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Lord Kitchener's "Play Mas" by Solo Harmonites, Panorama winners 1971

Posted by Glenroy R Joseph on May 1, 2011 at 11:53am

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rodney, trinidad, panorama, earl, harmonites

In the late sixties and early seventies, Solo Harmonites was one of the dominant steelband powers and seemed to be a fixture in winners row at Panorama.Musically led by the great pan arranger Earl Rodney, the band had a big, "town band" sound, and some of Earl's arrangements have been stuck in my head to this day.In 1971, Solo Harmonites were Panorama winners,in a tie with Starlift.From their 1971 album, "Carnival Time" here is their winning Earl Rodney arrangement of Lord Kitchener's "Play Mas".

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Comments

Bertel Gittens June 28, 2012 at 1:24pm

Love it !! I remember I was in form 5 in school and use to go to the back of the class and hum this tune by Solo with some other class mates beating on the desks.Love it !!! There was a tie this year with Starlift, I think (CIBC)
ed cee June 27, 2012 at 11:38pm

This 1971 winner really sending me crazy. Haven't heard this in years. I was right there in the savannah when Solo mash up the place with this on prelims day, and went on to win the final. Oh boy...oh boy.....today, everything is so different.
ed cee June 27, 2012 at 11:15pm

Ernest Bernard Harvey, sorry to inform you but you have it a bit mixed up. In 1971, Solo and Starlift tied for 1st....Solo played Kitchener's "Play Mas" and Starlift played Sparrow's "Queen of the Bands". In 1972, Solo won again ...this time they played Kitchener's 'St. Thomas Girl".

In 1975, Hatters won the Panorama with a Steve Achaiba arrangement of Kitchener's " Tribute to Winston 'Spree' Simon", not 'Tourist Leggo'.
Ernest Bernard Harvey January 26, 2012 at 3:26am

Also for the record I beleive Harmonites won in 1972 with Play Mas .I doubt I'm mistaken as a teenager supporting and even pushing pans sometimes.
Ernest Bernard Harvey January 26, 2012 at 3:17am

Excuse me I am 55years young and I remember Solo Harmonites and CIBC Starlift winning the National Panorama title wifh Solo playing St Thomas girl and Starlift playing Queen of the Bands.Does anyone out there agree with me? I also have a problem with Hatters 1975 who I remember winning with Tourist Leggo but I could give you the benefit of the doubt. However I stand strong on 1971. Love this site.
Peter Gray May 4, 2011 at 9:55am

Glenroy, you're right .. sweet pan is not just a recent phenomenon. Just play Cobeau Jack's/Invaders: With a Song in My Heart, or Liebestraum, or Melody in F. Those tunes are still worth a thousand lectures.

Peter
Roderick M. Aqui May 3, 2011 at 11:28pm

Thank you Glenroy for all this beautiful music week in and week out.If it is at all possible could you try and post for us CIBC Starlift's "Queen of the Bands"? I haven't heard that tune in years and I lost my copy of it.I think that was Ray at his very best and am sure all of your followers would enjoy it.Thanks,Roderick.
Glenroy R Joseph May 3, 2011 at 11:07am

Peter., one of the reasons I post all this music is to demonstrate the steady progression of pan tuning and arranging through the years.

Contrary to what many may think, think, sweet pan didn't just arrive on the scene in the last twenty years or so.

Almost from its inception, pan has always produced great tuners, arrangers, players and overall great musicians.
Peter Gray May 3, 2011 at 9:49am

Thanks to Wayne Jagdeo for bigging up pan tuner extraordinaire Alan Gervais, who, along with Lincoln noel, was very influential in stimulating Herman Guppy (Brown) to evolve as a premier tuner himself.

Peter
Rum-Pan May 3, 2011 at 2:43am

Great Thanks Glenroy to you! Again......