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Sparrow Meets the Dragon

by The Mighty Sparrow

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Rhonda Farrell
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1.
Maria 03:11
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2.
No Money, No Love 03:39
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3.
More and More Amour (instrumental) 02:48
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4.
Born Free 02:58
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5.
Sandra 03:06
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6.
Walk Away 02:56
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7.
Theme from Dr. Zhivago (instrumental) 02:22
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8.
Peace and Love 04:12
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9.
Only a Fool 02:48
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10.
More 02:41
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11.
Make the World Go Away (instrumental) 02:35
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12.
Try a Little Tenderness 02:22
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about

Sparrow Meets the Dragon is one of two albums (the other being Sparrow Dragon Again, 1975) that the Mighty Sparrow recorded with the great Jamaican bassist-bandleader-producer Byron Lee (1935–2008). Lee is widely credited with introducing the electric bass to Jamaica and helping to popularize its use. The versatile and defatigable Lee led the Dragonaires for decades, issuing dozens of albums in a variety of Caribbean styles, including ska, calypso, reggae and soca. Lee and his band are prominently seen in the first James Bond movie, Dr. No (1962), in a scene in Kingston playing "Jamaica Jump Up" at Puss Feller's calypso bar.

This album consists of nine Sparrow vocals and three instrumentals by Lee and the Dragonaires. There are several remakes of some of Sparrow's most popular numbers, such as "Maria," "Sandra," and "No Money No Love." as well as covers of classics such as "Try a Little Tenderness," "Born Free," and "Only A Fool." The covers are sung in a pop style which proves (again) that Sparrow was comfortable in multiple musical idioms and always had great potential as a crossover artist.

credits

released June 19, 2019

Recorded in 1969, originally issued on SpaLee Records

Erasmus Black Records
Issued under exclusive license from Slinger Francisco (The Mighty Sparrow)

"Maria," "No Money No Love," "Sandra," and "Peace and Love" by Slinger Francisco
© Railroad Town Music / Zalytron Music (BMI)

"More and More Amour" by Testa/Rossi/Manning
"Born Free" by Berry/Black
"Walk Away" by Black/Jurgens
"Theme from Dr. Zhivago" by Jarre/Webster
"Only a Fool" by James/Lawrence/Anthony/Mekler
"More" by Oliviero/Ortolani
"Make The World Go Away" by Hank Cochran
"Try a Little Tenderness" by Woods/Campbell/Connelly

license

all rights reserved

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The Mighty Sparrow Trinidad and Tobago

He's not the Elvis of Calypso. He's not the Sinatra of Calypso. He's not the Beatles, Dylan, James Brown, or Brian Wilson of Calypso. He's the MIGHTY SPARROW. Often categorized as "World Music," for Sparrow the classification "World" is simply too small. We're working with Slinger Francisco (Sparrow) to preserve his recorded legacy. All releases digitally restored from best available sources. ... more

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