Truly a towering figure of calypso and Caribbean culture in general, Trinidad's Mighty Sparrow is well in need of an in-depth anthology.

AT wo-disc collection spanning one of his most creative periods, the early 60's through the mid-70's. Sparrowmania! presents a picture of an incredible and prolific entertainer, offering on-point social commentary ("Kennedy And Krushchev," "Ah Diggin' Horrors," "The Slave"), bawdy songs full of double entendre and vice ("Big Bamboo," "Congo Man," "What's The Point Of Getting Sober") and genre-expanding hybrids ("Try A Little Tenderness," "Calypso Boogaloo"). Liner notes courtesy of David Katz provide context and history, and the music speaks for itself.

A1. Bongo A2. Calypso Boogaloo A3. Zinah A4. Fool Fool Fool
B1. Congo Man B2. She’s Been Gone Too Long B3. Ten To One Is Murder B4. Kennedy And Krushchev
C1. Mi Son Cha (Sparrow & His Troubadours) C2. Sweet Loving C3. Oriental Touch C4. Ah Diggin’ Horrors
D1 Jook For Jook D2 Sparrow Come Back Home D3. The Slave D4. Try A Little Tenderness (with Byron Lee)