The Growling Tiger - Alan Lomax Recordings (1962) / Knockdown Calypsos (1979)

After about a year of searching I finally located a Calypso tune I had heard last June. It has been seriously bothering me all year that I couldn't find it again! I was shocked that I had very little in my collection of The Growling Tiger and so am happy to share these albums with you all!

Neville Marcano, aka The Growling Tiger (1915-1993) was a calypsonian from Trinidad. A former boxer - he became a star in the 1930s, when calypsonians started exporting their music overseas, and big names emerged like Lord Kitchener, Lord Invader or Roaring Lion (I don't know which one of Roaring Lion or Growling Tiger acquired his nickname first).

He was recorded in 1962 by Alan Lomax in Trinidad. (whose field recordings are priceless in the fact that they preserved many fantastic folk tunes from a wide variety of cultures) these recordings were reissued in 1998 under the name "The Growling Tiger of Calypso". Marcano played a variety of calypso and even older styles of music. His music is a sum of various influences from French, Spanish, English and African traditions, and ranges from old-school minor-key calypso ("Money Is King") to derivations from more ancient styles like kalinda (a stick-fighting dance popular in Trinidad carnivals) or songs with a strong African heritage like "Youruba Shango".

Tiger had become famous for his deep baritone voice, and his socio-political lyrics. As with a lot of calypsonians the lyrics and identity of the singer are extremely important to the song (and the singers success!) The above song is an example of his thinking, it's both funny and serious, and Tiger had a reputation for questioning social normas and mocking the establishment in true carnival fashion.

By 1977, Tiger had long since retired and was presumed to be dead by most people. An American calypso enthusiast named Steve Shapiro travelled to Trinidad and sought out Tiger. Shapiro prevailed upon Tiger to do a modern recording of some of his finest works in their original style. He also recorded some songs with a "modern" band featuring horns. 

At sixty-four years of age, Tiger had lost none of his prowess and the resultant 1979 album "Knockdown Calypsos" on the Rounder Records label later was nominated for a Grammy! 

Robert Leaver says of the man: "A master of improvisation (extempo) and the competitive Calypsonian duel, Tiger could rhyme on diverse subjects with intelligence and wit. Rappers take heed -- Growling Tiger could school you"

Tracklist:

Alan Lomax Portrait:

01. War (3.17)
02. Senorita Panchita (3.05)
03. The Parrot (3.22)
04. Money Is King (3.32)
05. Bury Boula For Me (4.48)
06. War (4.30)
07. The Train Blow (3.28)
08. When I Dead Bury Me (4.43)
09. Rose Of Caracas (3.02)
10. Getting Along With The Calypso Music (1.49)
11. Atomic Energy Calypso (5.59)
12. Senorita Panchita (3.39)

Knockdown Calypsos

01. When I Dead Bury Me Clothes, Five Five Five In Morning, Going Home To Africa Tonight
02. The Train Below
03. Go Back To Coal
04. Bandandee-A
05. Yoruba Shango
06. Medley: Heles Enfants/Salvatorie Fire/Rama I Rama Lo Kine/I Wheel & I Wheel San Fernando...
07. Money Is King
08. Motor Car Horn
09. San Fernando The Ark/Gentiles Fille
10. War

Download Link - Mediafire - "Alan Lomax Portrait"

Download Link - Mediafire - "Knockdown Calypsos"