Belafonte Sings the Blues
Harry Belafonte · 1958
45 min · 11 tracks · folk music
A soulful blend of blues and jazz, infused with Belafonte's rich vocals and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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A Fool For You (Ray Charles) Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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A Fool For You — This track showcases Belafonte's ability to convey deep emotion through his vocal delivery, transforming Ray Charles' original into a heartfelt rendition that highlights the pain of unrequited love.
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God Bless the Child — Belafonte's interpretation of this Billie Holiday classic brings a fresh perspective with his smooth yet powerful voice, reflecting themes of resilience and sorrow that resonate deeply across generations.
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Cotton Fields — This track connects Belafonte's Jamaican heritage with African-American musical traditions, illustrating his skill in bridging cultural gaps while delivering a poignant narrative about hardship and hope.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Belafonte's soulful interpretations and strong arrangements create a distinctive blend of blues and jazz.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of slow to mid-tempo tracks, with only one song breaking the pace significantly.
- Belafonte's vocal delivery often employs a call-and-response style, particularly evident in tracks like 'Hallelujah I Love Her So'.
- Several tracks incorporate rich instrumental arrangements that complement the vocal lines, enhancing the emotional weight of the performances.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- late-night contemplative moods
- dynamic emotional journeys
- soulful vocal storytelling
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album helped solidify Belafonte's transition to a broader musical repertoire.
- Career context
- In 1958, Harry Belafonte was transitioning from his calypso roots to a broader repertoire, evidenced by 'Belafonte Sings the Blues.' This album followed the success of his breakout record 'Calypso' and marked a significant stylistic shift as he embraced American blues, showcasing his versatility as an artist.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Miriam Makeba· Pete Seeger· Odetta
Tracklist
- 1 A Fool For You (Ray Charles) Start here 3:41
- 2 Loosing Hand (Charles Calhoun) 4:20
- 3 One For My Baby (Johnny Mercer - Harold Arlen) 4:39
- 4 In the Evenin Mama (C. C. Carter) 3:31
- 5 Hallelujah I Love Her So (Ray Charles) 2:56
- 6 The Way That I Feel (Fred Brooks) 4:33
- 7 Cotton Fields (C. C. Carter) 5:20
- 8 God Bless the Child (Bessie Smith) 5:06
- 9 Mary Ann (Ray Charles) 2:46
- 10 Sinners Prayer (Lowell Fulson) 3:43
- 11 Fare Thee Well (Fred Brooks) 4:40
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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