HARRY BELAFONTE
Sing Your Song: The Music
Sony 93951

www.sonymusic.com
 

This sixteen-track compilation features some of the multi-talented veteran’s most venerated recordings, from his own Mississippi riverboat-themed tale of “Mark Twain” to a reflective cover of calypso great Lord Burgess’ “Can’t Cross Over,” and is the soundtrack to the recent, critically praised documentary film, Sing Your Song, and the release of his long awaited autobiography, My Song. Collected from a variety of sources, the remaining selections vary from many of his early commercial hits (“Island In The Sun,” “Banana Boat Song,” “Man Smart (Woman Smarter)” and “Jamaica Farewell” among them) alongside entertaining material from throughout his incomparable career. Highlights are an especially soulful version of the chain gang plea “Sylvie,” the serio-comic tale of “Matilda,” a melodically lyrical children’s song called “Scarlet Ribbons,” the Muppet-inhabited, life affirming chant “Turn The World Around” and the novelty “Hole In The Bucket” — an improvised, waggish duet with Odetta, culled from an Emmy-winning televised special.

— Gary von Tersch