Customer Reviews

Calypso

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ever get asked that question about what 5 CDs would you bring with you if you just happened to be stranded on a desert island? Calypso would certainly be on my list, and not just because the sound would go with my new living enviroment, but because the songs are timeless, catchy, soft and soothing, and I never get tired of them.

I first discovered Calypso when I was 13, and I gained a sudden fasination with my parents extensive vinyl collection. One warm summer night while they were out, I put on Calypso and began to dance around the house to the happy and wistful tunes. Very, very rarely do I listen to an album all the way through, and even more rarely do I enjoy every single song on an album. Calypso, along with Sarah M's "Fumbling Towards XTC" are the only albums I can listen to all the way through and never want to hit the fast track forward button on my CD player. I am endlessly glad to have gotten myself the CD version, and I'm sure it would be a salvation to me on that desert island. The tranquil "Jamacian Farewell" and "How I do adore her" for those quiet and homesick moments, "Day-O" or it's sequal song, "Star-O," for singing along to playfully when the days starts of it ends, and many other songs to dance to. "Man Smart" and "Will His Love Be Like His Rum" will make you laugh and want to sing and dance. "Dolly Dawn" and "Hosanna" are terrific, but my favorite is the lyrical and poignant "Brown Skin Girl."

Belafonte's voice is smooth, sweet and dark as molasses, and the songs are all wonderful for any age. This is one of the best CDs ever cut, and I sincerely recommend it to any one of any age. On my desert island, the palm trees will be swaying right along with me as I enjoy this awesome CD.

If you don't want to spring for the definitive box-set also offered by Amazon, and wish only to sample the King of Calypso, this CD release of a best-selling RCA Camden vinyl LP will do nicely.

The digitally remastered sound quality is excellent but there are, however, no liner notes included and, in terms of his hit singles, the only ones included from among the 10 he charted between 1953 and 1957 are: Jamaica Farewell [# 14 in late 1956]; and Banana Boat (Day-O) [# 5 early in 1957], along with its flipside, the very similar Star-O.

Some labels have long since re-released CDs that originally offered up 10- or 12-track vinyl LPs, inserting additional tracks to make them more palatable to the consumer. Some examples include Sarah Vaughan, several Elvis Presley albums, and Donovan.

This one would go to 5 stars at once with the addition of: Hold 'Em Joe [# 84 in 1957] and its follow-along B-side, I'm Just A Country Boy; Mama Look At Bubu [# 11 in 1957] and its flipside, Don't Ever Love Me [# 90]; and Cocoanut Woman [# 25 in 1957] and its B-side Island In The Sun [# 30].

That would bring it to a more acceptable [by today's standards]17 tracks, and if they wanted to even it out they could add the other side of Jamaica Farewell, Once Was. And if they REALLY wanted to do us all a favour, they could go to 20 tracks and add his 1956 Christmas hit, Mary's Boy Child [# 12] and its B-side, Venezuela.

But I'm not holding my breath.

This is probably our most played c.d. Living in South Florida, this recording just seems to go with our pool, palmetto bugs, and the palm tree lifestyle that we love so much! This album popularized island music, and was played at more tiki parties than any other. I grew up watching white people dance badly to all these songs, all of which are wonderful and have lost none of their appeal. "Day-O"("Banana Boat Song") is a universal classic that just about everyone has heard, but there are some lovely others here also. I especially enjoy the hauntingly sweet "Jamaica Farewell". Just simple little traditional West Indian songs that Belafonte beautifully brought to the masses, who otherwise may never have heard them. Nowadays, if you've ever taken a Caribbean cruise, you may be as sick of these songs as the bands catering to the tourists are of singing them. Be that as it may..., we start all our pool parties with this recording, it has become tradition, and, no one complains (they'd better not!) Belafonte's distinctive, smooth voice is accompanied by authentic island drums and the tin penny whistle on most of the songs, only enhancing their authenticity and charm. A wonderful, classic collection. So, throw on a moo-moo, break out the pina coladas, whip up that jello-fruit mold, plantain chips, salsa, and Spam-pineapple kabobs, and play this recording while you do the Limbo (DON'T hurt yourself!)

This Cd is Excellent! Pop it in the stereo, grab a Pina Colada, sit on the porch, and watch the sunset! This is essential to the collector of rare, talented musicians of the ages.

I have an 11 year old daughter and an 8 year old daughter. When I first played Calypso for them they gave me the usual grief but soon I heard them starting to sing along. They now know ALL the words to ALL the songs. My oldest is wanting the $50 three CD collection for her birthday. Sure beats Back Street Boys, Vitamin C and bad rap.

Calypso was the first LP in the history of music which sold more than 1 million copies! How's that for an accolade of this wonderful artist?

This is an amazing CD for everyone who likes/loves island music.

When I think of Belafonte I don't think of a greatest hits album, I think of Calypso. It was a monster hit album when it was new. It has Day-O (which for some reason is played at Yankee Stadium apropos of nothing) and the sad and beautiful Jamaica Farewell. When my oldest daughter was young she always used to ask why he left his little girl in Kingston Town. You also may want to pick up a Belafonte album with Danny Boy on it. It's not here, and it's amazing.

This album just keeps getting better and better. And I've been listening to it ever since my mom played it for me when I was 7 or so. I "rediscovered" Belafonte recently, and this album is just incredibly good. Another personal favorite is his Christmas Album, which to me is the sound of Christmas.

My dad had a record with all these songs. I was so happy to find them on a single CD. Every one of these songs, sung by Harry Belafonte, is great. My sons (they're teenagers) like these songs too. The lyrics, music, and Harry Belafonte's voice makes us feel happy.