Calypso

Harry Belafonte

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 28, 1992)
• Original Release Date: 1956
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000002WF8
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,284 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #2 in	Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > Calypso
  #28 in	Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Classic Vocalists

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
When Harry Belafonte released Calypso, with its memorable songs "Day-O", "I Do Adore Her", and "Jamaica Farewell" sung in his personable, warm voice, it quickly became a bestseller. Like any good folk music, the songs are accessible, yet they also bear the exotic lure of the Caribbean. From the songs of hard work, such as "Day-O" and "Hosanna," to the sly good humor of "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)" and "The Jackass Song," Belafonte's voice helped bring the richness of Caribbean culture to the North American consciousness. While a couple of the songs here are featured in arrangements that may sound a bit corny to modern ears, most sound delightfully fresh and have definitely stood the test of time. --Jeff Grubb

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic, May 1, 2000

By	Catherine Page "scarlette" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ever get asked that question about what 5 CDs would you bring with you if you just happened to be stranded on a desert island? Calypso would certainly be on my list, and not just because the sound would go with my new living enviroment, but because the songs are timeless, catchy, soft and soothing, and I never get tired of them.

I first discovered Calypso when I was 13, and I gained a sudden fasination with my parents extensive vinyl collection. One warm summer night while they were out, I put on Calypso and began to dance around the house to the happy and wistful tunes. Very, very rarely do I listen to an album all the way through, and even more rarely do I enjoy every single song on an album. Calypso, along with Sarah M's "Fumbling Towards XTC" are the only albums I can listen to all the way through and never want to hit the fast track forward button on my CD player. I am endlessly glad to have gotten myself the CD version, and I'm sure it would be a salvation to me on that desert island. The tranquil "Jamacian Farewell" and "How I do adore her" for those quiet and homesick moments, "Day-O" or it's sequal song, "Star-O," for singing along to playfully when the days starts of it ends, and many other songs to dance to. "Man Smart" and "Will His Love Be Like His Rum" will make you laugh and want to sing and dance. "Dolly Dawn" and "Hosanna" are terrific, but my favorite is the lyrical and poignant "Brown Skin Girl."

Belafonte's voice is smooth, sweet and dark as molasses, and the songs are all wonderful for any age. This is one of the best CDs ever cut, and I sincerely recommend it to any one of any age. On my desert island, the palm trees will be swaying right along with me as I enjoy this awesome CD.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True quality will always win out over marketing hype, May 9, 2001

By	"poyzin" (Fenton, MO USA) - See all my reviews

I have an 11 year old daughter and an 8 year old daughter. When I first played Calypso for them they gave me the usual grief but soon I heard them starting to sing along. They now know ALL the words to ALL the songs. My oldest is wanting the $50 three CD collection for her birthday. Sure beats Back Street Boys, Vitamin C and bad rap.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Belafonte, February 17, 2000

By	Leonard M. Feder (USA) - See all my reviews

When I think of Belafonte I don't think of a greatest hits album, I think of Calypso. It was a monster hit album when it was new. It has Day-O (which for some reason is played at Yankee Stadium apropos of nothing) and the sad and beautiful Jamaica Farewell. When my oldest daughter was young she always used to ask why he left his little girl in Kingston Town. You also may want to pick up a Belafonte album with Danny Boy on it. It's not here, and it's amazing.