AVID Roots presents the latest release in our Four Classic Album series with a remastered 2CD release from Harry Belafonte, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details. “Calypso”; “Jump Up Calypso”; “Sings Of The Caribbean”; and “Love Is A Gentle Thing” plus three bonus tracks. Until our boss here at AVID suggested we might want to consider releasing a Harry Belafonte classic album set, I had no idea just how popular he had been during his long career and still remains so to this day at the ripe old age of 95 years! Just checking out his resume is truly mind blowing. His first live appearance in New York to pay for his acting lessons found him backed up by none other than the Charlie Parker band with Miles Davis and Max Roach amongst the legendary jazzmen in attendance! Who would have thought? He started as a pop singer, made his debut at the Village Vanguard, played Vegas alongside Sinatra, Liberace and Sammy Davis Jr. His debut album in 1956, Calypso became the first solo album in the world to sell a million copies in the space of a year, it was the first album ever to sell a million copies here in the UK. It spent 31 weeks at number 1 in the Billboard Top 100 and is the fourth Billboard top selling album, ever! Calypso, of course contains Harry’s most famous song “Day-o” aka “Banana Boat Song” but please do not panic if you don’t see it listed on our set, in fact it opens our first album but is listed as “Day-o”. For a time Harry became synonymous with calypso music before moving into the burgeoning folk scene in New York in the early sixties. Belafonte would go on to cover many musical genres including folk, pop, blues, gospel, show tunes and American standards as well as having a successful acting career. He is also known for his political activism in the civil rights movement and campaigned for John Kennedy in 1960. Quite a guy, we say! Check out: Joan Baez (AMSC1213); Woody Guthrie & Jack Elliott (AMSC944); The Kingston Trio (AMSC1396); Classic Folk (AMSC1386); Big Bill Broonzy (AMSC1001); Reverend Gary Davis (AMSC1271); Jesse Fuller & Josh White (AMSC1344); John Lee Hooker (AMSC1382); Lightnin’ Hopkins (AMSC1363); Lonnie Johnson (AMSC1207); Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee (AMSC1361); Big Joe Williams (AMSC1385); Muddy Waters & Howlin’ Wolf (AMSC 1162); Classic Blues Masters (AMSC1368).
CD1 1-11: ‘Calypso’ 1. Day O 2. I Do Adore Her 3. Jamaica Farewell 4. Will His Love Be Like His Rum? 5. Dolly Dawn 6. Star O 7. The Jack-Ass Song 8. Hosanna 9. Come Back Liza 10. Brown Skin Girl 11. Man Smart (Woman Smarter) 12-23: ‘Jump Up Calypso’ 12. Sweetheart From Venezuela 13. Go Down Emanuel Road 14. The Baby Boy 15. Gloria 16. Land Of The Sea And Sun 17. Goin’ Down Jordan 18. Jump In The Line 19. Kingston Market 20. Monkey 21. These Are The Times 22. Bally Mena 23. Angelina 24. Hold ‘Em Joe (Bonus Track) 25. Mama Look A Boo Boo (Shut You Mouth-Go Away) a/k/a/ Mama Look At Bubu) (Bonus Track)
CD2 1-11: ‘Belafonte Sings of The Caribbean’ 1. Scratch, Scratch 2. Lucy’s Door 3. Cordelia Brown 4. Don’t Ever Love Me 5. Love, Love Alone 6. Cocoanut Woman 7. Haiti Cherie 8. Judy Drownded 9. Island In The Sun 10. Angelique-O 11. Lead Man Holler 12-23: ‘Love Is A Gentle Thing’ 12. Fifteen 13. I Never Will Marry 14. I’m Goin’ Away 15. Small One 16. Bella Rosa 17. All My Trials 18. Green Grow The Lilacs 19. Times Are Gettin’ Hard 20. Turn Around 21. Go ‘Way From My Window 22. Delia’s Gone 23. Walkin’ On The Green Grass 24. Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair) (Bonus Track)
