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Your dance journey awaits...
SALSA & MAMBO - new & old...
If you prefer to buy your music from iTunes this is the page to look at.
Having originally been a striclty vinyl man I came round to the idea of DJing with CDs - am now getting used to the whole idea of downloading - it does make life easy! You don't get detailed liner notes like you often do with an LP or a CD but you are able to buy music track by track - a big bonus when buying Salsa as any DJ/collector who has been buying before downloads were so prolific will tell you... I have CD bags full of discs that I imported fom the US at great expense for only one track, the rest being unplayable on any respectable Salsa dance floor!
Anyway, below is a list of some good Salsa music that is available on iTunes (if you don't have iTunes click on the icon below to download it for free from Apple).
Most of the music has been selected with practice in mind, and more will be added as time progresses...
If you prefer your music in 'hard copy' format and you want to get your hands on some actual CDs... try our amazon.co.uk store for some recommendations. >> Click here...
Joe Acosta "The Power of Love"
Artist: Joe Acosta
Album: "The Power Of Love"
Music style: 1970's New York Salsa
Recommended tracks: La Bendicion, Bendita Illusion, Amor Perdido
Angus' Comments: I can't believe that this album is available on iTunes...! It was originally released in 1971 - and only released on CD for the first time in 2006 in limited quantities - there will be collectors who will have spent £££s and $$$s on the original vinyl copies! The Salsa tracks that I have highlighted are awesome, raw examples of independant 1970's new York Salsa... my favourite kind!
Afro Cuban All Stars "A Todo Cuba Le Gusta"
Artist: Afro Cuban All Stars
Album: "A Todo Cuba Le Gusta"
Music style: Classic/modern Cuban Salsa
Recommended tracks: Clasiqueando Con Ruben
Angus' Comments: This is currently one of the tracks most guaranteed to fill a dance floor on our travels... and a firm Abanico favourite thanks in part due to the great video of the week from The Santo Rico Dance Co. Buy it now!!
Cheche Mendoza Y Sus Satelites
Artist: Cheche Mendoza Y Sus Satelites
Album: "Disco De Oro"
Music style: Classic Salsa from Venezuela
Recommended tracks: Pensando En Ti, El Pica Pica, Lleva Y Trae
Angus' Comments: This stuff is fantastic..! "Pensando En Ti" has been covered by everybody and his dog but check out this version - it has been given a new lease of life and has been rocking dance floors all over the country recently. You need some of this in your collection!
David Rodriguez "Nuevo Estilo"
Artist: David Rodriguez
Album: "Nuevo Estilo"
Music style: Modern Salsa/Carribean
Recommended tracks: Me Llama La Rumba, Bilongo
Angus' Comments: A fantastic version of Bilongo that goes down very well in class and on the dance floor...
Le Excelencia "Mi Tumbao Social"
Artist: La Excelencia
Album: "Mi Tumbao Social"
Music style: Modern New York Salsa
Recommended tracks: Almost all of them!
Angus' Comments: La Excelencia are a New York based Salsa band of relatively young musicians who are knocking out some fantastic tracks... this is real Salsa music for right now!
If you like this album you shouls also check out their first album "Salsa Con Concencia" - awesome modern Salsa tracks with a real 'old skool' feel...
El Gran Combo "De Punta A Punta"
Artist: El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico
Album: "De Punta A Punta"
Music style: Classic Puerto Rican Salsa
Recommended tracks: Achilipu, Le Dicen Papa, Baho-Kende
Angus' Comments: El Gran Combo are without doubt one of the greatest Salsa bands ever... and this 1971 release has some classics that are great for both practice/class & the dance floor. If you don't have any El Gran Combo in your collection you don't have a Salsa collection!
Grupo Latin Vibe "All That Vibe"
Artist: Grupo Latin Vibe
Album: "All That Vibe"
Music style: Modern Vibes-based Salsa
Recommended tracks: La Llave
Angus' Comments: I am a big fan of vibes-based Salsa - especially when in the hands of masters like Tito Puente (check out "Hong Kong Mambo" above) or Joe Cuba. Check out "La Llave". If you've done a Salsa class in the last couple of years chances are you've heard this track - definitely worth checking out if you want a nice slow track to practice to...
Jimmy Bosch "A Millon"
Artist: Jimmy Bosch
Album: "!A Millon!"
Music style: Modern Salsa from New York
Recommended tracks: Maracayero, Mujeres Mandan, Cuantas Veces
Angus' Comments: The three Salsa tracks on this album are fantastic - straight up modern Salsa for the dance floor. They are all original compositions as well - a rarity for a lot of albums released these days! This is real music - no drum machines or over-production here... buy it!
Maraca "Lo Que Quiero Es Fiesta"
Artist: Maraca
Album: "Lo Que Quiero Es Fiesta"
Music style: Modern Cuban Salsa
Recommended tracks: Descarga Dura
Angus' Comments: This is a great track that has been filling the dance floor since it's release in 2008.
N.B. iTunes appears to be showing incorrect artwork for the album.
Louie Ramirez Y Ray De La Paz "Exitos"
Artist: Louie Ramirez Y Ray De La Paz
Album: "Exitos"
Music style: Classic 1980's Salsa
Recommended tracks: Mentirosa, Noche De Salsa
Angus' Comments: This album has more than just these two great tracks on it - I have highlighted these two as they are great for dancing/practicing to... and guranteed floor fillers!
Tito Puente "Dance Mania Vol.1"
Artist: Tito Puente
Album: "Dance Mania Vol.1"
Music style: Mambo & Cha Cha
Recommended tracks: All of them...! Dance floor favourites are Mambo Gozon,Hong Kong Mambo & Saca Tu Mujer
Angus' Comments: Regularly voted the greatest Latin album of all time - released in the late 50's but still sounding fresh today... if this isn't in your collection buy it now!!
Various Artists "New York City Salsa"
Artist: Various Artists
Album: "New York City Salsa"
Music style: Classic 1960's & 70's New York Salsa
Recommended tracks: Too many to mention!
Angus' Comments: It's no exageration to say that there are too many good tracks to mention on this compilation - it is one of the best compilations out there to profile the Fania record label's output at that time. Excellent if you want to add a slice of 70's New York to your dance floor...
Various Artists "NYC Salsa 2"
Artist: Various Artists
Album: "NYC Salsa 2"
Music style: Classic 1960's & 70's New York Salsa
Recommended tracks: Again... too many to mention!
Angus' Comments: More of what you got in the first comp... and some tracks that have surfaced due to digging a little depper... awesome!!
Various Artists "NYC Salsa 3"
Artist: Various Artists
Album: "NYC Salsa 3"
Music style: Classic 1960's & 70's New York Salsa
Recommended tracks: You know the score... all good!
Angus' Comments: Perhaps the best in the NYC Salsa series..? You decide - this is an awesome collection of classic and hard to find tracks... it will stay in your CD player for a while!
Good Practice Music
Here are some great 'practice' tracks - all with slow & clear tempos - ideal for when practicing your moves after class! Just click on the song title and your computer will do the rest... opening up iTunes and taking you straight to the song.
1. "Acid" - Ray Barretto
2. "Sola Te Dejare" - Ray Barretto
3. "Pa Que Afinquen" - Cheo Feliciano
4. "La Llave" - Grupo Latin Vibe
5. "Yamulemao" - Joe Arroyo
6. "Bonito Y Sabroso" - Oscar D' Leon
7. "Breakaway" - Lex Eazy & The Mambo Club
8. "Mambo UK" - Cubanismo!
9. "Yo Bailo Con Ella" - Orquesta Broadway
10. "Le Dicen Papa" - El Gran Combo
11. "Rosa Primavera" - Rick Davies
12. "Por Culpa De Ella" - El Timba
13. "Para Chango" - Oscar D' Leon
14. "Bilongo" - David Rodriguez
15. "El Pica Pica" - Cheche Mendoza Y Sus Satelites
Bonus track... "Salsa Con Soul Timing Workout" - Alex Wilson
CHA CHA - new & old...
Some great Cha Cha here - old classics & new floor fillers... enjoy!
Angel Melendez & The 911 Mambo Orchestra
Artist: Angel Melendez & The 911 Mambo Orchestra
Album: "Angel Melendez & The 911 Mambo Orchestra"
Music style: Salsa, Mambo & Cha Cha
Recommended tracks: For Cha Cha check out Ven Pa' Que Goze & A Gozar Timbero
Angus' Comments: Nice up to date versions of a couple of classics.
Jimmy Bosch "Soneando Trombon"
Artist: Jimmy Bosch
Album: "Soneando Trombon"
Music style: Salsa, Descarga & Cha Cha
Recommended tracks: For Cha Cha check out Cha Cha Gabriel
Angus' Comments: A great Cha Cha that builds up really nicely...
Ray Barretto "Acid"
Artist: Ray Barretto
Album: "Acid"
Music style: Cha Cha/Boogaloo
Recommended tracks: El Nuevo Barretto
Angus' Comments: A really nice upbeat Cha Cha/Boogaloo that wins on the dance floor every time!
Tito Puente "Dance Mania Vol.1" - (Cha Cha)
Artist: Tito Puente
Album: "Dance Mania Vol.1"
Music style: Mambo & Cha Cha
Recommended tracks: All of them...! But for Cha Cha check out El Cayuco &Llego Mijan
Angus' Comments: Regularly voted the greatest Latin album of all time - released in the late 50's but still sounding fresh today...
MERENGUE
Check out these Merengue classics...
Ricardo Lemvo "Ay Valeria"
Artist: Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca
Album: "Ay Valeria"
Music style: Salsa & Merengue
Recommended tracks: For Merengue check out Amame Mama
Juan Luis Guerra Y 4.40
Artist: Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40
Album: "Grande Exitos"
Music style: Merengue
Recommended tracks: A Pedir Su Mano & La Bilirrubina
Angus' Comments: In this reviewers humble opinion Juan Luis Guerra has recorded some of the nicest music in the merengue genre...
Sandy & Papo MC "La Historia..."
Artist: Sandy & Papo MC
Album: "La Historia..."
Music style: Merengue
Recommended tracks: Bueno Pa' Goza & Mueve, Mueve
BACHATA
Some popular Bachata tracks for you...
Bachata Consentida "Super Bachata 4"
Artist: Oliver "Simplemente"
Artist: Toque D'Keda
Artist: Toque D'Keda
Album: "Toque D'Keda"
Music style: Bachata
Recommended tracks: Lamento Boliviano & No Me Resigno
Angus' Comments: Undoubtedly the most requested bachata songs of the last couple of years..!
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