Track Listing
1. El Cayuco
2. Complicación
3. 3-D Mambo
4. Llego Mijan
5. Cuando Te Vea
6. Hong Kong Mambo
7. Mambo Gozón
8. Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe
9. Varsity Drag {Mambo)
10. Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti
11. Agua Limpia Todo
12. Saca Tu Mujer
Review
It's fun, but it's a bit Tito Puente. Kitsch value is high, but it is still very interesting to listen to. There are tracks with a touch of brilliance, personally I enjoy the fully instrumental tracks more so than the sung ones, Hong Kong Mambo is a good example of an innovative, fun and interesting track. Also Mambo Gozon has an almost techo-remix style chorus.
Basically imagine Buena Vista Social Club without any of the melancholy. The title says it all, it's Dance Mania and it is Puente's first fully dancable album. I have no idea how to do the Mambo whatsoever and there might be a level to this album that I am completely missing. Also I am not learning it for a review that apparently no one reads (comments anyone?).
So there's not much to say about this album, it is not a music style I am an expert on, but I do enjoy it from time to time, and listening to this was enjoyable. Not as grueling as Elvis for example. So yeah I liked it. Could have lived without it though.
This was an extremely hard album to find online, Napster didn't have it, Amazon.co.uk made it really hard for me to order it (only second-hand sellers from the States). So I had to resort to the extortionate ITunes. And Pixie 2 Pixie underhand services were also not helpful. I wonder if the older generation of Puerto Ricans and Puerto Rican emigres are not up with the new technologies? I wonder If I'll have a hard time getting the West Side Story soundtrack...
Buy it at Amazon: UK
or US
Track Highlights
1. Hong Kong Mambo
2. El Cayuco
3. Varsity Drag
4. Mambo Gozon
Final Grade
6/10
Trivia
Tito Puente had a couple of important cameos in The Simpsons.
Ai ai ai ai ai ai Puerto Rico.
5 comments:
hey dude, you're read by me at least. you've a long way to go though.
I'll learn the mambo just for you adam. New Review in films as well. :)
I've been following your site and I must say it's an admirable endeavor. So far the only albums I'd heard in their entirety before reading your blog were Brilliant Corners and Birth of the Cool, but thanks to you I've discovered the awesomeness that is the Louvin Brothers.
thanks John. Hope we can get some more awesomeness soon. Also I'm sure there'll be albums coming up that you will have heard. (Kind of Blue and Time out by Dave Brubeck are coming soon and next up is Lady Day)
A reader from SE, here. I actually bought the Sinatra album (wee hours) after reading your review, and enjoy it.
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