Steve Lawrence recorded the Tarriers version in 1957 for Coral Records, with a chorus and orchestra directed by Dick Jacobs.It later appeared on her 1959 album The Bewitching Miss Bassey. Shirley Bassey recorded the Tarriers version in 1957 for 4 Star Records, which became her first single to chart in the U.K., peaking at number 8.It charted at number 19 on the US Top 40 charts in 1957. Sarah Vaughan and an orchestra conducted by David Carroll recorded a jazzy version for Mercury Records in 1956, credited to Darling, Carey, and Arkin of the Tarriers.It charted to number 13 in the US in 1957. The Fontane Sisters recorded the Tarriers version in a recording of the song for Dot Records in 1956.In 1980, Canadian children's singer Raffi covered the song, releasing on his album Baby Beluga.The Tarriers, or some subset of the three members of the group ( Erik Darling, Bob Carey and Alan Arkin, later better known as an actor) are sometimes credited as the writers of the song. The Tarriers' version was recorded by the Fontane Sisters, Sarah Vaughan, and Steve Lawrence in 1956, all of whom charted in the US Top 40, and by Shirley Bassey in 1957, whose recording became a hit in the United Kingdom. This release became their biggest hit, reaching number four on the pop charts, where it outperformed Belafonte's version. They recorded a version of that song that incorporated the chorus of 'Hill and Gully Rider', another Jamaican folk song. During recording, when asked for its title, Harry spells, 'Day Done Light'.Īlso in 1956, folk singer Bob Gibson, who had traveled to Jamaica and heard the song, taught his version to the folk band the Tarriers. Side two of Belafonte's 1956 Calypso album opens with 'Star O', a song referring to the day shift ending when the first star is seen in the sky. Belafonte recorded the song for RCA Victor and this is the version that is best known to listeners today, as it reached number five on the Billboard charts in 1957 and later became Belafonte's signature song. In 1955, American singer-songwriters Lord Burgess and William Attaway wrote a version of the lyrics for The Colgate Comedy Hour, in which the song was performed by Harry Belafonte. Belafonte based his version on Connor's 1952 and Louise Bennett's 1954 recordings. The song was first recorded by Trinidadian singer Edric Connor and his band the Caribbeans on the 1952 album Songs From Jamaica the song was called 'Day Dah Light'. When daylight arrived, they knew that their boss would arrive to tally the bananas so they could go home. It was sung by Jamaican dockworkers, who typically worked at night to avoid the heat of the daytime sun. 'The Banana Boat Song' likely originated around the beginning of the 20th century when the banana trade in Jamaica was growing. The Tarriers version was covered multiple times in 19, including by the Fontane Sisters, Sarah Vaughan, Steve Lawrence, and Shirley Bassey, all of whom charted in the top 40 in their respective countries. Both versions became simultaneously popular the following year, placing 5th and 6th on the 20 February 1957, US Top 40 Singles chart. That same year the Tarriers released an alternative version that incorporated the chorus of another Jamaican call and response folk song, 'Hill and Gully Rider'. The best-known version was released by Jamaican-American singer Harry Belafonte in 1956 (originally titled 'Banana Boat (Day-O)') and later became one of his signature songs. 'I took that song and honed it into an anthem that the world loved.' The lyrics describe how daylight has come, their shift is over, and they want their work to be counted up so that they can go home.īelafonte described 'Day-O' as 'a song about struggle, about black people in a colonized life doing the most grueling work,' in a 2011 interview with Gwen Ifill on PBS NewsHour. It is a call and response work song, from the point of view of dock workers working the night shift loading bananas onto ships. The song has mento influences, but it is commonly classified as an example of the better known calypso music. 'Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)' is a traditional Jamaican folk song. Harry Belafonte, Almanac, 18 February 1954 'Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)' on YouTube Traditional, arranged: Harry Belafonte, William Attaway, Lord Burgess Grand Ballroom, Webster Hall, New York City JSTOR ( August 2016) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: 'Day-O' The Banana Boat Song – news Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This article needs additional citations for verification.

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