Various Artists: London Is The Place For Me 7: Calypso, Mento, Joropo, Steel & String Band

Honest Jon’s HJRLP 077 (Do LP) - € 29
Stunning compilation documenting West Indian & West African music (life) in post war London - highly recommended
Still deeper forays into the musical landscape of the Windrush generation.
A dazzling range of calypso, mento, joropo, steelband, palm-wine and r’n'b. Expert revivals of stringband music, from way back, alongside proto-Afro-funk.
An uproarious selection of songs about the H-Bomb and modern phones, prostitution and Haile Selassie, mid-life crisis and the London Underground, racism and solidarity, the Highway Code and a 100% West Indian Royal Wedding.
For example some frantic British-Guianan joropo music-hall about Eatwell Brown from Clapham, who starts out biting off a piece of his mother-in-law’s face at a party, then devours everything in his path… a chunk of Brixton Prison, a Union Jack, a policeman’s uniform. Or Marie Bryant — collaborator of Lester Young and Duke Ellington — taking time off from skewering the South African PM Daniel Malan at her West End revue, to contribute some arch, swinging filth about uber-genitalia.
Superior sound, courtesy of Abbey Road, D&M and Pallas; lovely gatefold sleeve; full-size booklet, with full notes, and fabulous previously-unseen photographs, including a set from the family archive of Russ Henderson (who led the first, impromptu Notting Hill Carnival march, in 1966).
Superior sound, courtesy of Abbey Road, D&M and Pallas; lovely gatefold sleeve; full-size booklet, with full notes, and fabulous previously-unseen photographs, including a set from the family archive of Russ Henderson (who led the first, impromptu Notting Hill Carnival march, in 1966).

Tracklisting:

Lord Beginner: Sons And Daughters Of Africa

The Lion: Royal Wedding

The Mighty Terror: The Hydrogen Bomb

Dai Dai Simba: Modern Telephone

Willie Payne & The Starlite Tempos: Wa Sise

The Mighty Terror: The Emperor Of Africa

Louise Bennett: Bongo Man

Marie Bryant: My Handy Man

Nigerian Union Rhythm Group: Tortoise Mambo

Calypso Rhythm Kings: Boul Ve Se

The Mighty Terror: Life Is Like A Puzzle

The Mighty Terror: Chinese Children

Bill Rogers: Hungry Man From Clapham

Lili Verona: Underground Train

The Lion: Highway Code

Billy Sholanke: Kana Kana

Calypso Rhythm Kings: L'Année Passée

Lord & Lady Beginner: One Morning

West African Rhythm Brothers: Ema Foju Ana Woku

Trinidad Steel Band: Caroline