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Goodnight Ladies and Gents - The Creole Music of Lionel Belasco


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Amazon.com's Price: $15.99
as of 09/02/2010 18:38 EDT



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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0018964113827
Label: Rounder Select
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Rounder Select
Release Date: April 06, 1999
Studio: Rounder Select


Disc 1:
  1. Good-Night Ladies And Gents
  2. Roses Of Caracas Waltz
  3. 'I Used To Do All The Heavy Things'
  4. Panama Paseo No.1
  5. Miranda
  6. Blow Wind Blow
  7. Venezuelen Little Tune
  8. 'I Used To Just Play The Piano'
  9. Prohibition
  10. Sly Mongoose
  11. Carmencita
  12. Caroline
  13. Maysotis
  14. Treasury Fire
  15. Caracas
  16. Hit And Run Away
  17. Iris
  18. Why Me Neighbor Vex With Me
  19. The Palms Of Maracaibo
  20. Esperanzas
  21. You Bob
  22. Oh Rufus Hold Me Tight
  23. Bournes Road
  24. Rosa Negra Vals Venezolano
  25. Go Away Gal
  26. Standing Up Behind The Bridge
  27. Venezuela
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Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
In the world of Calypso, Lionel Belasco is an iconoclast. He was born in Barbados; his father was a Sephardic Jew who sang baritone and played the violin, his mother a Trinidadian who classically trained the young pianist in their various homes in Barbados, Venezuela (whose music is highly in evidence in his work), and eventually Trinidad. But the young musician had a penchant for the local music and the local sports like stick fighting, and when he decided to become a professional, all of these images collided to create one of the most unique Calypsonians of any era. Classical piano, violin that crosses easily between Beethoven and European folk fiddle styles, and not a little of the "sweet band" jazz of American bands like the Paul Whiteman Orchestra are brought together by Belasco to great effect in these recordings made mostly in New York City, a place where he became something of a star in the '20s and '30s. The musicians are a star-studded lot: vocalist Wilmouth Houdini, violinist Cyril Montrose, and guitarist Gerald Clarke pepper these recordings, punctuating and counterpointing the structured songs of Belasco with a looser jazz feel. An added bonus on this 27-track collection are a number of solo performances and short interviews with Belasco in 1961, where he retells his story and explains the music. His songwriting was legend, his voice a charm, and his music some of the best of the era. --Louis Gibson

Album Description:
Belasco was the Scott Joplin of calypso: he composed West Indian music from folk sources, which he found on his many travels throughout the islands, and was the first person to popularize calypso outside of Trinidad. Piano player, bandleader, composer, and entrepreneur, Belasco recorded more West Indian songs before World War II than any other performer.

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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:  out of 5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - This is one to cherish
Like a previous reviewer, I was introduced to Lionel Belasco through the Ghost World soundtrack. I loved all three of the songs and decided to look for more music by him. I was pleasantly surprised to find this. Its a great blend of calypso and some jazz and each song is different from the other but always top notch. There are fiddles, vocals and piano. All of the songs on here are wonderful and completely unforgettable. Houdini's vocals make some of these shine, and the instrumentals are moody ... Read More



Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - sly mongoose
i was turned on to the musical word of lionel belasco through the ghost world sound track. i loved the songs, "miranda" and, "venezuela." with the purchase of this disc, i was hoping to pick up more great calipso music. luckily for me (and you), it's full of dazzling and highy energetic tunes. the piano stylings of belasco and the vocal efforts of houdini are truly unique, unlike anything i've come across before. check this one out.



Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Belasco-Bellringer supreme
Belasco was an outstanding calypsonian of his era or any era for that matter.He emerged from a background that was unlike most of his calypso comrades. His songs were a masterful tapestry of life and love and struggles. He was able to couch his memorable ditties under the watchful eyes of the ever present censors working on behalf of British-bourgeois interests and sensibilities. He was a musical master who helped other calypsonians of that age. This album is an extraordinary mirror of the times. His ... Read More




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