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Title: Putmayo's early ambitions
Review: This compilation is hardly the "Best of World Music." Then again,when Putumayo first appeared on the scene in 1993,it was one of the few world music labels around,other than Peter Gabriel's Real World,Narada,and Celestial Harmonies,as well as David Byrne's Luaka Bop.The "Best of World Volume 1:World Vocal" has its highlights,though they are few.It opens with the rousing,spirited "Ojala que llueva cafe" by Juan Luis Guerra y 440.There is the classic,ORIGINAL "Pata Pata" from the South African diva Miriam Makeba.The multiracial South African group,Johnny Clegg and Juluka,has the powerful "Walima 'Mbele." Kotoja,a Nigerian jazz/rock band from the Bay Area,has the wonderful "Semi Jeje." There is also the joyous Creole "Chanson de Mardi Gras."While this compilation is not among Putumayo's best,it was a somewhat auspicious beginning.They were only starting.
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