According to the back cover of the record, The Mighty Turbines were a group of "ghetto youth" from Trelawney Parrish, Jamaica. They had apparently never played instruments before, and had zero musical training. When they heard steel drums for the first time, it must have stricken them like a bolt of lightning, because within a year of their introduction to the sound, they had banged out their own instruments from trash can lids and recorded this astonishingly good album.
Whether you believe this story or not - I'm not sure I do - this is a great record (even if you don't typically listen to steel drum music). The songs are catchy and whimsical, with complex poly-rhythms and warm joyful tones. The dead of winter - as it appears to be outside today - is just the right time to crank this up and dream of life on the islands. Be thankful y'all.
