Precious Melodies

Artists

Album Info

Release Date: 1994

Label: Ice

Compilation of RCA era material. Several tracks from the albums Lord Melody Sings Calypsoes and The Mighty Lord Melody are included, as well as the single tracks Clay Vs Liston and Radio Commercials. It also contains a few tracks believed to be exclusive. They are: Are You Afraid, Old Time Calypsoes, Wahbeen Life (Alternate version of The Untouchables) and London Town (Alternate Version). The alternate versions probably date from The Mighty Lord Melody sessions. The other tracks are unknown but presumably date from no later than 1965. The booklet provides no information on them.

Some tracks had their names changed compared to their original releases:

Nigger has been renamed to Doolahin due to cultural sensitivity.

Independence was renamed to Our Independence to indicate that it's about Trinidad's independence.

Shirley was renamed to Shirley (Starving).

Rebecca was renamed to Rebecca (Where You Mama)

No No No was renamed to No.

The mastering of this release has been criticised, with some of the tracks appearing in more compressed sounding mixes and missing channel information that was audible on their original vinyl releases. It isn't clear if the reference for The Mighty Lord Melody tracks were the stereo or mono tapes.