Drums of Passion
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  [1] |
| Pitchfork Media | (8.2/10) [2] |
Drums of Passion is an album released by Nigerian percussionist Babatunde Olatunji in 1960. Unquestionably, it was the first recording to popularize African music in the west,[3] it was immensely successful and sold over five million copies.[4] In 2002, it was released as a single layer stereo and 5.1 SACD by Columbia Records. In 2004 the album was added to the National Recording Registry.[5]
"Jin-Go-Lo-Ba"
This song was the most popular song on the album and sold millions of copies, as a single. In fact this simple exchange between the mother drum (iya ilu) and the baby drum omele became Babatunde's signature song.[6] "Jin-Go-Lo-Ba" (or "Jingo") has been covered by Serge Gainsbourg, under the title "Marabout" on his Gainsbourg percussions LP (1964); by Santana on their first album, Santana, (1969); by James Last on his album Voodoo-Party (1971); by Pierre Moerlen's Gong on the album Downwind (1979); and by Fatboy Slim on his album Palookaville (2004).
Track listing
- "Akiwowo (Chant of the Trainman)" (3:42)
- "Oya (Primitive Fire)" (5:37)
- "Odun De! Odun De! (Happy New Year!)" (4:39)
- "Jin-Go-Lo-Ba (Drums of Passion)" (3:16)
- "Kiyakiya (Why Do You Run Away?)" (4:17)
- "Baba Jinde (Flirtation Dance)" (5:33)
- "Oyin Momo Ado (Sweet as Honey)" (5:01)
- "Shango (Chant to the God of Thunder)" (7:06)
The 2002 CD re-release of the album included a bonus track.[7]
- "Menu Di Ye Jewe (Who Is This?)" (3:22)
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[8]
It's important to note that although the album featured songs and rhythms from Africa, all of the musicians, except Olatunji himself, were born and raised in the Americas. The Derby sisters, who formed the core of the group of dancers and drummers were responsible for recruiting many of the original members of the group and thus played a key role in picking the personnel for this album.[9]
- Baba Hawthorne Bey – drums
- Roger "Montego Joe" Sanders – drums
- Taiwo Duval - drums
- Ida Beebee Capps – vocals
- Afuavi Derby – vocals
- Akwasiba Derby – vocals
- Helen Haynes – vocals
- Dolores Oyinka Parker – vocals
- Ruby Wuraola Pryor – vocals
- Barbara Gordon– vocals
- Helena Walker – vocals
- Louise Young – vocals
- Al Ham - Engineer
- Akin Akiwowo & Babatunde Olatunji - Liner Notes
References
- ^ Drums of Passion at AllMusic
- ^ Clarke, Mia (2009-07-13). "Babatunde Olatunji: Drums of Passion | Album Reviews | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ Drums of Passion
- ^ African Music Encyclopedia: Babatunde Olatunji
- ^ "The National Recording Registry 2004: National Recording Preservation Board". Library of Congress. Retrieved Sunday, 12 May 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=3452627
- ^ Drums of Passion [Expanded] by Babatunde Olatunji (Used, New, Hard-to-Find) - Alibris
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Olatunji-Drums-Of-Passion/release/1453566; by Babatunde Olatunji (Used, New, Hard-to-Find) - Discogs]
- ^ Olatunji, Babatunde, The Beat Of My Drum: An Autobiography (2005) (with a foreword by Joan Baez). Temple University Press ISBN 1-59213-354-1, ISBN 978-1-59213-354-3