The second album recorded by Cuban vocal legend Ibrahim Ferrer in the wake of the Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon – and maybe the best! Ferrer's vocals are superb throughout – and the production is relatively stripped down, and never too intrusive – even when producer Ry Cooder is getting some time on the tracks on guitar. To our ears, the best musical element may be the bassist Cachaito – whose rock-solid lines ground everything perfectly – on titles that include "No Tiene Telarana", "Naufragio", "Fuiste Cruel", "Boquinene", "Boliviana", and "Hay Que Entrarle A Palos A Ese". This new version features fresh mastering by Ry Cooder, a shifted song order, and unreleased tracks that include "Ojos Malvados", "Me Voy Pa Sibanicu", "Mujer", and "Ven Conmigo Guajira". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the best album ever from the mighty Ricardo Marrero – a 70s Latin talent who didn't record much, but always gave the world something wonderful when he did! The set's got this really great vibe – some cuts that update 60s Latin soul modes with even more righteous 70s elements – other numbers that are more jazz-based, almost in the territory of Cal Tjader's funky Latin tracks! A number of the cuts have vocals by a female singer – who really helps give the whole thing a feel that's very different than the usual Latin record of the time – almost a dose of Cali soul, even though Ricardo was more of a east coast talent at the time! Titles include the classic funk cut "Babalonia" – plus "Tiny", "Algo", "And We'll Make Love", "Vengo", "Get Yourself Together", "My Friend", and "A Taste Of Latin". CD

A mad little album put together by producer Joe Cain – and featuring the Ideas group of trumpeter Cabrerita! Cabby's got a sound that's pretty full-on – often blowing for all he's worth, and really taking things over the top of the tunes. The album's got one 6 minute descarga number that really has him jamming with the percussion and piano of the group, and even the shorter tracks on the album have a pretty uptempo and lively feel. Juan Coronel sings on a number of tunes, and titles include "A La Loma De Belen", "Soy El Loco", "Sobre Salsa", and "Dime Si O No". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe one of the most wonderful things to come out of the Buena Visa Social Club project of Ry Cooder – a record that introduced many Americans to the voice of Cuban singer Ibrahim Ferrer – a talent from back in the day, but one whose route to US audiences was closed for decades because of politics! We were always a bit skeptical of the sepia-toned attitude of Cooder's project, but this album really stands out – as the warmly sentimental approach works perfectly for Ibrahim's vocals, giving them the right sort of life to cross oceans and boundaries – on titles that include "Silencio", "Herido De Sombras", "Bruca Manigua", "Mami Me Gusto", and "Que Bueno Baila Usted". CD

The second album recorded by Cuban vocal legend Ibrahim Ferrer in the wake of the Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon – and maybe the best! Ferrer's vocals are superb throughout – and the production is relatively stripped down, and never too intrusive – even when producer Ry Cooder is getting some time on the tracks on guitar. To our ears, the best musical element may be the bassist Cachaito – whose rock-solid lines ground everything perfectly – on titles that include "No Tiene Telarana", "Naufragio", "Fuiste Cruel", "Boquinene", "Boliviana", and "Hay Que Entrarle A Palos A Ese". CD

(Vocalists, Latin) CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

To signal in the "new era", it appears that Raul Marrero decided to appear on the cover of the record hugging a nude model. (That's the sort of era we can get behind!) Apart from the cheesy cover, though, the set's a very tasty batch of 70's salsa tracks, with arrangements by Louie Ramirez, Charlie Palmieri, and Joe Cain – and playing by Charlie and Louie, plus Chocolate, Vinnie Bell, and Javier Vazques. Titles include "Quiero Besarte", "Siempre Alegre", "Mi Filosofia", "Sonar No Me Cuesta Nada", and "El Toca Toca". Tough to find in the original, too! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A tribute to the music of the postwar years – served up with a cool combo that has Louie Ramirez on timbales and Isidro Infante on piano – the latter of whom arranged most of the tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

With the Louie Ramirez Band. LP, Vinyl record album

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A contemporary legend in Latin music – one that was done in collaboration with the film of the same name – organized by Ry Cooder, directed by Wim Wenders, and put forth as a reminder to America that Cuban culture was still going strong, even decades after we turned our backs on the nation! The "social club" in the title is well-put – as there's a relaxed, easygoing approach to the music here – warmly collaborative efforts from some of the greats of the scene in Havana – many of whom were able to enjoy renewed global attention, thanks to the efforts of the record and film. The lineup features Ruben Gonzalez on piano, Eliades Ochoa on guitar, Cachaito on bass, and Guajiro on trumpet – plus famous vocal contributions from Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Omara Portuondo. Titles include "Chan Chan", "Dos Gardenias", "El Carretero", "Candela", "Viente Anos", "El Cuarto De Tula", "De Camino A La Vereda", "Murmullo", and "Orgullecida". 2LP version features rare bonus tracks – including a trio take of "Orgullecida", plus "Vicenta", "As Tus Pies", and "La Cleptomana". Also comes with a big booklet of notes and images too! (Note: This item is not for sale online until 7:00am on Sunday, April 21. It is in limited supply – and by nature of the Record Store Day rules it will be offered for sale first to customers who visit the Dusty Groove retail outlet in Chicago the morning of Saturday, April 20. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after 7:00am on April 21 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

A great lost descarga session from the 60s – led by Chihuahua Martinez! Martinez plays both timbales and guiro on the sessions, fronting a group that includes Alberto Valdez on conga, Mike Martinez and Chivirico Davila on coro, Manfredo Lee on guiro, Elpidio Vazquez on piano, Elpidio Vazquez on bass and Pupy Legarreta on flute and violin. The set features some nice vocals by Goody Osvaldo – but there's also a key focus on the instrumentation, with quite a bit of flute in the mix. Nice stuff! Titles include "Descarga Chihuahua", "Te Necesito", "Guajiro Son", "Ritmo Ideal", "Echate Palla", "No, No No Te Voy A Querer", "Busco Una Chiquita" and "Me Voy Pa Moron". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the finest Peruvian grooves of the 60s and 70s – served up by three different groups headed by reedman Nilo Espinosa, plus a few other combos as well! Nilo's got a way with a groove that's totally unique – a bit soul jazz a times, influenced by bossa at others, and sometimes even moving into sweet electric fusion – always with a very pronounced sense of rhythm that makes nearly all of his numbers into the kind of groovers that can easily traverse the globe far from their roots in the Peruvian scene! The package features work from the mid 60s Los Hilton's, the early 70s Bossa 70, and the mid 70s Nil's Jazz Ensemble – the last of whom have been favorites for years with crate-diggers, due to their use of electric keyboards and very tasty drums! Titles include "Here Come The Hilton's" and "Sherezade" by Los Hilton's; "El Gato", "Think", "Get Out Of My Way", and "Las Mariopsas" by Bossa 70; "Reflexiones", "Summer Love", "Hard Work", "Looking For A Blues", and "Somos Nada" by Nil's Jazz Ensemble; "El Bueno El Feo Y El Malo" by Nilo Espinosa Con Los 007; "Light My Fire" by Charlie Guerrero; "Gotas De Miel" by Nilo Espinosa Y Orquesta; and "People Got To Be Free" by Charlie & Many. (Jazz, Latin) CD