1) Harry Belafonte, All Time Greatest Hits Vol. 1
BMG-07863-56877-2 (Year 1988)

Cocoanut Woman (Track 11) ¯ Edit
This is the same abridged version that can be found on the single from 1957. The vinyl LP Caribbean (LPM-1505), also released in 1957, carries the unedited track which includes an extended scat lead-out.

Island In The Sun (Track 7) ¯ Alternate Take
With a play-time of 3:07 minutes, this is a shorter take than that (3:21) which appears in the Caribbean LP (LPM-1505).

2) Belafonte At Carnegie Hall
BMG-07863-56006-2 (Year 1989)
(Originally issued on vinyl in 1959 as RCA-LSO-6006)

The Marching Saints (Track 5) ¯ Edit
 The opening segment, where the piece was presented as an old English madrigal, has been
 deleted (now 2:50 min. vs. 4:23 previously).

 Cu Cu Ru Cu Cu Paloma (Track 13)  ¯ Alternate Take
 This rendition differs from the one on the LP. There were 2 Carnegie performances and it
 appears that the shorter take was selected for the CD re-make  (now 3:50 min. vs. 6:28 previously).

Matilda (Track 15) ¯ Edit
There is evidence of liberal editing towards the end of this number to scale down the exuberant show-ending applause (now 11:27 min. vs. 12:46 previously).

Exclusions ¯ Edits
In addition to the treatment given the songs just discussed, 4 titles (Take My Mother Home, Man Piaba, All My Trials and Merci Bon Dieu) were excluded altogether in an effort to substantially reduce the overall play-time (now 72 min. vs. upwards of 95 previously). This comes as a disappointment to those familiar with the original program. Unfortunately one of the highlights, listening to Belafonte gracefully extricate himself from a false start while introducing Man Piaba, is missing.

For the unabridged program on Compact Disc see:
Harry Belafonte, Live In Concert At Carnegie Hall,
RCA/BMG Germany 74321-15713-2 ( 2CDs, Year 1993).

3) Jump Up Calypso
BMG-07863-52388-2 (Year 1994)
(Originally issued on vinyl in 1961 as RCA-LSP-2388)

Goin' Down Jordan (Track 6) ¯ Unedited Track
 What a surprise and delight to listen to this digitized track for the first time. There was Harry
 leading us down a well charted path when suddenly he takes us in a new direction,
 introducing a passage we had not heard previously. Then, just as abruptly, he shunts us
 back onto the familiar road for home. It was evident that the front and back ends of the
 LP (1961) and CD (1994) tracks were identical, yet I was at a total loss to explain this digression.
 Repeated playing of the two tracks did nothing to resolve the mystery. 

So I took my dilemma to Sue de Nym who has a clear comprehension of such matters, having spent countless hours in the recording studio producing a string of albums. As anticipated she quickly delivered her analysis. It appears the original track was edited prior to its release on vinyl in 1961. For reasons unknown, the 15 second bridge between the last verse and chorus was deleted. Surprisingly, however, it shows up on the CD. As a consequence, most of us are hearing the full track for the first time, and likely due to an oversight on the part of the team responsible for re-mastering.

Last Verse:
Don't talk about the leaders they treat me good
Plenty sweet oil and plenty food
Brother it was then that I realized
Ev'ry man on earth should be baptized

Bridge:
Because, happy days are here again 
The skies above are clear again         
Oh let us sing a song of joy again    

Chorus:
Because, we are goin' down Jordan
We are goin' down Jordan
We are goin' down Jordan
Let's walk the heavenly road

Kingston Market (Track 8) ¯ Alternate Take
This take differs considerably from the LP track. Included is a harmony vocal in the chorus that does not show up on the recording released in 1961. Credit goes to Carlo for correctly categorizing this track.

4) Zoot Sims, The Complete 1944 - 1954 Small Group Sessions
Vol. 1, BMCD-1038 (B-DL 31546-95)
Blue Moon Master Series (Year 1995, Spain)

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (Track 5) ¯ Early Track
 The Night Has Thousand Eyes (Track 6) ¯ Early Track

 Recorded NYC, 1949
 Credits: Harry Belafonte (vocals), Zoot Sims (tenor sax), Al Haig (piano),
 Jimmy Raney (guitar), Tommy Potter (base), Roy Haynes (drums)
 Very early jazz/pop tracks previously available on vinyl, only.
 Thanks to Jan Ejlertsen for discovering this one.

5) Harry Belafonte, Greatest Hits
RCA-07863-67403-2 (Yr 2000)
(3 CD Set)

What a welcome turn of events! Finally a Belafonte compilation CD with engaging liner-notes that succeed in recapturing the excitement that accompanied the first appearance of his early RCA titles. It is quite evident that this project has been a labour of love for Chick Crumpacker and his team.

Man Smart (CD 1, Track 04) ¯ Alternate Take
 I like to think that this alternate take was tossed in just to see whether we were paying
 attention. It's almost the same duration as the single from 1952, but the lead-in (in this case,
 nothing short of boisterous) is altogether different. Also the male chorus provides a steady
 background rumble not present in the original release. Furthermore Belafonte's reading of the
 last verse is slightly altered, thus ruling out the possibility of the base tracks being the same
 (i.e. enhanced through over-dubbing). Talk about a bonus track ! It was certainly worth
 waiting 48 years for this one to make a showing! Let's keep them coming.
Please refer to  Jan's January 3, 2002 guest book entry for another point of view on this issue.

Man Piaba (CD 1, Track 13) ¯ Edit
The last verse and punch-line have been cut from this classic track from 1954 for reasons unknown. For further information please refer to the guest book and exchanges with Andy dated January 8, 2002.

Jamaica Farewell (CD 1, Track 21) ¯ Incorrect Track Identification
The original Millard-backed version from the Calypso album of 1955 is introduced in the liner-notes, whereas the Loren-orchestrated re-make from 1956 (released on single at the time) actually shows up in the set. The two interpretations are altogether different, with one having a distinctive Island flavour and the other being slower and more sentimental in character.

When The Saints Go Marching In (CD 2, Track 05) ¯ Alternate Take
This interpretation is a little more subdued, and considerably shorter in duration (2:55 vs. 3:43), than the take selected for the Evening LP (LPM-1402) of 1956.

Danny Boy (CD 2, Track 06) ¯ Identification of Take
A shortened rendering (released on single in 1956) which is unfortunately missing the moving narration that leads off the Evening LP track (4:44 vs. 5:50).

Cocoanut Woman (CD 2, Track 09) ¯ Identification of Take
I am pleased to report that this is the unedited track from the Caribbean LP, which exits on an extended scat romp. An abridged version was issued on single in 1957 and was inadvertently reproduced for the All Time Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 CD in 1988.

Island In The Sun (CD 2, Track 11) ¯ Edit
This is not the track from the Caribbean LP (LPM-1505) of 1957. Instead it is an edited version of an alternate take that surfaced for the first time on the All Time Greatest Hits Vol. 1 CD in 1988. In the present instance 21 seconds have been cropped from the front end with no apparent attempt to mask the delete.

Try To Remember (CD 3, Track 09) ¯ Identification of Take
It appears that this interpretation was taken from the Quiet Room LP (LSP-3571) of 1966 and not the Many Moods LP (LSP-2574) of 1962 as implied. The Many Moods track is quite a bit shorter in duration (i.e.3:24 as against 4:04).

6) The Songs Of Bob Dylan Vol. 2
BMG-74321-84693-2 (Year 2001)

Midnight Special (Track 20) ¯ Alternate Take
Surely selected as it catches Bob Dylan in a very
inspired performance on the harmonica. This was
Take No. 12. The story goes that he later stormed
out of the session, somewhat disenchanted with
Belafonte's unrelenting pursuit of perfection

7) Very Best Of Harry Belafonte
RCA/BMG-07863-68097-2 (Year 2001)

Again a Belafonte compilation CD with great liner-notes, photographs and 3 previously unreleased tracks. You have to believe that this is all happening because Belafonte, himself, is again collaborating with RCA/BMG.

Gotta Travel On (aka Done Laid Around) (Track 02) ¯ Previously Unreleased Track
This arrangement from 1958 differs in character from the interpretation released on single the same year and that issued on LP in 1962.  It brings to light  the evolution that Belafonte's standards have typically undergone over the years. The recording date is incorrectly stated in the liner-notes. Please see Jan's January 3, 2002 discussion in the guest book.

Jamaica Farewell (Track 12) ¯ Incorrect Track Identification
The original Millard-backed version from the Calypso album of 1955 is introduced in the liner-notes, whereas the Loren-orchestrated re-make from 1956 (released on single at the time) actually shows up in the set. The two interpretations are altogether different, with one having a distinctive Island flavour and the other - the present track - being slower and more sentimental in character.

Two Brothers ( Track 16) ¯ "New Song" (not previously issued)
A dirge about the victims of battle, recorded in 1958. The recording date is incorrectly stated in the liner-notes. Please see Jan's January 3, 2002 discussion in the guest book.

Island In The Sun (Track 17) ¯ Edit
This is an abridged track that is unfortunately missing the front end. For Jan's views on this matter please see the January 3, 2002 guest book entry.

La Bamba (aka Bam Bam Bamba) (Track 20) ¯ Original Recording (not previously issued)
This studio recording from 1958 predates the live track from the Carnegie Hall concert of 1960. A real gem! The date is incorrectly stated in the liner-notes. Please see Jan's January 3, 2002 discussion in the guest book.