[2] In 2018, Calypso was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

The third track, "Jamaica Farewell", is a mento folk song about the beauties of the West Indian islands and a love left behind.

Several single records, including Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," and Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons" had surpassed 1 million copies previously.

Belafonte's original 1955 recording of "Day-O" was heard in the dinner scene in the Tim Burton film Beetlejuice (1988).

"Man Smart (Woman Smarter)", the final track on the album, was also featured in Beetlejuice as well as episodes of The Simpsons and I Love Lucy.