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Xavier Cugat had a recording career that stretched over many more years than are covered on this collection. But this single-disc, 26-song anthology of sides from the 1940s and 1950s has to be considered the best collection of his work. This was Cugat's prime, and the tracks boast better fidelity than those he made prior to 1940, if one considers his prime to have started earlier. Hearing these lively and exceptionally well-performed, pioneering blends of Latin, jazz, and pop music, one is surprised that Cugat has not gotten more serious critical respect along the lines of Machito and Tito Puente. The 1940-1957 span ensures a good deal of variety in the orchestral players and the numerous featured vocalists, with Miguelito Valdés handling those more often than anyone on various early-'40s songs, but several others (including one female singer, Abbe Lane) taking turns as well. "Babalu," presented here in a 1941 recording with Valdés on lead vocals, might be the most famous tune, but in truth this is virtually nonstop energy and fun mambo, cha cha, rumbo, and such, played with consummate timing and humor. This only occasional crosses over into novelty territory, with highlights including "Yo Ta Namoa," where Valdés unleashes some amazing stuttering phrasing; the cover of Pérez Prado's "Mambo Jambo"; and a gorgeous, cinematic version of "Besame Mucho."
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Xavier Cugat & His Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra, Performer - Miguelito Valdez, Vocal - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Margarita Lecuona, Composer - Margarita Lecuona, Lyricist
Originally recorded 1941. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Xavier Cugat, Producer - Roman C. Roberto, Composer - Roman C. Roberto, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1952. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Miguelito Valdez, Vocal - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer - Luciano Pozo, Composer - Luciano Pozo, Lyricist
Originally Released 1941 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Walter Stuart, Composer - Walter Stuart, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat, Composer - Xavier Cugat, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer - Abbe Lane, Vocal
Originally Released 1955 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Xavier Cugat, Producer - P. Marques, Composer - P. Marques, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1952. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Noro Morales, Composer - Noro Morales, Lyricist - Tito Rodriguez, Vocal - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer - Johnnie Camacho, Composer - Johnnie Camacho, Lyricist
Originally Released 1943 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Xavier Cugat, Producer - Isabelo Ernesto Marrero, Composer - Isabelo Ernesto Marrero, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer - Vitin Aviles, Vocal
Originally Released 1955 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Luis Reyes, Composer - Luis Reyes, Lyricist - Pepito Arvelo, Vocal - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1957. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ignacio Pineiro, Composer - Ignacio Pineiro, Lyricist - Pepito Arvelo, Vocal - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1957. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Albert Gamse, Composer - Albert Gamse, Lyricist - Irving Fields, Composer - Irving Fields, Lyricist - Aladdin & The Boyd Triplets, Vocal - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally Released 1947 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Xavier Cugat, Producer - Roman C. Roberto, Composer - Roman C. Roberto, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1952. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
M. Valdes, Composer - M. Valdes, Lyricist - Miguelito Valdes, Vocal - Xavier Cugat & His Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra, Performer - Xavier Cugat, Producer
Originally Released 1941 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Xavier Cugat, Producer - Damaso Perez Prado, Composer - Damaso Perez Prado, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally Released 1950 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
George Lopez, Composer - George Lopez, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer - Vitin Aviles, Vocal
Originally Released 1955 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
KEVIN MORGAN, Composer - KEVIN MORGAN, Lyricist - Juan Manuel, Vocal - MARCO RIZO, Composer - MARCO RIZO, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally Released 1954 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Miguelito Valdes, Vocal - Xavier Cugat & His Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra, Performer - Arsenio Rodriguez, Composer - Arsenio Rodriguez, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer
Originally Released 1941 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Joe Sherman, Composer - Joe Sherman, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer - Sid Wayne, Composer - Sid Wayne, Lyricist - Abbe Lane, Vocal
Originally Released 1955 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
George Lopez, Composer - George Lopez, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1952. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Consuelo Velasquez, Composer - Consuelo Velasquez, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer - Otto Bolivar, Vocal
Originally released 1958. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Bauza, Composer - Bauza, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat, Composer - Xavier Cugat, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally Released 1941 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Pepito Arvelo, Vocal - Rene Touzet, Composer - Rene Touzet, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat, Composer - Xavier Cugat, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1957. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Antonio "Tono" Fuentes, Composer - Antonio "Tono" Fuentes, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally Released 1955 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
3 BEAUS AND A PEEP, Vocal - J. Wiseman, Composer - J. Wiseman, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat, Composer - Xavier Cugat, Lyricist - Rafael Angulo, Composer - Rafael Angulo, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally Released 1950 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Tomas Ayala, Composer - Tomas Ayala, Lyricist - Miguelito Valdes, Vocal - Xavier Cugat & His Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra, Performer - Xavier Cugat, Producer
Originally Released 1941 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Miguelito Valdes, Composer - Miguelito Valdes, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Rene Hernandez, Composer - Rene Hernandez, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1952. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Marge Cameron, Composer - Marge Cameron, Lyricist - Harold Wegbreit, Composer - Harold Wegbreit, Lyricist - Xavier Cugat, Producer - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra, Performer - Abbe Lane, Vocal - Marty Wilson, Composer - Marty Wilson, Lyricist
Originally Released 1955 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Album review
Xavier Cugat had a recording career that stretched over many more years than are covered on this collection. But this single-disc, 26-song anthology of sides from the 1940s and 1950s has to be considered the best collection of his work. This was Cugat's prime, and the tracks boast better fidelity than those he made prior to 1940, if one considers his prime to have started earlier. Hearing these lively and exceptionally well-performed, pioneering blends of Latin, jazz, and pop music, one is surprised that Cugat has not gotten more serious critical respect along the lines of Machito and Tito Puente. The 1940-1957 span ensures a good deal of variety in the orchestral players and the numerous featured vocalists, with Miguelito Valdés handling those more often than anyone on various early-'40s songs, but several others (including one female singer, Abbe Lane) taking turns as well. "Babalu," presented here in a 1941 recording with Valdés on lead vocals, might be the most famous tune, but in truth this is virtually nonstop energy and fun mambo, cha cha, rumbo, and such, played with consummate timing and humor. This only occasional crosses over into novelty territory, with highlights including "Yo Ta Namoa," where Valdés unleashes some amazing stuttering phrasing; the cover of Pérez Prado's "Mambo Jambo"; and a gorgeous, cinematic version of "Besame Mucho."
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 26 track(s)
- Total length: 01:13:04
- Main artists: Xavier Cugat
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: World Salsa
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
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