Exuma (album)

Exuma is the debut studio album by Exuma, released on May 1970 on Mercury Records.

Exuma
Studio album by Exuma
Released	May 1970
Recorded	Regent Sound Studios[1]
Genre	Junkanoo
Length	38:41
Label	Mercury
Producer	Daddy Ya Ya
Exuma chronology
Exuma (1970) Exuma II (1970)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

Background

In the early 1960s, Exuma (born Macfarlane Gregory Anthony Mackey) had moved to Greenwich Village 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.[3]

Production

Wyld adopted the pseudonym "Daddy Ya Ya" and recruited a few musicians for the album, including Peppy Castro of the Blues Magoos (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.[1] The album cover was painted by Exuma himself.

Reception

The album received positive reviews and moderate airplay at the time of its release.[4] In a retrospective review, Richie Unterberger 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."[2]

In popular culture

Nina Simone recorded a cover of "Dambala" on her 1974 record, It Is Finished.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Exuma.

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Exuma, the Obeah Man"	6:16
2.	"Dambala"	5:34
3.	"Mama Loi, Papa Loi"	4:32

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Junkanoo"	3:24
2.	"Seance in the Sixth Fret"	7:14
3.	"You Don't Know What's Going On"	3:27
4.	"The Vision"	8:14
Total length:		38:41

Personnel

Adapted from LP liner notes:[5]

• 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

1. Ehrlich, Brenna. "'Exuma' at 50: How a Bahamian Artist Channeled Island Culture Into a Strange Sonic Ritual". Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone, LLC. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
2. Unterberger, Richie. "Exuma - Exuma". AllMusic. AllMusic, Netaktion LLC. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
3. Gruno, Linda. "Into the Mystic". Westword. The Westword. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
4. Merlis, Bob Moore (May 16, 1970). "Exuma Man for All Seasons" (PDF). Record World. 24 (1196): 50. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
5. "Exuma - Exuma (1970, Gatefold, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 15 December 2020.

External links

Exuma (album) at Discogs (list of releases)