The debut LP from Yma Sumac, a staggering display of vocal acrobatics that defined the exotica genre for decades.
- The album's title track, "Xtabay," is based on a Mayan legend of a seductive, supernatural woman.
- The recording famously features Les Baxter and his Orchestra, known for their pioneering work in exotica.
- Despite its unconventional nature, the album was a commercial success, reaching number 10 on the Billboard charts.
Yma Sumac was a Peruvian soprano renowned for her extraordinary vocal range and exotic musical style, blending traditional Andean music with exotica. At the time of "Voice of the Xtabay," she was emerging as a unique figure in the burgeoning lounge and exotica scene of the early 1950s.
Tracklist
