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Harry Belafonte’s best songs range from the call-and-response energy of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” to the wistful “Jamaica Farewell” and the party-ready “Jump In The Line.” This is a curated listening guide, not an official ranking: these ten recordings show why Belafonte became closely associated with calypso while also making room for ballads and other moods.
What are Harry Belafonte’s most famous songs?
Start with “Day-O,” “Jamaica Farewell,” and “Jump In The Line.” “Day-O” is also catalogued as “The Banana Boat Song” or “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O),” while the label compilation spells the lively third choice “Jump In The Line”; other references expand it to “Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora).”
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Very Best Of Harry Belafonte | $9.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![The Real... Harry Belafonte [3CD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51W0dzuNZeL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Real... Harry Belafonte [3CD] | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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"Harry Belafonte - All Time Greatest Hits, Vol. 1" | $9.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Day-O: The Best of Harry Belafonte | $6.11 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Essential Harry Belafonte | $20.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Belafonte’s 1956 album Calypso was a major career breakthrough. AllMusic describes it as reaching the top of the U.S. album chart, with “Day-O” and “Jamaica Farewell” among the recordings associated with its success. The song choices below draw on the Legacy Recordings collection and retrospective coverage, while the order and listening groupings are editorial.
Best Harry Belafonte songs by mood
For lively, rhythm-led listening
- “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” — The signature call-and-response recording is the natural starting point. Look for both title forms when searching catalogues.
- “Jump In The Line” — A buoyant, rhythm-forward choice for a livelier playlist. The title is also commonly expanded as “Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora).”
- “Man Smart (Woman Smarter)” — Another rhythmic selection, and a useful way to hear the energetic side of Belafonte’s repertoire.
- “Matilda” — Add it for another spirited song in the catalogue, beyond the best-known opening trio.
For songs rooted in place and story
- “Jamaica Farewell” — A central song associated with Calypso, balancing its lively reputation with a more reflective feel.
- “Island in the Sun” — A gentler, place-centered selection that broadens the mood of a playlist built around calypso favorites.
- “Coconut Woman” — A strong companion to the better-known songs, with a vivid setting and an easygoing character.
- “Angelina” — Include it when extending a playlist beyond the signature recordings.
For a change of pace
- “Mary’s Boy Child” — A familiar seasonal recording included on the label compilation.
- “Scarlet Ribbons” — A contrasting ballad choice. Belafonte’s repertoire reaches beyond calypso into orchestral ballads, jazz, and other influences, as retrospectives from The Guardian and GRAMMY.com discuss.
Where to go after the essential songs
The official Very Best of Harry Belafonte compilation listed by Legacy Recordings has 22 tracks, including many of the recommendations above as well as “Cotton Fields,” “Hold ’Em Joe,” “Mama, Look At Bubu,” “Two Brothers,” and “Suzanne.” Track spellings can vary across releases and catalogues; the label page is a useful reference for its collection. For a physical collection, see the Very Best of Harry Belafonte compilation; check the label page for current purchase options and availability.
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- BELAFONTE HARRY
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Rank #4
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- Item Name: Day-O The Best Of Harry Belaf
- Brand: Belafonte, Harry
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