Drums of Passion is an album produced by Babatunde Olatunji, a percussionist from Nigeria, in 1960. It was the first recording to popularize African music in the West,[3] becoming immensely successful and selling over five million copies.[4] In 2002, it was released as a single layer stereo and 5.1SACD by Columbia Records. In 2004 the album was added to the National Recording Registry.[5]
This was the most popular song on the album, and it sold millions of copies as a single. 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" and with no credit given to Olatunji, on his album Gainsbourg percussions (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 on his 1979 album Dancin' & Prancin' and by Fatboy Slim on his album Palookaville (2004).
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]
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]
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