Being a hotbed of international travel, of course Panama's music is as diverse as its population. Throughout the '60s and '70s, it wasn't uncommon to hear intricate mixtures of calypso, jazz and cumbia throughout the isthmus.
It would have been easy for the music of this time and place to become lost, but a new compilation from Soundway Records, Panama! 3, gives these tracks some long-awaited international exposure. Panama! 3 unearths numerous gems and rarities, but the entire release is dedicated to one man: Lord Cobra.
Cobra, who died in 2000, was a Panamanian bartender-turned-singer, and his work has appeared on the past two compilations in the Panama! series. In "Colón Colón," from 1971's Tamayo, we find Cobra taking a dark approach to calypso, complete with minor guitars and mournful backup singers. But his words expose the song as a proud display of territorial egoism. Cobra doesn't hesitate to sing the praises of his hometown, proclaiming, "If you really want to have some fun, just come to Colón." It took nearly 40 years for the message to arrive, but better late than never.
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