Top 3 Harry Belafonte Albums

Just got done listening the Analog Productions remastering of Harry Belafonte's "Belafonte at Carnegie Hall."

What are the Top 3 Belafonte albums to own?

 

Nice!

 

Apart from "Belafonte at Carnegie Hall" I'd vote for

- "Belafonte", "Calypso", "Jump up Calypso"

But there is much more to discover ...

 

How is the Returns to Carnegie Hall album?

 

Brilliant classic (must have IMO), but it features also other artists and collaborative performances.
So it depends on what you are looking for.

If you like the collaborations on "Returns to Carnegie Hall",
you may also check out his joint albums with Miriam Makeba and Nana Mouskouri (both titled
"An evening with" I think)

 

"At Carnegie Hall" and "Returns To Carnegie Hall" on Classic CDs as well as "Sings The Blues" on Impex are my pick of the 3 best on CD.

 

Calypso
Sings Caribbean
Carnegie Hall

 

For original studio albums, I'll second (or third or whatever it may be) the suggestions of Calypso (AF SACD), Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean (LP) and Jump Up Calypso (DCC). Best live album is the Carnegie Hall you have. Best comp is the All-Time Greatest Hits V1 (RCA). A fav track is the 45 rpm version of Jamaica Farewell w/orch that isn't on any of them, gosh darn it.

 

this is the only one I have:

how does it rate?

 

What a hurricane. A Messenger of the musical storm that was about to shake Jamaica

 

It's one of my favorites. Hard to go wrong with any of Belafonte's '50s recordings.
I also recommend "Swing Dat Hammer" and "Calypso In Brass".

 

Not only is Vol. 1 of the All Time Greatest Hits series essential, the other 2 volumes are equally essential for people who want a general overview of his talent with great sound: http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/harry-belafonte-all-time-greatest-hits-vol-1-3-series.279038/

I have an import comp called "Original Hits" which has the 45rpm version of Jamaica Farewell: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Original-Hits-Harry-Belafonte/dp/B00005U8LA/

 

At Carnegie Hall
To Wish You a Merry Christmas (One of my all time favorite Christmas albums)
The Midnight Special (an album of hard-edged folk songs with Bob Dylan on harmonica before he released his first album)

 

The gold CDs "At Carnegie Hall" and "Returns To Carnegie Hall" on Classic Records for 1 & 2 and all else for #3 & beyond.
I consider "At Carnegie Hall" to be up there with Live At Leeds, Waiting For Columbus, Welcome Back My Friends To The
Show That Never Ends, and Frampton Comes Alive in performance... Sound quality is exceptional as well.

 

"Returns to Carnegie" gets no love but is every bit the live album that "At Carnegie Hall" is.

 

I would say the first four albums are all essential. Harry was pretty consistent. (I'd also throw in his other Calypso albums and Swing Dat Hammer!):

Belafonte
Calypso
Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean
An Evening with Belafonte

That was quite a run!

 

Images for Lobo - The Caribbean Disco Show »

Just for fun, you can also try this "hooked on Belafonte" LP from 1981 Polydor.




Lobo ‎– The Caribbean Disco Show

Tracklist
The Caribbean Disco Show
A.a The Caribbean Disco Show 0:23
A.b Day-O (Banana Boat) 0:50
A.c Island In The Sun 0:51
A.d Caribbean Magic 0:08
A.e Matilda 1:00
A.f The Caribbean Disco Show 0:20
A.g Coconut Woman 0:46
A.h Jamaica Farewell 0:39
A.i Angelique-O 0:32
A.j The Caribbean Disco Show 0:20
A.k Caribbean Magic 0:34
A.l The Caribbean Disco Show 0:20
A.m Come Back Liza 1:02
A.n Judy Drowned 0:57
A.o Angelina 1:05
A.p The Caribbean Disco Show 0:20
A.q Caribbean Magic 11:09
- -
B1 Mangwene Mpulele 2:56
B2 I Do Love You 3:42
B3 Calypso Sound 3:57
B4 Bally Mena 3:37
B5 Sad Days 2:27
B6 If I Say 3:10