Harry Bellafonte was a vocalist known for folk songs & calypso who was born in New York & spent his childhood in Jamaica. This is a recording of the charity concert held in April 1959, when Bellafonte was in his early 30s. He is backed by an orchestra conducted by Robert Coman (Robert Decormier), who used Norman Keenan’s contrabass, as well as guitar & Latin percussion ensembles. When the Japanese LP record was released for the 1st time, RCA Victor (USA) supplied a 2-track, 15 ips analogue master tape. As a result of repeated listening, it was decided that this was the best of various master tapes, so it was used for the SACD too. Sony Music Studio engineer, Yuta Nakamura transferred the tapes to 24bit/96kHz PCM, then Koji Suzuki, another engineer at Sony Music Studio did the mastering from this PCM for the LP & SACD.

The granddaddy of all live albums, this double-LP set captured the excitement of a Harry Belafonte concert at the height of his popularity…

Harry Belafonte's third studio album Calypso is considered one of his most popular records. It reached number one on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and remained there for 31 weeks after it's debut. The 1956 record features hit song "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" as well as "Jamaica Farewell".

Riding high on the success of the Calypso album, Harry Belafonte went back to doing what he had started out to do: record a variety of folk songs from different cultures around the world.

Harry Belafonte's third studio album Calypso is considered one of his most popular records. It reached number one on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and remained there for 31 weeks after it's debut. The 1956 record features hit song "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" as well as "Jamaica Farewell".

"Love Is a Gentle Thing" is an album by Harry Belafonte, released by RCA Victor in 1959. It was recorded with arranger / conductors Alan Greene and Bob Corman. The featuring a set of folk-themed songs. Billboard magazine chose Love Is a Gentle Thing as one of their "Spotlight Winners of the Week" in March 1959, and wrote that "Belafonte displays his usual tender, feelingful vocal style on a group of expressive folk themes with varying moods".

Four years after his last studio effort, the somnambulistic Play Me, Harry Belafonte returned with this album which showed the veteran artist returning to his strength: unique interpretations of songs from many cultures…

"Belafonte: At Carnegie Hall" is a live recording of American singer-songwriter Harry Belafonte. The performances originally took place at Carnegie Hall in April 1959 to benefit education. The record was later nominated for Album of the Year at the 1961 Grammy Awards. Belafonte: At Carnegie Hall became one of the most successful live recordings of it's time, remaining on the best-selling albums chart for over three years.

After flirting with traditional African-American material in his previous albums, Belafonte, for the first time, devotes an entire album to the blues. However, of the eleven songs, only two could be classified as traditional blues: "In the Evenin' Mama" and "Cotton Fields," the latter given a five minute treatment. Belafonte would take this song on the road as part of his live act for the next decade. Of the other songs, three were covers of Ray Charles standards ("A Fool For You," "Hallelujah I Love Her So," "Mary Ann"). Another highlight is Belafonte's rendition of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child." With few exceptions, the entire album is understated and not as exciting or riveting as other Belafonte records. Still, it's solid listening, and taken track by track, thoughtful performances. Footnote: this was the first Belafonte album recorded in stereo. Some releases feature a thick, dark blue spine.