Killer Latin soul from one of the all-time greats – a collection of greatest hits from
Mongo Santamaria, but a set that's every bit as essential as his full length albums for Columbia! Most of the cuts on the album were arranged by
Mongo's key right-hand man – the great Marty Sheller, who was an excellent trumpeter, a great writer, and a skilled arranger who knew how to make
Mongo's whole group swing with incredible tightness! The cuts are all instrumental, with hard conga-heavy grooves, and some wonderful jazzy breakaway solos, played by folks like Hubert Laws or Ronnie Cuber. Titles include "El Pussy Cat", "The Now Generation", "Cold Sweat", "Cloud Nine", "We Got Latin Soul", and "Fat Back".
(Latin, Soul) (70s pressing – CS 1060.)