As a kid of 13 I was wild for anything exotic. I bought "Voice of the Xtabay" when it first came out -- a 10" Capitol. (It later got combined with her second 10" as a 12".)

Yma! She was like nothing on earth. Concurrent with learning old time banjo, hot lick guitar and songs off everything from Burl Ives records to field recordings, I was listening to this amazing lady, and she carved a hole in my head that is there still, despite all considerations of sanity and common sense.

I bought Voice of the Xtabay when it came out, a Capitol 10" -- it was later combined with its followup as a 12". Picture me learning old time banjo, guitar hot licks, and songs from everything from Burl Ives records to field recordings, and simultaneously hearing the great Yma.

Strange to hear her called a "lounge singer." Yes, after she left Moises Vivanco and his magic touch, she had bad trouble finding repertoire that suited her amazing vocal abilities, and yes, she did sing some dreadful stuff.

But her early stuff like Voice of the Xtabay,, Legend of the Sun Virgin, Legend of the Jivaro and Pueblo del Ande are still amazing. It wasn't genuine lost civilization music, but it might as well have been. All honors to Yma! She was and is unique. Don't call her a lounge singer just because she was stuck in a rut and had to sing the stuff that made her a few bucks. Call her an art singer, a nut or whatever, she made amazing sounds. At her best she was like a lightning bolt from the jungle to space.

(And a late recording of hers called "Miracles" isn't too bad either.)

I still love her stuff, pretentious as some of it is, and annoying as she could be when she wasn't very good. When she was good she was very, very good. Few honestly rate that line. And hey, who else has created an entire genre of her own?

My affection for The Sumac is obvious I guess. Heart beating redly on sleeve.

Bob