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This is the album that made Harry Belafonte's career. Up to this point, calypso had only been a part of Belafonte's focus in his recordings of folk music styles. But with this landmark album, calypso not only became tattooed to Belafonte permanently; it had a revolutionary effect on folk music in the 1950s and '60s. The album consists of songs from Trinidad, mostly written by West Indian songwriter Irving Burgie (aka Lord Burgess). Burgie's two most successful songs are included -- "Day O" and "Jamaica Farewell" (which were both hit singles for Belafonte) -- as are the evocative ballads "I Do Adore Her" and "Come Back Liza" and what could be the first feminist folk song, "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)." Calypso became the first million-selling album by a single artist, spending an incredible 31 weeks at the top of the Billboard album charts, remaining on the charts for 99 weeks. It triggered a veritable tidal wave of imitators, parodists, and artists wishing to capitalize on its success. Years later, it remains a record of inestimable influence, inspiring many folksingers and groups to perform, most notably the Kingston Trio, which was named for the Jamaican capital. For a decade, just about every folksinger and folk group featured in their repertoire at least one song that was of West Indian origin or one that had a calypso beat. They all can be attributed to this one remarkable album. Despite the success of Calypso, Belafonte refused to be typecast. Resisting the impulse to record an immediate follow-up album, Belafonte instead spaced his calypso albums apart, releasing them at five-year intervals in 1961, 1966, and 1971.
© Cary Ginell /TiVo
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Herman Diaz, Jr., Producer - Tony Scott, Performer - William Attaway, Composer - William Attaway, Lyricist - Millard Thomas, Guitar - Harry Belafonte, Performer - Harry Belafonte, Composer - Harry Belafonte, Lyricist - Chick Crumpacker, Producer - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer - Irving Burgie, Composer - Irving Burgie, Lyricist
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Tony Scott, Performer - Ed Welker, Producer - Harry Belafonte, Performer - Chick Crumpacker, Re-Issue Producer - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer - Irving Burgie, Composer - Irving Burgie, Lyricist
(P) 1992 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Burgess, Composer - Burgess, Lyricist - Millard Thomas, Guitar - Tony Scott Orchestra & Chorus, Performer - Harry Belafonte, Performer - Chick Crumpacker, Re-Issue Producer - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer - Irving Burgie, Composer - Irving Burgie, Lyricist - E.O. Welker, Producer
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
William Attaway, Composer - William Attaway, Lyricist - Joe Reisman, Producer - Millard Thomas, Guitar - Tony Scott And His Orchestra, Performer - Harry Belafonte, Composer - Harry Belafonte, Lyricist - Harry Belafonte, Performer - Chick Crumpacker, Producer - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Tony Scott, Performer - Harry Belafonte, Performer - Chick Crumpacker, Re-Issue Producer - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer - Irving Burgie, Composer - Irving Burgie, Lyricist - E.O. Welker, Producer
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Herman Diaz, Jr., Producer - Tony Scott, Performer - William Attaway, Composer - William Attaway, Lyricist - Millard Thomas, Guitar - Harry Belafonte, Vocal - Chick Crumpacker, Re-Issue Producer - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer - Irving Burgie, Composer - Irving Burgie, Lyricist
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Herman Diaz, Jr., Producer - Tony Scott, Performer - William Attaway, Composer - William Attaway, Lyricist - Millard Thomas, Guitar - Harry Belafonte, Performer - Chick Crumpacker, Re-Issue Producer - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer - Irving Burgie, Composer - Irving Burgie, Lyricist
(P) 1992 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Tony Scott, Performer - William Attaway, Composer - William Attaway, Lyricist - Joe Reisman, Producer - Harry Belafonte, Performer - Chick Crumpacker, Re-Issue Producer - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer - Irving Burgie, Composer - Irving Burgie, Lyricist
(P) 1992 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Tony Scott, Performer - William Attaway, Composer - William Attaway, Lyricist - Ed Welker, Producer - Millard Thomas, Guitar - Harry Belafonte, Performer - Chick Crumpacker, Re-Issue Producer - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer - Irving Burgie, Composer - Irving Burgie, Lyricist
(P) 1992 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Tony Scott, Performer - Harry Belafonte, Performer - Chick Crumpacker, Re-Issue Producer - Norman Span, Composer - Norman Span, Lyricist - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer - E.O. Welker, Producer
(P) 1992 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Tony Scott And His Orchestra, Performer - Henri René, Producer - N. Span, Composer - N. Span, Lyricist - Harry Belafonte, Vocal - Chick Crumpacker, Re-Issue Producer - Dick Baxter, Re-Mastering Engineer
(P) 1992 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
This is the album that made Harry Belafonte's career. Up to this point, calypso had only been a part of Belafonte's focus in his recordings of folk music styles. But with this landmark album, calypso not only became tattooed to Belafonte permanently; it had a revolutionary effect on folk music in the 1950s and '60s. The album consists of songs from Trinidad, mostly written by West Indian songwriter Irving Burgie (aka Lord Burgess). Burgie's two most successful songs are included -- "Day O" and "Jamaica Farewell" (which were both hit singles for Belafonte) -- as are the evocative ballads "I Do Adore Her" and "Come Back Liza" and what could be the first feminist folk song, "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)." Calypso became the first million-selling album by a single artist, spending an incredible 31 weeks at the top of the Billboard album charts, remaining on the charts for 99 weeks. It triggered a veritable tidal wave of imitators, parodists, and artists wishing to capitalize on its success. Years later, it remains a record of inestimable influence, inspiring many folksingers and groups to perform, most notably the Kingston Trio, which was named for the Jamaican capital. For a decade, just about every folksinger and folk group featured in their repertoire at least one song that was of West Indian origin or one that had a calypso beat. They all can be attributed to this one remarkable album. Despite the success of Calypso, Belafonte refused to be typecast. Resisting the impulse to record an immediate follow-up album, Belafonte instead spaced his calypso albums apart, releasing them at five-year intervals in 1961, 1966, and 1971.
© Cary Ginell /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:32:06
- Main artists: Harry Belafonte
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: RCA Records Label
- Genre: Pop/Rock International Pop
(P) 1956 Sony Music Entertainment
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