(c) 2000 Parcha Records
Distributed by: Universal Music & Video
RATING: ****
FAVORITE TRACKS: 1, 4, 6, 7, 9
This is the first CD of 2001 I review. Liking it a lot was a very easy thing to do because Miles Peña, with the assistance of Ramon Sanchez, Louis Garcia, and Cheo Arce in the arrangements department, kept this recording very simple and straight up dance oriented. Eight out of the nine tracks swing! Not only do they swing, but they also have the necessary ingredients that would please almost every salsa fan. If there was one word that would describe this CD it would definitely be the word balance. Solito Solo, the first track on this cd written by Rafi Monclova, with its super catchy hook "Mejor ir SOLO! SOLO! Que mal acompañado" and trademarked vintage Ramon Sanchez' brass melodies, is without a doubt a radio friendly song that will have you grooving all the way to the dance floor. Certainly Miles Peña's Lejos De Ti has several musical cliches, like the ever so intrusive snare drum back beat that I hate so much, the caballito strut which seems to be "a must" on all modern salsa recordings post Sergio George, and the dizzying coro style that's derived from the Cuban timba bands, BUT! And this is a big BUT! Miles Peña's soneo style is one of so much swing that you kind of forget about those nuisances, and start to groove to the beat of the CD. Matter of fact, as the tracks progress, they seem to pick up steam due to Miles himself. Lejos De Ti features a guajira/son montuno and straight up NYC-rug-cutting-dancers-delight track that maintain the balance of this production, as well as a place in your music collection.
(c) 1976 Combo Records
Distributed by: Combo Records
RATING: *****
LIKEABLE PERCENTAGE: 87.5%
This is the first recording made by the Puerto Rico All Stars. Featuring Andy Montañez, Paquito Guzman, Marvin Santiago, Luigi Texidor, Papo Lucca, Polito Huertas, Juancito Torres, Mario Ortiz, Elias Lopes, Augie Antomattei, Aldo Torres, Rafi Torres, Julio "Gunda" Merced, Manolito Gonzalez, Eladio Perez, Endel Dueño, and Tony Sanchez; The Puerto Rico All Stars were the "alternative" to the New York based Fania All Stars. The reissued CD, on Combo Records, contains ALL the original artwork from the original LP format without missing any detail. Great job Combo Records!!!
(c) 1977 Fania Records
Distributed by: G.B. Records
RATING: *****LIKEABLE PERCENTAGE: 80%
With ten tracks that include two boleros and a song dedicated to Panamá, with arrangements by Luis Quevedo, Papo Lucca, Bobby Valentin, and Jorge Millet amongst others; Justo Betancourt in the seventies coined the phrase "distinto y diferente". No se confundan.
RATING SYSTEM:
***** EXCELLENT (Must Have!)
**** GREAT (Very Impressive!)
*** GOOD (Safe Investment)
** AVERAGE (Not a Priority)
* POOR (Don't Waste Your Money)
LIKABLE PERCENTAGE (only applicable to classics):
IS DERIVED BY DIVIDING THE AMOUNT OF TRACKS "I LIKE", BY THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF TRACKS CONTAINED IN THE PRODUCTION.
©Nestor A. Louis ALL REVIEWS ARE SOLELY THE OPINIONS OF THE AUTHOR.