Jumbie Jamberee

Jumbie Jamberee is a calypso song credited to Conrad Eugene Mauge Jr.^[1] In 1953 Lord Intruder released the song as the B-side to Disaster With Police.^[2] The song is also known as Zombie Jamboree and Back to Back. In the introduction to the Kingston Trio's version "Lord Invader and his Twelve Penetrators" are credited with the song instead of Lord Intruder.

Notable cover versions

• Jamaican mento singer Lord Foodoos recorded Back to Back for his 1957 Elektra album Calypso, an early production by Jac Holzman, who later produced The Doors, Nico and The Stooges among others.
• Jamaican mento group The Wrigglers recorded Back to Back for their 1958 album At The Arawak featuring Ernest Ranglin on guitar.
• The Kingston Trio recorded Zombie Jamboree on their ...from the Hungry i album in 1959.
• The a cappella group Rockapella has performed with numerous versions of this song.
• Harry Belafonte recorded five versions of the song (in 1962, 1964, 1966, 1972 and 1974). It first appeared on Belafonte's The Many Moods of Belafonte and later became one of his signature songs.
• Harry Nilsson recorded a version of the song on his 1976 album …That's the Way It Is.^[3]
• The Jolly Boys recorded Back to Back (Belly to Belly) on their Pop 'n' mento album in 1989.^[4]

Note: Peter Tosh recorded a different song called Jumbee Jamboree with The Wailers in 1965. It was later included on the 1996 compilation The Toughest.^[5]

References