Los Terrificos really live up to their name here – in a set of sounds that take Latin roots and push them into the trippy territory you might expect from the cover! The group's headed up by Ray Lugo, who we love from other creative contemporary Latin projects – and he's really outdone himself here, by drawing deep from a range of South American rhythms – complicated changes that are sometimes served up in more classic instrumental arrays, sometimes with more unusual keyboard lines that give the whole thing a strong 21st Century vibe! Ray sings on the record, but the vocals are really the lesser focus – as the core energy comes from interplay between guitar lines, keyboards, bass, percussion, and some other sweet electric touches. Titles include "La Mordida", "A Correr", "La Pantera", "Todos Pa'L Norte", "Muerte En La Galera", "Cachas De Oro", "El Camino Azul", and "Polvo Plomo Poder". So heavy, the whole thing had to be pressed as two 45rpm records for maximum sound! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes some early work for Fonseca and United Artists too – titles that include "El Diferente", "Comejen", "Traigo De Todo", "Guaguanco Raro", "Agallu", "Aguzate", "Yenyere", and "Sonito Bestiasl". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard early work by Joe Loco – featuring the piano of the mad genius set in spare striking percussion arrangements with some occasional extra horn work! The best cuts have Joe really going to town on the keys, playing strange choppy little solos that are filled with the kind of imagination that shows that the roots of avant garde piano work of the 60s lies in the Latin players of the 50s. Titles include "Vaya", "Anaboaca", "Siboney", "Pan Con Queso", "Rhumba Rhapsody", and a great version of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A classic collaboration between Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco – one that uses the rootsier sounds of Pacheco's tumbao group to further focus the energy of Celia's vocals! The record's got a solid, cohesive feel that makes it easily one of the best Celia Cruz sessions of the 70s – a focus that no doubt comes from the sharp arrangements by Louie Ramirez, Bobby Valentin, Johnny Pacheco, and Papo Lucca – the latter of whom plays piano in Pacheco's group on the record. Charlie Rodriguez plays tres on a number of tracks, further enforcing the roosty element of the music – and titles include "Cuala", "Oriza Eh", "La Sopa En Botella", "No Aguanto Mas", "Rico Changui", and "Ni Hablar". CD

One of Mongo Santamaria's best albums from the 70s – and one of his funkiest too! The record's got a sweet electric groove that sounds mighty nice next to the Latin jazz arrangements on the set – almost in the feel of some of Candido's funky work from the time, but possibly even heavier! Justo Almario is on tenor and flute in the set – and Mongo's group here is a small combo, with electric bass, piano, and lots of sax and flute! Includes loads of great original tunes – like "Chambique", "Don't Step On My Tears", "Crazy Lady", "Besame", and "Malcolm X" – plus Mongo's semi-hit version of "Last Tango In Paris". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

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

Titles include "Mi Casa", "Apaga La Luz", "Come Down To Miami", "Don Jueyes", and "Ya Lo Puedoes Decir". LP, Vinyl record album

One of a number of successful 70s pairings of vocalist Celia Cruz with another strong Fania act – in this case the mighty La Sonora Poncena, who support Celia's vocals with a really full and focused sound! The styles here vary a bit – from a few rougher numbers to tighter tracks that soar out in a bold and brassy salsa groove – really pushing up Cruz from the bottom with a flowing sort of style overall, and hitting moments that rank with some of her other big Fania hits of the time. Titles include "Y Volvere", "A La Buena Si", "Raices", "Fina Estampa", "Sonaremos El Tambo", and "Soy Antillana". CD

Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco join forces with vocalist Justo Betancourt and pianist Papo Lucca – the latter of whom was making plenty big waves in music with Sonora Poncena at the time! Pacheco's the leader of the group on flute and percussion, but Lucca's piano has plenty of force in the set too – and the instrumentation also features some rootsier percussion and tres, which helps it avoid the too-slick sound you might expect. Celia and Justo sing, and titles include "Ahora Si", "Reina Rumba", "Se Que Tu", "Besito De Coco", and "Yerbero Moderno". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer work from this hip group led by trumpeter Ernie Agosto – a really raw combo who work in the best salsa energy of the time – with great production from Willie Colon! Titles include "La Voz", "Oriza", "La Conspiracion", "Jicoteca", "Tengo Poder", "Perlas Negras", and "La Niche". LP, Vinyl record album

Johnny Pacheco's working here with vocalist Luis Angel Silva Nava – also known as "Melon", hence the title and cover! The album's a crackling batch of straight samba from the 70s – played by a sharp little group with Sonny Bravo on piano, Luiz Perico Ortiz on trumpet, Luis Mangual on bongos, Charlie Rodriguez on tres, and Pacheco himself on both flute and percussion – both of which are handled with a slightly classic vibe. Production is nice and clean – like the best Vaya dates from the time – and the album does a great job of balancing Latin roots with the more youthful energy of the 70s New York scene. Titles include "Don Toribio Carambola", "Compay Anton", "Solo Estoy", "Vera Cruz", "Jicamo y Salsa", and "Nuestra Cita". CD

A surprisingly hard to find record by this popular Latin pair – and one of their sharpest 70s sets, too! Titles include "Mi Amigo Juan", "Richie Ray 1975", "Juan Sebastian Fuga", "Mi Mayoral", and "Jesus En El Jardin". LP, Vinyl record album

Straight 70s salsa from Mon – soulful vocals in front, and small combo backing from Joe Torres on piano, Milton Cardona on congas, Nicky Marrero on timbales, and Jose Mangual on bongos. Titles include "Se Dice Gracias", "Las Nenas Del Barrio", "Caldo Y Pescao", "Vuelvo A Viver", "Conmigo No", "Es Mejor Jugar Caballos", and "Carnaval En Margarita". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite 70s albums by Bobby Rodriguez – mostly for the first two tunes on the set! The best of these is the title track "Latin From Manhattan" – a really great number with a laidback jazzy feel, and lyrics that are a bit corny, but still pretty nice, almost in a Mark Murphy way. "After Midnight" follows that one up – and is a killer Latin jazz number with some great sax work by Bobby – searching soprano, almost in a post-Coltrane mode, and grooving with the band in a great way. Other tracks are still pretty nice too - and titles include "Sonero Del Barrio", "Cielito Lindo", "Siete Mujeres", and "Negra Sabrosura". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A classic collaboration between singer Justo Betancourt and percussionist Mongo Santamaria – who gives Justo some of his strongest backings of the 70s! Marty Sheller produced, conducted, and arranged most of the tracks – and gives the record the same sort of rock-solid sound he'd brought to Mongo's music from the 60s onwards – and the players are a stellar list of Latin talents, with Barry Rogers on trombone, Justo Almario on tenor and flute, Victor Paz on trumpet, Andy Gonzales on bass, Steve Berrios on timbales, and Mongo himself on congas and bongos! Most tunes are originals by Mongo, and Justo's vocals soar mightily over the grooves – on titles that include "Manana", "Cantandole Al Amor", "Cumbia Tipica", "Ubane (Canto Abacua)", "Miedo", "Kindimbia", "No Me Importa", and "Serpentina". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice hard salsa LP from the mid 70's, featuring Bobby Rodriguez on flute and Junior Cordova on lead vocals. Lots of good 70's tracks, played with fire and energy, and whipped up in a good mix by producer Ray Barretto. Tracks include "Pa'Borinquen Voy", "Don't Misundertand Me", "El Mensaje", and "Numero 6". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet little swinger from Julie London – a record that goes for a bit of a Latin vibe, in ways that change things up nicely – and makes for more of a kick than you'd normally hear on some of the mellower records that were initially London's calling card in the 50s! Ernie Freeman handles the music, so the groove isn't really straight Latin – but more of a syncopated approach that's different from the smoother London sounds on other Liberty albums, topped with some bold trumpet flourishes and marimba bits, too – ala the sounds starting up over at A&M Records! Titles include "Perfida", "Adios", "Vaya Con Dios", "You Belong To My Heart", "Sway", and "Yours". CD

A great follow-up to the Soldier's Sad Story collection on Kent – and like that one, a mindblowing collection of soul music from the Vietnam era! The CD is like finding a few lost pages in the history books on the war – as it represents a lesser-heard voice from the time, and a really unusual take on the conflict that strained America in the 60s and the 70s. While some of the songs are quite explicit in their meaning, the more unusual thing about the collection is the way that many of the tunes present their opinions in a more submerged way – as general themes of loss, disenfranchisement, and longing that take on whole new meaning when brought together in a collection like this. The quality of the set is really great, with full notes on the material to document their selection and connection – and the CD features a total of 23 tracks that include "Don't Cry My Soldier Boy" by Thelma Houston, "Am I Ever Gonna See My Baby Again" by The Sweet Inspirations, "I Should Be Proud" by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, "Vaya Con Dios/Fellows In Vietnam" by Inez & Charlie Foxx, "Open Letter To The President" by Roy C, "Welcome The Boys Back Home" by Bill Moss & The Celestials, "War" by The Temptations, "Soldier's Goodbye" by William Bell, "A Soldier's Prayer 1967" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Please Uncle Sam" by The Charmels, "Please Mr President" by King Solomon, "Does Anybody Know I'm Here" by The Dells, and "A Letter From My Son" by Melverine Thomas. CD

There's a slightly rootsy groove to this 70s set from Conjunto Candela – a cool mix of salsa-styled trumpet lines with tres from Tony Velez – a mode that's similar to some of the groups working on the Vaya and International labels at the time! Vocals are by Louie Rodriguez and Charlie Romero – and pianist Hector Castro's the leader of the group – clearly a musician with a great ear for keeping things somewhat simple and laidback, as the combo moves through the music with a really relaxed, open feel. Titles include "Guaracha Inmortal", "Bebiendo", "Mi Son", "Negro Cimarron", "Goya Esta Bailando", "Vecina Ten Cuidado", and "A Los Santos". LP, Vinyl record album

Lord Buckley's rare early recordings for the Vaya label in LA – groundbreaking sides that predated most comedy albums, and which also had a huge influence on the spoken word recordings of the beat generation! The tracks were recorded live, with Buckley talking in a mixture of jive and gibberish that may well have marked him as the first true hipster on record – and which also puts him in a lineage that's somewhere between Slim Gaillard and Babs Gonzales. Titles include "The Nazz", "Jonah And The Whale", "Nero", "Gettysburg Address", "Marc Antony's", and "Funeral Notation" LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent – and hard-to-find – album by Charlie from the early 70s! The album features Charlie's focus opening up a bit more, with longer tracks, more complicated arrangements, and some very nice unusual touches – like organ, melodica, and electric bass. Charlie's work on organ is really smoking – especially on the track "Que Sa Vaya", a smoking Latin groover that shows that the Hammond is right at home in the Latin vein. Elsewhere, Charlie's work on piano is wonderfully complicated, with lots of strange twists and turns on the solos – in a manner that was similar to the direction that Eddie Palmieri's work was taking at the time. Titles include "Coco", "El Pan Sobao", and "El Mundo Esta Bien". CD

Wganda Kenya were one of the most unique groups to record for the Discos Fuentes label in the 70s – and they were maybe also one of the coolest, too – as they never stopped in their pursuit of a groove, and were always able to mix together so many different styles at once! This gem of a record has some elements that begin in more familiar Colombian modes, but the group also bring in touches from American soul, Afro Funk, and lots more too – all with unusual instrumentation and production, at a level that really sets this album apart from the pack! Very different stuff than mid 70s sounds on Fania or Vaya – with titles that include "La Torta", "Dulce De Guayaba", "Mira Para Arriba Mira Para Abajo", "Mammy Boy", Tifit Hayed", "Fiebre De Lepra", and "Entre Tu Y Yo". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Brujeira", "La Gallinita", "Que Raro", "Gallito Pinto", and "Arroyito Cristalino". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful record from Alice Coltrane – a swirling mix of spiritual jazz and themes from Indian music! Alice plays organ, Fender Rhodes, and harp – building the sound as the album progresses, from simple airy strings to an earthier groove that features vocal refrains in unison with the keyboards, chanting away, over and over, stretching to the heavens in a cosmic groove! Most of the other musicians are Indian musicians, and the record features a lot of variations on traditional Indian themes – including "Sivaya", "Ghana Nila", and "Bhaja Govindam" – plus the original tracks "Transcendence" and "Vrindavana Sanchara". CD

One of the best-remembered solo albums by Steve Hillage – a record that tightens things up a bit more from his debut as a leader, but which still keeps most of the best progressive elements nicely intact! Hillage has a bit more presence here as a star – but at a slightly fuzzy level that's very much in keeping with the cover image – a sound that always puts the guitar center stage, and usually just brings in the vocals as an afterthought. The tracks here are mostly longish, and build nicely from cosmic guitar work that spins out in space – and titles include "Om Nama Shivaya", "It's All Too Much", "Lunar Musick Suite", "Electrick Gypsies", and "Hurdy Gurdy Man". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the classics from that 70s stretch when Alice Coltrane was really opening up her sound – not just walking away from more familiar jazz modes, but also embracing a very strong influence from Indian music and eastern thought as well! These elements had always been part of Coltrane's makeup somewhere in the background – but here, the modes are really foregrounded, as Alice plays some amazing organ, Fender Rhodes, and harp alongside a set of additional musicians that are mostly of Indian background – adding in some amazing percussion, and some incredibly haunting vocal chorus bits too! The approach is wonderful – different than her later, more meditative music – thanks in part to her excellent keyboards – and tracks include "Om Namah Sivaya", "Hare Krishna", and "Govinda Jai Jai". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful record from Alice Coltrane – a swirling mix of spiritual jazz and themes from Indian music! Alice plays organ, Fender Rhodes, and harp – building the sound as the album progresses, from simple airy strings to an earthier groove that features vocal refrains in unison with the keyboards, chanting away, over and over, stretching to the heavens in a cosmic groove! Most of the other musicians are Indian musicians, and the record features a lot of variations on traditional Indian themes – including "Sivaya", "Ghana Nila", and "Bhaja Govindam" – plus the original tracks "Transcendence" and "Vrindavana Sanchara". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Amor Mio No Te Vayas", "Se Supone", "Cosas Nuevas", "Algo Especial", "Conciencia", "Bomba De Tiempo", and "Sembrando Para Ti". CD