Calypso Dreams disc; Michael Horne design

The producers of the widely acclaimed film Calypso Dreams, have announced the release of a Soundtrack CD featuring more than two dozen kaiso classics recorded in the field during the production of their award-winning film. Alvin Daniell, who co-produced Calypso Dreams in T&T along with Lord Superior (Andrew Marcano) and who has published the CD on his Major & Minor label, says that the soundtrack captures the heart of vintage kaiso. Superior said the CD is both timely and timeless. He called it one of the richest collections of vintage kaiso ever assembled.

The Calypso Dreams Soundtrack—produced by Michael Horne and executive produced by filmmaker Geoffrey Dunn and international reggae star Eddy Grant celebrates the music of several calypso giants who have passed away in recent years, including the Mighty Duke, Mighty Terror, Lord Blakie and Mystic Prowler. The always popular Lord Relator also pays homage to the late Grandmaster Aldwyn Roberts in A Tribute to Kitchener. Additional contributions from Calypso Rose, Brother Valentino, Mighty Bomber, Lord Brigo, Crazy, Gypsy, Regeneration Now, Mighty Striker, Power, Poser, Explainer, Brother Mudada, Conqueror, and Brother Akil round out the all-star selection.

Said producer Michael Horne, “My approach with this compilation was to capture that sense of the “poor man’s newspaper” referred to again and again in the film. Without regard for the hits or whether the songs were danceable or marketable, these are simply stories about daily life, politics, love and sex, sung man-to-man, friend-to-friend. That is Calypso.” Said executive producer Dunn, “Some of my favourite selections on this CD are those that were recorded in the Good Times Pub on Henry Street. Blakie and Relator and Conqueror were magnificent there.”

The feature-length version of Calypso Dreams has been called the most important cinematic expression out of Trinidad and Tobago and one of the greatest films of the English-speaking Caribbean. According to Daniell, both the Calypso Dreams CD and DVD are available in the following locations in Trinidad: Crosby’s Music Centre—North and South; Cleve’s One Stop Music Shop; Kam’s Record Shop—Long Circular Mall; Ryhner’s (2000) Caribbean Ltd. at the Airport; Token Records—West Mall; and DiscoTrak—Curepe.

Song list

1. Regeneration Now - Five Rules of Calypso *  
2. Mighty Striker - Grandfather’s Clock   
3. Conqueror - Trinidad Dictionary   
4. Lord Relator - Bush Medicine   
5. Mighty Bomber - Portrait of Trinidad   
6. Mighty Duke - Trust Yu Wife   
7. Brigo - Walking in the Dark  
8. Lord Blakie - Hold De Pussy   
9. Mighty Terror - Steelband Jamboree   
10. Regeneration Now - Louise   
11. Calypso Rose - Fire   
12. Power & Striker - Wastin‘ Your Time   
13. Duke & Superior- Black Is Beautiful   
14. Superior, Gypsy & Relator - Extempo   
15. Poser - Ah Goin’ Party Tonight   
16. Mystic Prowler - Accident Policy   
17. Brother Valentino - Trinidad is Nice   
18. Brother Mudada - Sing for the Lord   
19. Mighty Duke - What Is Calypso?   
20. Brother Akil - Raise Your Head   
21. Crazy - Dustbin Cover   
22. Calypso Rose - Outside Man   
23. Explainer - Ras Mas   
24. Duke & Superior - Carnival Is Over   
25. Lord Relator - Tribute to Kitchener   
26. Mighty Bomber - Joan and James   
27. Striker - Tribute to Princess Margaret
28. Lord Blakie - Steelband Clash   
29. Lord Superior - Trinidad Carnival  

For more information, please contact
Alvin Daniell: Cell—680-1718