No attempt has ever been made to compare Harry Belafonte with other singers of his own generation or generations following. Perhaps this is because there simply is no other singer in the American folk scene who possesses anything remotely comparable to his uniquely silky yet dusky voice, or his genial mix of calypso, blues, gospel and traditional songs. The present album provides a wonderful testimony to the Jamaican singer's flexibility. It includes songs such as "Midnight Special," a prisoner's nocturnal prayer for freedom, and "On Top Of Old Smokey," which Belafonte instills with intricate rhythm and Caribbean flair. And the tailor-made arrangements are no less thrilling: whether possessing all the drive of a stomping big band, filled with the intimacy of a smoochy small ensemble (with Bob Dylan on harmonica) or with an earthy, folksy, bluegrass sound - there's all that and plenty more! To put it in a nutshell: a veritable feast of traditional music which doesn't sound the least bit traditional.