A killer album from the Fania All-Stars – one that's quite different than most of their other work at the time, with an open-ended jam session feel that really takes us back to the old days! The group here is really just a sextet – the core combo used to launch the group name on Columbia Records – and the session is one that was originally done for Columbia in 1976, when Gene Page had to cancel a studio date, and the band got the chance to jam by themselves in the studio! The result is a groove that's strongly jazzy, with lots of descarga energy – played by a group that features Johnny Pacheco on flute, Papo Lucca on piano, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Ray Barretto on congas, Bobby Valentin on bass, and Roberto Roena on bongos and assorted percussion. Roena sings on one track, but most of the set is instrumental – with nice long cuts that include "The War Gods", "Seis Con El Mismo Sabor", "Vento Conmigo", "Taxi To Aguadilla", and "Guajira Para Los Pollos". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little back to basics effort from the Fania All Stars – one that shakes off some of the electric and clubby influences that were creeping in during their years at Columbia, and returns the group to a mostly salsa groove! The sound here is bold and bright throughout – traditional at one level, but colored with modern inflections and a deepening sense of sophistication that may well make it one of the group's most cohesive records ever! Members of the ensemble include Roberto Roena, Johnny Pacheco, Luie Ramirez, and Papo Lucca – and vocals are by Celia Cruz, Adalberto Santiago, Ruben Blades, Santos Colon, Hector Lavoe, and Cheo Feliciano. Titles include "Dinamita", "Dime", "Ublabadu", "Cuando Despiertes", "La Borinquena", and "Encantigo". LP, Vinyl record album

A later date – but proof that the Fania All Stars groove can always be strong, no matter what the setting! This album's actually recorded by a smaller ensemble from the larger group – a sextet that includes Ray Barretto on congas, Roberto Roena on bongos, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Bobby Valentin on bass, Papo Lucca on keyboards, and Johnny Pacheco on flute and guiro – a very percussive ensemble working here in a strongly jazz-based mode! The sound is great – and even at the few points when the keyboards are slightly modern, there's always an overall sound that preserves an older Latin jazz approach. Some numbers have chorus vocals, but these really don't dominate – and the main focus here is instrumental work – on titles that include "The Click","Allegria", "Guasasa", "Quasedito", "De Nuevo A La Carga", and a great cover of Timmy Thomas' "Why Can't We Live Together". LP, Vinyl record album

A full-on set from the mighty Fania All-Stars – a session that matches some of the larger arrangements of their Columbia Records albums, but which also returns the group to more of a salsa-focused groove! Tracks are somewhat short – none of the jam sessions of the group's earliest years – but the sound is top-shelf all the way through, and a lot more classic than you'd guess from the cheesy cocaine image on the cover! Group members include Papo Luca on piano, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Roberto Roena on bongos, Yomo Toro on cuatro, and Lewis Khan on trombone – and singers include Hector Lavoe, Adalberto Santiago, Willie Colon, Ismael Rivera, and Celia Cruz. Titles include "Semilla De Amor", "Bilongo", "La Montana", "Rosa En El Fango", "Mi So Den Boso", and "Nina". LP, Vinyl record album

Features guest work from Gato Barbieri on tenor, and an appearance by Steel Pulse! Titles include "12 Bar", "La Tonada Del Gato", "De Vuelta A Mis Raices", and "Salsalito". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album – one that has the Fania All-Stars playing in a Latin club style that greatly influenced dance music for years to come! The title "Cross-Over" might make you think of this one as a sell-out attempt, but it's not – it's a brilliant effort by the New York Latin scene to reach a much larger audience, and at the time, it really really worked! The album's actually got a surprisingly strong jazz basis to a lot of the playing – mixed with soul, disco, and funk influences that helped make this one a big album in the crates of plenty of non-Latin listeners. Features work by Eric Gale, Ruben Blades, Louie Ramirez, and Johnny Pacheco – and includes the cuts "You Want It You Got It", "Brazilian Paradise", "What A Big Thing", "Los Bravos", and "Prepara". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunner of a record from the Fania All Stars – a tremendous attempt to move into a 70s soul vein, complete with Satin Soul arrangements from Gene and Billy Page! The record bubbles over with the funky orchestrations you'd expect from the best Barry White work at the time – strings soaring over snapping beats and warmly soulful instrumentation – bearing little resemblance overall to the earlier work of the Fania All Stars, but blowing our minds all the more because of the rich ability to change sound so much. There's load of wonderful funk tracks on the album – and titles include "Picadillo", "I'll See You Again", "Foofer Soofer", "Sabrosa", "Desafio", and a great cover of "Rosemary's Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little live album from The Fania All Stars – one that's recorded a few years after their classic sets at the Cheetah, Red Garter, and Yankee Stadium – but which still burns with the same sort of energy! The groove here has a bit more of a straighter salsa approach – as you'd guess from the date – but the record still features the cream of the crop of the New York scene, coming together with a masterful sense of power and togetherness! Vocalsits include Justo Belancourt, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, and Ismael Rivera – and titles include "Felicitaciones", "Ahora Si", "Publico Corriente", "Toro Mata", "El Nazareno", "Cucala", and "Yo Soy La Candela". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the better Fania All Stars albums from the time – recorded live in Havana, with a lineup that includes Roberto Roena, Larry Harlow, Reuben Blades, Johnny Pacheco, Ismael Quintana, and Papo Lucca. Includes the extended "Descarga A Cuba", plus "Castellanos Jam", "Mename La Cuna", "Llevale", and "Tres Lindas Cubanas". LP, Vinyl record album

After a disasterous attempt at recording a live show, the Fania All-Stars went in the studio with guests like Billy Cobham and Manu Dibango and created their funkiest album of the seventies. Although a few cuts are more Latin sounding, some of these tracks have a nice hard funky jazz feel, and sound like they could have been recorded for Prestige. There's great versions of "Soul Makossa" and "Viva Tirado", plus a very nice track called "Smoke". LP, Vinyl record album

A Latin soul party – beyond compare! The album's a completely wonderful live set that really captures the energy, excitement, and warm sociability of the hip New York scene at the end of the 60s. The music is stunning – a freewheeling blend of jazz, soul, and Latin themes – played with effortless ease by a lineup that includes Joe Bataan, Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Larry Harlow, Bobby Quesada, Louie Ramirez, Ralph Robles, and some of the other heavy-hitters of the Latin soul years. (Just imagine trying to get so many jazz or rock talents together on one stage – it would never happen!) The album's incredible – and even the spoken introductions and crowd noise really help set the feel of the era's mighty magic power! Titles on this first volume include "Country Girl-City Man", "Mi Gusta El Son", "Sabor Sabor" and "Guatacando". Firey stuff, and one of their best records! LP, Vinyl record album

A Latin soul party – beyond compare! The album's a completely wonderful live set that really captures the energy, excitement, and warm sociability of the hip New York scene at the end of the 60s. The music is stunning – a freewheeling blend of jazz, soul, and Latin themes – played with effortless ease by a lineup that includes Joe Bataan, Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Larry Harlow, Bobby Quesada, Louie Ramirez, Ralph Robles, and some of the other heavy-hitters of the Latin soul years. (Just imagine trying to get so many jazz or rock talents together on one stage – it would never happen!) The album's incredible – and even the spoken introductions and crowd noise really help set the feel of the era's mighty magic power! Titles on this second volume include "Kikapoo Joy Juice", "If This World Were Mine", "Richie's Bag", "Red Garter Strut", and "Son Cuero Y Boogaloo". Firey stuff, and one of their best records! LP, Vinyl record album

Live set with some African overtones. Players include Pacheco, Bobby Valentin, Ray Barretto, and Roberto Roena. LP, Vinyl record album

A mid 80s studio set from the Fania All Stars – and proof that the group was still going great at this time – almost reverting to their older modes of the early 70s, and shaking free of the more electric, more soul-based styles that group was using during their time at Columbia Records! The style here is very much in the spirit of the group's roots – long tracks that spin out with plenty of space for all the collaboration that made the Fania All Stars not only unique in Latin music, but a real model of artistic cooperation that other genres could certainly share! The group for this date includes vocals by Ismael Miranda, Celia Cruz, Adalberto Santiago, and Hector Lavoe – and titles include "Por Eso Yo Canto Salsa", "Usando El Coco", "El Rey De La Puntulidad", and "La Tierra No Es Pa La Guerra". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the proudest moments of the New York Latin underground – a time when some of its best players wound up playing for Columbia, through a brief affiliation between Fania and the larger label! And although you might think that the album would totally sell out the group's best points, it's actually a great batch of cuts that mixes the All-Stars' strong salsa and jazz grooves with some nice club-oriented rhythms – a blend that was perfect to show the growing sophistication of the Nuyorican scene in the late 70s! All the right touches are still strongly in place – and the record features work from Pacheco, Roberto Roena, Mongo Santamaria, and Louie Ramirez, as well as guests Bob James and Eric Gale. Titles include "En Orbita", "Awake", "Juan Pachanga", "Steady", "Jubileo", and "Ella Fue". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful soundtrack to one of the most important films to Latin music in the 70s! This double-length set features a huge array of work from the movie – not only important musical bits, both live and in the studio, but also snippets from TV, concert introductions, and lots lots more that show the range and cultural impact of the early 70s New York scene – stretching way past a simple understanding that you might have from other records! Players include Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Larry Harlow, Pacheco, and Bobby Valentin – and tracks include "Drum Story", "The Sugar Cane", "Hollywood", "Barrio", "Mi Gente", "Congo Bongo", "Slave Ship", "African Village", and "Soul Makossa". Also features guest appearances by Geraldo Rivera, Dezi Arnaz, Ismael Quintana, Carmen Miranda, and Al Jolson! LP, Vinyl record album

A fresh new groove from The Fania All Stars – one that definitely has them picking up some of the Spanish elements mentioned in the title – the fusing them into the tight mix of Latin, club, and jazz they were doing at Columbia Records in the late 70s! These new elements are often light – a bit of acoustic guitar here, maracas there, or some slightly different rhythms – and they're warmed up nicely by the mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation used by the group – who are definitely at the height of their disco powers here! Core players include Papo Lucca on keyboards, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Johnny Pacheco and Roberto Roena on percussion, and Bobby Valentin on bass – and other players include Hubert Laws on flute, Eric Gale on guitar, Luie Ramirez on vibes, and Luiz Perico Ortiz on trumpet. Vocals are by Ismael Miranda, Pacheco, and Ruben Blades – and titles include "Spanish Fever", "Que Pasa", "Space Machine", "Donde", "Your Sereneness", and "Sin Tu Carino". LP, Vinyl record album

The Fania All Stars pay tribute to older Latin great Tito Rodriguez – in a set of shorter tracks that's really the group's first true outing in the studio! The format here is quite different than the earlier live albums cut by the group – a sound that's a bit more focused, and without as much of the free solo interplay as before. Instead, there's a greater presence of the singers – as you might expect in a tribute to Tito – with lead vocals by Hector Lavoe, Ismael Quintana, Ruben Blades, and Justo Betancourt. Instrumentalists on the session include Willie Colon, Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Richardo Ray, and Roberto Roena – and titles include "Fue En Santiago", "Vuela La Paloma", "Cara De Payaso", "Involvidable", and "Tiemblas". LP, Vinyl record album

The Fania All Stars pay tribute to a form that inspired many of its players – but which faded from Latin vogue before the group was properly formed in the late 60s. The session's a nice bit of retro Latin, with some strong late era salsa touches. Titles include "Guajira Con Tumbao", a great groover, plus "Hueso Y Pellejo", "Me Voy Pa Moron", "Naranjo Y Lucas", "Isla Del Encanto", and "Vacila Con Tu Trago". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Congo Bongo", "Descarga Fania", "Ponte Duro", "Me Gusta El Son", "Mi Gente", and "Con Cuero Y Boogaloo". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album on Fania Records – and a massive album that showcases Pacheco's new style – a shift from his earlier charanga grooves to a more solidly percussive style, with lots of timbales and trumpet! The album's a key turning point in 60s New York Latin – and still crackles with all the youthful energy it had back in the mid 60s. Pete Rodriguez is on vocals, and tracks include "El Kikiriki", "Fania", "Dakar, Punto Final", and "Como Mango". Nice cover, too – with Pacheco playing timbales in front of a big cannon! LP, Vinyl record album

Later work from this legendary duo, but still with all the classic elements in place – great vocals from Bobby Cruz, in a combo that also features some trumpet solos from Doc Cheatham – on titles that include "Timoteo", "Aguila", "Los Fariseos", "En Las Nubes", and "Quedate Donde Estas". LP, Vinyl record album

The classic first album as a solo act from Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez – not the boogaloo artist with the same first and last name, but the singer who'd rose to fame on a series of classic albums with Johnny Pacheco! The style here is rich and soulful – a return to tradition in Latin male vocals, with roots that stretch past Pete's Puerto Rican homeland, and deep into 20th Century Afro-Cuban traditions. Arrangements are by Bobby Valentin, Louie Cruz, and Louie Ramirez – and the instrumentation mixes some 70s salsa brightness with the deeper tones of older years. Titles include "El Conde Negro", "Los Compadres", "Un Toque Pa Yambao", and "Lo Quiso Dios". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful, baby! Symphony Sid was one of the pivotal Latin DJs in New York radio, and throughout his career, he helped many of the city's best players and singers get their start on the scene. In 1972, Sid did his last radio show ever – and the event was broadcast from the famous Cheetah night club, with the help of a host of famous Latin music guest stars like Willie Colon, Willie Rosario, Ray Baretto, Orchestra Harlow, and others! This 2LP captures all the excitement of that broadcast, and has Sid rapping his usual rap in between songs, just as he did on radio. The release is an amazing way to sneak a peek into the NY Latin scene as it really existed, and since it's a double LP set, you get a huge amount of great material, put together and introduced by one of the greatest figures in the business. Very nice, and a priceless treasure! LP, Vinyl record album

Loads of Fania classics from the 60s boogaloo years – including "Bang Bang" by Joe Cuba, "The Meditation" by TNT Band, "Riki Chi" by Joey Pastrana, "My Dream" by Harvey Averne, "Gypsy Woman" by Joe Bataan, "Make It With You" by Ralfi Pagan, "Fortuna" by King Nando", and "I Like It Like That" by Pete Rodriguez. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most soulful records ever recorded by Joe Bataan – a sweet blend of harmony soul and east coast styles, done in a mode that's a bit less Latin than some of his earlier records – but really wonderful overall! The style here is almost late 60s Philly soul – particularly that of the Intruders, O'Jays, or other harmony-heavy groups – and the production has a rootsy edge that really gets at the honesty in Joe's approach. And given Joe's wonderful approach to these heartfelt tunes, we hardly miss the Latin rhythms at all – as we're really in love with his soul tunes here! Titles include "Ordinary Guy", "Unwed Mother", "Young Gifted and Brown", "Under the Street Lamp", and "I'm No Stranger". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Viejo Carrusel", "La Ultima Copa", "Anuque Me Maten", "Isaciable", "Copas Y Amigos", and "Rebeldia". LP, Vinyl record album

A smoking killer from Latin trumpeter Bobby Quesada – recorded during the Latin soul era, with vocals from Luis Rodriguez – and titles that include "Ritmo Canga", "Boogaloo Jala Jala", "Pelu Y Pelao", "Guaguanco A Las Mamis", "Pollo Frisao", and "Sueltame Ya". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Pa Bravo you", "Corazon Herido", "Sigo Bravo", "Lagrimas Y Tristezas", "Vete Y Pregona", and "Tu Y Tu Guarapo". LP, Vinyl record album

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Brilliant early work from a young Willie Colon – a true hustler if there ever was one! The album has an amazing energy that really bridges a number of Latin scenes – it's part descarga jamming, part Latin soul, and part traditional Latin – put together with a no-nonsense approach that makes the whole thing come off like magic. A young Hector LaVoe is on lead vocals, but the real star here is the group – who have a lean, mean, stripped-down sound that's really great! Includes the jammer "The Hustler", plus "Eso Se Baila Asi", "Havana", "Guajiron", "Montero", and "Que Lio". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice mix of 70s salsa and more traditional themes – part of the ever-evolving Pacheco sound during the great years of Fania, served up here with richly-ranged vocals from Hector Casanova! Casanova seems to push things a bit more than Pete El Conde Rodriguez did with Pacheco before – not only in terms of his vocals, but also in the overall aesthetics of the tunes, which seem to have a pan-historical feel. Titles include "Agua De Clavelito", "La Mulata", "Si La Tierra Tiembla", "Chamaca", "Me Llevaron La Cartera", "El Rey", and "Sale A Buscar". LP, Vinyl record album

A mid 70s cracker from Pacheco – salsa with a mix of traditional influences, in a mode that follows shifts of other Latin acts at the time, yet still keeps things in the lean grooves you'd expect from Pacheco! The album is is first in many without Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez on vocals – but that aspect's more than taken care of by lead singer Hector Casanova, who follows Pacheco well into this slightly shift in a new direction. Many tracks on the set are upbeat and lively, and titles include "Mango Mangue", "Prestame Los Guantes", "Las Muchachas", "El Chivo", "Simani", and "El Faisan". LP, Vinyl record album

Massive work – one of Charlie's best albums of the 70s! The album's a straight salsa set, but it's done with a truly pummeling level of energy that kicks in from the first note – really blasting in with some strong statements by the band, then letting loose on longer tracks than usual, all of which have Charlie's jazzy touch firmly in place! Arrangements are all wonderful – done by Charlie, Roy Roman, and Bobby Valentin – and vocals are by Menique and Julito Villot. Includes the instrumental track "Melodica In F" – which features Charlie playing some very weird melodica – plus "Arroz Con Bacalao", "Tiene Sabor", "Consuelate", and "No Puedo Mas". LP, Vinyl record album

The 10th album in a legendary 70s run from Roberto Roena and Apollo Sound – a set that has the group deepening their emotion and social themes a bit more than before! The core Apollo Sound is still very firmly in place here – with tight salsa-heavy horns offset by a saxophone, plus plenty of timbales, congas, and bongos at the bottom – cooking things up with an approach that's highly rhythmic, but shaded in wonderfully by the horns. Vocalists here include Tito Cruz and Carlos Santos – and titles include "Regano Al Corazon", "El Progreso", "Viva Cortijo", "Lamento De Concepion", "Necessito Llamar Su Atencion", and "Lo Que Dios Me Dio". LP, Vinyl record album

Oooooo-weee – a monster album by one of our favorite talents of the Latin soul era! Monguito Santamaria had a really great way of putting the electric bass right up front in his tracks – kicking things up with a bouncing groove that's as sock-boogaloo as boogaloo can get, and which makes for some of the most outta site tracks of his era! Nearly ever number's a winner – and the album's stuffed with killer groovers like "Groovetime", "Work Out", "Monguito's Theme", "Mambo New", "Chango", "Hey Sister", and "El Dorado". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the standout records from the second era of Bobby Valentin's career – a smoking 70s salsa set, bubbling over with great bass work by Bobby, and featuring some great instrumental touches, like tenor sax and vibes, which really push the sound past the usual! Lead vocals are by Marvin Santiago, but the strongest aspect of the record is the unity of the band's instrumentation – stepping together with incredible tightness, pulling the vocals in as an essential, part of the groove! Titles include "Pobre Soy", "Besos Brujos", "El Matakan", "Papel De Payaso", "Vete Pa'Lla", and "Amolador". LP, Vinyl record album

Legendary Japanese series of compilations, featuring some killer Latin groovers selected by the DJ team of Raphael Sebbag (UFO) and Izuru Utsumi! This set's got a very cool blend of 60s and 70s material, with a nice groovy edge that adds a bit of Latin soul to the mix. Titles include "There You Go" by Fania All Stars, "Shade Of Time" by Roberto Roena, "Cobarde" by Ricardo Marrero, "Sha-La Means I Love You" by Louie Ramirez, "Oh Calcutta" by Tony Pabon, "Boranda" by Sonora Poncena, and "Mrs. Robinson" by Ricardo Ray. Lots more nice ones, and limited on vinyl! LP, Vinyl record album

A wealth of boogaloo and Latin Soul killers – with work by Bobby Valentin, New Swing Sextet, TNT Band, Gilberto Sextet, Joe Bataan, and Johnny Colon! LP, Vinyl record album

A hell of a trumpeter – making his debut here on one of the grooviest albums on the legendary Latin Percussion label! The session's a bit fuller than some of the other LP albums – a crackling blend of jazz, funk, and Latin rhythms – warm, but with some pretty complicated moments, very much in the best spirit of the second wave of NuYorica grooves! There's still lots of the tight percussion that makes Latin Percussion sessions so great – but the record also features fuller instrumentation too – in ways that really make things soar. Players include Eddie Martinez on Fender Rhodes, Jon Faddis and Randy Brecker on additional trumpets, Steve Khan on guitar, and Carlos Patato Valdez on congas – and Ruben Blades even plays a bit of acoustic guitar on the record. The overall feel's a bit like some of the great Fania/Columbia co-productions – but a bit rawer at points – and titles include "Diana", "Genesis", "Nice & Warm", "Viva Martinez", "I Know", "Hot Blood", and "Perico" – most of which are separated by short percussion interludes! LP, Vinyl record album

Mon Rivera gets a great revival here during the height of the 70s salsa era – thanks to backings from Willie Colon, and a sound as solid as any of the best on Fania Records at the time! The album has Willie working with a tight combo that's heavy on trombone, piano, and percussion – backing up Mon's lead vocals, and also featuring Rivera a bit on guiro. The tunes are mostly lively bombas or plenas – romping around with a lot of joyous energy – with arrangements from Mon, Willie, and Jorge Millet. Titles include "Mosaico", "Baila Mi Bomba", "Pena De Amor", "Ya Llego", "La Humanidad", and "Si Te Vas". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most soulful albums ever recorded by Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers – a set that really shows the changing sound of Latin music in the late 60s – with some fresh vocals added to the group by Jackie Soul! Jackie only sings on a few cuts, but really brings in a raw Spanish Harlem vibe – one that gives the set a bit more of a Fania/Cotique sort of groove than usual – even when the group are leaping ahead on tight instrumentals – tunes that really sparkle with piano from Neal Creque, vibes from Willy Bivens, and tenor sax from Claude Bartee! Vocal gems include "Shuckin & Jivin", "CC Rider", and "You Are My Sunshine" – instrumental tracks include "Return To Me", "Swing Thing", "Maiden Voyage", and "How Insensitive". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty sweet late 70s salsa set from Chamaco Ramirez – a wonderful singer best remembered for his work in the 60s & 70s for bandleader Tommy Olivencia – and this is the one-and-only solo album to Chamaco's name! Alive & Kicking was released in 1979, and in a bit of sad irony, came out just a few years before Ramirez was killed, but sad history aside, it's a nice little record! Arrangements are by Javier Vazquez – and the group features lots of strong trumpet from Chocolate Armanteros, and tenor from Mario Rivera. Titles include "San Agustin", "Rumba Moderna", "Cuando Manda El Corazon", "Kikiriki", "Respetala", "No Es Vacilon", "Fania" and more. LP, Vinyl record album