Mongo Santamaria : Skins (Mongo Explodes/Go Mongo) (LP, Vinyl record album) -- Dusty Groove is Chicago's Online Record Store
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Skins (Mongo Explodes/Go Mongo)

LP (Item 7823) Milestone, Early 60s — Condition: Near Mint-
2LP Gatefold
Two early albums – back to back in a single set! First up is Mongo Explodes – a killer early album by Mongo Santamaria – almost an equal blend of jazz and Latin rhythms, and a great illustration of the unique contribution that he was making to both types of music back in the 60s! Mongo's group here is filled with some really great horn players – Nat Adderley on cornet, Marty Sheller on trumpet, Ronnie Capers on alto sax, and Pat Patrick on baritone – really hitting a hard-edged groove that's as filled with soul jazz solo inflections as it is with Mongo's great work on percussion! The reeds bring a sharp edge to the record that keeps on going throughout – pushing the set with a lot more soul than other Latin sides from the time, particularly those in the charanga mode. Most tracks are short and feisty, and titles include "Skins", "Fatback", "Dot Dot Dot", "Corn Bread Guajira", "Para Ti", "Sweet Tater Pie", and "Tacos". Next is Go Mongo – one of the best of the early Mongo LPs for Riverside, and a tight session of Latin jazz tracks by a group that includes Pat Patrick, Paul Serrano, and Al Abreu on tenor and flute. The reed parts are nice and hard, and a few tracks have vocals, but most are instrumentals. Titles include "Happy Now", "Tumba Le Le", "African Song", "Carmela", and the long groover "Congo Blue".  © 1996-2024, Dusty Groove, Inc.

Near Mint - (minus)

  • Black vinyl that may show a slight amount of dust or dirt.
  • Should still be very shiny under a light, even with slight amount of dust on surface.
  • One or two small marks that would make an otherwise near perfect record slightly less so. These marks cannot be too deep, and should only be surface marks that won't affect play, but might detract from the looks.
  • May have some flaws and discoloration in the vinyl, but only those that would be intrinsic to the pressing. These should disappear when the record is tilted under the light, and will only show up when looking straight at the record. (Buddah and ABC pressings from the 70's are a good example of this.)
  • May have some slight marks from aging of the paper sleeve on the vinyl.
  • Possible minor surface noise when played.

Additional Marks & Notes

If something is noteworthy, we try to note it in the comments — especially if it is an oddity that is the only wrong thing about the record. This might include, but isn't limited to, warped records, tracks that skip, cover damage or wear as noted above, or strictly cosmetic flaws.



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