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Afro | Brasil |
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Latin | Mid-East Links below are to the Hyp Records guide to records & artists: 
Pertinent records listed & rated: See the Vinyl Safari section for pages on Only Hip Wax items are for sale! Tip: Search idiom (e.g., "Latin soul") or label (e.g., "Fania"). |
The Word: The best Latin (& Latin soul, -jazz, -rock, -twist) records available anywhere: the great NYC labels, small-label obscurities, and major-label masterpieces; select Cuban, santero, and percussion LPs. From top classics to fantastic rarities for collectors, this is the stuff!
Three pages of Latin LPs, listed by artist:
Bargain LPs: Not everything is a collectors item! We have quite a few of the very best Latin records that sold well enough in their day to be still just $15. Get top copies --of the real thing-- and work your way up to the heavier stuff. The frugal (and DJs) also can find bargains among lesser copies where two or more are listed. Yes, we do buy even great rarities more than once!
Discount: usually free mailing offered; possibly more if multi-item order
Images: for identification purposes only; photo may not be of the exact copy listed/purchased (but usually is)
Grupo Afro-Cubana dir. por Alberto Zayas: Afro-Frenetic ("Tambores de Cuba"); Panart LP-3053; black deep groove N/N- shrink $125 -- "Cuban Afro Folklore Rhythms"; legendary Afro-Cuban monster featuring Cuba's master hill drummers (with some singers), mercifully captured almost by chance in a unique, famous, absolutely essential session (also released as Hi-Fi Cuban Drums on Capitol but w/Panart you get a different, hipper, gorgeous jacket); total smoker essential to any decent Latin collection (whether for top percussion, roots, jazz, or impressive eye/ear appeal); Angoa, Cha Cha Cha Cubana, Acere, Bwana Tamboola, Conga, Yenguele Maria, Oriza, Bongosera (guaguanco en bongo)
Grupo Afro-Cubana dir. por Alberto Zayas: Hi-Fi Cuban Drums; Capitol T-10141; c.1957; deep groove Canadian pressing E-/V+ $60 -- Afro-Cuban chants/drums; famous, classic, monster session of master hill drummers & singers "recorded spontaneously en la Isla de Cuba"; reissued as Afro-Frenetic on Panart; rare Canadian pressing shows surface wear but plays very well
Fernando Albuerne con el Trio Los Cubanitos: Recuerdos de CUBA; Panart LP-3097; black label (heavy vinyl) N-/N- shrink $30 -- Cuban/vocal; rare, good Panart (authentic old Cuban recording), in top shape yet low-priced (a real prize); features guajira, bolero, criolla, son; El son en le montana, Olvido, Ansias-que boca la tuya, Veinte anos, A la mujer cubana, Amorosa guajira, Ausencia, Pensamiento, Alma de roca, Migajas de carino, Yo te ame
Xiomara Alfaro con las Orquestas de Ernesto Duarte y Chico O'Farrill: Siboney; RCA Victor LPM-1533; 1957; 1st N/N shrink $100 (or RCA International FSP-126(e) "reissued by request" sealed ES $30, specify) -- Cuban/female vocal; rare & fantastic!!!; famous singer w/great range who earlier had done the ST for Silvana Mangano's film "Mambo" (available online) & long after this did a rare funky LP; Chico O'Farrill you know about; great exotic jacket; Luna Rossa, Noche de Ronda/Amor Amor, Lagrimas de Estrellas, Amor de Verano/Mirame Asi, Siboney, Ochun, Angelitos Negros
Antobal's Latin All-Stars under the direction of Obdulio Morales: Pachanga & Other Latin Favorites; Coral/Brunswick BL-54104; 2nd, deep groove E+/N- $50 -- Cuban/Latin/Latin jazz/Afro; top group also known as Antobal's Cuban All-Stars rec. in Havana; major record (terrific & rare!) released on US label but scarcer than a Cuban pressing; Alejandro Vivar (El Negro) is the lead trumpet; features bata drums; encompasses several styles: Afro ("Yemaya"), son-montuno, guajira, pachanga, more!; Fregao!, Las Claves, El Sopon, Por Que?, Campina Cubano..
Orquesta Aragon: Mosaicos Tropicales; Discuba LPD-576; deep groove E+/N- $40 -- Cuban; they recorded for RCA but here's the real thing, on a top Cuban label; Clavelitos, Kilimanjaro, Yo No Baila Con Juana, Tremendo Punto..
Argueso: Cha Cha Cha Tango Mambo Merengue Vol. III; Fiesta FLPS-1273; red 1st/deep groove N/N S $40 -- impeccable!; classic NY Latin on treasured early label; ideal copy w/a few smokers!; Para Que?, La Comparsita, Ay Nikolai, Apaga La Vela, Ay Ay Ay Mi Rumbero, Si Si Si Senor, Borrachita Cha Cha Cha..
The Harvey Averne Barrio Band; Heavy Duty LP-101; 1971; gatefold; E+/N- S $175 -- Latin soul-jazz/Latin rock/Latin funk; legendary self-produced LP of heavy-duty rare grooves on micro label (rarer even than his 2 Fania LPs); w/arrangement help from Marty Sheller & Steve Monge; Girl from the Mountain, Para Ti (Mongo Santamaria), Heavy Duty, Cucaraca Maraca, Cayuco (Tito Puente), In the Wind; disc & jacket printed "mono" but it's definitely stereo (we suspect there is no mono); partial seam splits but otherwise fine
Vitin Aviles y su Orquesta; Ansonia ALP-1218; deep groove E+/E+ $30 -- Latin (cha cha cha, mambo, merengue); Aviles was one of the very best and most accomplished of the top singers (like Miguelito Valdes) who starred with all the top orchestras of the late '50s and early '60s: Pupi Campo, Tito Puente, Noro Morales, Tito Rodriguez, La Playa Sextet, etc; on his own he wrote some major songs and did very well as a bandleader, as this very scarce item shows; Mi Nuevo Ritmo, Nina, Echale Talquito, Cuidado si te Cae, Te Traigo un cha cha cha, Me Gusta el Merengue, Merengue Mezclao, Me Acuesto Pensando en ti, Cha Cha Cha Mi Baby (Paquitin Lara's classic), Aqui No Me Quedo Yo, ABC Cha Cha Cha, Perdiendo la Cabeza
Justi Barretos y sus Santeros: Lovi Ocha; Echu EC-307; 1987/1986; N/E- shrink; S $25 -- Santeria; "Album para coleccionistas"; sealed when we got it but most likely a rewrapped return (spindle marks on label/some noise in places); nice jacket, good music (especially for the late date); you can count on never seeing this rare Bronx curio again
Ray Barretto: Senor 007; -- United Artists UAS-6478; 1966; deep groove, RARE true 1st press stereo in mono jacket E+/E S $200 -- Latin soul/spy; a legend in high demand; first of his major Latin-soul LPs; despite the unlikely title, some funky cuts!; all early James Bond ST covers, except the original "I Wanna Be a James Bond Girl" (which just has a few minor pops--otherwise the disc plays perfectly); so early it has the mono jacket, it is the impossibly rare true FIRST stereo press--deep groove!--deeper sound than any other pressing!
Ray Barretto: Senor 007; -- United Artists UAS-6478; 1966; E-/N S $150 -- jacket's top left & right corners a little chewed (about 1/4" in and 1" down), otherwise first-rate; much better & rarer collectors item than people realize
Ray Barretto: El "Ray" Criollo; United Artists UAS-6543; 1967/1966; E+/E+ S $75 -- Latin; his 10th LP as leader is one of his rarest; 11 tracks, including mambo, guajira, descarga, son montuno, guaguanco; this copy used to belong to Max Salazar, who signed it, as he did with all his records (it is indeed a small world of Latin rarities)
Ray Barretto: Latino con Soul; United Artists/West Side Latino WS-4053; 1975/1967; E/E- S $50 -- Latin soul; reissues his last UA LP (& then came "Acid!") minus 1 cut--the non-essential "Bilongo"--but that's balanced by the addition of great new Izzy Sanabria jacket-back artwork you don't get with the UA version!; w/Pete Bonet (responsible for Acid and Hard Hands being so great, too!); "Do You Dig It?" is the leading, rare, killer DJ cut; also great ones among Boogaloo con Soul, Happy Birthday Everybody, Fuego Pa'Lante, El Picor, Trompeta y Trombon, Eras..; several surface marks but none affect play
Ray Barretto: Acid; Fania LP-346; 1968; GOLD! N-/V+ shrink $100 -- Latin soul; serious marks really make it look bad but it plays defiantly very well (Fania gold is famous for wearing well); noise really just in one brief spot & even that's not too bad; and you can't beat the jacket--uncut, still in the shrink wrap!
Ray Barretto: Acid; Fania SLP-346; 1968; 1972 pressing--cloud label [cutout] E/N S $200 -- Latin soul; yep, 2 of these bad boys, one a cutout, the other uncut, both super fine!; "Acid" is one of the most exalted of all Fania/Latin-soul LPs; always an event whenever a NY pressing turns up; El Nuevo Barretto, Mercy Mercy Baby, Acid, A Deeper Shade of Soul, The Soul Drummers, Sola te Dejare, Teacher of Love, Espiritu Libre
Ray Barretto: Hard Hands; Fania SLP-362; 1968; 1972 pressing--palm label E-/N S $150 -- authentic NY pressing identical to the cloud label tho it's a palm-tree label instead (jacket & disc/pressing otherwise absolutely identical to cloud!); former radio-station copy but never played; disc is flawless!; own a legend!
Ray Barretto: Que Viva La Musica; Fania SLP-427; 1972; E/E S $60 -- Latin/Latin jazz; partly funky, top percussion throughout, very hip & GOOD; great record & this nice original is still too cheap/a top value
Ray Barretto: Tomorrow--Barretto Live; Atlantic SD-2-509; 1976; 2-LP gatefold cutout N/N S $25 -- Latin jazz; w/guest Tito Puente on side-long "Que Viva la Musica"; terrific set (his last great LP, at least for fans of the classic period) & his debut for the label; nice jacket art, too
Joe Bataan: Riot!; Fania SLP-354; 1968 (1972 cloud pressing) N-/N- S $150 -- Latin soul; miraculously clean stone classic (nearly a greatest hits in itself); It's a Good Feeling (Riot), For Your Love, Muneca, Pa' Monte, What Good is a Castle, Daddy's Coming Home, Mambo de Bataan, My Cloud, Ordinary Guy (improved version)
Joe Bataan: Mr. New York & the East Side Kids; Fania SLP-395; E-/E- S $90 -- Latin soul; top and bottom seam splits, a couple of light marks, solid player (just a very little noise briefly in one or two spots); My Opera, Aguanta La Lenta, Chili Beans (instrumental), When We Get Married, The Prayer, Puerto Rico Me Llama, Es Tu Cosa (It's Your Thing-!!!), Make Me Smile (good Chicago cover), More Today than Yesterday, Juan Juan Lechero
Joe Bataan: The Song of Joe Bataan; Fania SLP-411; gatefold V+/E+ S $125 (or V/E S $100, specify) -- Latin soul; 1 of his 3 best (along w/Poor Boy & Afrofilipino) & 1 of his rarest!; original NY pressing comp of his truly greatest Fania hits (good luck getting clean original stereo of "Gypsy Woman" otherwise); priceless for the inside-gatefold magazine article reprint w/14 cool photos & copious bio details (gang days, etc.); Gypsy Woman, Ordinary Guy, My Opera, Special Girl, Uptown, Poor Boy, It's a Good Feeling (Riot), Sad Girl, Daddy's Coming Home, Subway Joe
Joe Bataan: St. Latin's Day Massacre; Fania SLP-420; E-/E+ S $125 (or E-/E S $100, specify) -- Latin soul; very respectable used copies at a fair price--well worth it for the original sound & total JB experience; Shaft, Mujer, Ramona, Para Puerto Rico Voy, I Wish You Love Parts 1 & 2, Coco-E..
Joe Bataan: Joe Bataan II; Mericana/Salsoul SA-8549; 1981; cutout N/N shrink S $30 -- the '80s usually mean crap, but Bataan did some nice things on this one (worth having); "Ling Ching Tong" is the pick, nearly qualifies as "fu funk"; "Forever" & "Supergirl" also are good; great photos on the inner sleeve
Belmonte & his Afro-American Music: Mambo at Midnight; Columbia CL-598; 1st/deep groove E-/E- $20 -- Latin; rare early Columbia LP w/dramatic jacket & exciting '50s answer to labelmate/counterpart/rival Cugat; Mambo Belmonte, Palladium Mambo, Caravan, It's Mambo Time, Baby Doll Mambo, Stompin' at the Savoy..
Belmonte: Cha-Cha, Merengue, Bolero, & Mambo; Columbia CL-802; black 6-eye/deep groove E/E- $20 -- second of a pair for the label by the nearest rival to Cugat (on Columbia anyway); great stuff, including some jazzy elements here and there; In the Hall of the Cha-Cha King, The Lonely One, Ol' Solo Mambo, Unfair, Bambuco Hat Dance, Cha-Cha for a Ballerina, 12 St. Rag Mambo, Cha-Cha Lament, Mambomania, Shy, Learnin' the Blues, Mucho Merengue
Hugo Blanco: Bailables No. 5; All-Art licensed issue of Palacio LPS-66217; E-/E+ S $40 -- harp/cumbia/boogaloo; "Mister Boogaloo" (really an instrumental version of "Bang Bang") causes serious Latin-soul collectors to keep many a copy out of the hands of Blanco fans, but there several other strong, mod, uptempo tracks to please any listener
Rene Bloch & his Big Latin Band: Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha; HIFI SR-819; E/N- S $30 -- Latin; partly vocal; w/Hector Rivera, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, and a host of West Coast jazz stars; historic and valuable for the insight it gives into his Andex and other later work; notable also for the jacket (including cartoon sketch on the back); Gema Luis Ciseron, I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles, Adios Muchachos, Mi China, Always in My Heart, E' Cha Cha, Harlem Nocturne, Corrazon de Melon, Cielito Lindo, Glow Worm, Las Chiquillas, Gillette Cha Cha
René Bloch: The Latin Moods of Rene Bloch; Famous F-507; E/E+ $25 -- Latin/Latin jazz; from California, a superb, smoking work (his best), featuring an 18-piece group w/Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Modesto Duran..; originally released on Andex w/5 more cuts as "Mucho Rock with Rene Bloch" (rare, as is this LP!); grossly underpriced just to see if anyone's paying attention (evidently not); Stop When Swinging, Magitos, Rene's Mambo, Wa Pa Cha, Paul's Mambo, One More, Harry's at One..
Willie Bobo: Bobo! Do That Thing; Roulette/Tico SLP-1108; 1963; E+/N- S $200 -- mod Latin soul/mod Latin jazz; in top shape, one of his two rare, sensational, killer/rare groove/dance-floor-packer LPs for the label (also has some high-integrity Latin jazz, but no need to look beyond the fun stuff); if you haven't heard this one and Let's Go Bobo, you don't know Bobo!; YOU NEED IT!!!; Bobo! Do That Thing, Diferente, He's That Way, Un Solo Favor, Azulito, Grab Your Hat, Chickadee, Guajira, Rigor Mortis, Latin Interlude, A la Bobita, Ritmo Timbale
Willie Bobo: Let's Go Bobo; Roulette SR-25272; E/E+ S $150 (jacket edged neatly w/colored tape) (or mono R-25272 E/N $100, specify) -- mod Latin soul/mod Latin jazz; one of his two rare, sensational, killer/rare groove/dance-floor-packer LPs; if you haven't heard this one and Let's Go Bobo, you don't know Bobo!; YOU NEED IT!!!; Let's Go Bobo, Twist the Monkey's Tail, Tell it Like it Is, Get Crackin', The Hip Monkey, Trinidad, Timbale Groove, Go Go Go, Be's the Other Way, Ala Bobo
Cachao: Descarga con Cachao y su Combo; Maype US-168; E-/N $100 -- Afro-Cuban/descarga; terrific, rare set; not a 1st press (even says "stereo" but isn't) but top shape!; jacket has colored tape on the edges
Cachao y su Ritmo Caliente: Cuban Jam Sessions in Miniature "Descargas"; Panart 2092; 1972 (pressing date); black label, deep groove E-/E $60 -- one of Israel Lopez' finest & most exciting records!
Cachao y su Tipica: Camina Juan Pescao; Duher DHS-1603; 1974/1958; E/N- $35 -- w/strings & flute, it's 12 instrumentals in the charanga-pachanga vein; rec. in Havana
Cachao y su Tipica Volumen 2; Duher DHS-1611; 197?/1959; V+/V+ S $20 -- rec. in Cuba; better than vol. 1, it includes "Social Club Buenavista"; priced low for some wear/noise
Joe Cain: Latin Au Go Go Discotheque; Mainstream S-6051/56051 (reissues Latin Explosion; Time S-2123) N/E shrink S $100 -- mod Latin jazz/Latin soul; hip collectors item w/all stars Cachao, Clark Terry, Jerome Richardson, Jose Mangual, [drummer] Chocolate, Chino Valdes..; great, unique LP, rarer than even the Time version & w/different (better!) jacket art & a few other slight changes (for the better, we say); "Pa-Pa Bajo" features amazing Cachao bass!
Eddie Cano: Duke Ellington and Me; RCA Victor LPM-1471; 1957; 1st/only pressing E+/E+ $50 -- Latin jazz; collectors item, highly desirable not just for its rarity!; "Caravan" kicks it off in exciting, Latin big-band style, like Puente at the same time/same label; rest is first-rate Latin jazz (Cano's best work), far better than even the best stuff he was doing in the later P.J.s/Reprise years (this is the Eddie Cano that explains his success); Caravan, Squeeze Me, Sophisticated Lady, Azure, Prelude to a Kiss, Perdido, Take the "A" Train, I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me, Daydream, Don't You Know I Care, Mood Indigo
Randy Carlos: Swingin' with Randy; Fiesta FLP-1252; deep groove N-/N- $75 -- Latin; not just a classic, swinging jacket & title, this standout LP on the venerable Fiesta label features some of his very finest work; some of the mambos can be considered borderline Latin jazz ("jazz mambos," anyway); Fiesta is scarce enough generally (even in NYC Latin circles), but a hot title in collector-worthy shape is a true find; the only flaw is a little very minor seam wear (and that's nothing); More Smoke (a fast mambo that updates his earlier smash hit, "Smoke"), Fantasmas, Cha Cha in Hawaii, Vampire (mambo), Mark 1, Comet (mambo), Tabarin, Rockville, Honey Cha, Comanche (mambo)
Jimmy Castor: Hey Leroy, You're Mama's Calling You/Tu mama te llama; Mercury/Smash SRS-67091; 1967; 1st/deep groove cutout N/N- S $100 (rare stereo!) (or mono MGS-27091; 1st/deep groove N/N shrink $75, specify) (or 1st/deep groove N-/N shrink $70, specify) -- Latin soul/boogaloo; awesome!; prod. Luchi de Jesus(!) & featuring vibes, Latin percussion (several breaks), & his crazy calls & screams, it's his debut LATIN-SOUL LP, years before the formation of the Bunch & his unique brand of horror-funk but much, much better for DJs; hit singles, covers, jams, more--FUN, FUN, FUN!!! (even the less likely tunes); Hey Leroy, Bang Bang (Joe Cuba), Ham Hocks Espanol, How Beautiful You Are, Hey Willie ("git up outta bed...you need education"), Our Day Will Come, Oh Yeh (Jimmie Sabater!), Winchester Cathedral, Southern Fried Frijoles, Ol' Man River (major drum-solo descarga!)
The CESTA All-Stars: Live Jam Session; Coco/CESTA CLP-110; 1974; 1st/brown label N/N shrink S $60 (or blue N/N S $50, specify) (or blue N-/E S $35, specify) -- live; CESTA had the GREATEST ALL-STAR jam sessions, even better than the more famous Panart, Alegre, & Fania sets; led by Charlie Palmieri w/a who's who of Latin stars (Cheo, Yayo, Sabater, Willie Torres, Dioris Valladares, Paz, Roy Roman, Kako, Chombo, Mario Rivera, Louie Ramirez, Williw Rosario, Barry Rodgers, Orlando Marin..) & of course Joe Quijano, who's CESTA label was distributed by Coco at this point; No Hace Falta Papel (salsa con tres), Si a tu Lado no Estoy, Soneros en una Cesta, Jala-Jala con Aquardiente (descarga), Echame a mi La Culpa, El Rinconcito/Descarga con Tres
El Chicano: Celebration; Kapp KS-3663; 1972; E-/N S $20 -- Latin soul/funk/rock/jazz; one of their best, both for outstanding covers and some of their strongest originals; Viva Tirado Otra Vez, Satisfy Me Woman (a GREAT stone-funky groove that, even if a little un-pc, DJs can use today to great effect), El Grito, Senor Blues (Horace Silver!), In a Silent Way (Miles Davis!), I'm Free (Cream!), Juntos, Maszacate, La Cucaracha, Brown-Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)!
El Chicano; MCA 312; 1973; promo E/E S $15) -- Latin soul/funk/rock; radio station copy letters on jacket; essential for their smash hit, "Tell Her She's Lovely"--a major California Latin-soul funk bomb w/wah-wah guitar; also a hip cover of "What's Going On" & other juicy cuts
El Chicano: Cinco; MCA 401; 1974; sealed S $20 -- Latin soul/funk/rock; another fine mix of originals & covers; El Cayuco (terrific cover of Tito Puente's smash hit), Children, You've Been Wrong So Long, The Latin One, What You Don't Know Won't Hurt You, Ahora Si (Ray Barretto!), Gringo en Mexico, Little Sunflower (Freddie Hubbard)
El Chicano: Pyramid (of Love and Friends); MCA 2150; 1975; cutout N-/N- shrink S $150 -- Latin soul/funk/rock; their last essential LP has 10 cuts, of which the title instrumental (which sounds a lot like War) and Baretta are the chief picks for DJs; Baretta's Theme (Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow), Michael's Theme, I Love You Anyway, A Love Song's Not a Love Song, Lake Aquabi, When You Got a Heartache, Can't Get it Out Without You (Babe), Such a Good Life, All I Can Remember, Pyramid (of Love and Friends)
Chihuahua Martinez: Descarga Chihuahua (Descarga Cubana--El Ritmo de Chihuahua); Fonseca 1110; 1966; deep groove black label E/E S $150 -- stereo, great shape as these go; vocals by Goody Oswaldo; charanga does great, swinging stuff (Descarga Chihuahua, Guajiro Son, Ritmo Ideal, Me Voy Pa Moron..); w/Pupi Legarreta on flute & violin; Chihuahua & Chivirico sing; jacket back thumbnails of 6 previous titles
William Clauson: Canciones de Navidad (Spanish Christmas Carols); SMC Pro-Arte SMC-556 10"; deep groove E/N- $50 (or 12" version SMC-1061, E/N- $50, specify) -- Latin/Xmas/organ; tenor voice w/Alfredo Mendez pipe organ & Al Valenti, guitar; eleven wonderful, moving, first-rate songs on the holiest of Latin labels (and the first one of any significance)
Johnny Colon: Boogaloo Blues; Cotique C-1004; 1966; V/E+ $25 -- Latin soul; the 4th Cotique LP & what a classic--all of it!; Boogaloo Blues, Jumpy, Mira Ven Aca, Descarga, Guantanamera, Mi Querida Bomba, Judy Part II, Canallon;worn/split jacket but disc is fine, priced for that alone
Johnny Colon: Hot Hot Hot/Caliente de Vicio; Cotique CS-1067; blue/orange label N/N- shrink S $75 -- salsa/Latin soul; even rarer than many of the first Cotiques are most of the later ones, which aren't all that late (early '70s); spectacular copy (shrink is torn but it's uncut & like new); "El Bolitero" is the pick for those seeking more incredible Latin soul, but the rest of the LP has everything from primordial (well, for the '70s style anyway) uptempo salsa (very much like some of Willie Colon's best at the time) to a vocal bolero of "Misty"; Merecumbe, No Hace Falta Papel, Fantasia, El Bolitero, Dejame en Paz, Misty, El Callo, Mala Mujer
Santos Colon: Santitos; Fania SLP-387; 1969; cutout E/N S $35 -- Latin; ballads except a couple are uptempo; "Tu Me Haces Muy Feliz/You've Made Me So Very Happy" is ok Latin soul; arr. & cond. by Tito Puente; writing on jacket back; Negro Naci, Sacrifico, Nina-Mujer, Te Ame, Roberta, Siempre por Siempre, Huellas de Amor/Traces..
Santos Colon: Brindis de Navidad; Fania SLP-434; cutout E+/E+ S $20 -- great price on a NY original, clean, stereo!; Johnny Pacheco led the session
Willie Colon: El Juicio; Fania SLP-424; 1972; N/N- shrink S $30 -- as w/his earlier ones, it's a smoker; he never let up!
Johnny Conquet & his Band: Latin Dance Party; Premier/Coronet CX-194; E-/E $20 -- Latin/bongo bop/Latin twist; when we do fool with budget-label Latin, you better believe it's worth the exception; all Conquet is great, but the killer track here is a long, uptempo, swinging, Latin-jazz tune, misleadingly titled "Latin Twist"--w/lotsa bongos and solos (piano, horns) it's as much bongo bop as Latin twist; the rest of the LP has some great Conquet piano and more; ignore it at your peril!
Jack Costanzo (ALL: bongo & Afro-Cuban) -- see beatnik-crime-spy
Celia Cruz: Homenaje a los Santos; Seeco SCLP-9269; 1981 pressing E-/N- S $30 -- Santero/Afro-Cuban; classic LP of its kind (first of 3 volumes) featuring hall-of-fame jacket art & of course great singing & music
Celia Cruz & Willie Colon: Only They Could Have Made This Album; Vaya VS-66; 1977; N/E- shrink S $15 (any 5 $15 LPs for $50) -- Latin; nice record (what on Vaya isn't?), uptempo, scarce; some marks but nice at the price; Jose Mangual & Louie Ramirez in the credits
Joe Cuba Sextet: Steppin' Out; Seeco SCLP-9248; 1963 (1989 REISSUE) N/E shrink S $25 -- 12 early tunes; forget about finding a 1963 press clean as this, inside & out
Joe Cuba Sextet: I Tried to Dance All Night; Mardi Gras LP-5017; deep groove silver E+/V+ S $45 -- collectors item; very rare, the more so now that both jacket collectors & a new generation of Joe Cuba fans are after it; stereo pressing, which is inferior (pops/noise), but great jacket!
Joe Cuba Sextet: Estamos Haciendo Algo Bien!/We Must Be Doing Something Right!; Roulette/Tico LP-1133; E+/V $20 -- Latin/Latin soul; uncut mono original features some smoking tunes, the best-known of which is El Pito (I'll Never Go Back to Georgia), which the Blues Magoos covered; Clave Mambo, Pruebalo OK?, Arecibo, Si Te Dicen, My Wonderful You, Incomparable..; priced low for spots of disc wear/noise
Joe Cuba Sextet: Bang! Bang! Push, Push, Push (Wanted Dead or Alive); Tico SLP-1146; 1966; [stereo disc in mono jacket] N/E+ shrink S $35 -- Latin-soul classic in top form!; sold so well initially that it's still relatively available/affordable--even ideal stereo 1st press!; better still, it's a powerhouse of great tunes, not just the smash hit (it's all essential!); Bang Bang, Push Push Push, Sock It To Me, Oh Yeah, Que Son Uno, Asi Soy, Cocinando, La Malanga Brava..
Joe Cuba Sextet: My Man Speedy; Roulette/Tico SLP-1161; original pressing V+/E- S $30 -- Latin soul; fantastic, super fun & dynamite for DJs, it's his reputation maker & usually his toughest Latin-soul LP to find; worth it for Psychedelic Baby alone; My Man Speedy!, I'm Insane, Gimme Some Love, Psychedelic Baby (You're Psychin' Up My Mind), Hey Joe Hey Joe, Talk About Luv (Love is the Thing), You Better Believe It, It's Love, TCOB, Wakini
Joe Cuba Sextet: The Best of/Lo Mejor de; Roulette/Tico SLP-1197; flexi N-/N S $30 -- definitive comp makes a great one-stop shop, very handy for DJs; much drawn from the fantastic "My Man Speedy" LP!; Bang Bang, El Pito (Never Go Back to Georgia), Psychedelic Baby, I'm Insane..
Joe Cuba Sextet: Cocinando La Salsa/Cookin' the Sauce; Fania/Tico TSLP-1405; 1976; E+/N- S $40 -- Latin soul; his last great LP, aided by a "supergroup" of all-star arrangers (Hector Rivera, Sonny Bravo, Mary Sheller, Joe Cuba, Louie Ramirez..), most of whom also play on it, along w/Alphonse Mouzon & other guests; not just a who's who but also stacked with good tunes; the pick (essential for DJs): "Joe Cuba's Latin Hustle" w/hip Moog, narrated bit, & chorus
El Cubanito & his Cha Cha Orchestra: Hot; Musidisc M-6007; E+/E- $25 -- Latin; one of the highlights of a favorite label, "Hot" is certainly that; from the great jacket (close-up of El Cubanito with maracas) to the sound/recording; it's seriously rare & worth having if you like cha cha cha (classic to fun); Blue Moon, Babalu (done as Screaming Jay Hawkins would have), Quiereme Mucho, Ave Maria Lola, Aperta-me em Teus Bravos, Aby, Sabrosito Asi, Maria Elena, Puerta Cerrada, Perfume de Gardenia, Yo Espero Por Ti, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes; has some marks but plays well (very little noise)
Xavier Cugat: Samba with Cugat 10"; Columbia CL-6236; deep groove E-/E- $20 -- one of his scarcest early 10" LPs--and not reissued on 12" LP!; covers 2 of Carmen Miranda's biggest hits & features singing by Lena Romay, Aladdin,..; Cuanto le Gusta, Brazil, Papa Knows, Copacobana, Tico Tico, Mary Ann, I Yi Yi Yi Yi (I Like You Very Much)
Xavier Cugat: Here's Cugat 10"; Mercury MG-25120; deep groove E/E- $60 -- Latin/exotica; one of his rarest early 10" LPs, reissued on 12" LP EXCEPT for the two chief reasons this is a must-have; one is the great jacket art (and how!); the other is the "novelty rhumba"--exotica masterpiece, "Jungle Flute" (left off the reissue!), which earns Cugat a place in the exotica hall of fame; the tune features all kinds of animal sounds (not just birds!) over a pulse-quickening beat (very similar to "Flute Nightmare" on the Columbia Ole LP but BETTER)
Xavier Cugat: Dance with Cugat; Columbia CL-537; 1st jacket/deep groove/black six-eye! E-/N- $25 -- Latin; his 2nd 12" LP!; loads of smash hits & top singers make it a highlight of his best early work (including some hip Afro-Cuban stuff that's not so much for dancing); all presented in new hi-fi here for the first time; w/Miguelito Valdez ("Babalu"), Tito Rodriguez ("Bim Bam Bum"), Dinah Shore ("I'll Never Love Again")..; other tunes: El Marijuano (mambo), Nightingale, Mexican Hat Dance, Cuba Libre, Begin the Bequine, Oye Negra..
Xavier Cugat: Ole; Columbia CL-618; Special Products reissue E/E $15 (any 5 $15 LPs for $50) -- one of his very best & most exotic, capped off by a great jacket; w/luscious Abbe Lane; Flute Nightmare (remake of the coveted exotic masterpiece "Jungle Flute"!!!), Africano Soy (tremendous Afro-Cuban!), Los Timbales, The Americano, Alma Llanera..
Xavier Cugat: Bread, Love, & Cha Cha Cha; Columbia CL-1016; black 6-eye E+/N- $25 -- in high demand at least for famous jacket of Cugie posing with a giant "beatnik" French bread and gorgeous Abbe Lane (see also the pop page for Abbe Lane LPs); Penthouse Mambo, Whatever Lola Wants, Suavecito, Coco Seco, Mi musica es para ti, Banana Boat Song..
Xavier Cugat: Cugat Cavalcade; Columbia CL-1094; deep groove, black six-eye N-/E+ $15 (any 5 $15 LPs for $50) -- Latin; "His Greatest Hits--New in High Fidelity"; remakes of classic 78-era hits; famous jacket of Cugie w/5 models & holding chihuahua!; Brasil, Besame Mucho, Tico Tico, My Shawl, Miami Beach Rhumba, Guitara Romana, Dengoza..
Xavier Cugat: Twist with Cugat; Mercury SR-60705; 1st/deep groove E+/E S $35 (or mono MG-20705 1st/deep groove promo N-/N $25, specify) -- Latin twist; if you've checked the Cugat link, you've seen the great jacket image (Abbe Lane twisting with pipe-smoking Cugat); tough one to find, as are most Latin-twist LPs; Patricia, The Hucklebuck, Jazz Me Blues, In the Mood, Ballin' the Jack, In a Little Spanish Town..
Xavier Cugat: Feeling Good!; Decca DL-74672; N/N shrink S $25 -- mod Latin; 1st in a series of 4 for the label in a new style; Goldfinger, It's Not Unusual, Feeling Good, And I Love Her..
Xavier Cugat: Dance Party; Decca DL-74740 E+/E+ S $20 (or cutout E/E+ S $15, specify) -- mod Latin/mod Latin soul!; 2nd in a series of 4 for the label in a new style; Soul Sauce (great bongo intro!), Tabasco, Thunderball, Hang On Sloopy, Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah, Yesterday, La Yenka (original)..
Xavier Cugat: Xavier Cugat Today!; Decca DL-74851; cutout N-/N S $20 -- mod Latin; 4th in a series of 4 for the label in a new style; Jungle Rhumba, Music to Watch Girls By, Mellow Yellow, Samba Saravah (from "A Man & a Woman"), Compadre Pedro Juan, Born Free, Trink Le Chaim, Guantanamera..
Miguelito Cuni y Septeto: Sones de Ayer--sones de bienvenido Julian Gutierrez; Rumba LPR-55508; deep groove E/V+ $75 -- Cuban, top Cuban label; classic collectors item (Cuni was w/Arsenio); gorgeous hall-of-fame jacket depicts painted bongos on red velvet
Jose Curbelo & his Orchestra: Cha Cha Cha--Mambo--Merengue; Fiesta FLP-1207; yellow deep groove N-/E- $25 -- Latin; top classic of mid-'50s progressive NY Latin; jacket's female floating heads say "Make Mine Cha Cha Cha...Mambo for Me...Oooh! that Merengue...!"; great sound & top shape except for a press bump & some unheard marks on side 2; Poco Pelo, La La La, Guaguanco en New York, Los Fantasmas, La Luna..
Eduardo Davidson: Le Frisson; United Artists UAL-3581; 1967; sealed $50 -- Latin twist/Latin soul; 1st of a nice, rare pair on the label by a wacky guy most famous for penning the definitive "Pachanga" tune; 12 tracks, some great: Le Frisson, Ting-Tiling, From Cuba With Love, Yo Soy, Winchester Cathedral, Tennessee..
Bienvenido Fabian & his Group: Merengue Fiesta; Starbright SLP-997; E/N- S? $90 -- merengue; anything on this tiny, rare Howard Beach, NY label turning up is cause for excitement; this is a really exciting, uptempo, great record in top shape
José Fajardo y sus Estrellas: Una Noche en Montmartre; Panart PLP-3030; V+/E+ 1st/black deep groove $40 (or 2nd/blue deep groove N-/N- $40, specify) -- Cuban; "A Night at the Montmartre with Fajardo & his All Stars"; top charanga cha cha cha; desirable also for its famous jacket scene (the band & patrons at the venue); classic all the way
Fajardo & his All Stars: Cuban Jam Session Vol. 5; Panart 102-28038; 1986 Venezuelan pressing N/N $50 -- Cuban; 1 of the best in the famous series as well as by Fajardo; yes, it's a later pressing but impeccable (neither the crappy sound of '70s Venezuelan imports nor worn as you expect with earlier pressings); a great opportunity for the collector!
Fajardo: Sus Estrellas del 75; Coco CLP-115XX; 1975; cutout N/N $35 -- top
modern charanga, scarce; hot tunes/tempos: descarga, guajira, son montuno, & jazz-charanga; La Muerte de Taca Taca, Guaguanco con Salsa, El Nino de Napoleon, Cuba Cubera, Tocala, Vamonos P'Al Uno, No Me Lo Pidas Mas, La Calle Esta Durisma, Cabo Es
Clare Fischer--Salsa Picante: Machaca; Trend/Discovery DS-835; 1981/1979; N-/N- S $25 -- Latin jazz/piano, etc.; a followup to "Salsa Picante" on MPS, it features Pancho Sanchez, Alex Acuna...; African Flutes, Gaviota, Suddenly, Clavo, Machaca, Cositas, Novios, Gentle Breeze
Manuel Godinez, Jr.: Holiday in "Les Violins"; Kubaney MT-228 deep groove E+/E+ $40 -- Cuban; rare; house attraction at Florida supper club w/famous "singing waiters"--all top Cuban musicians; jacket shows all 12 of them piled on a red 1959 Catalina; some pop covers (Moon River, Exodus, Hava Nagilah) but the star is "Charanga"
Manuel Godinez, Jr.: An Unforgettable Night at Les Violins; Discuba LPD-610 deep groove E+/E+ $40 -- Cuban; rare; house attraction at Florida supper club w/famous "singing waiters"; all top Cuban musicians (15 in jacket photo); some pop covers (A Man & a Woman, Sound of Music, Meditacion, Dr. Zhivago) & some not; recorded live
El Gran Combo: Boogaloos con; Gema LPG-3044; V+/E $30 (or rare stereo V+/E+ S $60, specify) -- Latin soul/Latin; 1st of 3 boogaloo LPs by the seminal P.R. supergroup; hip, excellent, exciting, 1/2 original boogaloo!: Shake it Baby, Combolu, Chua Chua Boogaloo, Clap Your Hands, Gran Combo's Boogaloo..
El Gran Combo: Tu Querias Boogaloo?--Toma Boogaloo!/You Wanted Boogaloo?--Take boogaloo!; Gema LPG-3052; deep groove E+/E $45 -- Latin soul/Latin; 2nd of 3 boogaloo LPs by the seminal P.R. supergroup; hip, good, over 1/2 boogaloo!: Tu Querias Boogaloo?--Toma Boogaloo!, Boogaloo con Bajo, Se Quedo el Boogaloo, Baila Mi Shing a Ling, Navidades a Go Go (Xmas), Shing a Ling for My Baby, Chiquita..; some light marks but plays fine
El Gran Combo: Pata Pata--Jala Jala--Boogaloo; Gema LPG-3057; sealed $60 (or V+/E- $25, specify) -- Latin soul/Latin; 3rd of 3 boogaloo LPs by the seminal P.R. supergroup has the grooviest jacket, of nightclub dancers in mod/psychedelic mini dresses!; still going just as strong on the tunes, too; Going Out of My Head, El Jala Jala Llego, Voy, Love is Blue, Pata Pata, Kiss My Nose..
Julio Gutierrez: Cuban Jam Session Vol. 2; Panart LP-3055; 1960; 2nd/black deep groove V+/E- $75 -- classic Cuban/descarga by the master, w/Perruchin & other all-stars; considered best of the series; 17-min Jam Session/Descarga Caliente(!!!), Rhumba Theme, Listen to the Rhythm of the Cha Cha Cha, Bata Rhythm(!!!)
Haji Baba: Crazy Bongo; Modern MLP-7025; E-/E- $25 -- bongo bop/Latin jazz/flute; often taken for granted as just another "Crown" record with sensational (and non-bongo!) jacket, it's actually one of the really good ones (like the Don Ralke LP), by great West Coast musicians, tho we don't know exactly who's on this one; could have listed under Latin (Latin jazz) but the rarer idiom is bongo bop, so it's listed here; Crazy Bongos, Baba, Bongo Madness, Bongo Congo, Katanga, Bongo Cubano, El Rio Bongo, Panamania, Tabatinga, Bango del Sul
[Larry Harlow] Orchestra Harlow: Heavy Smokin'; Fania LP-331; cloud E/N- shrink $125 -- Latin; terrific primordial salsa, a great rare Fania heavy smoker, and the hard-working debut LP of master Fania producer Harlow; Felo Brito sings and is joined by such heavyweights as Marc Weinstein, Chocolate Armenteros, Monguito, Chivirico...; La Juventud, Tu Tu Ratan, Maria La O, Anoche Aprendi, Chez Jose, Rica Combinacion, Mi Guaguanco, Orchestra Harlow, Chancletas, Solo Tu, Adios Mama, El Lorito y El Carbon
[Larry Harlow] Orchestra Harlow: Hommy, A Latin Opera; Fania SLP-425; 1973; gatefold E+/E+ S $50 -- w/Celia Cruz, Junior Gonzalez, Justo, Cheo, Pete "Conde" Rodriguez, Adalberto Santiago..
[Larry Harlow] Orchestra Harlow: Live in Quad; Fania QXSLP-472; 1974; 2-LP gatefold E+/E S $40 -- mainly great tributes to Arsenio Rodriguez; great LP at a bargain price!
[Larry Harlow] Orchestra Harlow: El Judio Maravilloso/The Marvelous Jew; Fania SLP-490; 1975/1974; E+/N- S $25 -- like Willie Colon, Harlow continued to make great records well into the '70s & this is one of his best (overlooked, underrated, and underpriced); worth it just for the longer end cut "Latin Roots," which has great funky drums throughout as well as Moog; arrangers include Harlow, Sonny Bravo, Louie Ramirez, Charlie Camilieri..
Los Incaicos: Cancionero Incaico 10"; SMC Pro-Arte 518; deep groove N-/N $150 -- "Ecos de Los Andes--the music of Bolivia, Ecuador, & Peru"; terrific early version of El Condor Pasa; deeply affecting, beautiful record; rare as the dickens & here in impeccable shape; SMC collectors should not miss
The Jazz Crusaders: Chile Con Soul; Pacific Jazz ST-20092; 1966; 1st/blue E+/E- [shrink] S $40 (or Liberty/Capitol ST-90598 E+/N- S $50, specify) -- Latin jazz/Latin soul; w/all stars Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson, Wilton Felder, Hubert Laws, Carlos Vidal, Clare Fischer..; though often taken for granted given the prolific group (we might even suggest it's the ONE Jazz Crusaders LP to have), it's nevertheless one of the VERY BEST Latin-jazz LPs ever, & we mean ALL of it; top sound w/both the original PJ pressing and the Capitol pressing (made long ago when Capitol reissued much of the Liberty catalog); ALL LATIN-JAZZ FANS & DJs NEED THIS!!!; Aqua Dulce, Soul Bourgeoisie, Ontem a Note, Tough Talk, Tacos, Latin Bit, The Breeze & I, Dulzura
Kako & his Orchestra: Live It Up; Musicor MS-6036; 1968; V+/N- S $90 -- Latin soul; jacket wear is the only strike against this terrific offering--a great, swinging rarity and one of his two best (most good Musicor is rare, and top Latin titles are off the chain); this famous bandleader/percussionist (w/All Stars, Arsenio, Mongo, etc.) is known for the Tribute to Noro LP on Alegre but the ones on Musicor are the grooviest; prod. by Al Santiago and featuring other great stars (Louie Ramirez, vocalists Azuquita, Bobby Marin); Live It Up (boogaloo), Shingaling Shingaling, Panama's Boogaloo, Cool Jerk(!!!), Ritmo Melon, El Guapo (mambo), A Golpe de Timbal (jala jala)..
Kako & his Orchestra: Sock it to Me Latino; Musicor MM-4049; 1968; N/N- shrink $150 -- Latin soul/Latin; fantastic!; second of a pair for the label, this time with Panamanian superstar Menique on vocals (plus others), it's hip as can be and worth it just for the killer "Kako's Boogaloo" (which should be on most people's top ten list of Latin-soul movers for DJs), and there are other great ones!; prod. by Al Santiago and featuring all stars--serious all stars; given the content, rarity, and superb condition, this should be at least $300 but we're giving into the downward price pressure of the moment--don't let it slip by; 1-2-3-4 Jala Jala, Descarga Panama, Amor Ajeno, Kako's Boogaloo, Bomba Sabrosa, Guajira en Carnival, Puerto Rico, Negro Soy, Guajison
© Hip Wax
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