Who: One of the most legendary live entertainers and political activists of the 20th century, and the most successful Caribbean-American performer of all time.
What: The first million-selling LP ever, this record consists of lively yet understated re-interpretations of traditional folk songs from Jamaica (mento) and Trinidad (calypso). This is not cruise ship "calypso" with steel drums and horn section and songs about partying in the sun; rather, this music draws on the West African music brought to the Caribbean by slaves—the instrumentation is mostly acoustic guitar, percussion, and flute and the lyrics, like all folk music, tell of everyday life.
Where: Recorded in New York, NY, based on songs from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
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| A Jamaican mento band. |
When: You need an elevation of the spirit.
Why: For listeners who only know of tourist "calypso" music and think of Harry Belafonte as just another crooner from the 50s, this will be a truly surprising album. It is a beautiful and sparkling record that creates a wonderful mood: the melodies are uplifiting, the vocals are smooth, the rhythms are lively and the lyrics are often deeply political. This is perhaps the most danceable political folk album ever.
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| Harry Belafonte, 1950s. |
Microdose: "The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)" is Belafonte's signature song, and "Man Smart, Woman Smarter" has to be one of the first feminist folk songs, but "Jamaica Farewell" captures the delightful spirit of the album.
Additional Dose: This fabulous performance in Zimbabwe—from the 1988 tour for his album Paradise in Gazankulu, made in support of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa—features Belafonte reinterpreting many of his most beloved songs (including many from the Calypso record) in the South African mbaqanga style.
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