545. Youssou N'Dour - Immigrés (1984)

















Track Listing

1. Immigrés/Bitim Rew
2. Pitche Mi
3. Taaw
4. Badou

Review

You probably know Youssou N'Dour for his collaboration with Neneh Cherry. But if you don't know him for anything else you really don't have a perspective on his career or where he is coming from.

This album is a very worthy one indeed. Part of its worthfulness is its authenticity, this is an album for Senegalese consumption, it is not an album made to be a "breakthrough" album, it isn't catering for Western tastes, and that simple fact makes it a rare thing to find on this list.

The music is pretty good, and the highlights are the two first tracks, both of them amazing. Yes, there is some use of synths here, but they are never overpowering, and the influence for Cuban music as well as the original Senegalese elements come through much more markedly. This is music that would be extremely influential. In no time Youssou would be working with Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon. For an album to break the boundaries of a country like Senegal and become internationally recognised is no mean feat, and represents the sheer quality of the music within. And Youssou has an amazing voice.

Track Highlights

1. Pitche Mi
2. Immigrés/Bitim Rew
3. Badou
4. Taaw

Final Grade

9/10

Trivia

From Wikipedia:

Rolling Stone described the album as "wonderfully moving,"

Immigrés: