Babatunde Olatunji's 1959 record Drums of Passion was recently re-released by Sony in this year, the album's 50th anniversary. I picked this record up with no previous knowledge of it a year or two ago at Mystery Train Records for $5.50 and was pleasantly surprised.
Out of hand drum compositions - I'm talking strictly percussion and voice. The first track "Akiwowo" is a successful recreation of the rhythmic beat of a steam train. The title track "Jin-Go-Lo-Ba" ("Drums of Passion") is described by the record sleeve as "what may be a symphonic drum drama. Each drum speaks a part." It must also be noted that this is apparently the first recording of Western African drumming + chanting made in the U.S. Peep a fleshed-out review of the music and the reissue and five streaming tracks here (via p4k).
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