George Symonette - Goombay Rhythms - Songs and Rhythms of Nassau (2020)

George Symonette is a jaunty, spirited singer, a fine songwriter, and a splendid pianist. Born in 1912 or 1913, Symonette recorded a number of sides for the Harold E. Doane-owned Art and Bahama Records labels from 1955 to 1961. Goombay Rhythms: Songs and Rhythms of Nassau, credited to George Symonette and His Goombay Sextette, was originally released on Bahama in 1956 (BLP-18). This neglected treasure (by a neglected and worthy artist) has been digitally restored from clean vinyl (with three bonus tracks from George Symonette in Stereo [BR-34]). If you're a fan of midcentury calypso—"goombay" is a derivation indigenous to the Bahamas—all Symonette recordings are worth hearing.

From the 1956 LP liner notes:

Presented herein are a collection of most enjoyable and listenable songs, stories and exciting rhythms of the Bahamas. Most are folk songs brought over to the west Indies by African ancestors richly endowed with a natural heritage for song and musical story. Some are comparatively new. A few are songs especially written for this collection. These are the songs of simple folk; of primary pleasures; of love unrequited, flirtatious or unfaithful; songs of good times, bad times, and ballads both legendary and factual. All have a frank and earthy humor that will bring a smile to your face and a tap to your toes. We give you a pleasant sojourn in never-to-be-forgotten Nassau.

George Symonette, Nassau's King of Night Club Entertainers, is an academically trained musician. A soft-spoken gentleman towering 6-1/2 feet. His is the earthy approach, the sly raconteur, tongue-in-cheek, lifted eyebrow, balladeer. Wherever George entertains one will always find his legions of listeners coming back again and again, year after year, to hear and see him sing his songs of the Bahamas.

Berkley "Peanuts" Taylor — a talented youngster is featured on percussion and performs a marvelous solo on the selection aptly titled "Peanuts Plays the Drum."

[Note: The album alternately spells his name "Berkley" and "Berkeley." However, Taylor released a solo album (available here) in which his name is consistently spelled "Berkley."]

Tracklisting:
1.01 - George Symonette - Hold Him Joe (2:03)
1.02 - George Symonette - Gin and Cocoanut Water (2:24)
1.03 - George Symonette - The Crow (2:27)
1.04 - George Symonette - Push Push (3:26)
1.05 - George Symonette - Peanuts Plays the Drum (2:01)
1.06 - George Symonette - Doctor (2:19)
1.07 - George Symonette - Freckles (2:17)
1.08 - George Symonette - Brown Skin Gal (2:15)
1.09 - George Symonette - Come Here Liza, Let Me Tell You Something (2:19)
1.10 - George Symonette - Wanna Do Nothing All Day (2:42)
1.11 - George Symonette - Fishing (2:36)
1.12 - George Symonette - Can't Get No Sweetness out of Me (2:23)
1.13 - George Symonette - Never Interfere with Man and Wife (Bonus Track) (2:27)
1.14 - George Symonette - Princess Margaret Jones (Bonus Track) (2:04)
1.15 - George Symonette - Mamma Loves Tea (Bonus Track) (2:41)