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Along with Machito & His Afro-Cubans or Tito Puente, Puerto Rican-born bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Pablo "Tito" Rodriguez laid solid claim to the title "the King of Mambo" in the '60s, while also providing a breeding ground for top-notch Latin jazz instrumentalists, including Eddie Palmieri, Victor Paz, Bobby Porcelli, Ray Santos, and Mario Rivera among countless others. Of the many records he put out during that time period for the United Artists and Musicor labels (both exclusively as their only Latin artists,) El Inolvidable is a collection of many tracks from those albums, not comprehensive by any means, but quite a tasty selection of his songs with a range from the storied mambo and beyond. It's a grouping of mostly studio tracks, including some live performances from the home for Latin jazz bands, New York City's famed Palladium Ballroom. Rodriguez is the lead singer on nearly all of these tunes, and he sounds in top form, never wavering in his strength or resolve of belting out great music for the people. The oldest track is the finale, and the most famous, the vibrant and exciting live version of "Mama Guela," resplendent in its group vocal and infectious joy, going back to 1960. "Blen, Blen, Blen" from 1965 might also be on a par in terms of fame, recognized for its very fast tempo, two-note, horn-fired base, and furious passion. A live take on the traditional "Yambu" is happy as can be, loaded with sax and brass counterpoint, infested with a happy la la chorus. Of the many mambo tunes, Ernesto Duarte's "La Toalla" is the hottest, driven by an unstoppable piano montuno foundation. Rene Hernandez is the man at the 88's who gained his thrust into stardom via the Rodriguez band, and he's brilliant throughout. Check out his contribution during the slow, mystery bolero "Un Cigarillo, La Lluvia y Tu" (arranged by trumpeter Harold Wegbreit,) or the upbeat and choppy "Alma Llanera." The legendary bassist Israel "Cachao" Lopez is featured on his signature jam, "Descarga Cachao," circa 1964. The horns really stand out front and center during almost all of these selections, but especially the classic "Bilongo" from 1968. Rodriguez was in many ways an important songwriter, though he only penned ten of these tracks, the most prolific being "Mama Guela," while the most unnecessary, "Esta Es Mi Orquesta," is a 12-plus-minute spoken word with an instrumental intro of the band that goes on and on. "Estas Vencida" is perhaps the most glorious of the instrumental contributions from the leader, popping and burning over the vocals. "El Lechero" is even hotter, "Llego El Sonero" is taken at a fast mambo pace; there's a deep bass and loud brass battling for supremacy on "Avisale A Mi Contrario," while the more suave side of Rodriguez takes command on live versions of "El Sabio" and "El Que Se Fue." There was a time when the record companies balked at the idea Rodriguez would veer away from dance music for romantic caballero crooning (From Tito Rodriguez with Love his all-time best seller), as represented on the Luis Cruz song "El Tirabuzon," a slow ballad such as "No Me Beses Mas," or the slight charanga feel of Felix Reina's "Si Te Contara," but these tracks helped his albums consistently move out of record stores. Consider there were some 400 tunes in the repertoire of Rodriguez during this decade -- a lofty degree of productivity and quality -- so the 30 tracks that show up on this collection were dutifully selected with a discriminating ear for perfection. There's no doubt this compilation fully captures Rodriguez at the height of his powers and popularity, an essential item for all who enjoy and revere this vibrant, exciting music.
© TiVo
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Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Artie Azenzer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Rene Hernandez, ComposerLyricist - Leroy Holmes, Producer, Recording Producer - Tito Rodriguez, Arranger, Vocals, Work Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Eduardo Verde, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Alberto Cortéz, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Orlando Peña, ComposerLyricist - Hector De Leon, Arranger, Work Arranger
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Nick Perito, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Ernesto Duarte Brito, ComposerLyricist - Rene Hernandez, Arranger, Work Arranger - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Cruz, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodríguez and His Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Manuel S. Acosta, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Los Cuates Castilla, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - González de Castilla, ComposerLyricist - Jose Diaz Castilla, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Pedro Elias Gutierrez, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodríguez and His Orchestra, MainArtist - Edman Ayres de Abreu, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Guillermo Rodríguez Fiffe, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Luciano Pozo, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Jr., ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Rene Hernandez, Arranger, Work Arranger - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alberto Ruiz, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Félix Reina Altuna, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wilfredo Vincente, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Johnny Blanco, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Hector De Leon, Arranger, Work Arranger
℗ 1968 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Esquijarrosa, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Louis Barreto, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1963 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Rene Hernandez, Arranger, Work Arranger - Tito Rodriguez, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Johnny Blanco, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Haroldo Barbosa, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Luiz Reis, ComposerLyricist - Jose Manuel Vidal Zapater, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2003 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Nick Perito, Producer, Recording Producer - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Barreto, ComposerLyricist - Steve Guttman, Arranger, Work Arranger
℗ 1962 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tomas Mendez, ComposerLyricist - Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Vargas Peña, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1961 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tito Rodriguez, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Album review
Along with Machito & His Afro-Cubans or Tito Puente, Puerto Rican-born bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Pablo "Tito" Rodriguez laid solid claim to the title "the King of Mambo" in the '60s, while also providing a breeding ground for top-notch Latin jazz instrumentalists, including Eddie Palmieri, Victor Paz, Bobby Porcelli, Ray Santos, and Mario Rivera among countless others. Of the many records he put out during that time period for the United Artists and Musicor labels (both exclusively as their only Latin artists,) El Inolvidable is a collection of many tracks from those albums, not comprehensive by any means, but quite a tasty selection of his songs with a range from the storied mambo and beyond. It's a grouping of mostly studio tracks, including some live performances from the home for Latin jazz bands, New York City's famed Palladium Ballroom. Rodriguez is the lead singer on nearly all of these tunes, and he sounds in top form, never wavering in his strength or resolve of belting out great music for the people. The oldest track is the finale, and the most famous, the vibrant and exciting live version of "Mama Guela," resplendent in its group vocal and infectious joy, going back to 1960. "Blen, Blen, Blen" from 1965 might also be on a par in terms of fame, recognized for its very fast tempo, two-note, horn-fired base, and furious passion. A live take on the traditional "Yambu" is happy as can be, loaded with sax and brass counterpoint, infested with a happy la la chorus. Of the many mambo tunes, Ernesto Duarte's "La Toalla" is the hottest, driven by an unstoppable piano montuno foundation. Rene Hernandez is the man at the 88's who gained his thrust into stardom via the Rodriguez band, and he's brilliant throughout. Check out his contribution during the slow, mystery bolero "Un Cigarillo, La Lluvia y Tu" (arranged by trumpeter Harold Wegbreit,) or the upbeat and choppy "Alma Llanera." The legendary bassist Israel "Cachao" Lopez is featured on his signature jam, "Descarga Cachao," circa 1964. The horns really stand out front and center during almost all of these selections, but especially the classic "Bilongo" from 1968. Rodriguez was in many ways an important songwriter, though he only penned ten of these tracks, the most prolific being "Mama Guela," while the most unnecessary, "Esta Es Mi Orquesta," is a 12-plus-minute spoken word with an instrumental intro of the band that goes on and on. "Estas Vencida" is perhaps the most glorious of the instrumental contributions from the leader, popping and burning over the vocals. "El Lechero" is even hotter, "Llego El Sonero" is taken at a fast mambo pace; there's a deep bass and loud brass battling for supremacy on "Avisale A Mi Contrario," while the more suave side of Rodriguez takes command on live versions of "El Sabio" and "El Que Se Fue." There was a time when the record companies balked at the idea Rodriguez would veer away from dance music for romantic caballero crooning (From Tito Rodriguez with Love his all-time best seller), as represented on the Luis Cruz song "El Tirabuzon," a slow ballad such as "No Me Beses Mas," or the slight charanga feel of Felix Reina's "Si Te Contara," but these tracks helped his albums consistently move out of record stores. Consider there were some 400 tunes in the repertoire of Rodriguez during this decade -- a lofty degree of productivity and quality -- so the 30 tracks that show up on this collection were dutifully selected with a discriminating ear for perfection. There's no doubt this compilation fully captures Rodriguez at the height of his powers and popularity, an essential item for all who enjoy and revere this vibrant, exciting music.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 30 track(s)
- Total length: 01:47:11
- Main artists: Tito Rodriguez
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Fania
- Genre: World
© 2009 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2009 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
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