The Ultimate Yma Sumac Collection (CD)

One of the most flamboyant singers of the '50s and an original proponent of exotica, Yma Sumac was the subject of a series of publicity campaigns designed to add to her mystique: was she an Inca princess, or a Brooklyn housewife named Amy Camus (Yma Sumac spelt backwards)? What was undeniably genuine was Sumac's remarkable four-octave range. After performing with the Compania Peruana de Arte, in her native Peru, Sumac travelled to New York in 1947 with her husband, composer Moises Vivanco. Her first album for Capitol Records, VOICE OF THE XTABAY, with songs by Vivanco and arranged by Hollywood session leader Les Baxter, was released in 1950. With minimum publicity (at first), the 10-inch album sold half a million copies, and it was followed by an enormously successful concert appearance at the Hollywood Bowl as well as a series of releases for Capitol, all in the same kitsch Latin style. She retired in the early-'60s, but made a comeback in 1987 at New York's Ballroom.

• Category:  Music  »  Miscellaneous  »  Exotica
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: January 11, 2000
• Label: Capitol/EMI Records
• UPC: 724352143429
• WAPI (Tower ID): 105776541
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• Tower.com Sales Rank: #9364 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #77 in Miscellaneous (See Top 100 Miscellaneous Bestsellers)
• #5 in Exotica (See Top 100 Exotica Bestsellers)

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Personnel includes: Yma Sumac (vocals); Les Baxter, Moises Vivanco (arranger).

Compilation producers: Tom Cartwright, Alan Eichler, Cheryl Pawelski.

Includes liner notes by Alan Eichler.

Digitally remastered by Odea Murphy (Tower Mastering).

Yma Sumac is an outrageous Goddess of the exotic and the unusual. Her music conjures images of an imaginary ancient Peru as filtered through cartoon-like 1950s Hollywood, filled with pagan sacrifices, sun rituals, Amazon headhunters, and her, a high priestess, reigning over the proceedings with that incredible five octave voice.

Yma Sumac was born in the tiny mountain village of Ichocan, Peru to a family allegedly descended from Atahualpa, the last Inca. While in her teens she and Peruvian composer Moises Vivanco began making the music that combined Peruvian folk themes with complex orchestral arrangements over her exotic vocalizations. THE ULTIMATE YMA SUMAC COLLECTION brings together the best tracks from her decade-long recording career for Capitol (which spanned the '50s).

Included in this collection is the eerie "Chuncho (The Forest Creatures)" from her classic INCA TAQUI album where she imitates all the creatures of the rainforest over a hypnotic guitar-based groove, and the exotic standard "Wimoweh," which later became a hit for the Tokens as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The collection also includes rare tracks and previously unreleased material, as well as a collectible booklet that has reproductions of all Sumac's album covers and other wonderful photos of her in her Peruvian drag.

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