Dial

Dial Records was an American jazz label best known for its bebop releases in the late 40s. During the 1953 carnival season, the label’s owner Ross Russell visited Trinidad and met Aubrey Christopher, who had been cutting records on his own “Christo” label (and would later release many recordings his “Kay” label beginning in the mid 50s).

Christopher and Russell recorded several calypsonians, steelbands, and shango drummers that carnival season at Christopher’s studio on 7 Nelson Street, Port of Spain, and with Russell issued these recordings on a series of 10-inch LPs (the first LPs to be recorded in Trinidad) on the Dial label, along with several 78s on the “Calypso” label.

These recordings have been extensively researched and documented by Don Hill—see “The 1953 Dial Records of Carnival Music in Trinidad.”

8 records.

Label Artists Title Year Format
Dial 401
 Small Island Pride, Mighty Panther, Calypso Kings, … Cavalcade of Calypso 1953 10"
Dial 402
 L’Orchestre Select, L’Orchestre Creole Folklorique Dance Music of Martinique c. 1953 10"
Dial 403
 Various, Popo Arindell Shango 1953 10"
Dial 404
 Johannesburg Fascinators, Funland Steel Band, Frank Francis, … Carnival in Trinidad 1953 10"
Dial 405
 Mighty Panther, Mighty Terror, Mighty Zebra, … Cavalcade of Calypso Vol. 2 1953 10"
Dial 406
 Johannesburg Fascinators, Funland Steel Band, Queen’s Park Concert Orchestra, … Steel Drum Music 1953 10"
Dial 407
 Various Folk Music of Curacao c. 1953 10"
Dial 408
 Various Cafe Music of Curacao c. 1953 10"