The first song I’d like to share is a real treasure by Sir Jablonski (Vincent Hill), “Judas and Barrabas” on Tropelco. Per the documentary Calipso (1991) by His Excellency Professor Gerardo Maloney (Panama’s former ambassador to Jamaica) , Hill started playing tumbadora “at Fattie George Bar”, dancing, “jitterbugging”, singing in both in Spanish and in English with another well known Calypsonian called Swing Papa (who unfortunately never recorded).
His first big hit was “Fat Pork” (youtube his “More Pork” and “Green Banana”, they are fantastic) and he was soon booked into the Teatro Rio, and Colon Theater. In 1961 he was contracted in NY, and he has a number of excellent 45s on Panamanian, NY and I believe I’ve even seen a Jamaican label?
This song is lovely early Jablonsky with Combo, most likely Victor Boa’s (that’s got to be him cascading his fingers over the ivories) and Reggie Johnson is likely on Sax (he doesn’t remember, recorded on so many sessions =)
The coro says “In the name of the father and the holy, pass pass the money” (took me forever to figure that out).
Next is the original version of a Lord Cobra original, “Love Letters” on Padisco. He made a brilliant funky remake with the Duncan Brothers which was comped on Panama! 2 – you can still find plenty of people who will sing this tender song with you, word for word, in Panama today:
Finally, here is “Panama Panama” by Panama Boy on Onda Nueva. The song is credited to “Kon Tiki” and it sounds like Lord Kontiki singing as well. Magical.