Voice of the Xtabay
Voice of the Xtabay is the first studio album by Peruvian soprano Yma Sumac. It was released in 1950 by Capitol Records. It was produced and composed by Les Baxter, along with Moisés Vivanco and John Rose. Sumac sings on the album, accompanied by ethnic percussion and musical variations influenced by the music of Peru. Sumac had a notable vocal range, of nearly five octaves.
The album entered several Billboard charts on the year of its release.
The songs Virgin of the Sun God, High Andes! and Earthquake were used in the 1954 film Secret of the Incas which featured Sumac as Kori-Tica.
The album was reissued in the UK in 1956 with different artwork.
As of 2008, the album has sold 500,000 copies since its release.
