This is the album that made Harry Belafonte's career. Up to
this point, calypso had only been a part of Belafonte's focus in his
recordings of folk music styles. But with this landmark album, calypso not
only became tattooed to
Belafonte permanently, it had a revolutionary effect on folk music in
the 1950s and 60s. The album consists of songs from Trinidad, mostly written
by West Indian songwriter Irving Burgie (aka "Lord Burgess"). Burgie's two
most successful songs are included: "Day O" and "Jamaica Farewell" (which
were both hit singles for
Belafonte), as are the evocative ballads "I Do Adore Her" and "Come Back
Liza" and what could be the first feminist folk song, "Man Smart (Woman
Smarter)."
Calypso became the first million-selling album by a single artist,
spending an incredible 31 weeks at the top of the Billboard album charts,
remaining on the charts for 99 weeks. It triggered a veritable tidal wave of
imitators, parodists, and artists wishing to capitalize on its success.
Years later, it remains a record of inestimable influence, inspiring many
folk singers and groups to perform, most notably the Kingston Trio, which
was named for the Jamaican capital. For a decade, just about every folk
singer and folk group featured in their repertoire at least one song that
was of West Indian origin or one that had a calypso beat. They all can be
attributed to this one remarkable album.
Despite the success of
Calypso,
Harry Belafonte refused to be typecast. Resisting the impulse to record
an immediate follow-up album,
Belafonte instead spaced his calypso albums apart, releasing them at
five-year intervals in 1961, 1966, and 1971. ~ Cary Ginell, All Music Guide |
