Harry Belafonte - The Very Best Of Harry Belafonte

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:24
Size: 172.6 MB
Styles: Calypso, International folk
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[2:54] 1. Land Of The Sea And Sun
[3:20] 2. Done Laid Around -A K A Gotta Travel On
[3:05] 3. Banana Boat (Day-O)
[3:10] 4. Suzanne (Every Night When The Sun Goes Down)
[3:53] 5. Angelina
[5:16] 6. Cotton Fields
[2:39] 7. Angelique-O
[1:57] 8. Jump Down, Spin Around
[3:38] 9. Jump In The Line
[5:28] 10. Cu-Cu-Ru-Cu-Cu Paloma
[3:17] 11. Coconut Woman
[2:48] 12. Jamaica Farewell
[3:02] 13. I'm Just A Country Boy
[2:31] 14. Gomen Nasai (Forgive Me)
[2:33] 15. Hold 'em Joe
[4:30] 16. Two Brothers
[2:46] 17. Island In The Sun
[2:29] 18. Man Smart (Woman Smarter)
[3:00] 19. Mama, Look A Boo Boo
[5:56] 20. Bam Bam Bamba
[2:42] 21. Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)
[4:21] 22. Mary's Boy Child

The Very Best of Harry Belafonte fulfills the promise of the title in fine fashion, compiling 20 of Belafonte's best-known hits onto a single CD (though it cheats slightly by adding a pair of unreleased tracks, "Bam Bam Bamba" and "Two Brothers"). Fans of his breakout Calypso LP from 1956 will find several tracks here -- the obvious "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)" plus "Jamaica Farewell" and "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)," though unfortunately not "Brown Skin Girl." Other highlights include "Coconut Woman" and "Island in the Sun." Interested parties who find much too much to love on Belafonte's three-disc set Greatest Hits will find everything they need right here. ~John Bush

R.I.P.
Born: March 1, 1927, Harlem, New York, United States

Died: April 25, 2023, Manhattan, New York, United States

The Very Best Of Harry Belafonte

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Harry Belafonte - Belafonte Sings The Blues

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:26
Size: 104,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:42)  1. A Fool For You
(4:20)  2. Losing Hand
(4:36)  3. One For My Baby
(3:31)  4. In The Evenin' Mama
(2:56)  5. Hallelujah I Love Her So
(4:35)  6. The Way That I Feel
(5:20)  7. Cotton Fields
(5:07)  8. God Bless The Child
(2:46)  9. Mary Ann
(3:43) 10. Sinner's Prayer
(4:45) 11. Fare Thee Well

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. ~ Cary Ginell http://www.allmusic.com/album/belafonte-sings-the-blues-mw0000863291

Personnel:  Harry Belafonte – vocals

Belafonte Sings The Blues

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