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This was phenomenal music.I had never heard anything like it in my entire decade on earth. It has now been over 40 years since I first heard "Mambo." and I have played it for countless friends and acquaintances over the years; most of them loved it enough to buy their own copy. A few days later, I hopped on my Schwinn Speedster and raced over to my local record store and special-ordered "Mambo." by Yma Sumac. No one has ever made a record like "Mambo." before or since. Grandpa Joe had a Capitol "Full Dimensional Sound" demonstration record (monaural, of course). My grandfather, "Grandpa Joe" (1906-1981) was a classical music fan, and I remember many times being at his house as a child and sitting through entire symphonies, string quartets, violin sonatas, etc. I didn't really have the attention span for long classical pieces, but I idolized Grandpa Joe and didn't want to displease him. The other side had selections from Capitol's "popular" albums of the day.
I played it again and again. "Mambo." is one of the very few albums that has been in print for over 50 years, and there is a good reason. Every track on that album was a fabulous adventure. Her singing is unique and incredible; Billy May's arrangements are out-of-this-world; the musicianship is virtuosic and flawless. The first track on the "popular" side was Yma Sumac's "Bo Mambo". This was "world fusion" music decades before it was fashionable. I was a record collector even then, and the first thing I ever did when my parents took me anywhere was to rifle through the record collection of whoever's house I was in.
It took about three weeks to get it.an endless wait. Holy CRAP, what was THIS. One entire side was classical (and I can only assume that he got it for free and only played the classical side). I was ten years old when I first set the Pickering stylus of Grandpa Joe's Rek-O-Kut "Rondine" down on "Bo Mambo".
Then buy her greatest hits. What a voice. The Kaluah ad music is on that, too. If you don't know Yma Sumac you are missing a rare treat. But start with "Voice of the Xataby." Sensational in every way.
I listened to a few samples of songs and thought it sounded different. This is easily one of my favorite cd purchases of the last 5 years (and I buy a lot of ecclectic music).
I can't say how this cd compares to any of her others. If you consider yourself to have "good taste" in music and aren't familiar with Yma Sumac, take it from me: what are you waiting for.p.s.
I was looking for some Peruvian music to complement my recent Macchu Picchu visit photos and memories. After putting the cd into my stereo system, I can't believe it.
yet I was thinking Andean-style flutes but when I started searching the web for highly-acclaimed Peruvian music, Yma Sumac popped up over and over again.
but very interesting.
Now I can listen to her once again in clear scratchless song. When I did a search for her on amazon I was happy to find that there was a cd of her Mombo album and it had been mostly digitailly remastered. Fred in NJ I first purchased this album on a 10 inch 33 1/3 record back in the 1950's. I had forgotten all about her and her fantastic vocals until recently when I heard she had passed away.
Not for everyday, but it brings life to the special occasion. If beautiful, exotic, other-worldly is the sound for which you seek, Ima is for you. Perhaps everyone should own some Ima Sumac. Maybe everyone can't understand or appreciate it.
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