Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound 5

Released 1973
International Records

Re-mastered 2006
Fania / E-Musica

Produced by Roberto Roena

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

1. Cui Cui 4:47 (Calixto Ochoa)
2. Oriza Eh 3:44 (Junior Cepeda)
3. Como Tu No Hay Nadie 3:38 (D.R.)
4. Que Se Sepa 3:16 (D.R.)
5. Asuncion 3:51 (D.R.)
6. Avisale A Mi Contrario 3:42 (D.R.)
7. Aquellos Que Dicen 6:02 (C. Curet Alonso)
8. La Marunga 5:16 (D.R.)
9. Solo Contigo Basta 3:52 (D.R.)
10. Ponte Duro 9:32 (Johnny Pacheco)

Arrangements by Jorge Millet except (6) by Mario Ortiz and (9) by Elias Lopes.

I have no idea why the liner notes says authorship of Avisale A Mi Contrario is disputed when it is merely the most famous rivalry tunes written by Tito Rodriguez. The arrangement is quite different from original, but it’s very good in a different way compared to the original and made salsanewyork.com list. Que Se Sepa in this album is a completely different song from Que Se Sepa in Apollo Sound 6.

Musicians:

Dario Morales / Trumpet
Mario Cora / Trumpet
Miguel Rodriguez / Tenor Sax & Flute
Gunda Merced / Trombone
Jorge Millet / Piano
Jappy Castro / Bass
Papo Clemente / Conga
Julito Morales / Timbales
Tito Cruz / Vocals
Sammy Gonzalez / Vocals
Frankie Calderon / Vocals
Roberto Roena / Leader, Bongos

Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound 6

Released 1974 International

Fania / E-Musica
ASIN B000NJL0E8

Produced by Roberto Roena

Available through Amazon, Descarga, etc.

Arrangements by Julio Merced (1), Luis Ortiz (2,4), Jorge Millet (3,5,9), Bobby Valentin (6,7), Elias Lopes (8)

1. El Que Se Fue 6:18 (Tito Rodriguez)
2. Traicion 6:20 (Manolo Palos)
3. Cucarachita Cucarachon 5:33 (C. Chinea)
4. Parece Mentira 5:14 (Pedro Flores)
5. En Mis Rosario 4:20 (Jorge Millet/Angelica Lopez)
6. Que Se Sepa 4:19 (D.R.)
7. Ese Soy Yo 4:30 (D.R.)
8. Es Que Estas Enamorada 3:17 (D.R.)
9. Herencia Rumbera 5:58 (Jorge Millet/Angelica Lopez)

Many claim this as the best Roberto Roena album - it certainly is the best one I have heard thus far from start to finish. Traicion is the big hit but not the only one. My other favorites include El Que Se Fue and Que Se Sepa. Que Se Sepa by the way is a bit too fast for dancing so I was surprised when I first heard a song very much like it when out dancing and having a great time with it. When I asked the DJ about it, the song played was actually Siguelo by Javier Vazquez (apparently Siguelo is the original version and this seemingly is corroborated by others but there seems to be a dispute with authorship of the song according to the liner notes). El Que Se Fue would seem eminently danceable (and there are other versions of this song which also seem nice), but I haven't had the opportunity yet.

Musicians

Roberto Roena / Bongo, Leader
Mario Alvarez / Trumpet
Dario Moralez / Trumpet
Miguel Rodriguez / Tenor Sax, Flute
Julio Merced Jr. / Trombone
Mario Roman / Piano
Jappy Castro / Bass
Papo Clemente / Conga
Endel Dueno / Timbales
Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez / Maracas
Elliot Randall / Guitar (6,7)
Harry Viggiano / Tres (3), Guitar (8,9)
Sammy Gonzalez, Tito Cruz, Frankie Calderon / Vocals
Adalberto Santiago, Paquito Guzman, Mario Alaverz / Chorus