Salsa buyers guide by Robert Navan
So! You went to the club, danced salsa and merengue, enjoyed yourself,
especially the music. Full of enthusiasm,you rushed off to buy some Latin
music. However, you couldn't get anything vaguely resembling the music
that you danced to. This is a common problem in Ireland. Okay! There's
plenty of good Cuban music, particularly "son" available, with groups like
Sierra Maestro and Cubanisimo on the shelves of most of the major record
chainstores (e.g. HMV, Virgin, Tower). Great music for sure, but it only
accounts for a small part of the playlist of most Latin DJs. You are
likely to have spent most of your evening dancing to Salsa from Colombia,
Puerto Rico, New York,, Miami and Merengue from the Dominican Republic.
The bad news is that it's very unlikely that you are going to find the
latest hits from these places in an Irish shop. Now and then a CD appears
when it is like one of those exotic birds that sometimes get blown off
course and land on our shores. These albums don't usually last long on the
shelves as the aficionados promptly snap them up on their regular patrols
in the never ending search for the "escaped" prize. The good news is that
there are other methods of getting your hands on good, modern salsa and
merengue as played in the clubs.
Here are a few tips to get you on your way. No doubt you will find other
methods - and I for one will be glad to hear them!
(A) In store ordering: A slow process often taking six weeks for your
CD/tape to arrive and as most of the stores don't catalogue you will have
to know exactly what you want and often the details of the label. Recently,
I made a surprising but very useful discovery that Trinity Records (Trinity
St. D2.) not alone has a Latin catalogue but can often import your order
from the U.S.A within a fortnight and what's more offer very competitive
prices.
(B) Mail order / Internet : The big names here are for the sake of speed
and cost - all UK- based. El Barrio Latino (5a Goodge Place, London
What to buy:
In each issue of Enlace (editor and space permitting) I will select half a
dozen salsa/merengue favourites form the DJ's box to help you build a
collection. Also I hope to look at new released and also some old
classics. Let's start with a few recent modern 'essential' albums (not in
any order of merit). All of these should be readily available by the
previously mentioned methods.
Oscar D'Leon: Title - El Sonero del Mundo: (label RNM No:RMD82003)
An ever-present record in the history of salsa, from Venezuela and one of
the great voices of salsa, with a selection of finely crafted songs which
gets better with each listen. With contributions by Willie Chirino. Still
a great favourite two years after release.
Jose Alberto (El Caario): Title - Back to the Mambo/ Tribute to Machito
(label RNM:RMD82069)
Another of salsa's superstars with a tribute to bandleader Machito,
containing a whole raft of dancefloor fillers.
Frankie Ruiz: Title - Oro Salsero/2D Exitos/2CD set: label
(Rodven/Polygram No. 863-673-Log/2
Twenty hits from the late Frankie who died last year and left behind a
substantial catalogue of Latin chart toppers. This medium-priced
collection is a fine introduction and includes such well known tracks as
"Bailando".
Grupo Gale: Title - En su sitio: (label Codiscos No: C11264)
The hottest thing in recent years from Colombia. This is their third album
and so far they haven't laid down a duff track. So, if you see any album by
them - buy it! However, this label is in fact Colombian and they do not
seem to have a tie-up with any of the majors. This may be one that is hard
to find but definitely worth it. ( I got a copy in London)
Los Herman's Rosary: Title - Los duenos del swing: (Label Karen No:
107930169-2)
The giants of merengue with every track a dance number. Again, you can
safely buy anything by this group and be sure of getting a "hot" dance set.
Jossie Esteban y la Patrulla 15:- Exitasos bailables Vo12: (Label Top Ten
Hits No: TTH CD1970)
Mr. Happy of the dance scene. I have not been able to lay my hands on
Vol.1. There seem to be several labels purporting to have the "best
of". This is a good representation of a prolific artist. Be wary! Without
La Patrulla 15 he has been known to do collections of sentimental
"baleros". Well, this is a short introduction and I would not make any
claims to its "artistic" merits. Anyway salsa/ merengue is primarily a
"happy" experience and to my mind does not need to be deeply examined.
Enjoy the beat and good hunting!