Stag-O-Lee presents a new series (on 10" vinyl only) called Journey to the Centre of the Song, celebrating one song at a time, and it’s many guises and interpretations.
In this case the classic Tabu - written by Margarita Lecuona (also responsible for Babalu, a classic as well). She was a cousin of the famous Cuban composer and pianist Ernesto Lecuona. Tabú (also recorded as Tabou, Tabu, and Taboo) is a jazz and popular music standard which was first recorded by Cuarteto Machin in 1934 and later made popular by The Lecuona Cuban Boys and others.
The afore mentioned guises and interpretations span genres from Charles Blackwell’s upbeat surf’strumental shaker to the brassy exotic tones of Tito Rivera, from the cumbian island sounds of Cyril Diaz to Sylvie Mora’s silky smooth popcorn rendition.
Completing the record with Arthur Lyman’s crazy voodoo lounge version that evokes visions of palm trees and sun-drenched white sand.
So sit back and enter the intoxicating world of ... TABOO.
Side A.
1. Charles Blackwell Orchestra - Taboo
2. The Shangaans - Taboo
3. Lecuona Cuban Boys - Tabou
4. Caterina Valente - Taboo
5. Tito Rivera & His Cuban Orchestra - Taboo
Side B.
1. Frankie Trumbauer's Orchestra - Taboo
2. Cyril Diaz & His Orchestra - Tabu
3. Sylvie Mora - Taboo
4. Arthur Lyman – Taboo