Very cool work from Mighty Sparrow – a calypso set, but one cut at a time when the music was fading from the mainstream – which allows Sparrow to keep things nice and raw, and deliver lyrics that have the same sort of bite as some of the best island sounds from the early days! Many tracks here are originals, and Sparrow also delivers some cool covers too – all with jazzy instrumentation that echoes some of the styles of early mento, as saxes come into a blend of romping
piano, percussion, and the singer's own guitar. Titles include "Unto
Negro", "English Diplomacy", "Tattoo Woman", "Jack", "Under My Skin", "El Reloj", and "Big Bamboo".
(Great Japanese pressing – much nicer than the original!)