Guanábana: In Focus ~ The Merrymen
03.16.25
Guanábana highlights the sounds of islands across the Caribbean, Polynesia, and beyond — covering music from regions between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Island hop with Madeleine Sturma and Hatt Merlino as they showcase genres like bachata, zouk, mele, morna, and more.
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For this episode, we decided it was time to sail over to the beautiful, beautiful island of Barbados for a deep dive into the Bajan band, The Merrymen. This special episode takes a closer look at The Merrymen’s five-decade career, from their early days in the 1960s to the 2000s, highlighting the early projects of bandleader Emile Straker, tracks from the group’s formative years, and records released on their label, Merrydisc, or recorded at their own R.E.C. Studios.
Tracklist:
The Merrymen songs:
Something’s Gone Wrong
Archie
Silver Earring
Island Woman
It’s All Over
You’ll Always Be A Friend
Sitting in Limbo
Land so Dear
Take Your Hand Away
You Sweeten Me
Will You Break My Heart Again
Mangoes
Sweet Marie
Bang Bang Lulu
For Loving Me
(Sweet Sweet) Bom Bom
The Hands I Love
Legend of Sam Lord
Yellowbird
Tracks from early Merrymen projects, their recording studio and record label – Merrydisc Records.
Merrymen early projects, Merrydisc Records or REC Studios:
Arthur Lyman – Yellowbird
The Fabulous Calypso Bandits – Calypso Girl
Emile Straker & The Pete Jones Combo – Sweetheart Twist
Merriboys – Wonderful Feeling
The Brothers of Barbados – 9th Avenue (Put On Your Wings And Fly)
The Revelations (of Barbados) – Set Me Free
Ronald ‘Kitten’ Watson & Atlantic Combo – Let’s Get Together
Generation Bridge & Young Cassius Clay – Snowcone
Checkmates – Cream Puff
The Seranaders – If I Could See You Just One Time
Gabby – Bridgetown
Ronald ‘Kitten’ Watson & Atlantic Combo – You Think It Easy
The Troubadours – Gimme Some More
Lawrence Baptiste – Please Come Back To Me
El Verno del Congo – Message to Keibu
Blue Rhythm Combo – Romance
Blue Rhythm Combo – Take The Funky Feeling
Harmony – All By Myself
Brothers – How Do You Say Goodbye
