Antillana was one of the leading calypso labels of the early 1970s. The label ran from about 1968 to 1976 releasing about 130 singles and 20 LPs.
The label seemed to pick up where Telco label left off, with many calypsonians recording for both labels.
The focus was on vocal recordings by local (Trinidadian) calypsonians, though there were some instrumental and steel band sides as well as a few recordings by artists from other islands. The vast majority of the calypso sides were backed by Ed Watson & the Brass Circle and/or arranged by Art DeCoteau.
The singles did not contain production credits. Ashton G. Laukam was listed as producer on one of the albums, so he may have been the owner of the label, but we are seeking further information on this. The label's address was:
Antillana Sales Company
90 Frederick Street
Port of Spain
Trinidad
Barbados and Trinidad pressings exist of many of the records.
Some of the later releases were issued in the USA. Some were just US pressings (distributed by E. Harris Ent. Wimpex Inc.) but others were issued on the Charlie's Records imprint.
The label featured early (the first?) recordings by future Calypso Monarchs Shadow, Tobago Crusoe (then known as Crusoe Kid), the Mystic Prowler (then known as the Mighty Prowler) and Gypsy.
Another important release on the label was Dianne Thomas's (Singing Dianne) Pan on the Move b/w Pan on the Run. These tracks, written by Ray Holman with lyrics by Alvin Daniel, were the first original compositions to be entered in Trinidad's National Panorama competition.
The biggest hits on the label were Lord Funny's "Soul Chick", Baron's "Severe Licking" b/w "Too Late" (both written by Lord Shorty), Gypsy's "For Cane" and Calypso Rose's "Do Dem Back".
Esquires Now's version of "Think", written by Lyn Collins and James Brown, has proved popular amongst funk collectors and was recently "reissued" - or perhaps bootlegged - as A45-1001.
| Catalogue Number | Artist | Title | Format | Year | Date on Record |
|
901 |
All Rounder |
Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King/Jalousie |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
902 |
Dave La Barrie & Nutrine Playboys Steel Band |
For A Few Dollars More/Can Can |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
903 |
Power |
Don't Lend She/Her Excellency |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
904 |
The Firesticks |
Tiena Tiena/Jamaica Woman |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
905 |
Rod Borde and the Imperials |
White Rose/Jane |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
906 |
Bonaparte Brothers |
Soul Limbo/The Horse |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
907 |
Lord Lester |
Fat Woman/Lillian Sweetbread |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
908 |
Ed Watson |
Emerald Eyes/Pallet |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
909 |
Mighty Bomber |
Magician/River of Joy |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
910 |
Lord Breaker/Lord Bingo |
Rebecca/Pointe Michael Girls |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
911 |
Duke |
Young Fig Tree/Make Love Not War |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
912 |
The Firesticks |
Gang Gang/Sweet Trinidad |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
913 |
The Firesticks |
Louisa/Down Where the West Indian Crows |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
914 |
All Rounder |
Guardian de Champion/The Underground World |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
915 |
All Rounder |
Trinidad Carnival/Joyce Taxi |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
917 |
Funny |
Farmer Brown/Picker Patch |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
918 |
Mighty Bomber |
Education Plan/Carnival Greetings |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
919 |
Chalkdust |
The Letter/Reply to the Ministry |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
920 |
Forsyth Highlanders |
Mas in Brooklyn/Cupid |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
921 |
The Mascots |
Saxaphone/Massa's In the Cold Ground |
7" |
1969 |
1969 |
|
922 |
Ed Watson and His Brass Circle |
Sa Sa Ay/Mas In Brooklyn |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
923 |
Shorty |
Fat Pants Fathers/Tales of the Bull Pistles |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
924 |
Ed Watson and His Brass Circle |
The Bull/The Lizard |
7" |
1969 |
|
|
925 |
Mighty Prowler |
Stop The Dollar Drain/Cuff |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
929 |
Marcela Quintero |
Hablame/Pide |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
930 |
Marcela Quintero |
Yo Sin Ti/Te Amare Toda La Vida |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
931 |
Tommy Guichard |
You've Got My Love/In the Valley of Love |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
932 |
Tobago Crusoe |
Tan Tan/Heart Transplant |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
933 |
Pretender |
Move Yuh Foot Leh Me Pass/Chalkdust Issue |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
934 |
The Mascots |
Scratch Me Back/Shanty Town |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
935 |
The Mascots |
Salt-Fish/Ole Man River |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
936 |
Funny |
Suppose It Happen in True/Vicey |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
937 |
Funny |
Just Imagine/Girl Days |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
938 |
Singing Francine |
When You Get To Phoenix/Bogus Contractors |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
939 |
King Fighter |
Pluck Chicken/Scrive Me |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
942 |
Old Oak Casablanca |
Hallelujah Chorus/Sleigh Ride |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
943 |
Calypso Rose |
Rosie You Making Ah Baby/Engagement Ring |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
945 |
Lord Companero |
Blow Yuh Nose/Flower Bag Scandal |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
946 |
Shorty |
Don't Chook Your Mouth/Ah Believe She |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
947 |
Mighty Prowler |
Steelband Classic/J'Ouvert Morning |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
948 |
Lord Blakie |
Simple Calypso/Trinidad Carnival |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
949 |
Lord Blakie |
True Principle/Thanks to the Police |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
950 |
Forsyth Highlanders |
Engagement Ring/Simple Calypso |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
951 |
Mighty Cypher |
Trinidad Transplant/Jockey Hinds |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
952 |
Funny |
Sock It to Me/Check Up |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
954 |
Brigo |
Horror Names/I Will Never Love |
7" |
1970 |
|
|
955 |
Mighty Cypher |
Black Power/Age is Honour |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
956 |
Mighty Cypher/Mighty Saga |
Chyper Going Hippie/Local Education |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
957 |
Lord Blakie |
Mah Mamma Say/Message to Granger |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
958 |
Superior |
All African/Respect Calypsonian |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
959 |
Superior |
We Shall Overcome/Message to Steelband |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
960 |
Shorty |
Consuela/Cat Kissing |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
961 |
Shorty |
Cover/Wo Be on to Man |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
962 |
Baron |
Severe Licking/Too Late |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
963 |
Shadow |
The Threat/Modern Housewives |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
964 |
Funny |
Cats in Town/The Nightmare |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
965 |
Singing Francine |
Woman's Pride/Female Jockeys |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
966 |
Lord Christo |
China Man/Yankee Man |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
967 |
Black Stalin |
What Consciousness/Freedom Day |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
968 |
Valentino |
No Revolution/Birth Control |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
969 |
Silver Stars Steel Orchestra |
Meh Mama Say/Queen of the Bands |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
970 |
King Fighter |
Tee Lee Lee/Rubbing Up |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
971 |
Lancelot Layne |
Afro'dadian/Blow'way |
7" |
1971 |
|
|
972 |
Olympia Thunderbirds |
Theme From Love Story/Fire Eater |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
973 |
Shadow |
Jane/Visit to Mars |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
974 |
Shadow |
Country Girl/Sweet Music |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
975 |
Superior |
Be a Pan Man/No Celibacy |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
976 |
Funny |
Food is Food/Bacchanal in Hell |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
977 |
Singing Francine |
Carnival Fever/Happiness |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
978 |
Mighty Cypher |
Calypsonians in Politics/Don't Go Doctor |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
979 |
Mighty Bomber |
Ways of Life/Cricket Series |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
980 |
Gypsy |
For - Cane/PP vs PP |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
981 |
Brigo |
Stammering Mopsy/Don't Bad Talk Trinidad |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
982 |
Superior |
[not known] |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
983 |
Singing Francine |
Carnival Fever/Happiness |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
984 |
Mighty Dougla |
Women Say/Typical Trindadian |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
985 |
Gypsy |
Play Mas/Succker |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
988 |
Superior |
How to Judge/Play It |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
989 |
Superior |
The Iron Lover/Yankee Adalphus |
7" |
1972 |
|
|
990 |
Mighty Cypher |
Who is Who/Pele Balls |
7" |
1973 |
|
|
991 |
Saga |
School Children/Family Planning |
7" |
1973 |
|
|
992 |
Brigo |
Barnabas/Careless Mother |
7" |
1973 |
|
|
993 |
Funny |
Soul Chick/Florie |
7" |
1973 |
1973 |
|
994 |
Calypso Princess |
The Winning Winer/Princess Training |
7" |
1973 |
|
|
995 |
Lord Blakie |
Jannet/Stop Capital Punishment |
7" |
1973 |
|
| 997 | Funny | Ding Ah Ling/Funny Neighbour |
7" |
1973 |
1973 |
|
998 |
Trinidad Rio |
Raper Man/Legalize Marijuana |
7" |
1973 |
|
|
ANT-999 |
Singing Diane |
Pan on the Run/Pan on the Move |
7" |
1973 |
1973 |
|
Ant 1000 |
Popularites Brass Band |
Soul Chick/Rainorama |
7" |
1973 |
1973 |
|
A-1005 |
Superior |
San Fernando Carnival/Long Live Calypso |
7" |
1973 |
1973 |
|
ANT 1006 |
Trinidad Rio |
Born to Sing Calypso/Contraceptive |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1007 |
Funny |
Take Dat/Meh Granny |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1008 |
Singing Diane |
Carifta Queen Competition/Sponsorama |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1009 |
Brigo |
Leh Me Go/Life of a Trinidadian |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1010 |
Mighty Bomber |
Crime Wave/Sex Education |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1011 |
Mighty Saga |
Monica/Warning to Youngsters |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
ANT. 1012 |
Funny |
Rubbish/Bowling Alley |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1013 |
King Striker |
Obeah Woman/Birth Control |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
ANT1014 |
Esquires Now |
Take Dat/Bassman |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1015 |
Clarence Curvan |
I Come Out to Play/Priest |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
ANT-1015 |
Versatile |
Being in Love/Tell Me |
7" |
1974 |
|
|
ANT-1016 |
Peter Regis/Mano Marcellin |
Letter From Miami/Bobine |
7" |
1974 |
|
|
ANT-1017 |
Sir Isaac Lindsay |
Aladoyea/Doephea Elea |
7" |
1974 |
|
|
A 1018 |
Superior |
Compose Your Own Song/Is Mass |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
A 1019 |
Superior |
Mr. Gorilla/Trinidad Carnival |
7" |
1974 |
1974 |
|
A 1020 |
Singing Diane |
People to Remember/Leh Me Go |
7" |
1975 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1021 |
Calypso Rose |
Constable Rose/Lottery Vendors |
7" |
1975 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1022 |
Calypso Rose |
Do Dem Back/Mr. Frenchies |
7" |
1975 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1023 |
Mighty Ringo |
Dirty Businessmen/Yuh See Monica |
7" |
1975 |
1974 |
|
ANT 1024 |
Funny |
Bam/Unlucky Guy |
7" |
1975 |
1975 |
|
1025 |
McEnearney Mano Marcellin |
Do Dem Back/Leh Me Go |
7" |
1975 |
|
|
A 1028 |
Singing Diane |
Lix in 76/Mr. Pan Man |
7" |
1976 |
1976 |
|
ANT 1029 |
Mighty Cypher |
Cock Fight/World Cup |
7" |
1976 |
1976 |
|
ANT 1030 |
The Young Traveller |
Chuck Lack A Chuck Lack/Problems |
7" |
1976 |
1976 |
|
A45-1001 |
Esquires/Malcolm's Locks |
Think/Get Up Stand Up |
7" |
2006 |
| Catalogue Number | Artist | Title | Format | Year | Date on Record |
|
900 |
Amril's Gay Flamingoes |
Carnival in Trinidad |
LP |
1968 |
|
|
2000 |
Gay Flamingoes |
|
LP |
1969 |
|
|
3000 |
Solo Harmonites Steel Orchestra |
|
LP |
1969 |
|
|
4000 |
The Gaylords of Dominica |
To Dominica with Love |
LP |
1969 |
|
|
ALP-5000 |
Old Oak Casablanca |
After All These Years |
LP |
1969 |
|
|
6000 |
De Boys and Dem |
LP |
1969 |
||
|
7000 |
The Gaylords |
Karibyan Explosion |
LP |
1970 |
|
|
9000 |
Gay Flamingoes |
|
LP |
1970 |
|
|
LPS 1000 |
Ed Watson and His Brass Circle |
Dancing at Your Own Risk |
LP |
1971 |
1971 |
|
LPS 1001 |
Composer |
Trindad Land of Calypso |
LP |
1971 |
|
|
1003 |
Coca Cola Silver Stars Steel Orchestra |
|
LP |
1971 |
|
|
ALPS 1004 |
Ed Watson and His Brass Circle |
Brass in Rage |
LP |
1972 |
|
|
ALPS 1006 |
Lever Brothers Gay Flamingoes |
LP |
1971 |
||
|
ALPS 1008 |
Lever Brothers Gay Flamingoes |
Secrets of the Pan |
LP |
1972 |
|
|
ALPS 1009 |
Esquires Now |
Born To Win |
LP |
1973 |
|
|
ALPS 1010 |
Los Amigos De Lopinot, Trinidad. Las Antillas |
From Lopinot With Love |
LP |
1973 |
|
|
ALPS 1011 |
Lever Brothers Gay Flamingoes |
Let's Hear It for Today |
LP |
1974 |
|
|
ALPS 1011 |
Earl Rodney |
Friends & Countrymen |
LP |
1973 |
|
|
ALPS 1012 |
Mano Marcellin | For Lovers Only | LP |
1974 |
|
|
ALPS 1014 |
Funny |
Have Fun With Funny |
LP |
1975 |
|
|
ALPS 1015 |
Starlift Steel Orchestra |
Starlift Steel Orchestra 75 |
LP |
1975 |
|
|
ALPS 1017 |
Solo Harmonites |
A Toast to Steel |
LP |
1975 |
|
| ALPS 1018 |
Starlift Steel Orchestra |
Vol 2 | LP |
1976 |