, it's a glimpse into a now distant era when the Caribbean first took on the world and won.
Calypso: Musical Poetry in the Caribbean 1955-69 review – a joyous, retro compilation
This 19-track collection celebrates the time when Caribbean music first gained international recognition, says Neil Spencer