The Bottom Line
Putumayo has been doing a great job of introducing world music into the mainstream for many years now, with their innovative marketing methods, gorgeous CD packaging and consistently good compilations. This time, though, instead of putting together a CD that brings obscure artists into focus, they've created Putumayo World Hits, a CD that brings together several songs that did actually have some success. There are lots of songs conspicuously missing, I think, but perhaps that's just a clever move to assure the viability of a second volume, if they choose to make one.
Pros
- A great compilation CD for total beginners - they'll recognize many of the songs.
- Songs from many traditions are represented.
- Modern and classic songs fit together nicely in this context.
Cons
- No Bob Marley, Manu Chao, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole...?
- A few of the songs, while great, were never really "hits".
Description
- Hit songs from the likes of the Gipsy Kings, Santana, Miriam Makeba.
- Songs spanning five decades of groundbreaking world music.
- African, reggae, Latin artists are all represented.
Guide Review - Putumayo Presents World Hits
If you're already a major fan of world music, Putumayo Presents World Hits probably won't do a lot for you. You're already familiar with, if not tired of, songs like the Gipsy Kings' "Bamboleo", Carlos Santana's "Oye Como Va" or the Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry hit "Seven Seconds". However, for people who are less familiar with world music, or who aren't even sure what world music is, this CD will make it seem more accessible, less intimidating, and so on.
The songs on this album aren't all super-hits, though... some are more obscure (or simply forgotten) than others, and, naturally, those are the ones I find more interesting. Miriam Makeba's 1967 hit "Pata Pata" was the first African song to reach the top 20 on the Billboard Pop Charts, but it still holds a freshness here that really makes it a standout track. I also love the Mick Jagger and Peter Tosh collaboration (yeah, you read that right) on the song "(You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back".
August 28, 2007
The songs on this album aren't all super-hits, though... some are more obscure (or simply forgotten) than others, and, naturally, those are the ones I find more interesting. Miriam Makeba's 1967 hit "Pata Pata" was the first African song to reach the top 20 on the Billboard Pop Charts, but it still holds a freshness here that really makes it a standout track. I also love the Mick Jagger and Peter Tosh collaboration (yeah, you read that right) on the song "(You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back".
August 28, 2007
