Customer Reviews

Hot & Sweet

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was amazed and delighted to find that this long out of print LP is now available as a Japanese import. Hot and Sweet represents the unlikely pairing of two enormous, idiosyncratic talents: arranger Van Dyke Parks (collaborator with Brian Wilson/Beach Boys), and the Calypso King of the World, the Mighty Sparrow. For this project, Parks wrote new, dense and funky orchestral arrangements for some of Sparrow's greatest hits from the 60s and 70s. They recorded everything in a state-of-the art LA studio, so the sound and balance are far superior to any of Sparrow's New York or Trinidad recordings from this period (I believe the original release was in 1974 or thereabouts).

The record soars! Sparrow's voice is in its prime, and Parks' playful arrangements bubble with the delight of someone who's discovered the pleasures of calypso for the first time.

ALthough there are a number of Mighty Sparrow retrospectives now available on CD, I'd recommend this one as a starter. Every song on here represents some of Sparrow's wittiest work, and the music rises to the high quality of the lyrics. A great Sparrow record, a terrific party record. I'm gonna dig out my vinyl copy of this one right now and revisit one of my old favorites.

Although it's not evident, this is a straight reissue of the 1972 Warner Bros. album produced by Van Dyke Parks and reportedly recorded in a single overheated evening during a hurricane, with much later fiddling by Mr. Parks. These are remakes of established Sparrow classics, but it's one of the all-time sublime remake albums, with the dense arrangements, horn sections, chorus singers and the rest of Parks's Beach-Boyish studio fantasy swirling gracefully around Sparrow's bravura vocals. A calypso record unlike any other. (For some reason, the track list is a mess and does not reflect the song sequence on the disc. But all 10 tunes are there.)

As a fledgling calypso fan who'd only been exposed to vintage recordings (1920's-1950's), this album was a revelation for me. I came to calypso music (oddly enough) through two recordings by Van Dyke Parks, "Discover America" and "Clang of the Yankee Reaper". His enthusiasm for the genre was contagious, and led me to a number of early calypso collections, namely "Roosevelt in Trinidad" (which features versions of some of the songs from "Discover America"), and "Calypso Awakening" - my first exposure to the Mighty Sparrow. Being well aware that this was a Mighty Sparrow album produced by Van Dyke Parks, I knew I could do no wrong in making the purchase. I don't mean to brag, but I was right.

Word has it that this album was recorded in a one off meeting between Parks and Sparrow during a stormy evening in the early 1970's. Parks then laboured over the material to give it the lush and multi-faceted production values which permeate his two aforementioned albums. The result is a resounding success! Sparrow delivers some astounding and often hilarious vocals, pontificating on a variety of subjects - from his own death, to entertaining American troops in Vietnam, to marrying an ugly woman for her money ("When she dress, she like a monkey in a beauty contest"). The music is always expertly performed and frames Sparrow's voice and ideas beautifully. They swoop and soar to very dramatic effect, and his hooks are as catchy and clever as anything else I can recall in recent memory. Parks knew how to serve these songs, and provided a rich context for each one which never detracts from Sparrow's vocals and ideas. Parks definitely left his mark on this album, but one is always aware of the admiration and respect he held for Sparrow.

So...if you're a fan of Mighty Sparrow, Van Dyke Parks, and/or calypso music, this album is highly recommended. If you're not, it's still highly recommended!

I had the original vinyl with this title. The songs on this version are from many vinyls and the titles listed are out of order and misnamed.

At the risk of repeating the previous reviewer,this is a must have for any serious calypso fan,and I was equally astonished that there is a cd version of it.I have a worn copy of the LP,and now I have this sparkling cd,cheap even at its import price.

If you have ever heard one of Birdy's subpar records and wondered what all the fuss was about,this record will enlighten you.Absolutely kintetic versions of some of his greatest songs,with an extremely hot band,all recorded beautifully,with wonderfully fleshed out arrangements.

These are more or less classics of Sparrow's calypso career,pre soca(the less lyrical,more dance oriented version of calypso,which took hold in the late '70s),but what is so wonderful here is that these songs have been redone with a very early soca type sound,and the result is fabulous.

The collection includes a superior version of one of the great calypsos ever recorded,and probably my favorite Sparrow song-'Memories'.It truly evokes the bittersweet emotions that carnival inspires in Trinis,and non Trinis who love the culture.I get chills every time I hear some of the lines:

"Albert Moore,I'll always remember/ Jumping when a steel band pass/ Playing big mass/ Sugary,peppery Al was never ever one for class/ Dear Albert,wherever you are Confrere,just for you I came out with real fire this year"

A rare classic,buy this,and love it.As an added bonus,the sound quality is surprisingly fine,especially for a '74 recording.It stands up well compared to my LP.