Slinger Francisco, the Birdie Calypso Download Link

So you say you love the music of "The Birdie" but just can't seem to find the tracks that you loved to listen to 'back in the day' and would simply like to get a few special 'chunes'.  Well my friends here is a link to 645 tracks available for download.

By the way, the music downloads are not free but the cost per download is very reasonable and you can listen to the tracks before making a purchase. Every download will support the artist so jump on the link and look for the tracks you missed so much. If you find a link that you believe others would be interested in please drop a line or simply reply to this DSA (Delinquent Shoutbox Announcement) and I will post the link/message.

http://www.rhapsody.com/the-mighty-sparrow

What is Extempo?

Source for Article: Wikipedia

Extempo

Extempo (also extempo calypso) is a lyrically improvised form of calypso and is most notably practiced in Trinidad and Tobago. It consists of a performer improvising in song or in rhythmic speech on a given theme before an audience who themselves take turns to perform. It is inherently competitive and success is judged by the wit and ingenuity of the performance.

It is similar in form to what has been defined as traditional African song: "a recitative or chants with a short chorus. The soloist gives the melody while a chorus sings a refrain. As the melody is given out, they turn to one another, each improvising in turn. Extempo tends to comprise topics from current events treated with mockery, ridicule and sarcasm, or with flattery or praise.”

The Art of Extempo

It is characterized either by the “single tone”, consisting of four-line stanzas or the “double tone”, which has eight line stanzas. There are four basic melodies common to extempo; “Santimanitay”, “Matilda”, “Miss Mary Ann” and “Big Bamboo.” The most widely used is Santimanitay. Another characteristic of extempo is that the performer must be able to think quickly on his feet since the subjects are handed out on the spot and the lyrics are improvised.

Extempo War

The competitive nature of extempo is reflected in the annual Trinidad Carnival with a formal extempo competition for the title of National Extempo Monarch. Extempo War, or warring, is the practice of competitors attacking each others efforts at extempo in the course of their own performance. It is not an essential part of competition, but is a regular feature, and an entertaining one.

Extempo war may also be called simply Calypso War.

Not all extempo performance is competitive. Away from competition formal roles for extempo performers are typically as MCs or hosts at private functions.

Related oral/musical traditions

It is similar to the United States tradition of 'yo mama' or the dozens in its competitive aspect but may be distinguished in that the aim is not to improvise humorous abuse to an opponent incorporating a given form of words, but to entertain an audience of ones competitors while extemporizing on a given theme. The abuse or sarcasm may be directed either at ones competitors or at subjects relevant to that theme, ideally both.

It is also similar to the United States tradition of freestyle rap.

Notable Extempo Artists

  Big B

  Black Sage

  Gypsy

  Lady Africa

  Lord Relator (Willard C. Harris)

Shortpants (Llewllyn Macintosh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extempo

A Vinyl Treasure - King Sparrow

Track listing: 

Steelband Music

Cuatro Man

Don't hold me

Slight mistake

Neurosis

Wine back

Ah diggin horrors

Song of your land

Wife and Boat

Poopsin Poopsin



This LP on the RA label was recorded in 1974 at the Caribbean Sound Studios in Trinidad. Calypso is beginning to turn into Soca ( Soul of calypso ) with its more up-tempo disco beat and use of synthsisers etc. I much prefer the earlier acoustic sound but still we have some amusing songs here despite the synthetic sounding instruments and production. The following information is from vinylrecords.ca.
"With his ultra-sweet vocals and lyrics that speak of romance and topical politics, Mighty Sparrow (born Slinger Francisco) has risen to the upper echelon of Trinidadian calypso. Best known for his hits "Jean And Dinah" in 1956 and "Carnival Boycott" in 1957, Sparrow is an 11-time winner of the calypso monarchy and an eight-time winner of Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival Road March competition. Born to a poor working class family in Gran Roi, a small fishing village in Grenada, Sparrow moved to Trinidad at the age of one. Learning to sing in the boy's choir of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, he became the head choirboy. At the age of 14, he formed a steel band to perform at the Carnival, sparking his interest in calypso. Teaching himself to play guitar, Sparrow began to write his own songs. Winning the Carnival competition with "Jean And Dinah," he received a grand prize of 40 dollars. In protest, he wrote a scorching indictment of the Trinidadian music industry, "Carnival Boycott." Despite his refusal to compete in the Carnival contests for the next three years, Sparrow became one of the Caribbean's most successful artists."
Source:http://www.vinylrecords.ca/sparrow-calypso-maestro-canada-issue-p-10275.html

Welcome to KaisoSoca

Recently while 'browsing on the World Wide Web', I came across a discussion where people were chatting about vintage calypso and the lack of a database of the music of the golden years of calypso.  There was once a site hosted in the UK named 'Calypso Archives' that provided the only database of biographies and discographies that I am aware of to date.  Unfortunately this site was removed from public viewing by the owner. Recently Mr. Kenny Phillips of WACK radio (http://www.wackradio901fm.com) launched the WACK Foundation with this goal in mind. The site is a work in progress and can be viewed at http://wackfoundation.org/.
I decided to become a part of the endeavor by starting a blog that would address this need to bring information together in one place. As a result Kaisoca for KaisoSoca was born. The name may be misleading and give the impression that the intention is only to support Calypso and Soca - rest assured, the effort will address the following: Carnival, Calypso, Chutney, Music Videos, Parang, Rapso,Steelpan and  Soca.  We shall attempt to provide information pertaining to Artist Biography & Discography. As a matter of fact the intention is to cover anything pertaining to Music and the Arts.

It is not my goal to attempt to build an archive but we can talk about our music and its history and in so doing create a unique database for future reference. However, I have also compiled a sizeable database of information (with content from the original archive site) that can provide a good start point for constructive discussions.  I have sent off an email to the administrator of the Calypso Archive asking permission to publish some of the material that was on the site. Even if permission is not granted to publish the work it can be used as an excellent database for reference purposes. With your help we can publish photos of old vinyl records in 'our' possession as a start point.  I have been purchasing records as they become available online.  EBAY is an excellent place to source these gems.

I am convinced that if we can pool our resources we will create a good information base (not an archive) for reference by anyone who visits KaisoSoca. Initially we will start with general information but will zero in on the information that is important after I receive a reply from the  administrator of the Calypso Archive.  So let's start this project. Our first goal should be to spread the word around... Help in on the way! In a few months from now we will be able to boast that we are truly "Culture Crazy". Finally, if you see something on this site that is misquoted or misrepresented in any way please leave a note in the comment box or send  an email at trinizagada@gmail.com. Thank you.