Calypso(album)

Calypso
Studio albumby Harry Belafonte
Released	May 1956
Recorded	August 18, October 20, November 9, 1955
Studio	Webster Hall,New York City
Genre	Mento,calypso
Length	31:23
Label	RCA Victor
Producer	Ed Welker, Herman Diaz Jr.,Henri René
Harry Belafontechronology
Belafonte (1955) Calypso (1956) An Evening with Belafonte (1957)
SinglesfromCalypso
"Jamaica Farewell" Released: September 1956 "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" Released: December 1956

Calypsois the third studio album by recording artistHarry Belafonte,released byRCA Victor(LPM-1248) in 1956. The album became his second consecutive number-one album on theBillboardTop Pop Albumschart, where it peaked for 31 weeks.Calypsowas the firstLong Playrecord album to sell over one million copies.

In 2015Calypsowas inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

In 2018,Calypsowas selected for preservation in theNational Recording Registryby theLibrary of Congressas being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Album information

The first track "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)"largely contributed to the success of the album and has long been Belafonte'ssignature song,the single reaching number five onBillboard'sPopchart. "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 loadingbananasonto 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 amentofolk song about the beauties of theWest Indianislands 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 onBillboard's Pop chart, becoming the second hit from the album.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Calypsowas the firstLPrecord album to sell over one million copies. Several single records, includingGlenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo-Choo,"Bing Crosby's "White Christmas,"andTennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons"had surpassed 1 million copies previously. The album is number four onBillboard'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".

Popular culture

Belafonte's original 1955 recording of "Day-O" was heard in the dinner scene in theTim BurtonfilmBeetlejuice(1988). Belafonte appeared in a "Day-O"music video,featured onMTV,promoting the film. "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)" was also featured inBeetlejuiceas well as episodes ofThe SimpsonsandI Love Lucy.

Track listing

Calypsotrack listing

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

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)
• TheNorman LuboffChoir (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