Anglo-Caribbean (Reference)

Folk and pop music from the English-speaking Caribbean, excluding Jamaica reka, reggae). Most notably, calypso and soca from Trinidad and Tobago.

The reference list includes records that have been obtained and/or rated (in blue) as well as many other records that have been recommended from various sources.

Arrow (1949–2010)

Instant Knockout [1980, Charlie's]
Hot Hot Hot [1983, Arrow]
Soca Savage [1984, Arrow], B+(*)
Knock Dem Dead [1987, Mango], B+(**)
Hot Soca Hot [1990, Arrow]

Bally

Bally with Love [1988, Love People]

Baron

Full of Fire [1987, B's]

Becket

Gal Ah Rush Me [1990, Cocoa]

Black Stalin

Roots, Rock, Soca [(1991), Rounder], A
Rebellion [1994, Ice], B+

Black Truth Rhythm Band

Ifetayo [1976, Soundway], B+(**)

Blinky and the Roadmasters

Crucian Scratch Band Music [1990, Rounder]

Blueboy (Superblue)

Soca in the Shaolin Temple [1980, Charlie's]

Fimber Bravo

Lunar Tredd [2021, Moshi Moshi], A–

Burning Flames

Me Na Freard [1989, BF]

Calypso Rose (1940– )

Trouble [1984, Straker's]
Soca Diva [1993, Ice], B+(**)

Chalkdust

Total Kaiso [1989, Straker's]

Charlie's Roots

The Hammer [1986, Charlie's Roots]
Total Party [1992, Charlie's Roots]

Crazy

Nani Wine [1989, Trinity]
Crazymania [1992, JW Productions]

Drupatee (Ramgoonai)

Mr. Bissessar [1988, KPS]

Duke

Calypso Forever [1983, Straker's]
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow [1987, Lem's]

Explainer

Positive Vibrations [1989, Vista]

The Garifuna Collective

Ayó [2013, Cumbancha], B+(*)
Aban [2019, Stonetree], B+(**)

Bunji Garlin (1978– )

Differentology [2014, RCA/VP], B+(**)

Eddy Grant (1948– )

Walking on Sunshine [1979, Epic], A–
My Turn to Love You [1980, Epic], A–
Killer on the Rampage [1982, Portrait], B+
Going for Broke [1984, Portrait], B
Walking on Sunshine: The Very Best of Eddy Grant [(1989), Parlophone], A–

Gypsy

The Action Too High [1986, MRS]

Anthony Joseph (1966– )

People of the Sun [2018, Heavenly Sweetness], B+(*)
The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running for Their Lives [2021, Heavenly Sweetness], A–

Lord Creator

Don't Say Out Late: Greatest Hits [(1997), VP]

Lord Kitchener (1922–2000)

Klassic Kitchener, Volume One [(1993), Ice], A
Klassic Kitchener, Volume Two [(1994), Ice], B+
Klassic Kitchener, Volume Three [1970–91, Ice], A–

Lord Melody

Precious Melodies [1994, Ice], A–

Mighty Sparrow (1935– )

Hot and Sweet [1974, Warner Brothers]
First Flight [1957–59, Smithsonian Folkways], A–
More Sparrow More!! [1969, Ra], A–
Hot and Sweet [1974, Warner Brothers], A–
25th Anniversary [1980, Charlie's]
Sparrow: King of the World [1984, B's], A–
A Touch of Class [1986, B's]
Volume One [(1992), Ice], A+
Volume Two [(1992), Ice], A
Volume Three [(1992), Ice], A–
w/Lord Kitchener: 16 Carnival Hits [(1992), Ice], A–
Volume Four [(1992), Ice], A–
Party Classics [1989, Gutu], B–
Hot Like Fire [1992, Ice], B+

Mighty Spoiler (1926–60)

Unspoilt [1953–60, Ice], B+(**)

Mighty Terror

Pan Poetry [(1995), Ice], A–

Marcia Miranda

Come Fly with Me [1991, Straker's]

Machel Montano

Too Young to Soca? [1986, Macho]

Our Boys Steel Orchestra

Our Boys Steel Orchestra [Mango]

Andy Palacio (1960–2008)

Wátina [2007, Cumbancha], B+(***)

Ken "Professor" Philmore

Pan by Storm [1990, Straker's]

Protector

Total Protection [1990, Straker's]

Roaring Lion (1910– )

Sacred 78's [(1994), Ice], A–

David Rudder (1953– )

w/Charlies Roots: This Is Soca: With David Rudder and Charlies Roots [1987, Sire, 2 LP], A–
w/Charlies Roots: Haiti [1987, Sire], B+
1990 [1990, Sire]
Beloved [1998, JWP], B+(*)

Shadow (1942– )

Columbus Lied [1988–90, Shanachie]

Joseph Spence (1910–84)

The Complete Folkways Recordings 1958 [1958, Smithsonian/Folkways], A–
Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar and Singing [1965, Smithsonian/Folkways], A–
Living on the Hallelujah Side [1987, Rounder], B+
w/The Pinder Family: The Spring of Sixty-Five [1992, Rounder], B+

Swallow

First Take [1984, Charlie's]
Swallow on the Streets of Brooklyn [1988, Charlie's]

Tambu

Culture [1988, Sire]

Tiger (1960– )

Knockdown Calypsos [1979, Rounder]
Me Name Tiger [1987, RAS]
Bam Bam [1988, RAS]

Bro. Valentino

Stay Up Zimbabwe [1979–80, Analog Africa, EP], B+(***)

Various Artists

Calypso: Musical Poetry in the Caribbean 1955–1969 [1955–69, Soul Jazz], A–
Calypso Breakaway [(1990), Rounder]
Calypso Carnival [1936–41, Rounder], A–
Calypsos: Afro-Limonese Music of Costa Rica [Lyrichord]
Calypsos from Trinidad: Politics, Intrigue and Violence in the 1930s [(1991), Arhoolie]
Calypso Pioneers: 1912–1937 [1912–37, Rounder]
Calypso Season [(1989), Mango]
Carnival in Trinidad [(2001), Cooking Vinyl/SpinArt], B+
Cult Cargo: Belize City Boil Up [(2005), Numero Group], B+(***)
From Bakabush: The First Ten Years of Stonetree [1995–2005, Stonetree], A–
Heat in De Place: Soca from Trinidad [(1990), Rounder]
Kneelin' Down Inside the Gate: The Great Rhythming Singers of the Bahamas [(1995), Rounder]
Lif Up Your Leg An Trample [2004, Honest Jons], B+
London Is the Place for Me: Trinidadian Calypso in London [1950–56, Honest Jons], A–
London Is the Place for Me 7: Calypso, Palm-Wine, Mento, Joropo, Steel and Stringband [(2019), Honest Jon's], B+(**)
London Is the Place for Me 8: Lord Kitchener in England, 1948–1962 [1948–62, Honest Jon's], B+(***)
The Real Bahamas, Volumes I & II [1965, Nonesuch]
Rebel Soca: When the Time Comes [1988, Shanachie], B–
The Rough Guide to Calypso & Soca [(1999), World Music Network], B–
Saucy Calypsos, Volume One [(2003), Ice], B+
Say What? Double Entendre Soca [(1990), Rounder]
Shango, Shouter and Obeah: Supernatural Calypso From Trinidad 1934–1940 [1934–40, Rounder], B+
A Taste of Soca [1993–94, Ice], B+(***)
Trojan Box Set: Calypso [1956–75, Sanctuary/Trojan, 3 CD], B+
Tumba, Cuarta and Ka'l [(1986), Original Music]
Under the Coconut Tree: Music from Grand Cayman and Tortola [1984, Original Music], B
Wind Your Waist: The Ultimate Soca Dance Party [(1991), Shanachie]

Introduction