BELAFONTE SINGS OF LOVE

HARRY BELAFONTE

BELAFONTE SINGS OF LOVE

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/HARRYBELAFONTE

This surfaced in a box of goodies at Salvation Army a week ago. Two dollars well spent, I’d say. The strings and horns get a little saccharine at times but Harry’s voice and a killer backing band make this a winner. I spent most of this afternoon kicked back in my chair with this album on “repeat”. Opening with “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” it is clear we’re not steering away from the hardest aspects of love and loss. I gotta admit halfway through the tune waterworks were on the verge, no joke. I forgot love songs could hit this hard. “Annie-Love” flips the script but not the emotion, a beautiful lament with some added tropical flavor in the background.”Sleep Late, Lady Friend” breaks the sadness like a blast of sunshine through dark clouds but ends far too short.”Once In My Lifetime” is a tough listen; Anyone resisting the urge to seek out their high school sweetheart would do well to have person-seeking devices out of reach while this is playing.”You Time” brings a samba feel and some much needed lightness to the proceedings. I miss days like this terribly, no snark or sarcasm. They’re rare birds and they fly fast.

“In The Beginning” slows the pace down again for some heartfelt churchiness but begs the inevitable question: Where are you and why is love so hard?”A Day In The Life Of A Fool” hits too close to home for me. One of the laws of love is that no town is large enough to avoid your ex. The WORLD isn’t big enough, believe it.”When Spring Comes Around” brightens to mood again (mercifully) with a samba shuffle pulse but oddly appears to be written by someone far away from his sweetie. In love but miles apart and carefree? (Insert snarky comment here).”In The Name Of Love” testifies to the eternal condition of love permanently being a rock in your shoe.”The First Day Of Forever” whips us back to the beginning, that recognition of being driven over a cliff and enjoying the free fall despite the inevitable nose dive towards terra firma.”Each Day I Look For Yesterday” ends the ride wistfully but short and spun around like a carnival ride, looking forward and backwards all at once while trying to regain footing. If that ain’t love, what is?

WS