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Continuing what is perhaps the most admirable reissue campaign in Latin music history, The Complete 78s, Vol. 2 presents a subsequent 40 tracks of Tito Puente's earliest recordings as a leader. Originally, Emusica head Giora Breil had commissioned Joe Conzo to compile and annotate a four-volume collection from the dawn of Tito Puente's leadership of a band, a series of 156 songs recorded from 1949 to 1955 and released on the Tico label as 78 rpm records. Although Puente was recording for RCA around the same time (those sides appear on The Complete RCA Recordings, Vol. 1), these Tico songs present a far different side of the Latin maestro, and there are few parallels between the material. Where Puente was recording plentiful swing crossovers for RCA ("Tuxedo Junction" and "Take the 'A' Train" in addition to his early masterpiece "Ran Kan Kan"), his material for Tico found him keeping mostly to what his core audience in Spanish Harlem wanted to hear: plentiful hard mambos with the occasional bolero or ballad and, overall, few direct concessions to mainstream music. This was the equivalent of Duke Ellington on OKeh or Charlie Parker on Dial -- recordings for the hardcore faithful that showed a band as it existed instead of as it wanted to be sold. However, despite assumptions either way, that doesn't necessarily make this a better or worse set than the fruits of the RCA years, and indeed, for a crossover audience whose numbers usually overwhelm the core base, Puente's Tico recordings will be less familiar and even less dynamic. But the level of musicianship was high, with future heroes Charlie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria, and Willie Bobo heard on volume two. In at least one area, however, Puente's band wasn't at its peak, and that was in the vocals. Vicentico Valdez is heard often on volumes one and two; while he's a fine singer, he is no equal of the great Cuban, Beny Moré. Several songs early on the first disc also include vocals from the pop-centric DeCastro Sisters, which push the set down a path it shouldn't have strayed. With classics such as "El Mambo Diablo," "Aprieta el Pollo," and "Mambo en Blues," The Complete 78s, Vol. 2 is a treasure trove for Latin fans.
© John Bush /TiVo
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Tito Puente, MainArtist - Don George, ComposerLyricist - The Decastro Sisters, MainArtist - Rogelio Martinez, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1960 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Gabriel Ruíz, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, MainArtist - José Antonio Zorrilla, ComposerLyricist - The Decastro Sisters, MainArtist - Bernie Green, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1960 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist - Osvaldo Farrés, ComposerLyricist - The Decastro Sisters, MainArtist - Bruce Sievier, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1952 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Sherman Feller, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, MainArtist - The Decastro Sisters, MainArtist
℗ 1952 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, Timbales , Leader, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ralph Seijo, Producer, Recording Producer - Vicentico Valdés, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Tejera, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, Timbales , Leader, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Antonio Mendez, ComposerLyricist - Ralph Seijo, Producer, Recording Producer - Vicentico Valdés, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Joe Cain, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 2008 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Justi Barreto, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, MainArtist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist
℗ 1952 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist
℗ 1952 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist
℗ 1952 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist - Rene Hernandez, ComposerLyricist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1955 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Ruben Méndez del Castillo, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, Timbales , Leader, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ralph Seijo, Producer, Recording Producer - Vicentico Valdés, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist
℗ 1955 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist - Enrique Benitez, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1955 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
ARTHUR FREED, ComposerLyricist - NACIO HERB BROWN, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, MainArtist
℗ 1963 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Johnny Mercer, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, MainArtist - Jacques Prevert, ComposerLyricist - Joseph Kosma, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1959 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Cole Porter, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, MainArtist
℗ 1953 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Cole Porter, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, MainArtist
℗ 1953 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, Timbales , Leader, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ralph Seijo, Producer, Recording Producer - Vicentico Valdés, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Miguel A. Espinosa, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, Timbales , Leader, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Antonio Mendez, ComposerLyricist - Ralph Seijo, Producer, Recording Producer - Vicentico Valdés, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist
℗ 1960 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1960 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist - Mario Hernandez, ComposerLyricist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist
℗ 1960 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist - Urbano Gomez Montiel, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1960 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist - Bebo Valdes, ComposerLyricist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, Timbales , Leader, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ralph Seijo, Producer, Recording Producer - Vicentico Valdés, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alberto Vera Morua, ComposerLyricist - Giraldo Piloto, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, Timbales , Leader, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ralph Seijo, Producer, Recording Producer - Vicentico Valdés, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jorge Zamora Montalvo, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, Timbales , Leader, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ralph Seijo, Producer, Recording Producer - Vicentico Valdés, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alberto Vera Morua, ComposerLyricist - Giraldo Piloto, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Juan Bruno Tarraza, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, Timbales , Leader, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ralph Seijo, Producer, Recording Producer - Vicentico Valdés, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Gil Lopez, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Varona, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Bruno Tarraza, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, MainArtist - Mongo Santamaria, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist - Manny Oquendo, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Frisaura, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Herde, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Butler, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, MainArtist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist
℗ 1960 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist - Juanito Blez, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1960 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist - Vicentico Valdés, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1960 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Severino Ramos, ComposerLyricist - Tito Puente, Timbales , Leader, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ralph Seijo, Producer, Recording Producer - Vicentico Valdés, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Reyes Bacallao, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Francisco Aguabella, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Jorge Dalto, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Tito Puente, Vibraphone, Vocals, Timbales , AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Rodriguez, Vocals, Bongos, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Mario Rivera, Flute, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Heywood, ComposerLyricist - Jose Madera, Timbales , Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Tito Puente & His Latin Ensemble, MainArtist - Bobby Rodriguez, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Frisaura, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Gonzales, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1959 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist - Herb Magidson, Author - Con Conrad, Composer
℗ 1959 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1952 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1952 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1952 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Puente, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1952 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Album review
Continuing what is perhaps the most admirable reissue campaign in Latin music history, The Complete 78s, Vol. 2 presents a subsequent 40 tracks of Tito Puente's earliest recordings as a leader. Originally, Emusica head Giora Breil had commissioned Joe Conzo to compile and annotate a four-volume collection from the dawn of Tito Puente's leadership of a band, a series of 156 songs recorded from 1949 to 1955 and released on the Tico label as 78 rpm records. Although Puente was recording for RCA around the same time (those sides appear on The Complete RCA Recordings, Vol. 1), these Tico songs present a far different side of the Latin maestro, and there are few parallels between the material. Where Puente was recording plentiful swing crossovers for RCA ("Tuxedo Junction" and "Take the 'A' Train" in addition to his early masterpiece "Ran Kan Kan"), his material for Tico found him keeping mostly to what his core audience in Spanish Harlem wanted to hear: plentiful hard mambos with the occasional bolero or ballad and, overall, few direct concessions to mainstream music. This was the equivalent of Duke Ellington on OKeh or Charlie Parker on Dial -- recordings for the hardcore faithful that showed a band as it existed instead of as it wanted to be sold. However, despite assumptions either way, that doesn't necessarily make this a better or worse set than the fruits of the RCA years, and indeed, for a crossover audience whose numbers usually overwhelm the core base, Puente's Tico recordings will be less familiar and even less dynamic. But the level of musicianship was high, with future heroes Charlie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria, and Willie Bobo heard on volume two. In at least one area, however, Puente's band wasn't at its peak, and that was in the vocals. Vicentico Valdez is heard often on volumes one and two; while he's a fine singer, he is no equal of the great Cuban, Beny Moré. Several songs early on the first disc also include vocals from the pop-centric DeCastro Sisters, which push the set down a path it shouldn't have strayed. With classics such as "El Mambo Diablo," "Aprieta el Pollo," and "Mambo en Blues," The Complete 78s, Vol. 2 is a treasure trove for Latin fans.
© John Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 40 track(s)
- Total length: 01:55:02
- Main artists: Tito Puente
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Fania
- Genre: World
© 2008 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2008 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
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