Harry Belafonte - Belafonte At Carnegie Hall


Label:

Analogue Productions

Genre:

Male Vocalist

Product No.:
AAPF 6006
UPC: 753088600616
Availability:
In Stock
Category:

180 Gram Vinyl Record


No. of Discs: 2

180 Gram LP  


Mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound from the original 3-track analog tapes

180-gram double LP, plating by Gary Salstrom, pressing at Quality Record Pressings!

Old-school "tip-on" heavyweight gatefold jacket by Stoughton Printing

"Belafonte brought 'world' music to the masses, starting with 'Calypso.' ... By the time these two benefit concerts were performed on April 19th and 20th 1959, Belafonte had amassed a catalog of hits familiar to a wide swath of Americans. ... One can argue that originals are the best but not here. No way! Unlike the original pressings mastered from 2-track mix down from the 3-track original tape, Classic Records' reissue on both 33 1/3 and single-sided 45 RPM records and this new mastering are sourced directly from the 3-track tape. ... However, while I didn't think there was more to get from the tape than what Bernie Grundman got for Classic Records, I think Ryan K. Smith and the Sterling team have done just that, showcased by the utter black QRP backgrounds. ... it is among the greatest, if not the greatest live concert recordings ever made and Belafonte's and the orchestra's performances make it well-worth revisiting." Music = 10/11; Sound = 11/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full review, click here.

AllMusic.com writes: "The grandaddy of all live albums, this double LP set captures the excitement of a Harry Belafonte concert at the height of his popularity. Sampled from two consecutive performances of identical material, Belafonte at Carnegie Hall was an anomaly at a time when only comedy albums were recorded outside of the studio environment. It wasn't the first live album ever made, but it was certainly the first to be a major financial and artistic success. It stayed on the best-selling album charts for over three years and remained in print until RCA discontinued pressing LPs."

Well, wait no more if you haven't heard this marvelous record. We've gone all out for this deluxe reissue. Starting with premier mastering by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound from the original analog tapes. Then plating and presssing by Gary Salstrom and the crew at Quality Record Pressings, where the finest quality LPs in the world are pressed. But it doesn't stop there: We've enhanced the original studio photography and wrapped up the whole package in a deluxe "old-school" tip-on gatefold jacket from Stoughton Printing!

Belafonte's mastery in front of an audience was never better displayed than here, a mastery that resulted in him becoming one of the most popular concert draws in history. Producer Bob Bollard and orchestra leader Bob Corman deftly integrated the 47-piece orchestra into the performance but knew when to lie back to let Belafonte sing, accompanied by a small combo of two guitars, bass, and percussion. The concert is divided in three sections: "Moods of the American Negro," "In the Caribbean," and "Around the World." All the hits are here: "Day O," "Jamaica Farewell," "Mama Look a Boo Boo," and others, plus calypso, folk songs, chain gang songs, spirituals, and songs from other lands, representing a veritable best-of package of Belafonte's first decade with RCA Victor.

From the opening trumpet fanfare and brief orchestral overture to the epic 12-minute version of "Matilda" (which set a standard for audience participation), the album never lets up. It is exciting, poignant, thrilling, intimate, and at times, spontaneously hilarious. Have a seat, sip a beverage and enjoy!

Music

Sound


Ratings from Michael Fremer @ AnalogPlanet.com

 



Act 1: The Moods of the American Negro
Introduction – Darlin’ Cora
Sylvie
Cotton Fields
John Henry
Take My Mother Home
The Marching Saints

Act 2: In The Caribbean
Day O
Jamaica Farewell
Man Piaba
All My Trials
Mama Look A Boo Boo
Come Back Liza
Man Smart

Act 3: Round The World
Hava Nageela
Danny Boy
Cu Cu Ru Cu Cu Paloma
Shenandoah
Matilda

Customer Reviews (4.57 Stars) 7 person(s) rated this product.

What an absolute gem!

posted on 05/08/2023
5 Stars
Reviewer: Al
Sad to admit this is the first time I had heard this beautiful recording. It took me from wanting to dance to sitting pensively as Mr. Belafonte poured emotion after emotion into the lyrics. It carried me to far away places and cultures. Finally, it brought me to my feet at the end to join the Carnegie crowd in a rousing round of applause. This is the most fun I have had listening to an album in ages if not forever!


Disappointed.....

posted on 07/03/2020
2 Stars
Reviewer: RDM
I have received this LP as a gift from a friend. A disappointment .... the album sounds great! .... but it lost the essence of the original recording. There is no doubt that the star is the singer in this LP, but in this version, his voice is not as present as in the original version. In the original version, the sounds that were behind him, instruments and vocals, now came forward in this version and he began to mix among all that. In previous versions both on Vinyl and Digital, his voice makes me emotional, but in this version it does not transmit anything to me, it sounds like a modern recording, it lost the magic of the original recording.


Impossible not to enjoy

posted on 11/25/2019
5 Stars
Reviewer: WaxDad
If you’re even thinking you might want this, don’t hesitate, it’s everything you could hope for. It’s absolutely incredible. A masterfully recorded performance by a legendary male vocalist at Carnegie Hall backed by a band of world class musicians. It’s just a joy to listen to. I’m not a Belafonte super fan by any stretch. You don’t have to be. It’s just really good music presented in the best way. My 7 year old heard John Henry and was intrigued and sat down and listened to it with me. The delicacy of the performance just draws you in. It defies genre and generation. It’s just beautiful. I guess one could say I recommend this :). Thank you AP!


The Real Deal

posted on 12/30/2015
5 Stars
Reviewer: Chris
Have heard this AP release at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest the last few years and loved it. Just played our copy last night and was amazed again by the performance/sound quality/pressing quality/cover art reproduction of this LP. You may remember this from the early 1960s...it sold millions of records for good reason. You are indeed transported to Carnegie Hall as you listen to this Analogue Productions version..it's 4 sides of vinyl heaven.


OMG!

posted on 09/25/2015
5 Stars
Reviewer: Reed
I have heard so many versions of this on so many systems. Man, I just can't imagine how it can get any better than this vinyl version. If you go through an album listening session, be sure you listen to this last. Anything else after this will disappoint you....it's that good.


It does not get better

posted on 01/14/2015
5 Stars
Reviewer: PJ
You are transported to Carnegie Hall 1959.


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