Harry & Lena

AMG Review of Harry & Lena

Cary Ginell
All Music Guide

In 1970, Harry Belafonte and Lena Horne presented an entertaining hour-long television special, sponsored by Faberge and produced by Belafonte Enterprises, entitled Harry and Lena. Labeled as a "special collector's edition," the soundtrack from the special marked the first time in eleven years the two had recorded together. Unlike his other "duet" albums with female vocalists, in which no more than two duets were actually cut, this album featured four pairings of Harry and Lena, although the stronger material was their respective solo performances. Other than a few failed attempts at singing contemporary rock hits (Joe South's "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" and John Fogerty's "Down on the Corner"), the songs came off mostly well, especially Horne's moving rendition of Oscar Brown, Jr.'s "Brown Baby," from the musical Joy. Note of interest: the writer of the dialogue on the special was 60 Minutes curmudgeon Andy Rooney.