Van Dyke Parks Presents the Esso Trinidad Steel Ba

Produced by Van Dyke Parks, the Esso Trinidad Steel Band's self-titled LP is a wonderfully funky collection of calypso-inspired renditions of pop hits like the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" and Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia," with a fine version of Mighty Sparrow's "Erasmus B. Black" tossed in as well. The sheer magnitude and intricacy of the steel drumming is astounding. The two-dozen percussionists are like cogs in a colossal machine, each working in perfect harmony with the others and all of them essential to the outcome. Parks' live, sun-kissed production contributes mightily to the overall party vibe. This music is the tropical fantasia of the collective unconscious, and with tracks like the blistering "Sabre Dance," which simply has to be heard to be believed, it moves like a jagged, bouncing dream. Originally released on LP as Esso in 1971, the album drew enough attention to allow the band to embark on an American tour that same year, which Parks and Bud Smith filmed and edited into a concise and fun documentary on this joyous band. This package includes both the album and the documentary in a single two-disc package Jason Ankeny & Steve Leggett.