Ray Barretto
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The crossover king from Teaneck, New Jersey, Ray Barretto drummed in Latin and jazz as well as other projects calling for conga. He played with Sabu Martinez and led several albums on Tico, Riverside, United Artists, Fania, and other labels. Although his signature hit was the proto-boogaloo novelty-pachanga "El Watusi," remade [even more cheesily] as "Watusi '65," Barretto wrote and covered many fine songs in most Latin rhythms. Generally overrated (particularly his United Artists period), Barretto achieved Latin-soul immortality with two albums on Fania inspired by Pete Bonet. Acid and Hard Hands stand as top Barretto, prime Fania, and vindication of Latin-soul and related crossover efforts. Subsequent Fania LPs have similar moments. Barretto deserves highest credit for working in all styles, pure and hybrid, and for sticking with crossover efforts throughout his career. Buying: Senor 007 through Power are tremendous classics of Latin soul. Most of the Riverside, Tico, and United Artists LPs have strings. Listed as a sideman, his name is a fairly reliable indicator of quality. |
Ray Barretto LPs
| Rating | |
| 5 | Pachanga with Barretto; Riverside RLP-97506; 1961 (Barretto Para Bailar; RS-93531) |
| 6 | Latino!; Riverside RLP-93520; 1962 |
| 7 | Charanga Moderna; Tico SLP-1087; 1962 |
| 6 | El Watusi Man--Ray Barretto: On Fire Again; Tico SLP-1096; 1963 |
| 4 | The Big Hits Latin Style; Tico SLP-1099; 1963 |
| 6 | La Moderna de Siempre; Tico SLP-1102; 1963 |
| 6 | Guajira y Guaguanco; Tico SLP-1114; 1964 |
| 6 | Viva Watusi!; United Artists UAS-6445; 1965 |
| 8 | Seņor 007; United Artists UAS-6478; 1966 (1st stereo pressing is a deep groove in mono jacket) |
| 7 | El "Ray" Criollo; United Artists UAS-6543; 1967 |
| 7 | Latino Con Soul; United Artists UAS-6593; 1967 |
| 9 | Acid; Fania SLP-346; 1967 (credit also Pete Bonet; 1st press gold w/possible [far rarer] gatefold; reissued 1972) |
| 9 | Hard Hands; Fania SLP-362; 1968 (credit also Pete Bonet; 1st press gold) |
| 8 | Together; Fania SLP-378; 1969 |
| 8 | Head Sounds; Fania SLP-388; 1970 (compilation) |
| 8 | Power; Fania SLP-391; 1970 |
| 7 | The Message; Fania SLP-403; 1971 (not Latin-soul or -jazz) |
| 7 | From the Beginning; Fania SLP-410; 1972 (compilation) |
| 7 | Que Viva la Musica; Fania SLP-427; 1972 (partly Latin jazz) |
| 7 | The Other Road; Fania SLP-448; 1973 (Latin jazz) |
| 6 | Indestructible; Fania SLP-456; 1973 |
| 7 | Tomorrow--Barretto Live; Atlantic SD-2-509; 1976 (2-LP; w/guest Tito Puente on side-long "Que Viva la Musica") |
| Energy To Burn | |
| 3 | Eye of the Beholder; 1976 |
| La Cuna; CTI; 1981 (w/Tito Puente, Charlie Palmieri, Steve Gadd, John Tropea, Carlos Franzetti, Willie Torres) | |
| 6 | Aqui Se Puede; Fania JM-642; 1987 |
Partly & Sideman LPs
| Rating | |
| 5 | Average White Band: Cut the Cake; Atlantic SD-18140; 1975 |
| 6 | Ray Barretto & Brock Peters: Mysterious Instinct (Akannaginnagi); Charlie Parker PLP-834 (w/Chief Bey; Brock Peters: Accent on Roots; Strand SLS-1029) |
| Bee Gees: Main Course; RSO SO-4807; 1975 (on "Winds of Change" only) | |
| 7 | Art Blakey (w/Sabu Martinez): Holiday for Skins; Blue Note BLP-4004-5 |
| 7 | Luiz Bonfa: Jacaranda; Ranwood R-8112; 1973 (w/Airto, Ray Barretto, Stanley Clarke, Idris Muhammad, John Tropea..) |
| 6 | Juan Calle & his Latin Lantzmen: Mazeltov, Mis Amigos; Riverside RLP-97510; 1961 |
| Lou Donaldson: Swing & Soul; Blue Note BLP-1566 | |
| 8 | Lou Donaldson: Blues Walk; Blue Note BLP-1593 |
| 8 | Lou Donaldson: The Time is Right; Blue Note BST-84025 |
| [Fania All-Stars LPs] | |
| 7 | The Red Garland Trio w/Ray Barretto: Manteca; Prestige/Status ST-7139 ("Manteca") |
| 7 | Eddie Harris: Mean Greens; Atlantic SD-1453; 1966 (on "Listen Here" only) |
| 7 | Clifford Jordan: Soul Fountain; Atlantic/Atco/Vortex 2010; 1970 |
| 4 | Yusef Lateef: In a Temple Garden; CTI 7088; 1979 |
| Johnny Lytle [Riverside LPs] | |
| 9 | Johnny Lytle: The Soulful Rebel; Milestone MSP-9036; 1971 |
| 7 | Sabu Martinez: Safari with Sabu; RCA Vik LX-1122; 1957 |
| 7 | Lloyd G. Mayers w/Oliver Nelson: A Taste of Honey ST; United Artists Jazz UAJS-15018; 1963 (organ/big band; prod. Alan Douglas) |
| 6 | Olatunji: African Percussion--Zungo!; Columbia CS-8434 (w/Chief Bey, Montego Joe, Yusef Lateef, Clark Terry) |
| 5 | Olatunji: High Life; Columbia CS-8796; 1963 (prod. by John Hammond; w/Dave Pike, Montego Joe, Chief Bey, Willie Rodriguez, Clark Terry) |
| 7 | Dave Pike: Limbo Carnival; New Jazz NJ-8284; 1962 (w/Ahmed Abdul-Malik) |
| 8 | Cal Tjader: Solar Heat; Skye SK-1; 1968 (arr. Gary McFarland, w/Joao Donato) |
| Tico All-Stars: Descargas at the Village Gate Vol. 1: Tico SLP-1135 | |
| 5 | Tico All-Stars: Descargas at the Village Gate Vol. 2: Tico SLP-1145 |
| Tico All-Stars: Descargas at the Village Gate Vol. 3: Tico SLP-1155 | |
| Stanley Turrentine: Never Let Me Go; Blue Note | |
| Charles Williams: Stickball; Mainstream; 1972 | |
| 6 | Pat Williams: Think; Verve V6-5056 |
| 6 | Various: Latin Golden Oldies for Dancing Vol. 1; Tico SLP-1097; 1959 |
| 7 | Various: Recordando a Arsenio; Tico SLP-1231 |
| 7 | Various: Latin Jazz Dance Classics Vol. 2; Ubiquity/Cubop CBLP-010; 1997 ("Exodus" from Latino!) |
Ray Barretto 45s
| Rating | |
| 5 | Ray Barretto & the Conquistadores: Viva Maria/What Have They Done to the Sun?; Ascot 2202 |
Hyp Records is a 3-part guide:
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