.com In 1950, at the dawn of an era of musical exotica (in which composers such as Esquivel, Martin Denny, and Les Baxter would test the limits of hi-fi strangeness), Yma Sumac entered the scene. She was a diva from the Andes with a four-vocal octave range, an unrelenting trill, and great looks, and she became an overnight sensation. Within years of her debut LP, Voice of the Xtabay, Sumac recorded more concept albums, starred in a Broadway musical (Flahooley), and appeared onscreen with Charlton Heston in 1954's Secret of the Incas. Truth be told, exotica music's popularity was short-lived (only to resurface again with the '90s lounge culture), and many would claim Yma Sumac was merely American housewife Amy Camus spelling her name backwards. No matter. This is still great, hilarious music unlike any other. With composer-husband Moises Vivanco, Sumac created a hybrid jazz, mambo, and world music that was the perfect showpiece for her vocal pyrotechnics. She scats, she trills, she bellows, but--mostly--she entertains. This disc collects Sumac's very best works, three unreleased tracks (worth hearing for the opening to "Negrito Filomino"), and extensive liner notes. --Jason Verlinde
A**H
FINALLY!
At last: a well-chosen overview of Yma's work at Capitol! (Which covers just about everything except her '70s rock sides, recorded for another label and not widely commercially available.) It's a boon not only to those not familiar with the diva's huge body of work, but also to collectors who have had, in the past, to pick-and-choose from her many specifically-themed albums, to create their own collections of her many different styles in a single package. The remastering is impeccable, and the liner notes/bio surpass anything previously released with her recordings - featuring photos of her from the '50s to the present. (The fairly recent shot of her mugging before a replica of the Capitol Records tower is a hoot!) Much of the shrouded romantic mystery of the famed Sun Virgin has been replaced by factual, but no less intriguing, biographical and professional information. Definitely a must-have for the Yma novitiate, and a nicely rounded-out addition for the true enthisiast. (No more dragging out all those LPs and CDs to find one or two definitive numbers!) Thanks, EMI!
S**C
Yma for the Ages
After her Google Doodle birthday, I listened to Yma online, her voice, simply put, amazing. She was beautiful and her 5 octave range nearly unsurpassed. Some say just singing notes without words isn't so amazing. Listen to her songs on this CD, some are notes only, some songs with words. She hits notes, high and low, that do not seem humanly possible and she does it with such power and ease. The songs on the CD vary from opera to forest animals to contemporary styles. She was truly unique. If you take the time to really listen to her music, you can easily become addicted, I only wish I had known about her in my youth when she was performing.
B**D
Best-curated collection of Yma Sumac ever!
Most Yma Sumac albums seem to treat her like a musical sideshow freak. This album is a noteable exception in which every song is an example of Sumac's prodigious talent, not merely the preternatural five-octave range of her voice.There have been various other singers whose most outstanding characteristic is their vocal range, but few of them have Sumac's sensitivity, control, and overall expressive artistry.
R**O
One of the few
Hailing from Peru, Yuma Sumac was one of the great voices of the 20th Century. With her four octave range and ability for "dual voice" she was a complete marvel. This CD has some of her best and for those who haven't discovered her it is a must. There are truly a lot of great voices that graced the stage and recording studios during the 20th Century and we all have our favorites, but will be a very long time before another one like this comes along.
M**R
Retro cool
This girl had an amazing voice and used it to great effect in the wonderful, exotic South American style. Some great tracks here, although I must say the banana boat song isn't one of them.
T**Y
Fabulous
I first heard Yma when I was about 12 years old. At that time I was very fascinated by her skills. I was recently telling a friend about her and found this album on my kindle. So happy to have it now and listen to it while reading. LOVE IT.
M**.
... fan of Yma Sumac and this album is very good. I love listening to it
I am a huge fan of Yma Sumac and this album is very good. I love listening to it. The cd so far reached my satisfaction. Fast shipment by Amazon.
M**S
Ima is superb
Ima Sumac has an unbelievable voice. This recording allows you to assess her full range of capacities. I don't agree with the 1-star reviews (some written by same person). One can listen to this recording and truly enjoy Ima. This is what the artist intended and deserves.
G**L
Five Stars
Très bon service et produit.Merci,Gabriel Daniel
H**E
yma is ultimate
klasse cd. lief anfangs rauf und runter. unglaubliche stimme, man muss es gehoert haben.guter kauf. besorge mir evtl weitere alben und den film mit ihr.
L**D
In-croy-able
Quelle voix incroyable couvrant plus de 4 octaves! C'est quelque chose d'exceptionnel qui fait que je me suis demandée, portée par la musique et ne pensant plus à ce "détail" à qui était la voix grave que l'on entendait. Bien sûr je me suis tout de suite souvenue qu'il n'y avait là qu'une chanteuse... C'est magnifique et puis voilà dse airs qui sortent des sentiers battus tout en apportant beaucoup de plaisir. Une grande voix que j'avais oubliée et que je suis contente de redécouvrir.
P**E
Astonishing
I can't thank the other reviewers enough for helping me to decide to buy this album. I had heard of Yma Sumac only through my mother oncedisparaging a singer by saying "She's no Yma Sumac. That woman's voice!"and a fleeting reference to her in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.This is a truly wonderful album. Her voice is truly astonishing not only in it's incredible range but also in the colours and textures of it. At times it ceases to sound like a human voice and becomes pure sound. The lower ranges are powerful, dark and exotic. If it were not for her sweeping from one end of her range to the other in one seemingly impossible breath it would be difficult to believe that all these voices belong to one person.The songs are a perfect mix of melodies reminiscent of Villa-Lobos' Bachiannus Brassileiras, rich in their South American atmosphere; light hearted folk tunes that are like arriving at an open vista after travelling through the darkest rainforest, and Hollywood swing tunes that conjure up the nightclubs of 1940s film noir.The arrangements alone are worth buying the album for, but it is the voice that makes this album essential.
C**R
Ultimate Yma Sumac
Ce CD offre un bon reflet de la carrière de cette chanteuse à la voix exceptionnellepour les amateurs des années soixante....
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