Search - Lionel Belasco :: Goodnight Ladies and Gents - The Creole Music of Lionel Belasco

Belasco-Bellringer supreme

Rommel Ramotar | Scarborough, Ontario Canada | 08/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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 rendition of "sly mongoose" is an overt attack on sexual exploitation by those with power in pre-independence Trinidad. With "Rufus hold me tight" he alluded to the sexual extravagance of a newly wed couple. Belasco rung the early bells of calypso with marvellous vitality. Future calypsonians and those who love this art form will always be grateful that the wind was able to blow his voice beyond Trinidad just like he extolled "Blow wind blow""

This is one to cherish

FloozyFlapper1926 | Somewhere in the 20's | 09/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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 at times, haunting at others and always compelling. There are also a few tracks that have Lionel speaking which are memorable as well. The liner notes are very complete and perfectly done. This cd gives you great music and history all at the same time. I'm very glad that I have discovered music like this especially at a time when music is very bland.If you like old music, get this. Or if you want to try something new, this is the one. Timeless and wonderful, this is a masterpiece."

Sly mongoose

daniel moore | United States | 03/28/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."