Jump Up Calypso

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Jump Up Calypso
Studio album by
Harry Belafonte
Released1961
Recorded1960
GenreCalypso
Length40:54
LabelRCA Victor LPM/LSP-2388
ProducerBob Bollard
Harry Belafonte chronology
Swing Dat Hammer
(1960) 		Jump Up Calypso
(1961) 		Midnight Special
(1962)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStarStarHalf star [1]

Jump Up Calypso is an album by Harry Belafonte, originally released by RCA Victor in 1961. Backing musicians include The Trinidad Steel Band.[1]

Chart performance

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It reached number 3 on the Billboard Best Selling Monoraul LP's, during a sixty seven-week run on the chart.[2]

Reception

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Music critic Richie Unterberger on AllMusic wrote that the album could be seen as a return to "roots" styles, adding "In any case, it's all-out calypso, with backing by the Trinidad Steel Band, and qualifies as one of his most energetic albums, even getting rambunctious at times."[1]

A UK newspaper, the New Musical Express called it a "top album", and wrote, "An almost forgotten man here, the king of calypso is back, singing the songs he performs best - lively West Indian folk tunes. He makes every one of the 12 tracks a thing of beauty, specially the terrifically rhythmic romp of Jump In The Line, and the soft, sentimental".[3]

Track listing

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  1. "Sweetheart from Venezuela" (Fitzroy "Lord Melody" Alexander, Bob Gordon) – 3:28
  2. "Go Down Emanuel Road" (Irving Burgie) – 3:07
  3. "The Baby Boy" (Alexander, Roderick Clavery) – 3:22
  4. "Gloria" (Gordon, Clifton "Mighty Bomber" Ryan) – 3:08
  5. "Land of the Sea and Sun" (Irving Burgie) – 2:55
  6. "Goin' Down Jordan" (Burgie, Theophilus Woods) – 3:34
  7. "Jump in the Line" (Aldwyn "Lord Kitchener" Roberts) – 3:39
  8. "Kingston Market" (Burgie) – 3:11
  9. "Monkey" (Burgie, Norman "King Radio" Span) – 3:58
  10. "These Are the Times" (Burgie) – 3:14
  11. "Bally Mena" (Burgie, Robert De Cormier) – 3:25
  12. "Angelina" (Burgie) – 3:53

Personnel

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  • Harry Belafonte – vocals
  • The Trinidad Steel Band
  • Ernie Calabria – guitar, quatro
  • Millard Thomas – guitar
  • Norman Keenan – bass

Production notes

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  • Produced by Bob Bollard
  • Mastered by Ed Begley
  • Arranged by Irving Burgie
  • Engineered by Bob Simpson

See also

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Charts

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Chart (1961) Peak
position
US Billboard Top LP's (Monoraul)[2] 3

References

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  1. ^ a b c Allmusic review
  2. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top LPs, 1955–1972. Record Research. p. 17. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  3. ^ New Musical Express, Album reviews, January 12, 1962 Retrieved September 27, 2025