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nahmen den Backing-Track auf. Zu den Musikern zählten Na-
men wie Clive Bradley undMichael ’Toby’ Tobas. Dorrilveröffent-
lichte die Platte auf seinem eigenen ’Hector’-Label. Im August
1977gingerzurückinsStudioundnahmdassozialkritischeLied
Destruction auf, eine gefühlvolle Reggae-Nummer. Die Instru-
mentalspuren wurde von Colin Lucas und seiner soeben gegrün-
detenBandSoundRevolutioneingespielt.NachEndedesKarne-
vals im darauffolgenden Jahr wurde der Song zu einem großen
Hit in Trinidad und der gesamten Karibik und schließlich zu Dor-
rilsErkennungszeichen.NachwievornimmtDorrileigenesMate-
rial auf und tritt bis zumheutigen Tage live auf. Ausserdem ist er
ein aktives Mitglied der T.U.C.O. (der Trinbago Unified Calypsoni-
ans Organisation). — 7’’ Single (45 RPM) in picture sleeve. 2
tracks. Total playing time 7mns.VERSATILE ‘’Wicked and wild –
many moods, many styles.’’• Re-issue oft wo twomasters from
the Caribbean, recorded in the late 1970s.•Calypso, Soul,Funk
(‘’Soca’’), Reggae and African influences from Trinidad & Toba-
go.•Destruction,asocio-criticalsong,becameVersaltile’ssigna-
ture song.• Newly re-mastered by Frank Merritt at the Carvery,
UK; comes with exclusive picture sleeve.Born in Matura Village,
Trinidad in 1949, Doran Dorril Hector aka ‘’Versatile’’ began his
career as a guitarist in a quartet singing group called the
‘’Orchids’’ in 1965. He first began writing and performing Calyp-
so in1967fortheNorthEastCompetition inSangreGrandewhe-
reheemerged1strunneruptotheMightyPoser.Hefurtherwent
ontobejudgedthebestsingingteenattheTeenTalentCompetiti-
on held at Scarlet Ibis Hotel in 1968 performing Otis Redding’s
‘’Dreams To Remember’’. The prize was a recording session at
TelcoRecordsand itwasatthiscompanythatDorrilreleasedhis
firstrecord ‘’DanceWithMe’’.Inthe latesixtieshealsobegantra-
velling as a lead singer with EdWatson and the Brass Circle, visi-
tingtheentireEnglish-speakingCaribbean.HealsowenttoNew
York, Miami,The U.S. Virgin Islands
andGuadeloupe.In1970 he
decided to get into the Calypso genre and changed his artist
name to ‘’Versatile’’. Before getting on the front stage he began
doingbackgroundvocalsforseveralcalypsonians intheCalypso
tents during Carnival season. He also began to work as a bac-
kground vocalist at Max Serrao’s Caribbean Sound Studios, K.H.
studios and Semp studios.After saving some money from wor-
king in the entertainment business, Dorril decided to do a self-fi-
nanced recording in 1974 and recorded ‘’Country Boy Come To
Town’’ at K.H. studios in Sea Lots, Port of Spain, a calypso-pop
crossover song. The song was a minor success in
Trinidad.In1975 he went into a partnership with K.H. studios to record his
nextsingle ‘’Let ItOut’’.The songwasamixtureofCalypso,Funk
and African influences and served as a good example for the
newly evolving musical artform called ‘’Soca’’. However, Dorril
was still unable to write down his music and arrangements for
thestudiomusicians.EllisChowLinOn(thenmanageratK.H.stu-
dios) introduced Dorril to PelhamGoddard who had just formed
his band ‘’Roots’’. Pellham Goddard wrote down the arrange-
ments and Roots recorded the backing track. Among the
musicians were names like Clive Bradley and Michael ‘’Toby’’
Tobas.Dorrilreleasedtherecordonhisown ‘’Hector’’label.Back
in the studio in August 1977 he recorded the socio-critical song
‘’Destruction’’, a soulful reggae tune. The backing track was
recorded by Colin Lucas and his newly-formed band ‘’Sound
Revolution’’.AfterCarnivalthefollowingyearthesongbecamea
big hit in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean and finally Dorril’s
signature song. Dorril kept recording his own material and is
performing live to this day. He is also an active member of
T.U.C.O. (the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation).
S I N G L E S - S O U L
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