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Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago has a rich and glorious history; that history has been recorded and memorialized in print unlike the rest of the Caribbean region. Those other islands of the Caribbean region that have a similar carnival history don't have the historical markers that Trinidad is so blessed to have today. There was a time when the Leggo, or Break Away song, was heralded as the best song for the two days of parade on the streets. Today we call that song the National Road March, which, of course, was officially sanctioned in 1962. Prior to 1962, that song was known as the Leggo! This post looks at one of the most famous leggos that is still played around the world today—a modified version but linking back to the original version done by the bard from Arima, Lord Kitchener.
This is very interesting since Lord Kitchener (who has the most wins) has one win credited to his name prior to 1962! Should this be considered and included as a Road March win? The jury is out on that, but for today's post, we simply look back at the year 1946 and the creation of the song Jump in the Line, which became famously known as Shake Senora as it was copied and stylized to suit different times for each generation.
Jump in the Line by Lord Kitchener has taken on a life of its own and has become world-famous having been sampled and ending up on the cinematic screen. Today most singers consider success as making it on the billboard chart and taking the current music style global. However, what they don't realize is that Calypso has already achieved that goal! The first song to sell a million copies was a Calypso! As we commemorate this 1946 Leggo, let's delve into the history of this song.
It was in 1946 that Lord Kitchener had his first major success with a trio of songs that swept the Carnival of that year. For the champion singer from Arima, it was a realization of his dreams.
The songs he had included Jump In The Line, Tie Tongue Mopsy, and Chinese Never Had a VJ Day (aka Lai Fook Lee).
People loved, sang, and paraded Jump in the Line on the streets, singing and dancing with unbridled abandon. Jump In The Line was the Leggo (Break Away) for Carnival 1946. However, it was not until 1948 that the song was actually recorded.
The recording studio was R. G. Jones of Mrrden with numbers HB 302 for side A and HB 303 for side B. The printed label on the record reads "Renico Simmons Presents," with the song on Side A "Jump in the Line" and Side B "Take Me to Trinidad." We have a photo of side B, but that record is difficult to locate.
Jump in the Line, the original version, sung by Lord Kitchener, has been sampled and re-recorded by many singers over the years. Today we post the original version sung by Kitch (provided by Eric St. Clair and Kenny Phillips of WACK Radio 90.1 FM Trinidad/we used the copy provided by Kenny Phillips) along with versions of the song by Lord Invader, Lord Flea, and Harry Belafonte. The song exploded on the scene when Harry Belafonte reworked the song and delivered Shake Senora (Jump in the Line).
Most people associate the song with Harry Belafonte because, as a singer of calypsos, written and originally sung by Trinidadians, he was able to capture the imagination of the American public. His accent and style were palatable to the Americans, unlike the Trinidadians with their'strong' Trinidad accent. Even to this day, it is difficult for most Americans visiting the islands to understand the Trinidad vernacular English.
While we must congratulate Mr. Belafonte for his success and for introducing calypso to the world, it is regrettable that the efforts and talents of Trinidadian artists remain unrealized! This song 'Jump in Line' was written and performed by Lord Kitchener in 1946 and remade by Mr. Belafonte in 1961 with the Shake Senora caption. Now one must also take into consideration that 'Jump in the Line' was also done by Lord Invader in 1955 (Labor Day, Calypso on Folkways label 1955) and by Lord Flea (Swingin' Calypsos Capitol Records 1957); Belafonte did his medley in 1961! Lord Flea was a Jamaican Mento singer who did a cover of the Lord Invader's version. It is interesting to note that in the 1957 version the'shake senora' words are very noticeable. I mention this because most people identify the 'Senora' with the 1961 version released by Harry Belafonte.
It is clear to see and hear that there were many covers of Lord Kitchener's hit song, but he is not credited for his creativity! Most people in North America don't know about Lord Kitchener... If you ask them, they will tell you that it is Belafonte's song! Some people think that the songs are different because of the lyrics and the uptempo style of later versions. However, in this day of copyright infringement, there is no way that these can stand as different songs. The words and music in Belefonte's version have been credited to Stephen Somvel with no mention of Lord Kitchener!
Interestingly, if you go to the website who sampled (www.whosampled.com), you will find the following record trail:
This is very interesting since Lord Kitchener (who has the most wins) has one win credited to his name prior to 1962! Should this be considered and included as a Road March win? The jury is out on that, but for today's post, we simply look back at the year 1946 and the creation of the song Jump in the Line, which became famously known as Shake Senora as it was copied and stylized to suit different times for each generation.
Jump in the Line by Lord Kitchener has taken on a life of its own and has become world-famous having been sampled and ending up on the cinematic screen. Today most singers consider success as making it on the billboard chart and taking the current music style global. However, what they don't realize is that Calypso has already achieved that goal! The first song to sell a million copies was a Calypso! As we commemorate this 1946 Leggo, let's delve into the history of this song.
The songs he had included Jump In The Line, Tie Tongue Mopsy, and Chinese Never Had a VJ Day (aka Lai Fook Lee).
People loved, sang, and paraded Jump in the Line on the streets, singing and dancing with unbridled abandon. Jump In The Line was the Leggo (Break Away) for Carnival 1946. However, it was not until 1948 that the song was actually recorded.
The recording studio was R. G. Jones of Mrrden with numbers HB 302 for side A and HB 303 for side B. The printed label on the record reads "Renico Simmons Presents," with the song on Side A "Jump in the Line" and Side B "Take Me to Trinidad." We have a photo of side B, but that record is difficult to locate.
Jump in the Line, the original version, sung by Lord Kitchener, has been sampled and re-recorded by many singers over the years. Today we post the original version sung by Kitch (provided by Eric St. Clair and Kenny Phillips of WACK Radio 90.1 FM Trinidad/we used the copy provided by Kenny Phillips) along with versions of the song by Lord Invader, Lord Flea, and Harry Belafonte. The song exploded on the scene when Harry Belafonte reworked the song and delivered Shake Senora (Jump in the Line).
Most people associate the song with Harry Belafonte because, as a singer of calypsos, written and originally sung by Trinidadians, he was able to capture the imagination of the American public. His accent and style were palatable to the Americans, unlike the Trinidadians with their'strong' Trinidad accent. Even to this day, it is difficult for most Americans visiting the islands to understand the Trinidad vernacular English.
While we must congratulate Mr. Belafonte for his success and for introducing calypso to the world, it is regrettable that the efforts and talents of Trinidadian artists remain unrealized! This song 'Jump in Line' was written and performed by Lord Kitchener in 1946 and remade by Mr. Belafonte in 1961 with the Shake Senora caption. Now one must also take into consideration that 'Jump in the Line' was also done by Lord Invader in 1955 (Labor Day, Calypso on Folkways label 1955) and by Lord Flea (Swingin' Calypsos Capitol Records 1957); Belafonte did his medley in 1961! Lord Flea was a Jamaican Mento singer who did a cover of the Lord Invader's version. It is interesting to note that in the 1957 version the'shake senora' words are very noticeable. I mention this because most people identify the 'Senora' with the 1961 version released by Harry Belafonte.
It is clear to see and hear that there were many covers of Lord Kitchener's hit song, but he is not credited for his creativity! Most people in North America don't know about Lord Kitchener... If you ask them, they will tell you that it is Belafonte's song! Some people think that the songs are different because of the lyrics and the uptempo style of later versions. However, in this day of copyright infringement, there is no way that these can stand as different songs. The words and music in Belefonte's version have been credited to Stephen Somvel with no mention of Lord Kitchener!
Interestingly, if you go to the website who sampled (www.whosampled.com), you will find the following record trail:
- Lord Flea in 1957 sampled 'Jump in Line' from Lord Invader's 1955 recording
- Harry Belafonte in 1961 sampled Lord Flea's 1957 version of the song
- Pitbull in 2011 sampled Harry Belafonte's 1961 version.
- Jump In The Line—Aldwin Roberts with His Steel Band Chorus Boys 1946 Leggo (Road March Today) recorded in 1948 and released in 1949.
- Jump in the Line: Woody Herman and The New Third Herd, 1952
- Labor Day (Jump In The Line)—Lord Invader and the Trinidad Caribbean Orchestra 1955
- Shake Shake Senora (Jump In The Line) | Lord Flea and His Calypsonians 1956
- Jump In The Line, Joseph Spence, 1959
- Jump In The Line, Harry Belafonte (used the melody from "The Growler's" 1938 song "Calypso Behind the Wall"), 1961
- Shake Senora (Jump In The Line) - Pitbull ft. T-Pain & Sean Paul 2011
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Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Jump in the Line (HB 302/303)
Leggo (Road March) 1946
Recorded 1948/Released 1949
Artist Credit: Aldwin Roberts (Lord Kitchener) and his Steel Band Chorus Boys
Accompanied by: Russell Nurse and his Trinidadian Troubadours
Leggo (Road March) 1946
Recorded 1948/Released 1949
Artist Credit: Aldwin Roberts (Lord Kitchener) and his Steel Band Chorus Boys
Accompanied by: Russell Nurse and his Trinidadian Troubadours
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♫Please press the music player button below to listen now (small triangle in the music player/TV frame).
This YouTube player provides seven (7) versions of the song; listen to all and understand that it was a Calypso and a singer from Arima, Trinidad, who was the creative genius behind the composition.
