Sunday 2 December 2007

"bara garm" at MAURIPUR


“It Ain`t Half Hot Mum” the 1970`s TV sit. com. of that name gave the impression that somebody`s sons were feeling the heat whilst in the process of trying to get their knees brown somewhere out there in the great Indian Sub Continent.

Most of us stationed at Mauripur, Karachi of course will probably have relished in the telling of our own personal tales and happenings that we encountered during our service there of over 50 years ago. Stories ranging from monsoon floods to fishy tales on a bunder boat, eating H bone steaks at the ABC Chinese Restaurant in Elphinstone Street or maybe just recalling some hell hot days on camp, one of which is well illustrated by this local press cutting. I`m uncertain as to whether I clipped this in May 1952 or May 1953 but either way it does pin down the weather detail that can be regarded as being a factual one.

As a general comment, I`m not sure either whether certain embellishments seemingly added sometimes in the retelling of various memories represent pure “bull” or, and more hopefully, can be just regarded as instances of the brain just subconsciously padding out some of the hazier bits in the memory.

Regarding what I think I do recollect surrounding the “Hottest ever day in May in Karachi”. I have always stated that I remember we were warned at sometime during that day, presumably by Tannoy, to drop whatever it was we were doing and sit or lay down to rest. Movement was to be curtailed where possible until otherwise notified. The reason being that on this day the extreme high air temperature coupled also to an exceptional high humidity factor had reached a serious danger level. I think the example given to me at the time was that by this unusual occurrence happening it had led to a definite health risk, the cause being the likelihood of us breathing in excess moisture by way of the water laden air. I would usually add in relating this happening “some of us could have drowned on dry land!”…and you see what I mean by embellishment?.

Many people who find themselves on the receiving end of this particular “lamp swinging” anecdote just refuse to believe it. Understandable perhaps as it does have a tall story ring about it. In a recent effort to perhaps establish some scientific data in support of my memory I have used a PC search facility. The subject being human health and its relationship to high temperature/high humidity. Unfortunately I can only come up with something referred to as “dewpoint temperature” but with no actual references or instances of how it could have affected us.

Someone else serving at that time will hopefully recall the events more fully than I and therefore maybe able to confirm that on this particular hot May day in Karachi it wasn`t a dream on my part, it did actually happen!.

(Joe Johnstone - reminisces)

Thursday 4 October 2007

Gene Autry to Mighty Sparrow

You may wonder how Gene Autry and Mighty Sparrow just happen to appear in the same sentence?. Well it`s just my rather convoluted way of recalling a lifetime of certain musical experiences that have been with me since I was about 10 years old in 1942.

I attended junior school in Dumfries, Scotland during those early war years and can definitely recall visits to “The Electric” cinema in Shakespeare Street to watch (several times) a cowboy film starring my boyhood hero Gene Autry. *South of the Border* was the film and also the title of the first real song to enter my head and never to be forgotten - here I am still thinking about him in celebration on his Centennial Birthday - 29 September 2007. He certainly was a real positive influence in shaping my young musical thoughts and for which I will always be truly grateful.

Along with other children of the time our only personal means of making music was mainly restricted to humming on a “Jew`s harp” or blowing through a “paper and comb”, we all seem to have those. The harmonica too was popular for those able to afford one although few could. However, my beloved grandmother, who my mother and I lived with, must have thought I had some musical talent (or, more likely just got fed up with me crying for one) went out and bought me a 2nd hand “Hohner” mouth organ in the local monthly Coop sale rooms for sixpence.

This used harmonica was duly steeped in a pan of old cold tea overnight, granny said she had heard that this would not only sterilise it but somehow enrich the tone?. So having had this *South of the Border* tune spooking me since seeing the film then you will guess it was this tune that I first learned to play. You could say I cut my lips on it!.

Around this same period another film became popular, *Down Argentine Way* - Don Ameche and Betty Grable with the song of that name being the theme tune. So another marvellous and catchy number for me to try and master on this mouth organ, it would seem that early on my predilection for a certain style of rhythm was being formed at this young age.

A few years later I had just left school back here in London to start work in 1947. This was the year that I came into close contact with some American Navy boys who were stationed over here and attached to our local Hendon airfield, my cousins happened to get married (and still are) to 2 of them. The reason for quoting this fact is because not only did I as a youth receive Chesterfield cigs, chocolates and gum chum aplenty but more importantly I also got access to hear the latest imported USA records played on an old wind up gramophone. Sure enough the record I did practically wear out was The Andrews Sisters with their version of *Rum and Coca Cola*. Both tune and words fascinated me, I used to puzzle and try to decipher the line that sounded as “go down poncumana”. When I did finally get it years later as “Point Cumana” I promised myself I`d go there one day. Well here I am aged 75 and despite having visited and stayed in T&T several times over the last 35 years I have yet to make it down Point Cumana to sample that Rum and Coca Cola!.

Forward again just a few years to August 1950. That was the date I was called to do military service and I signed on for 3 years as a regular in the RAF. My first 18 months in their Postal Service was spent in the U.K. but livened up more interestingly during my remaining time when posted to serve abroad at RAF Staging Post, Mauripur, Pakistan. This was a country not many of us had even heard of in those days so soon after the sub-continent had been partitioned into the separate states of India and Pakistan.

In 1952 to get back to my theme, I can recollect being Treasurer of the RAF Corporals Club entertainments for a short period. This entailed among other duties having to select a few records down town in Karachi each month as we did host an occasional dance in the Club. Unfortunately the imported choice available in those austere pre rock 'n' roll days was very limited and only a few Louis Armstrong 78s seemed to be available and definitely no calypso!. However I did fancy myself as a bit of a song writer at that time and even came up with a tune *Boo Boo Calypso*. I still have the original lyrics but have to admit that the only calypso thing about it is that mention in the title, it`s really more a tango. But, the attempt was there and that was the main thing. Mind you I`m not sure just where the idea for the song did come from, maybe a subconscious flash of *South of the Border*?. I know it certainly had nothing to do with Lord Melody`s *Mama Look a Booboo* as his released a couple of years or so later in 1955.

It would be 1968 before I met my Grenadian wife Theresa who on an early date took me along to meet her very good Trinidadian friends Arnold and Thelma Benjamin. Arnold was well into his music and calypso was the order of the evening. I was checking out his collection when an LP caught my eye. I was not familiar then with the artist - Sparrow, but I did spot that one of his tracks was titled *Teresa* and thought it would be an appropriate tune to play. Well I did get to listen to that same album over and over again that first night and it got me hooked on Sparrow`s amazing talents ever since. That LP happened to be the Balisier release which I am glad to say managed to survive a house fire some years later down in San Fernando. I say glad in particular as it led to my good fortune by allowing me the chance to eventually acquire that very same copy to add to my by that time growing Sparrow collection.

So, Gene Autry to The Mighty Sparrow?. A short sentence indeed, but, in this case one that took me so many years to complete.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Gene Autry - deceased 2nd October 1998.
Mighty Sparrow - still going strong 2007.

Sparrow`s 581 different titles are listed:-
http://www.grenadamusic.demon.co.uk/

Thursday 16 August 2007

" `76 ah come out to wail " (Mighty Sparrow)

Sparrow lovers will no doubt recall this to be opening line from his 1976 calypso title *Statue*. I do happen to remember that year particularly well as being the first occasion I got to enjoy Sparrow “Live” on stage.


I think it must have been around 1970/71 and back in my courting days that Sparrow made an appearance at The Gaumont State, Kilburn, London. Unfortunately, due to business commitments I was unable to attend but did manage to acquire a ticket for my fiancĂ© Theresa to see the show which she said was terrific. But having personally missed out on that one, I could only look forward to checking out Sparrow at some time in the future when he would no doubt be back playing London town again. The chance came some time later, I`m not sure exactly when but it was approximately 1973/74?. Sparrow and Byron Lee with The Dragonaires were booked during The Nottinghill Carnival to hold their own show at the London Olympia, I purchased a couple of tickets and with great anticipation got over to the venue in good time. Unfortunately I hadn`t taken into account that this was a wholly Trinidadian staged event and sure enough it seemingly was run to an “any time is Trinidad time” timetable. Although we arrived there 30 minutes before the published start, we seemed to be the only paying customers around. Somebody did ask us who we were so I quickly decided on a promotion and introduced myself as “Sparrow`s UK Fan Club President”. Good thinking it turned out as we found ourselves being ushered up stairs to a plush front row low balcony and ideal for the stage. It was just as well we were comfortable as nothing was destined to happen for ages. The rest of the audience filled up over time but still no sign of a show with just a few roadies occasionally moving equipment around. Whatever was bugging them all behind the stage finally got settled before midnight and Byron Lee eventually opened the show with a few numbers. The sound unfortunately didn`t seem right to me for this huge non intimate venue and so it proved when Sparrow came on to perform, a distinct echo was present which really spoiled it for me. I mentioned that we were first in to the show and I can tell you we were certainly the first out too, just half way through Sparrow`s 2nd calypso we were gone!.


And so to my 3rd Sparrow reference and the reason for quoting “`76 ah come out to wail”. Theresa and I visited Trinidad on holiday especially to take in the 1976 Carnival. Although staying down in San Fernando we came up all the time to P.O.S. as we had some events pre booked, even managing to get both days seats in the Grandstand. The Saturday Junior Carnival on the street (photos) was delightful but the highlight of our stay was the evening attending Sparrow`s O.Y.B. tent in Wrightson Road. Here at last I had a close up view and perfect chance to hear “The King” on his stage at his regal best just where it was really meant to be experienced, in a calypso tent amongst his subjects. Yes, I did enjoy it!.

Looking back I`m not sure of Sparrow`s set that evening, he may not even have given us *Statue* on that occasion. However I do remember vividly his outstanding performance that night of his one and only *Sol Fish* with encore, a calypso that will always remain to be one of my favourites.







Pictures are of the 1976 “Junior Carnival” at the inaugural event that took place in Port of Spain. On this first occasion it was restricted to a few streets before becoming the full blown parade which we now know as “Kiddies Carnival”.

.
Sparrow`s 581 different titles are listed :-
http://www.grenadamusic.demon.co.uk/

Sunday 15 July 2007

*Mr Robinson and Lock Joint* (Mighty Sparrow)

You know how some song titles in your record collection might stick in your mind for some very good reason?. Remembered mostly by perhaps where you were and who you were with or some similar occasion when you decided you loved the tune and just had to buy that record.

Since becoming a Sparrow fan 40 years ago I have always been in the position of really needing to find some "missing" Sparrow tune or other, not that I knew in those early days just how many titles I was missing. The 60s/70s being the pre computer age and with very sparse calypso hard print references available either, did make researching the subject difficult to study from here in the U.K.. The collecting of any Mighty Sparrow information as well as the actual records did become a bit of an obsession with me, certainly harmless but one which I seem to be over now. That`s not to say I`m not still interested in the subject, there are still a few Sparrow titles that are a mystery to me. They are listed in my Mighty Sparrow AZ catalogue as titles requiring further information. (Perhaps a later post for that).


So to *Mr Robinson and Lock Joint*. My wife Theresa and I were in Trinidad on holiday in 1979 and staying with our niece in Petit Valley, Diego Martin. One day she walked us up the road saying she would show us Sparrow`s Hideaway. All a surprise to me as I had no idea Sparrow`s Hideaway and home was just 1/4 mile from us. As luck would have it the great man just happened to be standing right there at the entrance talking to some local youths. Seeing us, me at least looking the tourist, he beckoned us in off the road for a chat. Of course I had to bring up the calypso subject and mentioned that I`d heard of the title *Mr Robinson and Lock Joint* and not only had I not got the record but that I had never ever heard it being played. The intriguing title had puzzled me for years and I was most anxious to learn the story behind this calypso and somewhat foolishly asked Sparrow if he could remember it. Well, I should have know better.....of course he did!.

At this point Sparrow put his arm around us and proceeded with an impromptu rendition right there and then on his doorstep. It was in this unique setting that I learnt about those Robinson/Lock Joint events that had inspired Sparrow to compose his 1964 calypso. Is it any wonder that this title in particular remains an outstanding memory for us?



THE OUTCAST - NATIONAL NLP 4199
*Mr Robinson and Lock Joint*

Port of Spain got sewerage scheme
Well it`s now here clean (Repeat)
Lock Joint are picking up all the waste
From your place
And that`s the case
I think it is a job of class,
The only dirty place now is the Labasse

Let me tell you!

Chorus
I believe in sanitation, it is a good thing
But Mr Robinson and Lock Joint
Only pulling and tugging
You see you got to buy food,
You got to eat good
Before Lock Joint get something
But the taxman so fierce,
The food getting scarce
Them pipe go live on wind.


The big big pipes that does carry plenty load
Down Mucurapo road
Well the only impression that I got
St James people does eat a lot
Diego Martin ain`t making fun
With some good size one,
Just like in town
But Belmont and Laventille
Have the smallest switch pipe I ever see

Whey you talking?

The people they got in Belmont also Laventille
Can`t supply Lock Joint with nothing
In a quantity
You see they got to buy food,
They got to eat good
Before Lock Joint get something
But the taxman so fierce
The food getting scarce
Them pipe going to live on wind.


All through the city is big hole
Motor car lost control
Man you bumping up
Like your riding on a camel
Dust block up your nostril
In New York you know about
Instant coffee instant tea
For when you`re in a hurry
But its down here the case is blood
Every instant you inhale its instant mud.

Have you ever seen a cowboy
Lassoing cattle
Kerchief round his nose through the dust
That was some people
If you ain`t sneezing
It`s then you stifling
You fighting to stay healthy
Lock Joint is good for us
But please keep down the dust
Them pipes going to stay empty

Dungarees and khaki is the thing
That is all people wearing
Executives and men who out on strike
Toute monde dress alike
When the wind blows for miles around
All through town
Every building down
You working hard
You getting it complete
But to know if it working we got to eat

Whey you talking?

I believe in sanitation, it is a good thing
Mr Robinson and Lock Joint
Only pulling and tugging
You see you got to buy food
You got to eat good
Before Lock Joint get something
But the taxman so fierce
The food getting scarce
Them pipe going to live on wind.

Sparrow`s 581 different titles are listed :-
http://www.grenadamusic.demon.co.uk/


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Tuesday 26 June 2007

My Pick of (Mighty Sparrow)

The BBC radio programme “Desert Island Discs” invites weekly guests to name his or her choice of the 10 records of music that they would take with them if they were to be shipwrecked on some desert island. I have always imagined that they, along with the radio producer, were most likely to have made “their” choices with the aid of a pin. Why?, because it is such a very difficult thing to do!.

For instance, is there any calypso fan out there who can honestly select 25 of Sparrow`s titles as being their definitive all-time favourites and yet not have some very serious second thoughts about changing many of those choices the very next day?.

As usual, bearing in mind that “if Sparrow say so is so” you will realise his title *Blame it on me* says it all. Of course he`s right, if he had not written and performed so many of these brilliant calypsoes over these past 50 years then the task of making selections would certainly have been that very much easier! but then, who`s complaining? - not me!.

Well, for what it`s worth, here are my 25 titles at least for today.

Selections made by - Graham Johnstone ....30 June - 2007

In no particular order.

Steelband music
The bomb
Obeah man
Cuatro man
Don`t hold me
Slight mistake
Don`t trust Jamaican man
Same time, same place
How you jammin` so
Music and rhythm
Sol fish
Pan jam fete
My little sister
A mothers love
What`s the use of getting sober
Carnival woman
Don`t rain on my parade
Manjhay (mange)
Sa sa ya
Sparrow dead
Mas in Brooklyn
Anniversary (100th)
Bermuda girl
Love African style
Ah gotta have you




Sparrow`s 581 different titles are listed :-

http://www.grenadamusic.demon.co.uk/

Sunday 24 June 2007

Mighty Sparrow Titles

An alphabetical choice listing
Sparrow calypso titles from A - Z

Ah watchin` he
Benwood Dick
Congo man
Dan is the man
Elaine
Family size
Get outa here
Harry and mama
Interdependence
Jean and Dinah
Kennnedy and Khrushchev
Lulu
May May
No doctor no
Our model nation
P.A.Y.E
Queens canary
Rose
Short little shorts
Teresa
Unhappy me
Veronica
Who she go cry for
eXplorer
You don`t love me
Zinah

Sparrow`s 581 different titles are listed :-
http://www.grenadamusic.demon.co.uk/