|
 Fania Allstars Live - Roberto Clemente Coliseo, San Juan 1973 (Fania Records/Emusica)
Emusica are really digging deep into the Fania back catalogue right now, and even deeper into the label's vaults. New projects co-ordinator Dean Rudland has unearthed a lost classic from Fania's storage facility in Hudson, New York - the complete master tapes of the legendary debut live performance of Fania Allstars in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1973. The band were the hottest property in the newly emerging salsa world following on from their Live At The Cheetah recordings in New York and also the exposure they had on the movie Our Latin Thing. For the first ever Fania Allstars Puerto Rican appearance, Fania boss Jerry Masucci let local promoter Rafael Viera book the brand new Roberto Clemente Collosieum stadium for the concert. This was the first live music event the venue was staging. The concert was a sell-out with over 10,000 in attendance. Once again, like at the Cheetah concert, Massuci recorded and filmed the gig.
Certain tracks from this concert have popped up on Live At Yankee Stadium Volumes 1 and 2 and the Latin-Soul-Rock LP but these were often edited versions with overdubs which cleaned up mistakes and added extra instruments. Never before has there been a full, unedited live release of the session as it was on the night - until now! If you love salsa and its history or the Fania Allstars, you have to buy this CD. The band were on fire and the recording quality is excellent, even if there are a few heavy feedback issues on a few tracks. This is how it was on the night. This was history in the making and you don't mess with history!
Mi Debilidad is a great version with singer Ismael Quintana in fine form. El Raton is Cheo Feliciano's feature and this version is without the Jorge Santana rock guitar solo that appears on later versions. There are excellent recordings of Fania Allstars classic repetoire like Mi Gente (Hector LaVoe's anthem), Soy Guajiro and Que Rico Suena Mi Tambor, although this one suffers badly from microphone feedback. A very tasty recording of Pete Rodriguez's Pueblo Latino pops up here, sung by Pete "Conde" Rodriguez. Interesting sign of the era is the recording of the huge international pop hit at the time by Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango, an afro-latin-funk workout that re-inforced latin music's historic links to the continent of Africa. Dibango also features on the final track Congo Bongo, an unedited 13 minute version of the Fania Allstars percussion battle between congueros Ray Barretto and Mongo Santamaria! I heard this first on vinyl in 1982 and it still rocks 27 years later!
Congratulations to Emusica for putting this historic recording out in its original form and for Dean Rudland for unearthing it. It comes with a lovely 8 page booklet featuring sleevenotes by the promoter Rafael Viera discussing the gig, producer's notes from Dean Rudland which highlight the history of the recording tapes, plus full line-up of musicians and some amazing photographs from the actual concert, many never seen before! Like I said earlier, this CD is a must for all lovers of real salsa, Fania Records and the Fania Allstars, and those who wish to learn more about the history of salsa music.
Lubi Jovanovic
http://www.myspace.com/djlubi
CD compiler : Fania Records-Freestyle Records-Nascente Records-World Music Network
Salsa/latin music DJ UK and worldwide since 1982.........
|
