Calypso, February 1, 1941, 5:45 p.m.
“Never Me In Matrimony”: several well-known calypsonians composed on the topic of marriage in the 1930s. Clearly meant for two singers, this debate sounds like one of the famous duets by Attila the Hun (Raymond Quevedo) and The Lion (Hubert Raphael Charles), who made the inaugural recording trip to New York City in 1934. It was on that same trip that Lion first recorded his famous “Ugly Woman.”
“Lillian”: written and recorded by Lord Caresser (Rufus Callender) in 1938.
“Delores”: an instrumental Venezuelan waltz, known as a “castilian” (quick) waltz. Trinidad lies five miles off the coast of South America, and in the early decades of the 20th century, calypso absorbed the sounds of Venezuelan stringband music.
“Belle Marie Coolie”: an interesting choice for the Duke of Iron. Among the first ever recorded vocal calypsos in 1914, this tune was written and performed by Henry Julian, originally a chantwell with the White Rose carnival band in Port of Spain. According to John Cowley’s research, Julian sang under the names J. Resigna, Julian White Rose, and…“The Iron Duke.” Discographer Dick Spottswood speculates that a young Gerald Clark played guitar on the original recording.
Notes by Michael Eldridge