Josephine Premice - Calypso 2

enamorao

Review by Jose Rodriguez

Calypso 2 by Josephine Premice: A Forgotten Gem That Still Grooves Let’s get one thing straight—1957 was a wild year for music. Elvis was shaking hips, jazz clubs were smoky and alive, and somewhere in France, Josephine Premice dropped Calypso 2, an album that feels like sunshine bottled up in vinyl form. It’s folk, world, and country rolled into Calypso gold, with just enough sass to keep your feet tapping long after the needle lifts. First off, can we talk about how this record looks? The design concept by Gérard Jourdan is sharp as hell, and those photos by Herman Leonard? Pure class. You know when you flip through old records at a flea market and some covers stop you cold? This is one of those. And then there’s Barney Kessel on conductor duties—he doesn’t mess around. His touch gives these tracks a smoothness that sticks to your soul. Now, let me tell ya about two tracks that’ll stay glued in your head. First up, “Chicken Gumbo.” Oh man, this tune hits different. It’s playful but not try-hard, like someone whispering secrets over dinner while the band cooks up magic in the background. The rhythm has this sway—you don’t dance so much as sway uncontrollably, arms flailing, laughing because who cares if anyone’s watching? It’s impossible not to feel happy listening to it. Like, I swear my mood shifts instantly every time it comes on shuffle. Then there's “No, No, Joe.” This track sneaks up on you. At first, it seems simple—a lil’ back-and-forth kinda vibe—but once you really listen, the lyrics hit hard. There’s something raw about it, almost like she’s talking directly to you. Maybe it’s the delivery or maybe it’s just Josephine herself; either way, this song makes you sit up straighter, ears perked. By the end, you’re nodding along like yeah, girl, I hear you. The whole album is French-Calypso fusion done right, which honestly shouldn’t work as well as it does. But here we are, sixty-plus years later, still vibin’. Listening to Calypso 2 feels like finding an old postcard from a place you’ve never been but suddenly ache to visit. Here’s the kicker though: If Josephine Premice were alive today, would TikTok even know what to do with her? Probably not. And that’s okay. Some things are better left untouched, spinning quietly in their own little corner of history. So grab a glass of wine (or rum, no judgment), drop the needle, and let yourself drift away. Trust me—it’s worth it.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: josephine-premice-calypso-2.zip
  • MP3 size: 24 mb
  • FLAC size: 135.6 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Rockombey
The Man I Love
Chicken Gumbo
No, No, Joe

Video

Josephine Premice - The Man I Love

Images

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Catalog Numbers

70 097

Labels

Barclay

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Formats

  • Vinyl
  • 7"
  • 45 RPM
  • EP

Companies

RoleCompany
Printed ByImprimerie GLORY

Credits

RoleCredit
ConductorBarney Kessel
Design ConceptGérard Jourdan
Photography ByHerman Leonard

Notes

Second EP of a serie of three (70 096 and 70 098).

Barcodes

  • Rights Society: B.I.E.M.
  • Other: D.R.
  • Price Code: Médium
  • Price Code: Ⓜ

About Josephine Premice

American actress and singer (b. 21 July 1926, New York City - d. 13 April 2001, New York City). Born in New York. All family emigrated to Haiti when she was very young. She became a star when she had been proposed by Katherine Dunham to act in the "Blue Holiday" show in Broadway. On september 1949, she went to tour in Europe and had huge success. Speaking English and french was a great opportunity. She was known as the Calypso music in person.

Real Name

    • Josephine Mary Premice

Name Vars

  • Premice

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: Josephine Premice’s album *Calypso 2* isn’t just music—it’s a vibe. Released in 1957 in France, it blends Calypso with worldly flair. The legendary guitarist Barney Kessel added his touch as the conductor. And get this—those iconic album photos? They were shot by Herman Leonard, the guy who defined jazz photography. Tracks like “Chicken Gumbo” and “The Man I Love” make it feel like a little party frozen in time. Definitely worth a listen!

Comments

ccnahome
ccnahome
2025-03-16
How wonderful of you to feature Josephine Premice. Today, July 21st 2016 is the 90th anniversary of her birth.