Chivirico Davila: Chivirico y Su Nuevo Estilo (Cotique 1061)

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Charlie Palmieri: Hay Que Estar En Algo / You Either Have It Or You Don't (Alegre 858)

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Back, Side A, Side B

Kenny Dorham: Afro-Cuban (Blue Note 1535)

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10-inch version (Blue Note 5065):

Side 1, Side 2

Lou Perez and his Charanga: Bon Bon De Chocolate (Ajay 3362)

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Arsenio Rodriguez Y Su Conjunto: Vol. 2 (Ansonia 1418)

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Tito Rodriguez "A Man And His Music" Promo Video

Tito Rodriguez "A Man And His Music" coming out 11-03-09


Song: "La Toalla" From United Artists LP Tito Tito Tito
http://www.youtube.com/user/Faniavideos

Dax Pacem Orchestra: Dax Pacem Orchestra (Amaral 1010)

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Gil Suarez And His Hi-Latins: El Tramposo (Premio 915)

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Orquestra Soul: Los Boogaloos (Mercury 16338)

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Har-You Percussion Group: Har-You Percussion Group (Oro 5; ESP 1067)

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Machito: Kenya - Afro-Cuban Jazz (Roulette 52006)

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Coco Lagos y sus Orates: Ritmo Caliente (Mag 2338)

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Chico Orefiche: Latin Underground (Gema 3062)

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New LVJ Mix: 100% Descarga!

My main concern when I first started putting this mix together was that a 100% descarga mix might not offer enough variety to the listener, and might overwhelm them with too much of a good thing. Descarga tracks are usually frenetic and tension-filled, and also tend to not resolve all that nicely, so the risk of being over-stimulated by 19 of them strung together is real, yet one well worth taking. Those musical features of descarga are also why one rarely sees a 100% descarga album. Nearly all of the tracks on this mix came from albums that contained only a single descarga track, since most artists who dabbled in the style tended to use it sparingly on their albums, often as a kind of musical exclamation point put at the end (or beginning) of a side. Still, in spite of all these potential issues and pitfalls, the descarga mix that I am presenting here manages to work very well track to track and as a whole. The selections, due to their general similarity, have a way of meshing together and fully enveloping the listener in a way that a more varied mix could not. Give it a listen and judge for yourself.


LVJ Descarga Mix (113 MB), September 8, 2009
01. Fajardo Y Sus Estrellas "Descarga de Kiki"
02. Chuito Velez "Descarga"
03. Ricardo Ray & Bobby Cruz "Descarga"
04. Cachao "Descarga Guajira"
05. Willie Rodriguez "Descarga '72"
06. El Combo de Pepe "Descarga En Menor"
07. Eddie Palmieri "Descarga Palmieri"
08. Johnny Rodriguez & Angel Rene & Orq. "Descarga A and J"
09. Joe Pappy and His Combo "Descarga Caliente"
10. Johnny Colon "Descarga"
11. Lebron Brothers "Descarga Lebron"
12. Ray Perez Y Los Kenyas "Descargan Los Timbales"
13. Tito Rodriguez "Descarga Cachao"
14. TnT Band "Descarga TNT"
15. Hommy Sanz "Descarga"
16. Chorolo y su Combo "Descarga Atómica Chorolo"
17. Alfredo Linares "Descarga"
18. Bebo Valdés & His Havana All Stars "Descarga Caliente"
19. Quique Y La Sabrosa Orchestra "Descarga"

Sabu Martinez: Sabu's Jazz Espagnole (Alegre 802)

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Sabu Martinez: Palo Congo (Blue Note 1561)

Back, Side 1, Side 2

Pete Bonet: The Odds Are On (Swinger 155)

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La Cucaracha Brass: La Cucaracha Brass (Mary Lou 1007)

This is an odd little album that I discovered recently that was put together by Raphie Martinez and Bobby Marin. Six of the eight tracks are reworkings of songs that originally appeared on an earlier Mary Lou Records release, Raphie Martinez's Cool Man Boogaloo LP (Mary Lou 1002). The tracks have different names (slightly or completely), and some have different vocals, but the riffs and basic song structures are exactly the same, and they may have even just reused parts of instrumental tracks in some cases. The two remaining tracks, "Muerto De Risa" and "Papa Na Mas," which I don't recognize from elsewhere, feature vocalist Papo Felix. The one track that I think manages to improve slightly on the older/other version is the boogaloo/Latin soul cut "Hey, Mama" (a reworking of "Do It All Over"), which features Bobby Marin on vocals.


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Olivieri: "There's No Other Girl" 45 (Delta 1003)

One of my favorite Latin soul tracks.



Listen, Listen (CD rip), Listen (album version)

La Magia De Arsenio Rodriguez: Quindembo - Afro Magic (Epic 24072)

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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.


Listen

Listen

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.


Listen, Listen (CD rip)

Listen

LVJ August 2009 Mix

This is a mix of songs that I have been playing a lot lately; some are from recent purchases, some are from long-time collection staples, and others are from long-time wants. Tracks 12 through 17 are all pachangas, which is a style that has really caught my ear this year, especially when the caballo rhythm is strong, like it is on Al Castellanos' playful song "Mish Mash Pachanga." Listen and enjoy!


http://www.divshare.com/download/8288558-531

LVJ August 2009 Mix (94.25 MB), August 14, 2009
01. Roberto Anglero Y Su Congregación "Mi China"
02. Orquesta Olivieri "María Isabel"
03. Mike Hernandez "Buscando La Paz"
04. La Suprema Orchestra "Tiempo Del Paso Doble"
05. Orchestra Riviera "Yeribo"
06. Porfi Jimenez "Un Saludo A Puerto Rico"
07. Jimmy Sabater "Lalle, Lalle"
08. Louie Rey and His Orchestra "Mira Como Baila"
09. Roberto y Su Nuevo Montuno "El Nuevo Montuno Llego"
10. Lebron Brothers "Que Pana"
11. Clark Terry & Chico O'Farrill "Tin Tin Deo"
12. Al Castellanos "Mish Mash Pachanga"
13. Charlie Palmieri "Bronx Pachanga U.S.A."
14. Joe Quijano "La Pachanga Se Baila Asi"
15. Coco Lagos "Brava Pachanga"
16. Louie Ramirez And His Conjunto "Don Maceo"
17. Arsenio Rodriguez & His Orchestra "Chango Pachanga"
18. Mongo Santamaria "Druma Kuyi"
19. Mark Weinstein "Ochun"
20. Charlie Palmieri "El Niño Andreu"
21. Kako Y Su Combo Gigante "El Jaleo"
22. Chano Martinez "A San Francisco"

Clark Terry & Chico O'Farrill: Spanish Rice (Impulse 9127)

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Lebron Brothers: Salsa Y Control (Cotique 1049)

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The Latin Dimension: It's A Turned On World (Columbia 5225)

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