Calypso (album)

Album information

The first track "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)" largely contributed to the success of the album and became Belafonte's signature song, the single reaching number five on ''Billboard'''s pop chart. "Star-O", the sixth track on the album (and B side of the "Day-O" single), is essentially a shorter reprise of "Day-O", with slightly different lyrics.

It is sung from the point of view of dock workers working the night shift loading bananas onto 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 a mento folk song about the beauties of the West Indian islands 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 on ''Billboard'''s pop chart, becoming the second hit from the album.

Reception

Calypso was the first LP record album to sell over one million copies. Previously, other single records including Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo Choo," Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," and Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons" had surpassed the milestone. The album is number four on Billboard'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. album charts. AllMusic gave the album 5 stars out of 5 and called it "a record of inestimable influence".

Track listing

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)
• The Norman Luboff Choir (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

Charts

Certifications

References

References

1. (June 2, 1956). "Billboard".
2. "Harry Belafonte - Calypso - Amazon.com Music".
3. Grein, Paul. (2025-08-10). "Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Elvis & More Artists With the Most Weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: Full List".
4. "GRAMMY HALL OF FAME AWARD".
5. (March 21, 2018). "National Recording Registry Reaches 500". Library of Congress.
6. Chow, Andrew R.. (2023-04-25). "Harry Belafonte, Trailblazing Performer and Fierce Civil Rights Activist, Dies". [[Time (magazine).
7. [{{AllMusic
8. (2018-03-22). "Day-O: Harry Belafonte explains the story behind "Calypso" and reflects on "Banana Boat Song" - CBS News".
9. (2014-02-10). "Today in History for February 10". [[NBC 6 South Florida]].
10. (2012-02-13). "Best-selling physical single".
11. Levine, Barry. (2017-09-02). "BARRY LEVINE: Great music can be a lot of work".
12. Chad. (2019-10-25). "Harry Belafonte - Hollywood Walk of Fame". Hollywood Walk of Fame.
13. "Calypso - Harry Belafonte {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic".
14. Whitburn, Joel. (1996). "Top LPs, 1955–1996". Record Research.