IRON BAR
Latest update on 02/05/2010Artist: Tony Johnson & The Carribean Serenaders
Author: traditional
Label: Melodisc
Year: 1951
Jamaican folk standard, first published in 1944.
Covers:
- 1951:
- 1952:
Blind Blake [as At The Iron Bar]
- 1953:
Lord Fly [with Dan Williams Orchestra]
- 1956:
Harry Belafonte [as Jamaica Farewell with new words by Irving Burgie; on his first millionselling calypso album]
- 1958:
Sir Lancelot [idem]
- 1963:
Lord Tanamo [backing vocals: the young Maytals]
- 1963:
Hank Snow [idem]
- 1963:
Brothers Four [idem]
- 1965:
Patti Page [idem]
- 1976:
- 1981:
Arlo Guthrie [idem]
- 1996:
Irving Burgie [author, idem]
Belafonte's first contact with Irving Burgie's songs (Day-O, Jamaica Farewell) changed his musical course completely. Plans to come up with a John Henry program for the Ed Sullivan Show were abandoned on the spot. Later Belafonte hits like Island In The Sun, Angelina and Coconut Woman also carry a Irving Burgie signature (Lord Burgess). Jamaica Farewell's originality was questioned in court, but the judgement equaled both Iron Bar and Jamaica Farewell for copying the same traditional Jamaican melody.
