Your All-Time Favorite Soca Record?

[Historian]

For me, my all-time favorite soul-calypso (soca) and traditional calypso recordings are, in order from most favorite at the top:

1. “Hot, Hot, Hot”, by Arrow
2. “Government Boots”, by Gabby
3. “Bonnie & Clyde”, by Destra Garcia
4. “Who the Hell is Kim?” by TC
5. “Good Morning, Mr. Walker”, by the Mighty Sparrow

What are your favorites?

[Lazie]

For me, my all-time favorite soul-calypso (soca) and traditional calypso recordings are, in order from most favorite at the top:

1. “Hot, Hot, Hot”, by Arrow
2. “Government Boots”, by Gabby
3. “Bonnie & Clyde”, by Destra Garcia
4. “Who the Hell is Kim?” by TC
5. “Good Morning, Mr. Walker”, by the Mighty Sparrow

What are your favorites?

1. Bang Bang Lulu - Sparrow
2. Saltfish - Sparrow
3. Pump Me Up- Krosfyah
4. Blame it on the Music - Rupee
5. Glow - Allison Hinds/ David Rudder.

[TDowl]

Mr Walker is before Soca, nuh suh?

[Assasin]

Where does Calypso end and Soca begins? It is like where did Dancehall begin.

[Historian]

TDowl, Just List Your Favorites!

Mr Walker is before Soca, nuh suh?

TDowl, the first sentence in my post above was:

For me, my all-time favorite soul-calypso (soca) and traditional calypso recordings are, in order from….

I can post a short history of soca and calypso if the need arises, boss! In the meantime, just list your favorites!

[Historian]

Thanks, Lazie

1. Bang Bang Lulu - Sparrow
2. Saltfish - Sparrow
3. Pump Me Up- Krosfyah
4. Blame it on the Music - Rupee
5. Glow - Allison Hinds/ David Rudder.

Thank you for sharing these calypso and soca gems, Lazie . Thankfully, you did not engage in the music “politicking” that transpired below, but instead simply listed your favorites.

[Tilla]

I don' remember much soca (or calypso) right now. I do remember one particular song by Mighty Sparrow with the following lyrics:
"...little Miss Mary, big and hairy..."
I always wondered what was he singing about. Was it that Miss Mary was little, but also showed masculine traits by being hairy? Or was is that Miss Mary's (hell, look at the time, gotto go!)

[Assasin]

I really have to think because ofcourse Hot Hot is my number one
I also like" Bills" by Arrow and "Capitalism gone Mad" by Sparrow but then I have to think through the years , Byron Lee, Rose , Gabby, etc. Then you have the new era, Burning Flames, Allison Hinds, Mantona etc.

Never really thought about my top 5 before.

[Islandman]

Sparrow is the King but Rudder is my favorite:

1. Bachannal Lady - Rudder
2. Mr walker - Sparrow
3. The Beach is Mine - Gabby
4. London Bridge - Sparrow
5. Rally Round the WI - Rudder
6. Die With my Dignity - Singing Sandra


Honorable Mention - Bills , Bills by Arrow

Rudder, Gabby and Sparrow are songwriters of the highest order

[Jangle]

I can't say these are my ALL-TIME favorites, but I liked these:

1. Congo Man - Sparrow
2. Government Boots - Gabby
3. Ring Ting Ting - The Merrymen
4. Swinging Engine - Burning Flames
5. Turn it Round - Square One

[Gamma]

love in the cemetery - Lord Kitchener
dragon dance - sparrow meets the dragon
margarita - sparrow
bin lion - 3canal
archie - the merry men

[Historian]

Love Your Selections!

I can't say these are my ALL-TIME favorites, but I liked these:

1. Congo Man - Sparrow
2. Government Boots - Gabby
3. Ring Ting Ting - The Merrymen
4. Swinging Engine - Burning Flames
5. Turn it Round - Square One

Seriously good selections, Jangle! I love all five of your songs, and already you’re causing me to look at my list again (lol)!

For example (to cite only one here), can you imagine a party without Burning Flames’ “Swinging Engine”?

[Historian]

The Trinis Are Impressive!

It’s amazing the immense technological, rhythmic and lyrical growth that soca (soul-calypso) has experienced since the early days of calypso (Trinidad’s Lord Kitchener, Lord Pretender, and the Mighty Sparrow, Barbados’ the Merrymen, etc.).

Today’s soca recordings are, in many cases, a real joy to listen to: Square One, Destra Garcia, Machel Montano, Burning Flames, Krosfyah, Arrow, etc. What we have are superb singers, musicians, songwriters, arrangers, engineers and record producers!

Trinidad & Tobago is an innovative nation, in addition to being an interesting one. Not only did the natives create a fascinating genre, calypso (which later became soca) but Trinis also gave us the only musical instrument invented in the Western Hemisphere, the steel drums.

Thank you all for your contributions to this thread, gentlemen!

[Gamma]

sparrow is from Grenada but i digress..

[Historian]

Thanks, Boss (Lol)

sparrow is from Grenada but i digress..

Thanks for the correction, Gamma. You are correct. (I had completely forgotten this fact about Sparrow.)