Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean

Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean is the fourth studio album by Harry Belafonte, released in 1957 by RCA Victor. The album features traditional Calypso and Folk songs from the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. Belafonte's music was influenced by his West Indian heritage and his experiences traveling to Puerto Rico, Haiti, and the Bahamas. He was also inspired by the music of Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, and The Weavers, as well as the Folk revival of the 1950s, led by artists such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Joan Baez.

Background

The album was recorded during a time of great cultural and musical change, with the rise of Rock and roll and the decline of Traditional pop music. Belafonte's music, however, was more closely tied to the Folk and Calypso traditions, and he was influenced by artists such as The Kingston Trio, The Brothers Four, and Miriam Makeba. He was also friends with Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, and Langston Hughes, and was involved in the Civil Rights Movement, participating in events such as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Selma to Montgomery Marches. Belafonte's music was also influenced by his experiences traveling to Africa, where he met with leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela, and learned about the music of Fela Kuti and Youssou N'Dour.

Album Information

Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean was released in 1957 by RCA Victor, and was produced by Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. The album was recorded at RCA Studios in New York City, with a group of musicians that included Millard Thomas, Danny Barrajanos, and Norman Keenan. The album features a mix of traditional Calypso and Folk songs, as well as some original compositions by Belafonte and other songwriters, such as Lord Invader and Mighty Sparrow. The album was also influenced by the music of The Andrews Sisters, The Mills Brothers, and The Ink Spots, as well as the Swing and Jazz traditions of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong.

Track Listing

The album features the following tracks: "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)", "Jamaica Farewell", "Dolly Dawn", "Star-O", "The Jack-Ass Song", "Hosanna", "Brown Skin Girl", "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)", "Kingston Market", and "Angelina". These songs showcase Belafonte's vocal range and style, as well as his ability to interpret traditional Calypso and Folk songs, and were influenced by the music of The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, and Robert Johnson. The album also features instrumental arrangements by Milton Okun and Howard Roberts, and was engineered by Ray Hall and Bob Simpson.

Reception and Legacy

Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean was a commercial success, reaching the top of the Billboard 200 chart and earning Belafonte a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The album was also praised by critics, who noted Belafonte's charismatic stage presence and his ability to interpret traditional Calypso and Folk songs, and was compared to the music of Odetta Holmes, Josh White, and Lead Belly. The album has since been recognized as a classic of Folk and Calypso music, and has influenced a wide range of artists, including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Stevie Wonder, as well as Reggae musicians such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

Production

The production of Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean was handled by Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore, who were also responsible for producing Belafonte's earlier albums, such as Calypso and An Evening with Belafonte. The album was recorded at RCA Studios in New York City, using a combination of traditional and modern recording techniques, and was mastered by RCA Records and Electro-Vox. The album's cover art was designed by David Stone Martin, and features a photograph of Belafonte taken by Richard Avedon. The album has been re-released several times over the years, including a CD reissue in the 1980s and a digital reissue in the 2000s, and is considered a classic of Folk and Calypso music, influencing artists such as Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, and Ziggy Marley. Category:1957 albums