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.
Hey! I knew the percussion performer Michael Brown personally. I made friends with the Brown Family in 1980 while staying atthe Trelawny Beach Club from the US. Ultimately i came back later in 1980 and stayed in their home in Falmouth. I was in my 20's and can say it was a very interesting culture change for me back then. I remember riding in the back of a pickup truck with the band to a live performances and taking in the whole tropical paradise sensation. Its been many years now (over 37)and yet I can hear them playing. I happen to have the album now too. I lost contact with them...memories...
ReplyDeleteJust in case you're still out there: any chance of a Re-Up? (Newspeak "RE-Up" still sounds strange to me, even after all these years)
ReplyDeleteTheir story is true. I grew up in the historic town of Falmouth, Jamaica. I would often watch them practice and check them out on their hotel gigs
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