Calypso (album)

Calypso is the third studio album by recording artist Harry Belafonte, released by RCA Victor (LPM-1248) in 1956. The album became his second consecutive number-one album on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, where it peaked for 31 weeks. Calypso was the first Long Play record album to sell over one million copies.

Calypso
Studio album by
Harry Belafonte
ReleasedMay 1956[1]
RecordedAugust 18, October 20, November 9, 1955 at Webster Hall, New York City
GenreMento, calypso
Length31:23
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerEd Welker, Herman Diaz Jr., Henri René
Harry Belafonte chronology
Belafonte
(1955)		 Calypso
(1956)		 An Evening with Belafonte
(1957)
Singles from Calypso
  1. "Jamaica Farewell"
    Released: September 1956
  2. "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)"
    Released: December 1956

In 2015 Calypso was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[2]

In 2018, Calypso was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant."[3]

Album information

The first track "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)" largely contributed to the success of the album and has long been Belafonte's signature song, the single reaching number five on Billboard's Pop chart. "Star-O", the sixth track on the album (and B side of the "Day-O" single), is essentially a short reprise of "Day-O", with slightly different lyrics.

It is sung from the point of view of dock workers working the night shift loading bananas onto ships. Daylight has come, the shift is over, and they want their work to be counted up so that they can return to their homes (this is the meaning of the lyric "Come, Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana / Daylight come and me wan' go home.")

The third track, "Jamaica Farewell", is a mento folk song about the beauties of the West Indian islands and a love left behind. This was the first album on which the song was published. The song was released as a single, reaching number 14 on Billboard's Pop chart, becoming the second hit from the album.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [4]

Calypso was the first LP record album to sell over one million copies. Several single records, including Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," and Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons" had surpassed 1 million copies previously. The album is number four on Billboard's "Top 100 Album" list for having spent 31 weeks at number 1, 58 weeks in the top ten, and 99 weeks on the U.S. charts. Allmusic gave the album 5 stars out of 5 and called it, "a record of inestimable influence".

Belafonte's original 1955 recording of "Day-O" was heard in the dinner scene in the Tim Burton film Beetlejuice (1988). Belafonte appeared in a "Day-O" music video, featured on MTV, promoting the film. "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)" was also featured in Beetlejuice as well as episodes of The Simpsons and I Love Lucy.

Track listing
Calypso track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)"Traditional, arranged by William Attaway, Harry Belafonte, Lord Burgess3:02
2."I Do Adore Her"Burgess2:48
3."Jamaica Farewell"Burgess3:02
4."Will His Love Be Like His Rum?"Attaway, Belafonte2:33
5."Dolly Dawn"Burgess3:13
6."Star-O"Belafonte, Burgess, Attaway2:02
7."The Jack-Ass Song"Burgess, Attaway2:52
8."Hosanna"Burgess, Attaway2:34
9."Come Back Liza"Burgess, Attaway3:03
10."Brown Skin Girl"Norman Span2:43
11."Man Smart (Woman Smarter)"Span3:31

Personnel
  • Harry Belafonte – vocals
  • Millard J. Thomas – guitar (1, 4, 6, 7)
  • Frantz Casseus – guitar
  • Tony Scott and His Orchestra (2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11)
  • The Norman Luboff Choir (8, 9, 10)

Production notes:

  • Ed Welker – producer
  • Herman Diaz Jr. – producer
  • Henri René – producer ("Man Smart (Woman Smarter)")
  • Tony Scott – conductor
  • Brock Peters – chorus leader
  • Roy Stevens – cover photo
  • William Attaway – liner notes

References
  1. "Billboard". June 2, 1956.
  2. "GRAMMY HALL OF FAME AWARD". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  3. "National Recording Registry Reaches 500". Library of Congress. March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  4. link
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