LORD KITCHENER 78 KITCH'S CRICKET CALYPSO EX+

	£		21
	$		28

A REALLY EXCELLENT COPY OF THIS VERY RARE CALYPSO 78rpm RECORD FROM LORD KITCHENER CELEBRATING THE WEST INDIES VICTORY OVER ENGLAND IN THE 1950 TEST SERIES

Aldwyn Roberts (18 April 1922 – 11 February 2000), better known by the stage name Lord Kitchener, was one of the most internationally famous calypsonians. He was the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and homemaker, Albertha.

Kitchener's success began after he moved to England. His fame continued throughout the 1950s, when calypso achieved international success. Later, though, he moved towards soca, a related style, and continued recording until his death. Kitchener's compositions were enormously popular as the chosen selections for steel bands to perform at the annual National Panorama competition during Trinidad Carnival.

Kitchener emigrated from Trinidad, spending six months in Jamaica before traveling on the Empire Windrush to the UK. In 1952, he met his wife Marjorie. During the 1950s he built a large following in the expatriate communities of the West Indian islands.

"Kitch" became a very important figure to those first 5000 West Indian migrants to the UK. His music spoke of home and a life that they all longed for but in many cases couldn't or wouldn't return to. On June 29, 1950, he immortalised the defining moment for many of the migrants in writing 'Cricket, Lovely Cricket.' This was one of the first widely-known West Indian songs, and epitomised an event that historian and cricket enthusiast C. L. R. James defined as crucial to West Indian post-colonial societies. The song, later recorded by Lord Beginner, is rarely credited to Lord Kitchener although Tony Cozier and many who attended the Test at The Oval can attest that it was a Kitch composition. In England, Kitch started out working in London pubs. At first there were difficulties with English audiences who did not understand all the words, but that did not deter Kitch, and after the BBC gave him a chance to broadcast, he moved on to club bookings, and was soon performing in three clubs every night.

Kitch returned to Trinidad in 1962. He and the Mighty Sparrow proceeded to dominate the calypso competitions of the sixties and seventies. Lord Kitchener won the road march competition ten times between 1965 and 1976, more times than any other calypsonian.

For 30 years, Kitchener ran his own calypso tent, Calypso Revue, by which he nurtured the talent of many calypsonians. Calypso Rose, David Rudder, Black Stalin and Denyse Plummer are among the many artists who got their start under Kitchener's tutelage.

Kitchener, who created highly-popular and sweet melodies, is honoured with a statue in Port of Spain. He is buried in the Santa Rosa Cemetery in Arima. A bust of the beloved entertainer is also on display on Hollis Avenue, Arima, not far from the Arima Stadium.

Kitchener's son, Kernal Roberts, is also a performer, playing drums for the biggest soca band in the country, Xtatik. He's also their musical director and composer of the 2006 Road March.

It had always been important in Kitch's career to gain new experiences which could be woven into his material. This took him to performances in Curaçao, Aruba and Jamaica in the early days, and finally to London, when he was already flying high in Trinidad. Kitch once said: "I have reached to the height of my popularity in Trinidad. What am I doing here? I should make a move."

Kitch's Cricket Calypso

by Lord Kitchener 1950

The cricket tournament in 1950

Will always remain in my memory

The cricket tournament in 1950

Will always remain in my memory

We got the rubber, yes we won three tests

By making a mascot of England's mess

And our victories they were superfine

Through the bowling of Ramadhin and Valentine

Chorus:

Ramadhin, you deserve a title

Sir Ramadhin followed by a medal,

And we can't leave behind

The invincible Jamaican Valentine.

Most important I must comment

The victory at Lord's was magnificent

Allan Rae, that Jamaican lad

And Stollmeyer the veteran from Trinidad

Fifty overs and the job was done

We dismissed them at a hundred and fifty one

Clyde Walcott he made Berry resign

By establishing a hundred and sixty nine.

Chorus

The English selectors were so confused

The third test at Trent Bridge they failed to choose

In the papers they had big proclamation

Asking the public their opinion

Finally well they couldn't hide

They compelled them to bring the Australian side

And what happen? Same difficulties

They were beaten by wickets and centuries.

Chorus

They boasted of Compton as a run machine

But the gentlemen collapse meeting Ramadhin

To see his performance at the Oval

Was like an amateur boxer in first trial

He made 40 and he made it nice

But he was also LBW twice

For when Sonny did appeal and shout

The umpire refused to give him out.

THIS IS A RARE CLASSIC CALYPSO 78 ON THE SUBJECT OF CRICKET

DISC DETAILS

UK MELODISC 1162   10" 78rpm

A SIDE:  KITCH'S CRICKET CALYPSO

B SIDE:- KITCH'S BEBOP CALYPSO

DON'T MISS OUT - BID NOW!!
 

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10" 78 RPM RECORDS NEED CAREFULLY PACKING, AND I CLAIM TO HAVE THE BEST PACKAGING IN THE WORLD FOR DISPATCHING THEM!!

THE GREG'S GREAT'S SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A SPECIALLY DESIGNED INNER BOX MADE OUT OF 1" THICK POLYSTYRENE, WHICH THEN GOES INSIDE A DOUBLE CORREGATED STIFF OUTER CARDBOARD CARTON. THE BOXES CAN TAKE UP TO 21 RECORDS,

USUALLY FOR MAILING OVERSEAS, I RECOMMEND NO MORE THAN 7 IN A BOX, OTHERWISE IT GOES OVER THE AIRMAIL SMALL PACKET MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF 2Kgs WHICH CAUSES A LARGE HIKE IN POSTAL RATES.

I SEND OUT ON AVERAGE ABOUT 30 PARCELS A WEEK AND DISPATCH IS NORMALLY DONE ONCE A WEEK - SO IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR RECORD WITHIN A WEEK IN THE UK, PLEASE DON'T BE TOO SURPRISED - YOU MAY HAVE JUST PAID FOR IT THE DAY AFTER I'VE DONE THE PARCEL RUN!! - ON THE OTHER HAND YOU MAY HAVE HIT IT LUCKY, AND GET THE PARCEL WITHIN A DAY OR TWO!! 

IF YOU REALLY HAVE AN URGENT REQUIREMENT FOR THE RECORD - BIRTHDAY PRESENT, WEDDING, FUNERAL etc PLEASE TELL ME - (BECAUSE I CAN'T READ MINDS!) I WILL DO MY BEST TO GET IT OUT FOR YOU URGENTLY.

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