Call it Salsa, call it Latin, call it what you want, but in the 1960s-70s Fania Records was making a lot of it with a ton of stars, and right now you get to hear some of the most exciting sounds of the era. All that’s missing is 8 track versions!
Puerto Rican born Ismael Rivera put together a team of Manuel Gonzalez/as, Victor Gonzalez/bongos and Frankie Malabe/cong for a sizzlilng collection of street sounds like the festive “Traigo De Todo” and the sizzling “Satelite” that defies you to stay seated. You get vocal choruses, earthy solos and slithering grooves as well as romantic bel canto “Lagrimas Puras”. When Old School was still new.
Vocalist Hector Lavoe, also from Puerto Rico, had a hit with 1976’s Depende featured the uptempo “Hacha Y Machete” while the dark and string laden “Tanto Como Ayer” oozes with pathos. Star arranger Willie Colon also had future superstar Ruben Blades in the vocals for this classic. Caliente!
1985’s Revento has Lavoe mixing traditional son with American Latin sounds, making for irresistable flavors on “La Fama” and “Dejala Que Siga while “De Que Tamano Es Tu Amor” a heart ringer.
From the Dominican Republic, bandleader and timbales master Johnny Pacheco’s 1964 Canonazo was Fania’s initial release, and it made the airwaves. The energy oozes with rich choruses and heated horns as on “Canonazo” and the fun street fest of “El Kikiriki”. The choruses are infectiously rhythmic on their own, creating rivulets on “Fania” and “Campeon” with the relentless timbales. Oye!
The collaboration between Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco in 1974 was important both musically and socially, bridging generations and styles. The two, surrounded by percolating percussion and earthy horns, create sparks as on the vibrant “Quimbara”, and Cruz digs in deep on the lead on the hypnotic “Toro Mata” with the two working around the tres on the energetic “Canto A La Habana”. Sweaty sessions!