El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico – Nuevo Milenio ~ El Mismo Sabor

Released 2001

Combo Records

Produced by Ralph Cartagena & Derek Cartagena

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

1. El Amor Es Ciego 4:21 (Rafi Monclova)
2. Se Nos Perdio El Amor 4:51 (Rafi Monclova)
3. Me Libere 4:23 (Julio Castro)
4. Viva Puente 5:18 (Hector Parilla)
5. Amigos 4:48 (Ramon Rodriguez)
6. Dime Que Quieres 4:49 (Antonio Quintero)
7. Me Muero Por Ella 4:40 (Geraldo Flores)
8. Nadie Como Ella 4:36 (Diego Javier Gonzalez)

Arrangements by Tommy Villariny (1,2,3), Rafael Ithier (4,5,6), Ernesto Sanchez (7), Ceferino Pagan (8).

One of the stronger album by the venerable band according to knowledgeable sources like descarga.com. Three songs (Me Libere, Viva Puente, Dime Que Quieres) made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians:

Rafael Ithier / Director & Piano
Jerry Rivas / Lead Vocals
Charlie Aponte / Lead Vocals
Luis A. Rosario / Lead Vocals
Eddie Perez / Saxophone
Wilfredo Cruz Miranda / Saxophone
Luis A. Maldonado / Trumpet
Victor E. Rodriguez / Trumpet
Moises Nogueras / Trombone
Wilfredo Rivera / Bass
Miguel Torres / Conga
Richard Bastar / Bongos & Campana
Domingo Santos / Timbales

El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico – Aqui Estamos y … De Verdad!

Released 2004

Sony Discos

Produced by Rafael Ithier and Freddie Miranda

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

1. Mi Gorda Bonita 5:20 (Ramoncito Rodriguez)
2. El Matrimonio 4:05 (Ramoncito Rodriguez)
3. Amor Perfecto 4:51 (Charlie Donato)
4. Me Dejo En El Aire 5:05 (Jorge Luis Piloto, Marlow Rosado)
5. Pa’ Arriba No Va 5:10 (Jorge Luis Piloto)
6. Para Querer Un Te Quiero 4:33 (Rafy Monclova)
7. Esa Eres Tu 4:40 (Alberto Rodriguez)
8. El Amor Que Te Di 3:08 (Rafy Monclova)
9. Por Siempre 5:04 (Miguel A. Amadeo)
10. Siete Vidas 4:23 (Rafy Monclova)

Arrangements by Rafael Ithier (1,2,4), Tommy Villariny (3,5,6,7,8,9,10)

El Matrimonio and Amor Perfecto made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians:

Rafael Ithier / Piano
Taty Maldonado / Trumpet
Victor Rodriguez / Trumpet
Freddie Miranda / Saxophone
Eddie Perez / Saxophone
Moises Nogueras / Trombone
Freddy Rivera / Bass
Kuki Santos / Timbales
Miguel Torres / Conga
Richy Bastar / Bongos
Charlie Aponte / Lead Vocals
Jerry Rivas / Lead Vocals
Papo Rosario / Lead Vocals

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico - 35 Years Around the World

35th anniversary album
Released 1997

Produced by Ralph Cartagena & Derek Cartagena

Available at Combo Records, Descarga, Prodland, Amazon, etc

CD1
1. Guaguanco del Gran Combo 3:51 (Justi Barreto)
2. Lirica Borinqueña 4:33 (Johnny Ortiz)
3. Carmencita 4:38 (Kito Velez)
4. La Curandera 4:30 (Harry Suarez)
5. No Quiero Llanto 4:02 (D.R.)
6. Esta Bueno Ya 3:27 (Victor Rodriguez)
7. Potro Amarrao 4:34 (Johnny Ortiz)
8. El Maceta 3:30 (Benjamin Muniz)
9. Licor De Tu Boquita 4:03 (Placido Acevedo)
10. Te Vas Arrepentir 4:15 (Roberto Anglero)
11. Gotas De Lluvia 4:12 (Luis A. Maldonado)
12. Aguacera 4:13 (Raquel Velasquez)
13. Asi Son 3:46 (Claudio Ferrer)
14. Si Me Muero 4:38 (Rafael Hernandez)
15. Patria 4:39 (Perin Velasquez)
16. Tatalibaba 4:01 (F. Santana)
17. No Necesito Nada 3:29 (Jerry Rivas)
18. Los Celos De Mi Compay 3:48 (Claudio Ferrer)

CD2
1. Con Eso 4:06 (Juan Carlos Rueda)
2. Quince Años 4:10 (Reynaldo Armas)
3. Que Cosas Tendran 4:15 (Arsenio Rodriguez)
4. Te Deseo 4:57 (Angel Santiago)
5. Carbonerito 4:59 (Peter Velasquez)
6. A La Reina 4:34 (Pedro Flores)
7. La Loma Del Tamarindo 5:19 (Angel Santiago)
8. Poniendo el Grito en el Cielo 4:51 (Mike Amadeo)
9. Se Me Fue 4:56 (Perin Velasquez)
10. Los Tenis 4:55 (Enrique Feliz)
11. Lamento Jibaro 3:26 (J. Tano)
12. Amor Brutal 4:49 (Benjanmin Muniz)
13. Buena O Mala 4:56 (Eric Figueroa)
14. Gracias 4:08 (Charlie Aponte)
15. Resignacion 4:58 (Benjamin Muniz)
16. Cunabiche Adentro 5:19 (Ali Primera)

For Salsa DJs, this has to rank as one of those must-have CDs. You will have to pay full price - no Amazon bargains for this one. Salsanewyork.com honor list includes 8 Salsa tunes (Guaguanco Del Gran Combo, Gotas De Lluvia, Aguacero, Asi Son, Con Eso, La Loma Del Tamarindo, Se Me Fue, Gracias) plus one Cha Cha (Que Cosas Tendran). Other possible songs for dancing include Lirica Boriquena and Quince Anos.

As for the source material, I'm not sure. It's possible that El Gran Combo re-recorded some of these songs for this album. Some of the songs were recorded in different setting for sure though - Que Cosas Tendran has a recording quality very different from the songs preceding and following it. In any case, this album makes a perfect companion for their 30th anniversary album, which has a completely different lineup of songs.

Musician line-up is not given except for the lead singers for each song. The liner note has signature of band members, whose names I deciphered in most but not all cases.

Musicians include

Rafael Ithier / Director & Piano
Andy Montanez / Lead Vocals (1,5,10,14 & 3,11,16)
Charlie Aponte / Lead Vocals (2,4,7,9,12,15,18 & 1,4,7,9,12,14)
Jerry Rivas / Lead Vocals (3,6,11,13,17 & 2,6,10)
Pellin Rodriguez / Lead Vocals (8 of CD1)
Andy Montanze & Pellin Rodriguez / Lead Vocals (16 of CD1)
Papo Rosario / Lead Vocals (5 of CD2)
Charlie Aponte & Jerry Rivas / Lead Vocals (8,13 of CD2)
Charlie Aponte & Papo Rosario / Lead Vocals (15 of CD2)
Eddie Perez / Saxophone
Freddie Miranda / Saxophone
Luis A. Maldonado “Taty” / Trumpet
Victor E. Rodriguez / Trumpet
Moises Nogueras / Trombone
Jose Miguel Laboy “Mitchell”? / Bongo & Campana
Cuqui Santos / Timbales
Miguel Torres / Conga
others

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico - 30 Aniversario

Bailando Con El Mundo
Released 1992

Produced by Ralph Cartagena & Derek Cartagena

Available at Combo Records, Descarga, Prodland, Amazon, etc

CD1
1. La Muerte 4:19 (E. Farrai)
2. Acangana 3:45 (Chiquitin Garcia)
3. Ojos Chinos 4:17 (Kito Velez)
4. La Calle Dolor 3:26 (Ramon Rivera)
5. Milonga Sentimental 2:11 (H. Manzi/S. Piara)
6. Ponme el Alcolado Juana 3:50 (Rafael Ithier)
7. Caballo Pelotero 3:08 (Bobby Capo)
8. Falsaria 3:58 (M. T. Vera)
9. Por el Pecho No 3:58 (Rafael Ithier)
10. Sube, Nene, Sube 3:36 (Rafael Ithier)
11. Don Goyo 4:02 (G. Arrango)
12. Tiembla 3:06 (C. Ferrer)
13. Julia 3:29 (Yin Carrizo)
14. Los Zapatos de Manacho 3:37 (Rafael Ithier)
15. El Barbero Loco 4:30 (Mariano Merceron)
16. La Salsa de Hoy 3:37 (Roberto Angiero)

CD2
1. Un Verano en New York 4:56 (Justi Barreto)
2. El Son de Santurce 3:36 (E. Vigoreaux)
3. Vagabundo 4:46 (Richie Giraldez)
4. Brujeria 3:24 (Jorge Borrego)
5. El Menu 4:11 (Perin Vazquez)
6. Timbalero 4:21 (Rafael Ithier)
7. Telefono 5:03 (Perin Vazquez)
8. Y No Hago Mas Na' 5:00 (Chiquitin Garcia)
9. Azuquita Pa'l Café 4:10 (Perin Vazquez)
10. No Hay Cama Pa' Tanta Gente 4:32 (Flor Morales Ramos)
11. Mundy Baja 4:14 (Kito Velez)
12. La Fiesta de Pilito 3:55 (Luis Pilito Cruz)
13. Garantia 4:02 (Charlie Donato)
14. Cupido 4:30 (Luis Lopez Caban)
15. Amame 5:33 (Palmer Hernandez)
16. Me lo Conto Tu Papa 5:03 (Jerry Rivas)

For Salsa DJs, this has to rank as one of those must-have CDs. You will have to pay full price - no Amazon bargains for this one. Salsanewyork.com honor list includes 8 quality Salsa tunes (La Muerte, Ojos Chinos, Brujeria, El Menu, No Hay Nago Mas Na', Azuquita Pa'l Cafe, Mundy Baja, and La Fiesta De Pilito) plus one questionable inclusion in the list for Salsa (Timbalero - I think this version is no good because it's way too fast) plus one Cha Cha (El Son De Saturce - I'm not crazy about this one). Other popular songs include Un Verano En Nueva York and No Hay Cama Pa' Tanta Gente. Don Goyo and Telefono are pretty catchy for listening - not sure about dancing because I never got a chance.

As for the source material, I'm not sure. It's possible that El Gran Combo re-recorded these songs for this album (or possibly for one of earlier anniversary albums). In any case, this album makes a perfect companion for their 35th anniversary album, which has a completely different lineup of songs.

Musicians

Rafael Ithier / Director & Piano
Jerry Rivas / Lead Vocals
Carlos Aponte / Lead Vocals
“Papo” Rosario / Chorus
Eddie Perez / Saxophone
Freddie Miranda / Saxophone
Luis A. Maldonado “Taty” / Trumpet
Victor E. Rodriguez / Trumpet
Moises Nogueras / Trombone
Jose Miguel Laboy / Bongo & Campana
Cuqui Santos / Timbales
Miguel Torres / Conga
Freddie Rivera / Bass