Album Review

Cary Ginell [allmusic.com]

Belafonte's second album of songs from the West Indies expanded the scope in both style as well as geography from the Calypso album. As in that album, his chief collaborator was the prolific Irving Burgie. For the first time, we hear Belafonte sing one of the famous wry calypso tunes based on historical happenings. ''Love, Love Alone'' dealt with the abdication of King Edward VII to marry the American widow, Mrs. Wallis Simpson. Also on the album are the ballads ''Haiti Cherie'' and ''Island in the Sun,'' the latter the theme song from the motion picture starring Belafonte and Joan Fontaine. The songs are catchy and melodic, and the accompaniment has been stepped up to feature an orchestra, conducted by longtime Belafonte orchestra leader Robert DeCormier (aka Bob Corman).