... LP, Vinyl record album

Very groovy organ work from the amazing Mike Dogliotti – a player with a wonderful sense of whimsy and rhythm, heard here in a key collection of jazzy groovers – tracks that are almost the Argentine answer to Walter Wanderley's classic bossa sides from the 60s! The styles here are all quite lively – with a fair bit of heavy percussion underneath Mike's lightning-fast work on the keys – organ lines that move way faster even than Wanderley's best, and which show a similarly fluid approach! And in case you're worried that you've never heard of Dogliotti before, don't worry – because the package features a whopping 27 tracks in all, including 2 complete albums' worth of music, plus bonus tracks – more than enough to help you catch up on listening! Titles include "Don Pascual", "Candela", "Dona Gregoria", "Las Mazanas", "Siga El Baile", "Tierra", "Biricunyamba", "Ahi Va La Camparsa", "Chiquilada", "Biafra", "El Candomble", and "Palo Y Tamboril". CD

One of the more ambitious projects put together by Milton Nascimento – a soaring work that takes the previous sense of majesty in his music even further than before! The tracks were all arranged and directed by Milton, with writing help from Pedro Casaldaliga and Petro Tierra – on titles that include "Em Nome Do Deus", "Offertorio", "Rito Da Paz", "O Senhor E Santo", and "Louvacao A Mariama". CD

Hard driving early 70s psych rock from Argentinean combo Piel De Pueblo – with searing guitar grooving and a heavily rhythmic bottom end of bass and drums! The guitars here are really as driving as can be, but it's service of the thundering overall feel. The is equally extroverted, and since it's not sung in English we can't comment on the topical nature – but it's impassioned stuff from an aural standpoint. Nice stuff – with a sounds that range from garage fuzziness to post Hendrix heaviness. Titles include "Silencio Para Un Pueblo", "A Tierra En 998 Pedazos", "Jugando A Las Palabras", "Para Tener Un Poco Mas", "La Palida De Nacho", "Veni Amigo A La Zapada", "El Rockito De La Bufonada" – and it's about time we stocked an album with a song called "Sexo Galactico"!!! CD

A great mid 70s record by Antorcha – whose late 60s records as Las Antorchas were a great mix of styles – from beat, to garage, mod and psych – and by this point in the mid 70s, shortened their name and honed their groove into heavier, moodier style that's even better! Heavy rhythms and moody textures – with some really haunting organ grooves – and an overall vibe that's up there with some of greater underground rock around the world at the time. By this point, the band was producing and promoting themselves – and put up a number of EPs that are compiled here for this great 11 song set: with "En El Jardin Del Eden", the English-sung "Grass" and "Going Down", "La Tierra", "Crisalida", "Bracero", "Mira", Quiero Vivir" and more. 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 most obscure albums issued on the legendary New York Coco Records imprint of the 70s – and one of the rootsiest too, as the set's got a vibe that's a bit earthier than some of the label's records by bigger-name acts! The percussion is totally great – almost descarga-inspired at times, with basslines wrapped around the congas and other instruments in a really great way – as the whole thing soars together with the best sort of righteous vibe that the 70s salsa scene had to offer! Vocals are by Jesus Joey Burgos, who also handled some of the songwriting – and arrangements are by Arturo Aguilar, Diego Centeno, Hector Narvaez, and Edgar Martinez. Titles include "Hasta Tu Puerta", "Genesis", "Mi Tierra", "Nunca Olivdare", "Dame Un Dia", and "Cosas De Mi Inspiracion". 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

Titles include "Cake A La Mode", "Conga A La Americana", "Tierra Mia", and "Afro En Toulouse". CD

The great Joe Quijano was still cutting some killer music in the 80s – as you'll hear on this cooking set with lots of great arrangements from Paquito Pastor! Features flute and baritone from Mario Rivera, and flute and alto from Bobby Nelson – both of whom bring in some nice jazzy currents – on titles that include "Me Hace Falta", "El Muerto Se Fue De Rumba", "Alla En Mi Tierra", and "La Media Vuelta". LP, Vinyl record album