Voice of the Xtabay
1950 studio album by Yma Sumac
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Voice of the Xtabay is the first studio album by Peruvian soprano Yma Sumac. It was released in 1950 by Capitol Records. It was produced and composed by Les Baxter, along with Moisés Vivanco and John Rose. Sumac sings on the album, accompanied by ethnic percussion and musical variations influenced by the music of Peru.[2] Sumac had a notable vocal range, of about five octaves.
The album entered several Billboard charts on the year of its release.[3]
The songs "Virgin of the Sun God", "High Andes!" and "Earthquake" were used in the 1954 film Secret of the Incas, which featured Sumac as Kori-Tica.
The album was reissued in the UK in 1956 with different artwork.[4][5]
The album quickly sold 500,000 copies, and was No. 1 on Variety's best-seller list at the end of 1950, surpassing albums by Bing Crosby and Ethel Merman.[6] The album sold one million copies in 1950 alone.[7][8][9]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Virgin of the Sun God (Taita Inty)" | Moisés Vivanco | 3:06 |
| 2. | "Lure of the Unknown Love (Xtabay)" | Les Baxter, John Rose | 3:18 |
| 3. | "High Andes! (Ataypura!)" | Vivanco | 3:04 |
| 4. | "Monkeys (Monos)" | Vivanco | 2:40 |
| 5. | "Chant of the Chosen Maidens (Accla Taqui)" | Vivanco, Baxter | 2:43 |
| 6. | "Dance of the Winds (Wayra)" | Vivanco | 3:02 |
| 7. | "Earthquake (Tumpa!)" | Vivanco | 3:20 |
| 8. | "Dance of the Moon Festival (Choladas)" | Vivanco | 2:33 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Virgin of the Sun God (Taita Inty)" | Moisés Vivanco | 3:06 |
| 2. | "High Andes! (Ataypúra!)" | Vivanco | 3:04 |
| 3. | "Chant of the Chosen Maidens (Accla Taqui)" | Leslie Baxter | 2:43 |
| 4. | "Earthquake! (Tumpa!)" | Vivanco | 3:20 |
| 5. | "Dance of the Moon Festival (Choladas)" | Vivanco | 2:33 |
| 6. | "Dance of the Winds (Wayra)" | Vivanco | 3:02 |
| 7. | "Monkeys (Monos)" | Vivanco | 2:40 |
| 8. | "Lure of the Unknown Love (Xtabay)" | Leslie Baxter, John Rose | 2:33 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Virgem do Deus Sol (Taita Inty)" | Moisés Vivanco | 3:06 |
| 2. | "Andes altaneiros (Ataypúra!)" | Vivanco | 3:04 |
| 3. | "Canto das Virgens eleitas (Accla Taqui)" | Leslie Baxter | 2:43 |
| 4. | "Terremoto (Tumpa!)" | Vivanco | 3:20 |
| 5. | "Dança do Festival da Lua (Choladas)" | Vivanco | 2:33 |
| 6. | "Dança dos ventos (Wayra)" | Vivanco | 3:02 |
| 7. | "Macacos (Monos)" | Vivanco | 2:40 |
| 8. | "A atração do amor desconhecido (Xtabay)" | Leslie Baxter, John Rose | 2:33 |