Back in 1956, Harry Belafonte brought several mentos to the world's attention, calling them calypsos because the word was much in fashion. You can hear authentic versions of seven of those hits here, in this exquisite anthology with a detailed introduction by Bruno Blum: his notes reveal mento’s varying forms, from work-songs and rural mentos to more urban varieties, and songs with gospel and jazz influences (by Lord Fly, Winston Gaynair, Bertie King, Ernest Ranglin…). Lying at the heart of the real roots of reggae, neglected and impossibly hard to find for over half a century, this is Jamaica's original popular music. Its excellent seminal recordings are now revealed in these 36 titles accompanied by a 44-page booklet. Patrick FRÉMEAUX

CD1 : 1. LOUISE BENNETT : DAY DAH LIGHT (DAY O) 1’28 • 2. HUBERT PORTER : NOT ME (MAN SMART, WOMAN SMARTER) 2’56 • 3. BEN BOWERS W/ THE BABA MOTTA ORCH. : BROWN SKIN GIRL 2’09 • 4. LOUISE BENNETT : HOSANNA 0’57 • 5. HUBERT PORTER : IRON BAR/MAS CHARLEY BELL (JAMAICA FAREWELL) 2’52 • 6. LORD FLEA : SOLAS MARKET/WATER COME A MI EYE (COME BACK LIZA) 3’19 • 7. LORD FLEA : DONKEY BRAY (THE JACK ASS SONG) 2’16 • 8. LORD FLY W / THE DAN WILLIAMS ORCH. : DONKEY CITY 2’53 • 9. LAUREL AITKEN : NEBUCHADNEZZAR 2’36 • 10. COUNT LASHER’S SEVEN : MANGO TIME 2’57 • 11. HAROLD RICHARDSON W / THE TICKLERS : DON’T FENCE HER IN 3’20 • 12. LORD MESSAM & HIS CALYPSONIANS : TAKE HER TO JAMAICA 3’09 • 13. BOYSIE GRANT W / THE REYNOLDS CALYPSO CLIPPERS : NOISY SPRING 3’13 • 14. COUNT LASHER : ISLAND GAL SALLY 3’09 • 15. THE WIGGLERS : LINSTEAD MARKET & DAY O 3’01 • 16. CECIL KNOT & HIS JOYBELL ORCH. : BANANA 2’26 • 17. CHIN’S CALYPSO SEXTET :WOMAN STYLE 2’33 • 18. LORD FLEA W / THE BLUE MOUNTAIN CAROLEERS : IRENE & YO’ FR’EN 3’20 • CD2 • 1. THE WRIGGLERS (FEAT. ERNEST RANGLIN) : DON’T TOUCH ME TOMATO 3’16 • 2. THE WRIGGLERS (FEAT. ERNEST RANGLIN) : CALYPSO MEDLEY : SOLAS MARKET/WATER COME A MI EYE 3’39 • 3. LORD FLEA & HIS CALYPSONIANS : MAGIC COMPOSER 2’17 • 4. LORD FLY WITH THE DAN WILLIAMS ORCH. : DONKEY CITY (INSTRUMENTAL) 2’40 • 5. BABA MOTTA & HIS ORCHESTRA : JAMAICA TALK 2’42 • 6. HUBERT PORTER : OLD LADY YOU MASH ME TOE 2’50 • 7. COUNT LASHER W / GEORGE MOXEY AND HIS CALYPSO QUINTET : THE OLE MAN’S DRIVE 3’07 • 8. COUNT LASHER’S SEVEN : BREADFRUIT SEASON 3’07 • 9. LORD FLEA : IT ALL BEGAN WITH ADAM AND EVE 2’39 • 10. THE WRIGGLERS (FEAT. ERNEST RANGLIN) : LIMBO 2’11 • 11. THE WRIGGLERS (FEAT. ERNEST RANGLIN) : MARY ANN 2’39 • 12. HUBERT PORTER W / THE TOWER ISLANDERS : BARGIE 3’15 • 13. COUNT LASHER : DOCTOR 3’10 • 14. THE WRIGGLERS : BIGGEST MARACAS 2’04 • 15. COUNT LASHER : PERSEVERANCE 2’31 • 16. CHIN’S CALYPSO SEXTET : NIGHT FOOD RECIPE 3’01 • 17. COUNT LASHER : CALYPSO CHA CHA 3’10 • 18.LAUREL AITKEN : SWEET CHARIOT 3’23.