Johnny Pacheco – Early Rhythms

alt. title: Mi Musica Es Para Ti

Recorded 1960
LP Released 1981 Coco
CD Reissued 2000 and 2002

Available at Amazon and others

Produced by Rene Hernandez

1. Nicolasa (Ernesto Brito Duarte) 3:22
2. El Bodeguero (Egues) 2:51
3. Cero Codazos (Rafael Lay) 2:29
4. Patricia (Damaso Perez Prado) 2:31
5. Mambo Inn (Mario Bauza) 2:33
6. Cha Cha Rene (R. Hernandez, Frey) 2:30
7. Clap Your Hands Cha Cha (R. Hernandez, Frey) 2:35
8. Cha Cha Castanetas (?) 3:01
9. Oyeme Mama (Rivero) 2:53
10. Mi Musica Es Para Ti (Rene Touzet) 3:00
11. Sambia (Rafael Hernandez) 2:56
12. Corazon De Melon (Riguel) 2:51

The songs in this album was recorded in 1960 but apparently were not released until 1981. The material in this album is very different from Charanga of 1960s Pacheco or Salsa of later Pacheco. The sound instead is closer to a less frenetic Damaso Perez Prado or Machito and His Afro-Cubans. Most songs are Cha Cha (at least in tempo) except Mambo Inn and Sambia – I think this may very well be the most danceable version of Sambia I have heard thus far.

Musicians

Johnny Pacheco / Percussion, Flute

and members of the Machito Orchestra including
Rene Hernandez / Piano

Charles Fox and His Charanga – Just For Fun

Original Release 1963
GEMA

Re-issued 1997
Disco Hit

All songs composed by Charles Fox

Available at Descarga, Amazon

1. Just For Fun 3:14
2. Chiquita 3:08
3. Ballade 4:11
4. Contento Estoy 3:04
5. Matilda Y Maceo 2:14
6. No Me Dejes De Querer 3:27
7. Blue Pachanga 2:10
8. Viene Acabando 3:51
9. Tosca Pachanga 3:19
10. El Melao 2:58
11. Yo Estoy Confundido 2:46
12. Que Rica Pachanga 2:06

Charles Fox is best known as the composer of TV soundtracks including 1970s-1980s shows ranging from The Love Boat, Happy Days, and Laverne and Shirley. Charles Fox also has worked with likes of Tito Puente, Ray Barretto and Dizzy Gillespie. This Charanga/Pachanga album, however, is the only Latin album Charles Fox headlined with help from likes of Johnny Pacheco, Louie Ramirez and Bobby Rodriguez.

Dancers in the Salsa scene may recognize Blue Pachanga, likely in the form of extended remix made by DJ Duste and included in the 2 CD compilation Que Viva Salsa Dura under the title Blue Mambo. Viene Acabando may be familiar to some as well.

Musicians

Charles Fox / Piano
Johnny Pacheco / Flute
Bobby Rodriguez / Bass
Jimmy Loro / Timbales
Frank Malabe / Cona
Louie Ramirez / Guiro, Xylophone
Daniel Gonzalez / Violin
Lionel Cantizano / Violin
Jose Andrea / Violin
Carlos Piatinia / Violin
Henry DiCecco / Violin
Eliot Romero, Manny Roman, Rudy Calzado / Vocals