Harry Belafonte Collection, 1949-1962 (5-CD)

New York-born Jamaican-American singer, songwriter, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte was truly unique personality – there really is no other performer or entertainer quite like him. With a recording career beginning in the late 1940s, he was instrumental in the popularisation of folk music of all kinds, especially West Indian calypso, but his music encompasses a range of idioms from gospel, blues, jazz and comedy to stage music and sophisticated pop. This 112-track 5-CD set is very much a celebration of that rich and varied musical canon. It comprises the A & B sides of his US singles on the Roost, Capitol, Jubilee and RCA labels during this era, plus selected UK releases, along with selected tracks from the fifteen or so albums he made during these years. It features all his US and UK pop hits, including UK No. 1 “Mary’s Boy Child” and the UK top 3 hits “Banana Boat (Day-O”)”, a US No. 5, and “Island In The Sun”. Other favourites featured here include “Scarlet Ribbons”, “Jamaica Farewell” and the ‘live’ duet recording of “Hole In The Bucket” with Odetta. The albums featured include his two celebrated ‘live’ concert recordings at Carnegie Hall. It’s a substantial and thoroughly absorbing overview of the primary era of his recording career, exploring music which is rarely heard these days but offers an insight into Mr. Belafonte’s remarkable musical compass and it offers a fine showcase for his unique talent.