Drums of Passion
| Drums of Passion | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Studio album by Babatunde Olatunji | |
| Released | February 15, 1960 |
| Recorded | August 14 and October 1, 1959 |
| Genre | Afrobeat, Highlife |
| Label | Columbia |
| Producer | Al Ham |
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |
 |
| Pitchfork Media | (8.2/10) |
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, becoming immensely successful and selling over five million copies. 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.
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. "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); by Candido Camero in his 1979 "Dancin' & Prancin'" album and by Fatboy Slim on his album Palookaville (2004).
The 2002 CD re-release of the album included a bonus track.
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.
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.
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