Belafonte never sounded better and this double album consisting of Calypso Music & Folk-Songs is absolutely timeless:
>>> BELAFONTE AT CARNEGIE HALL <<<
It is the first of two Belafonte "Carnegie Hall" albums, and far superior to the one released a year later. This original "Carnegie Hall" recording was
performed on April 19th & April 20th, 1959. These concerts were benefits for The New Lincoln School and Wiltwyck School, respectively.
This double album which sold for more money than a single LP stayed on Billboard's top-selling album charts for 3 years and was nominated for
Album of the Year at the 1959 Grammy Awards.
Turns out it was Frank Sinatra's "Come Dance With Me" album which won the Grammy for Best Vocal Performance.
As much as I like Frank, I think the Grammy should have gone to Harry Belafonte.
THE BOOK OF GENESIS / ADAM & EVE
Eve says to Adam:
"Do you think this fig-leaf makes me look fat?"
Previous Message
1957 was a good year for Mr. B's singles. Besides Day-O [#5], these also made the Billboard Top 100 chart:
-Hold 'Em Joe [#84]
-Mama Look At Bubu [#11]
-Don't Ever Love Me [#90]
-Cocoanut Woman [#25] / Island In The Sun [#30]
Previous Message
The year was 1957. Almost seven decades ago. A year before, in 1956, Harry Belafonte recorded his CALYPSO album (RCA Victor)
which became the first "Long Play" record album to sell over one-million copies. The first track "Day-O" (aka: The Banana Boat Song)
largely contributed to the success of Belafonte's CALYPSO album and has long been his signature song.
The single "Day-O" reaching #5 on Billboard's pop "Hit-Parade" chart.
Going back to 1957 and the motion picture ISLAND IN THE SUN, was a drama about race relations and international romance set in
the fictitious island of Santa Marta. (Barbados and Grenada were selected as the sites for the movie).
The film was controversial at the time of its release for its on-screen portrayal of interacial romance. In fact, as a result of interacial love scenes
with Harry Belafonte, actress Joan Fontaine received "poison-pen mail" including threats from the Ku Klux Klan.
In spite of all this, ISLAND IN THE SUN was a major box office success. The film included some impressive stars:
Harry Belafonte
Joan Fontaine
James Mason
Joan Collins
Dorothy Dandridge
Michael Rennie
The title song ISLAND IN THE SUN was written by Harry Belafonte and Irving Burgie (aka: Lord Burgess).
I personally consider this song one of Belafonte's best, and it's featured on his really super album BELAFONTE SINGS OF THE CARIBBEAN (RCA/rel 1957).
Responses
on 8/3/2024, 12:08 pm, in reply to "