When we were in London recently, Kai was singing Lord Kitchener's 1950s calypso London is the place for me non-stop. Quite right too. It's a cracker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGt21q1AjuI
The album it comes from inspired me to find out more about the culture it emerged from. Tipped off by that great bibliophile, Mr Cooper, I'm currently reading The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon, an eye-opening novella on West Indian life in London in the 50s. Written in lively dialect and full of lots of wonderful characters. Often hilarious but also pulling no punches on the racism of the time.
Lots of interesting details too. The West Indian boat train used to come into Waterloo.
Duncan has also turned me onto the swinging 60s jazz sounds of Jamaican flautist Harold McNair (who I've just discovered played on Donovan's magical first live album).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5K-LyTjMdI
Mmm! Nice!
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