Various Artists / Salsa Explosion
Album: Salsa Explosion   Collection:World
Artist:Various Artists   Added:Oct 2010
Label:Strut  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2011-01-09 Pull Date: 2011-03-13 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Mar 13 Feb 20 Jan 23
Airplays: 1 2 1

Recent Airplay
1. Mar 11, 2011: Everyday Commotion
O Mi Shango
3. Feb 19, 2011: Music Casserole
O Mi Shango
2. Feb 19, 2011: New World Disorder
Cucala
4. Jan 18, 2011: At the Cafe Bohemian
Mama Guela

Album Review
Kamla Bhatt
Reviewed 2010-12-12
958-158
Fania Essential Recording: The New York Salsa Revolution 1969-79

Great collection of salsa music from the 1970s, which is when the term “Salsa” was coined. Salsa incorporates mambo, Cuban son & other Central & Latin American musical traditions.

Fania Records was a central player in promoting Salsa music during the 1960s and 1970s & this compendium has a nice selection of classical songs from well-known Salsa singers. You will hear traces of Soul & Big Band ina couple of songs.

Try 4, 5,6,7,10, 11, 12.

1.Puerto Rican singer Willie Colon. Lovely song. Definitely reminds you of a mellower time.
2. Infectious tune by Hector Lavoe, a well-known NY-based singer.
3.Opens with rhythmic percussion that reminds you of African music & then the Latin infusion starts. More of a fusion piece. Mongo Santamaria was a Afro-Cuban Latin American musician.
4.Lovely song. Reminds you of a different era. Tito Puentes signature is clearly evident in this song. And Ms. Celia Cruz does a fantastic job as always.
5. Beautiful soul music.The high point is the rich baritone voice of Joe Cuba Sextet lovingly crooning about his “el barrio” in NYC. If you listen closely you cannot miss the New York accent when he says “dessert.”
6. Right from the opening notes you are hooked by that rich and wonderful voice of Ms. Celia Cruz. Infectious tune with nice melody & rhythm.
7. Fast paced & infectious. An all-star performance that show cases the musicians more than the singers.
8. One of 2 English songs in the collection. Mid-tempo with Soul music influence that reminds you of 70s for sure.
9. Nice rhythmic song by the well-known Salsero Palmieri.
10.Tito Puentes & his band.Nice & mellow. Big band sound.
11.Lovely tune like a Latin Big band tune.Reminds you of the 1960s
12.Lovely & mellow with an infectious piano riff. Reminds you of those old TV shows of Desi Arnaz in “I Love Lucy”
13. Mellow song by the “Quincy Jones of Salsa.”
14.Simple but beautifully executed piece by well-known timbale player Rafi Val.
15.Slow and mellow song by Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe.Nice way to bookend the collection.

Kamla Dec 10, 2010

Track Listing
 ArtistTrack Name
1. Colon, Willie Che Che Cole
2. Lavoe, Hector El Todopoderoso
3. Santamaria, Mongo O Mi Shango
4. Puente, Tito/Celia Cruz Pachito Eche
5. Cuba, Joe Sextet Do You Feel It
6. Cruz, Celia/Johnny Pacheco Cucala
7. Fania All Stars Mama Guela
8. Pagan, Falfi Brother, Where Are You?
9. Palmieri, Eddie Bilongo
10. Puente, Tito & Azuquita Guaganaco Arsenio
11. La Sonora Poncena Bomba Carambomba
12. Baretto, Ray El Nuevo Barretto
13. Ramirez, Louie Ahora Es El Tiempo
14. Rafi Val Y La Diferente A Mi Nena
15. Colon, Willie/Hector Lavoe Todo Tiene Su