Hector Lavoe – El Sabio

Released 1980

Produced by Willie Colon
Musical Director – Jose Febles

Fania / E-Musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Jose Febles (1,3,5,6,7), Alberto Garcia (2), Hector Lavoe Orchestra (4)

1. El Sabio 4:28 (Tito Rodriguez)
2. Plazos Traicioneros 3:34 (Luis Marquetti)
3. Noche De Farra 5:59 (Armando Dwolff)
4. Para Ochun 6:33 (D.R.)
5. Alejate 7:05 (Raul Rene Rosado)
6. Llore 6:20 (Jose Febles)
7. Ceora 5:45 (Lee Morgan)

Two songs (Para Ochun, Llore) made salsanewyork.com honor list. El Sabio and Alejate are also danceable, which means more than half of the album is usable – rather unusual for a 70’s Fania album.

Musicians

Eddie Montalvo / Conga
Edgardo Reyes / Timbales
Jose Mangual Jr / Bongos
Luis Mangual / Bongos
Danny Rosado / Bass
Eddie Rivera / Bass
Joe “Professor” Torres / Piano
Gilberto “Pulpo” Colon / Piano & Fender Rhodes
Ray Maldonado / Trumpet
Puchi Boulong / Trumpet
Harry D’Aguiar / Trombone
Reynaldo Jorge / Trombone
Papo Vasquez / Trombone
Willie Colon / Trombone, Vocals (background), Chorus
Milton Cardona / Vocals (background), Chorus
Hector Lavoe / Lead Vocals

Hector Lavoe – Comedia

Released 1978

Produced by Willie Colon

Fania / E-Musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Willie Colon (1,3), Luis Ortiz (2), Jose Febles (4,5,6), Edwin Rodriguez (7)

1. El Cantante 10:23 (Ruben Blades)
2. Comedia 3:28 (Jose A Espinoza)
3. La Verdad 5:30 (Freddy Molina)
4. Tiempos Pasados 4:26 (D.R.)
5. Bandolera 9:32 (Victor Cavalli)
6. Porque Te Conoci? 4:47 (D.R.)
7. Songoro Cosongo 7:50 (Eliseo Grenet, Nicolas Guillen)

El Cantante is one of the most famous Hector Lavoe songs – it just might be my favorite Hector Lavoe song. Although it is very long, it is very danceable. Bandolera is slightly shorter but becomes considerably faster. Songoro Cosongo is a bit slower in pace but still quite good.

Musicians include

Gilbert “El Pulpo” Colon / Piano
Reynaldo Jorge / Trombone
Jose Febles / Trumpet
Luis “Perico” Ortiz / Trumpet
others

Hector Lavoe – De Ti Depende

Released 1976

Produced by Willie Colon

Fania / E-Musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Willie Colon (1,3,8), Louie Ramirez (4), Luis “Perico” Ortiz (5,7), Jose Febles (2), Edwin Rodriguez (6)

1. Vamos A Reir Un Poco 7:34 (Perucho Torcat)
2. De Ti Depende 4:34 (Miguel Angel Amadeo)
3. Periodico De Ayer 6:47 (C. Curet Alonso)
4. Consejo De Oro 2:43 (Arquimedes Arcidiacono)
5. Tanto Como Ayer 3:42 (D.R.)
6. Hacha Y Machete 5:32 (Enildo Padron)
7. Felices Horas 6:05 (Luis A Perez)
8. Mentira 6:38 (D.R.)

Two songs (Vamos A Reir Un Poco, Hacha Y Machete) made salsanewyork.com honor list. Vamos A Reir Un Poco should be played slowed down perhaps by about 5% if same pitch can be maintained. Periodico De Ayer is one of the best-known Hector Lavoe songs. Some consider it better for listening than dancing, but I personally like dancing to it. Felices Horas is another possibility albeit a bit long and fast. I have read some complaints on the net about the sound quality of the E-Musica remastering, but I don’t think there’s a big problem (with caveat that I have not heard “better” LP sound). For whatever it’s worth, I like this album the most out of the four Hector Lavoe albums I have – and I like all four.

Musicians

Hector Lavoe / Lead Vocals & Maracas
Jose Mangual Jr / Bongos, Percussion & Chorus
Milton Cardona / Conga, Percussion & Chorus
Jose “Professor” Torres / Piano
Angel “Papo” Vazquez / Trombone
Ray Feliciano / Trumpet
Santi “Choflomo” Gonzalez / Bass
Yomo Toro / Tres Guitar
Willie Colon / Chorus
Ruben Blades / Chorus

Hector Lavoe – La Voz

Released 1975

Produced by Willie Colon

Fania / E-Musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Willie Colon (1,2,6,8), Jose Febles (3,5), Louie Ramirez (4,7)

1. El Todopoderoso 4:20 (Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe)
2. Emborrachame De Amor 2:57 (Mario Cavagnaro)
3. Paraiso De Dulzura 4:33 (Hector Lavoe)
4. Un Amor De La Calle 3:21 (Orlando Brito)
5. Rompe Saraguey 6:31 (Virgilio Gonzalez)
6. Mucho Amor 2:08 (Roberto Garcia)
7. Tus Ojos 3:33 (Jose Luis Delgado Perez)
8. Mi Gente 5:29 (Johnny Pacheco)

Hector Lavoe’s debut solo album. Paraiso De Dulzura made salsanewyork.com honor list. Other well-known songs include El Todopoderoso (okay for dancing), Rompe Saraguey (Cha Cha) and Mi Gente (not as good for dancing).

Musicians

Tom Malon / Trombone
Jose Rodriguez / Trombone
Ray Maldonado / Trumpet
Hector Zarzuela / Trumpet
Milton Cardona / Conga
Jose Mangual Jr / Bongos
Eddie “Guagua” Rivera / Bass
Nicky Marrero / Timbales
Mark Dimond / Piano
Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Willie Garcia / Chorus
Hector Lavoe / Lead Vocals