Ricardo Ray & Bobby Cruz: "El Sencerro" 45 (Fonseca 154)

Even though the sound/pressing quality of white label Fonseca releases (both LPs and 45s) is usually pretty poor, really good songs have a way of helping one listen past the hiss and noise, which is certainly the case with this excellent shingaling track laid down by Ricardo Ray & Bobby Cruz.


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Louie Ramirez: "I Dig Rhythm" / "Baby Don't You Cry Now" 45 (Mercury 72771)

Throughout the 60s, Louie Ramirez was a prolific composer, arranger, player, and band-leader, releasing albums on Remo, Atco, Fania, Alegre, and Mercury. This solid boogaloo/Latin soul double-sider features an (earlier) uptempo version of "I Dig Rhythm," a song which also appears on his Ali Baba LP but with a much different arrangement. The Latin soul flip side, "Baby Don't You Cry Now," also shows up on the Dianne and Carole LP on Speed, which Ramirez arranged and conducted on, but this version is far superior.


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The Terrible Frankie Nieves: "True Love" / "Amor Sincero" 45 (Speed 1015)

This is without a doubt one of the hottest and most in demand Latin Soul 45s out there. It used to be a solid $75-$100 record but since blowing up in the last couple of years it can easily go for two or three times that depending on the seller. The backing track is obviously great but what really pushes it into the sublime are the amazing vocal performances on each side.


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El Combo de Pepe: "Bailando Bugaloo" / "Yo Triago Bugaloo" (Lider 10132)

"Bailando Bugaloo"

"Yo Traigo Bugaloo"

Alfredito: "Guajira Con Bugaloo" / "Tell Me That You Love Me" (Cotique 104)

The two best tracks from Alfredito's Guajira Con Boogaloo LP (CS-1003) on one 45.


"Guajira Con Bugaloo"

"Tell Me That You Love"

Orlando Marin 45s on Fiesta: "Lucky Cha Cha Cha" & "Carmelo"

For some reason, the cha cha cha musical form seems to lend itself to corniness (unlike, say, mambo), and when it comes to 50s cha cha cha, the songs are usually either brilliant or boring (and there are lots more boring ones), so it is easy to develop an aversion to the style before actually hearing the good stuff.

The two Orlando Marin songs below are both late 50s cha cha cha tracks that stand out by employing a percussion sound that is markedly louder than what one might hear on an average cha-cha track. This heavier sound is achieved largely with the cowbell, which is right up front and getting worked for everything it's worth on these two songs. The plodding style in which the songs are played also adds to their uniqueness. I would compare the sound to a busy construction site, where the clang of metal on metal, metal on wood, and metal on concrete are central to the daily soundtrack. In other words, these dudes are putting in work.


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Chico Hamilton: "Conquistadores Part I" / "Conquistadores Part II" 45 (Impulse 241)

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FANIA Gold Label 45s