''Exuma'' is the self-titled debut
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
by
Bahamian folk musician
Exuma. It was originally released in May 1970 on the
Mercury
Mercury commonly refers to:
* Mercury (planet), the nearest planet to the Sun
* Mercury (element), a metallic chemical element with the symbol Hg
* Mercury (mythology), a Roman god
Mercury or The Mercury may also refer to:
Companies
* Merc ...
label.
Background
In the early 1960s, Exuma (born Macfarlane Gregory Anthony Mackey) had moved to
Greenwich Village,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
and started playing
guitar and singing in the cultivating
folk rock scene developing in that area. After producer Bob Wyld came up to him offering a record deal, he chose to adopt "Exuma, the Obeah Man" as his name. The pseudonym draws from memories of
Junkanoo festivals from his childhood.
Production
Wyld adopted the pseudonym "Daddy Ya Ya" and recruited a few musicians for the album, including Peppy Castro of the
Blues Magoos
The Blues Magoos are an American rock group from The Bronx, a borough of New York City, United States. They were at the forefront of the psychedelic music trend, beginning in 1966. They are best known for the hit song " (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Ye ...
(who was credited under the pseudonym "Spy Boy Thielheim"). During recording sessions, Exuma would often turn off the lights and set up candles, recalling songs from his dreams.
The album cover was painted by Exuma himself.
Release and reception
The album received positive reviews and moderate airplay at the time of its release.
The opening track on the album, "Exuma, the Obeah Man", was released as a single.
In a retrospective review, Richie Unterberger of
AllMusic wrote, "Exuma's debut album was a real odd piece of work...it's kind of like a combination of the Bahamian folk of
Joseph Spence with early
Dr. John at his most voodooed-out...It's a little surprising that this stuff hasn't undergone a sizable cult revival."
In popular culture
Nina Simone recorded a cover of "Dambala" on her 1974 record, ''It Is Finished''.
"Exuma, the Obeah Man" was featured (playing from vinyl, with the album cover visible) in the 2022 film ''
Nope'', with the song being featured on the film's soundtrack.
Track listing
Personnel
Adapted from LP liner notes:
*
Exuma – lead vocals, guitar, bells,
foot drum
*Daddy Ya Ya – producer, vocals, bells, foot drum, "sacred sand"
*Spy Boy Thielheim – backing vocals, triangle,
cabasa, whistle, bells
*Lord Wellington – congas
*Frankie Gearing – backing vocals
*Geraldine McBride – backing vocals
*Mildred Vaney – backing vocals
*Princess Diana – backing vocals
*Sally O'Brien – backing vocals
References
External links
{{Authority control
1970 debut albums
Folk albums
Exuma (musician) albums
Mercury Records albums