From the Caribbean/On Tour – The Escorts, 1977

🎶🏝️🎤🎷🎸 In Barbados, it’s spouge. The national rhythm, a cross between ska and calypso, was ‘invented’ by Jackie Opel in the 60s, and has been taken up by a number of successful groups, including the Troubadours, Draytons Two and, for our purposes here, Escorts International. In 1977, they toured Europe and recorded this single album live (after numerous singles produced since their formation in the late 60s). On Tour for the original version, and From the Caribbean for this European reissue. Spouge, then, but also a Caribbean cocktail of reggae, calypso and even an unexpected cover of Dolly Parton’s iconic song Jolene! Shirley Stewart and Keith Lee are joined here by Carolyn Leacock, who performs this song as well as the superb Beautiful Barbados, one of her hits.