Love Is a Gentle Thing


Love Is a Gentle Thing is an album by Harry Belafonte, released by RCA Victor in 1959. It was recorded with arranger / conductors Alan Greene and Bob Corman.

Chart performance

The album peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Best Selling Monophonic Albums, during a thirteen-week run on the chart.

Reception

Billboard magazine chose Love Is a Gentle Thing as one of their "Spotlight Winners of the Week" in March 1959, and wrote that "Belafonte displays his usual tender, feelingful vocal style on a group of expressive folk themes with varying moods...Striking cover".
Cary Ginell on All Music writes "Of the tunes included in the album, the best of which are the Weavers' Lee Hays' 'Times Are Gettin' Hard" and John Jacob Niles' 'Go 'Way From My Window.' But the lack of variety makes this album somewhat of a bore when compared to some of the more exciting Belafonte product of the 50s and early 60s."

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Fifteen" – 2:50
  2. "I Never Will Marry" – 2:44
  3. "I'm Goin' Away" – 3:08
  4. "Small One" – 2:53
  5. "Bella Rosa" – 3:25
  6. "All My Trials" – 4:37

Side two

  1. "Green Grow the Lilacs" – 3:55
  2. "Times are Gettin' Hard" – 3:36
  3. "Turn Around" – 2:23
  4. "Go Away from My Window" – 3:09
  5. "Delia's Gone" – 4:34
  6. "Walkin' on the Green Grass" – 3:22

Personnel