calypso – Opus Project

(December 2025) Episode 699 of the “opus project” is HARRY BELAFONTE. In music, he is primarily known for popularizing calypso music with songs like “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” and “Jump in the Line,” although he successfully applied his silky voice to a range of styles including standards, show tunes, gospel, pop and Christmas. Calypso is evocative of a time and place, and I still chuckle that some predicted it would become the New Thing instead of rock-and-roll. Otherwise a lot of his recordings are in that 50s-60s saccharine pop style that I’m not a fan of. But much of his stature comes beyond music — acting in films, organizing within the civil rights and anti-Apartheid movements, and his social justice and humanitarian work.

Favorite album: Swing Dat Hammer

Favorite song: Jamaica Farewell

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: The albums Calypso and Jump Up Calypso cover that style, but I prefer him singing blues, folk, and gospel, such as on Swing Dat Hammer and Ballads Blues and Boasters

Episode 603 is TAJ MAHAL. You can label him a blues artist but that’s rather inadequate. That’s where his music is grounded, but he has spread widely over a 55+ year recording career, fusing with or featuring calypso, reggae, trad jazz, Great American Songbook, etc. His early recordings are a throwback to a simpler country blues style, and it’s interesting to note that his first albums came out in 1968, the year that famous rock bands pivoted back to basics (Taj Mahal hung out with the Rolling Stones). He played in fingerpick style, so the recordings in that mode, mostly early on but he returned to them, are my favorite.

Favorite album: Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home

Favorite song: Leaving Trunk

Favorite album (later): Labor of Love

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: There’s so much diversity it’s hard to direct someone. But I think any of the first five albums (1968-72) are fine country blues offerings.

Tag: calypso

699. Harry Belafonte

603. Taj Mahal