*Quick note, I’ve used “Little Known” a number of times now and need to make clear, I mean little known outside of Panama. Many of these songs are very well known in Panama =)
The first song I’d like to share is Lord Panama’s “Wine She Gramaphone.” Lord Panama (George Allen, 1928-2018) was born in Colón, and was one of the greats of Panamanian Calypso, pressing 45s on his own “Panix” label. Late in life he was awarded Panama’s “Orden Vasco Núñez de Balboa”, an honor reserved for those distinguished in sciences, arts and letters.
This beauty is a classic example of both the tight Calypso bands with especially juicy horn players Panama boasted in the ’40s-70s, and the bawdy double entendre Calypsonians are so famous for. Interestingly, Lord Panama sings this tune all in English/Patois, when he was among the early and best of the bilingual (or trilingual) Panamanian Calypsonians.
Next is the b-side from Black Majesty’s “Mon Cherie” 45 on Grecha, featured earlier, another delicious double entendre:
Finally, here is another heavy 45 on Tropelco from Sir Jablonsky – discussed earlier here – called “Voodoo Doctor”, again, likely with Victor Boa’s Combo:
